Question about a casting

[allypally]

Hi! I'm a 15 year old girl and am new to this. I just have a question about a casting on starnow that i have been asked to go to. Do you think this is genuine?
This is what is says and i have been asked to come to an audition on 10th july at a place in Brixton.. have any of you been asked also?


I am currently looking for committed, funny and reliable children for a musical theatre show that will run for 20 days in London.

Please apply with a CV, photo and if possible showreel.

At the audition the children MUST BE accompanied by a parent or a guardian.

For the successful children during the show the production provides professional chaperones.

The position is paid, accomodation and food provided.

Prior the audition the production offers an optional class for the children to work close to the director and casting director of the musical.

The class includes professional acting and singing exercises and the chance for the children to work close to professionals and learn from the experience.
The class fee is 25£ and it includes the whole class.

The class will take place in London prior the audition.

Please since the workshop is optional within your submission include if you are interested in attending the class with the production of the show or only the audition.

Note: All minors must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Location: London, United Kingdom

Payment details: £85 per show

[pg]

Hmm.

I can see why you're asking! This seems dubious to me and definitely seems like a money making venture by charging for a workshop prior to audition.

I think I would be inclined to ask for specific contact details, ask what the show is and where it will be performed, ask the name of the director etc. Do you know all of these things? If they won't/can't give you these details then I think you can assume it's a scam. If they do give you this information you can check it out with the theatre they are performing at. Do you even know the dates of the rehearsals and performances??

Personally, I cannot see how they can invite people to audition if they/you don't know what the roles are that you are auditioning for and what skills are needed/whether you will be available etc.

I'm glad you've asked here for ideas/clarification. I think you should ask the company for clarification too. If they won't give it - you will know they are just after some money. A genuine set-up would be happy to answer any questions and deal with any misgivings.

[Caroline A-C]

I'm no expert, but £85 per show seems a lot to be paid - it is more than most West End lead child fees which makes me wary.

[igloobabe]

I have already posted on this 'casting call' here:

http://www.notapushymum.com/phpbb/viewt ... =7&t=14365

[orangebear4]

Aha! I thought they would appear again at some point soon! Is this run by two Italian sisters by any chance? The clue is in the rather strange English used in the wording of the advert. Someone else posts on Star Now for them, a lady whose name I can't remember. My dd and I went quite recently to a casting in Brixton for a 'Musical Theatre Concert for Talented Children' which involved turning up at a grotty hall, only to find they had booked the hall for the wrong time and no one was allowed in for two hours. We then had to pay £10 per person, they took the children off (of which there were only about 10, and some of them had driven many miles to get there) and rehearsed them in another room accompanied by their own CD played on a portable CD player. We were then ushered in for 'the concert', and because they had finished so quickly, due to low numbers, they were all asked if there was anything else they wanted to sing, which they then did unaccompanied! This all took place in a filthy and run down room with no stage and no refreshments. The sisters tell you they have West End experience, which turns out to be some weird production of 'Alice in Wonderland' in a very small venue in London, and I'm really not sure if anyone went to see as they are both rather difficult to understand in their broken English. 'The company' is only the two of them!
Steer clear! I did post on here immediately after we went, but for the life of me I can't remember their surname!

[orangebear4]

I've just done a search on here and found their names, Cindy and Sheila Rhyme, which again is misleading as they are in fact Italian. You only get to meet them at the venue, as the contact on StarNow is another lady. Hope this helps.

[igloobabe]

I have reported this company to Starnow and included the four different ads and this post!

[orangebear4]

Well done. Now why didn't I think of that?!

[allypally]

thankyou very much for replying! i asked who the director is and what theatre it's being held at and they haven't replied. I know they were on starnow at the time they received my message as they had just sent me one, so they are just ignoring me!

[orangebear4]

I have this morning looked on Starnow, and the same advert is back in again! Doesn't anyone on their site control what goes on to it?

[francescasmum]

I reported this on Monday, but it is still there!

[pg]

I have this morning looked on Starnow, and the same advert is back in again! Doesn't anyone on their site control what goes on to it?

I think the very clear answer to that is : NO

I do not believe that anyone at Starnow does any vetting of information whatsoever. When the issue of the "nudist" film came up, I went to the Starnow site and tried posting something as an "employer". The only thing they asked for was an email address.

I believe that they only look into postings if someone complains, otherwise as far as I can see the "opportunties" on the site are entirely unmoderated. It is quite possible that no-one at Starnow reads them and that it is all automated (let's face it, if someone with any industry knowledge - or any common sense - at Starnow DID read a lot of the so-called opportunities, they'd quickly spot the bogus ones).

It's probably much better for Starnow's profits to be reactive rather than proactive - however dubious this business model is.

Perhaps someone who is member could ask whether there is any moderation, and if so, what form this takes?

When you consider what the paying customers (the actors) have to provide in terms of information/security, it's not exactly balanced is it?

[igloobabe]

I'm doing that now! I am so fed up. My dd has built up so many views on Starnow and we don't have many other options so I really don't want to start again on a new site! But this is just not on!

[sophiesocks]

My ds has done quite well through starnow, she has done a feature film and a corporate short film via the website this year and has been asked to go to a casting tomorrow via her starnow profile. I have mixed feelings about, there is a lot of rubbish, but some good castings advertised too....

[allypally]

Yes i thought that starnow was quite good as i have had lots from them, 2 short films, london musical, disney channel series, professional panto and a feature film. Gonna be careful what i apply to now after these people wasting my time! Thanks for your help