Career Killing Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Is your child's agent or manager looking out for your best interests or have they deliberately stacked the deck against you in a no win game? Find out if the agent or manager you're dealing with is operating in compliance with state laws that govern model/talent agencies here:
There's a right way and a thousand wrong ways to get kids and teens started in the model/talent industry so the first thing you need to do is learn how to avoid the career killing mistakes that most beginners make and one of the biggest mistakes you can make is getting involved with unlicensed model/talent agencies and managers.
So what's the difference between an agent and a manager and why do model/talent agents and model/talent managers need to have a Talent Agency License in Florida, New York and California?
According to Florida State Law: A "person" is committing a felony if he or she "engages in" the booking of models and/or talent and he or she can not legally charge you a commission no matter what title they go by - associate, agent, manager, employee, etc. - unless they first procure a Florida Talent Agency License. And if you accept an acting or modeling job through an "agent" or "manager" that does not have a Florida Talent Agency License - you and the "agent" or "manager" are both breaking the law as it is also illegal to accept a booking from anyone that does not have a Florida Talent Agency License.
Florida, New York and California State Laws are very clear on this matter so don't let anyone tell you that just because someone calls themselves a "manager" they are magically exempt. Florida, New York and California all have very similar laws and who do you think is more likely to tell you the truth - the Attorneys General of the states of Florida, New York and California or an unlicensed model/talent agent or manager'?
What about other states? In all other states, model/talent scam crimes are usually prosecuted under the more general category of fraud.
Advice on this subject from a top Florida law firm: "In order to own, operate, solicit business or otherwise engage in the occupation of a talent agent, a person or entity must first procure a license from Florida’s Department of Business & Professional Regulation. Please understand the serious nature of filing - or not filing - to be a talent agent in the State of Florida as there is the potential for criminal prosecution and felony level penalties if one does not comply with the Statutes." - The Bradley Legal Group.
Also, having an agent or manager - license or no license - that tries to sell you photo shoots, comp cards, workshops, acting classes, etc. raises very serious ethical concerns. Can you say, "Wow, wouldn't that be a huge conflict of interests?"
Florida State Law Statute 468.410 criminalizes the act of charging money for registration fees, photo shoots, comp cards, acting classes, workshops etc. by anyone involved in the booking of models and talent for compensation no matter what title they go by "agent", "manager", etc.
Also according to Florida State Law Statutes 468.401 and 468.403 a "person" can only legally represent herself or himself, a family member or one artist (model or talent) at a time without first procuring a Talent Agency license. So if you if you are offered representation by a "manager" who is already representing one or more people, ask them for their Talent Agency license number which, by law, must be displayed on their website.
According to the Florida Office of Film and Entertainment: If a Florida based "agent" or "manager" can not provide you with a Florida Talent Agency license number, report them to the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation as ONLY licensed and bonded model/talent agencies and managers can legally procure bookings for you in the state of Florida.
You are protected and you will have recourse through the Department of Business Regulation if someone fails to pay you for a booking (for example) ONLY if the job was booked through a licensed and bonded agency or manager.
So be wary of unlicensed individuals that offer to 'manage' you and/or your kids or and be especially wary of anyone claiming to be a combination photographer/manager, photographer/agent, modeling school/agency, etc. as it is very likely that all they will do for you is sell you worthless workshops, classes, training, acting lessons, photo shoots, etc.
Talent Managers Association Guidelines
• Talent Managers shall generally be compensated on a commission only basis.
• No fee may be charged or collected for profit at the expense of the signed client (talent) by any Talent Manager from any Artist for: Registering or listing the Artist in any publications or registries: or b. Letter writing: or c. photographs, film clips, video tapes or other reproductions of the Artist’s likeness or performances: or d. any other charge or fee of a similar nature.
• No Talent Managers Association member shall engage in any fraudulent or felonious activity.
According to the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation - here are some of the dangers of working with unlicensed model/talent agents and managers:
• Poor qualifications. Unlicensed persons typically do not have the education, insurance and/or qualifications required to qualify to obtain a license.
• Poor quality work. Unlicensed persons typically do poor quality work and/or do not finish the project.
• Possible criminal background. Unlicensed persons often have criminal backgrounds that may include fraud, theft, violent crime, sexual offenses and substance abuse.
• Likelihood of being the victim of a scam. Unlicensed agents or managers will often disappear after taking your money, and the Department cannot discipline an unlicensed person, help get your money back or require the person to finish or improve the work done.
• Limited recourse. When you have a dispute with a licensed agent or manager, you can call the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation which has the authority to discipline agents and managers and even revoke their license which gives the licensee more incentive to play fair. This type of action is NOT available against unlicensed agents and managers, however, and quite often the only recourse you will have will be an expensive, and generally futile, civil suit.
Is your agent or manager properly licensed and bonded to legally book models and talent in the State of Florida? Find out HERE
Report fraudulent and/or unlicensed agent/manager activity to the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation HERE
Click HERE to request more info
Is your child's agent or manager looking out for your best interests or have they deliberately stacked the deck against you in a no win game? Find out if the agent or manager you're dealing with is operating in compliance with state laws that govern model/talent agencies here:
There's a right way and a thousand wrong ways to get kids and teens started in the model/talent industry so the first thing you need to do is learn how to avoid the career killing mistakes that most beginners make and one of the biggest mistakes you can make is getting involved with unlicensed model/talent agencies and managers.
So what's the difference between an agent and a manager and why do model/talent agents and model/talent managers need to have a Talent Agency License in Florida, New York and California?
According to Florida State Law: A "person" is committing a felony if he or she "engages in" the booking of models and/or talent and he or she can not legally charge you a commission no matter what title they go by - associate, agent, manager, employee, etc. - unless they first procure a Florida Talent Agency License. And if you accept an acting or modeling job through an "agent" or "manager" that does not have a Florida Talent Agency License - you and the "agent" or "manager" are both breaking the law as it is also illegal to accept a booking from anyone that does not have a Florida Talent Agency License.
Florida, New York and California State Laws are very clear on this matter so don't let anyone tell you that just because someone calls themselves a "manager" they are magically exempt. Florida, New York and California all have very similar laws and who do you think is more likely to tell you the truth - the Attorneys General of the states of Florida, New York and California or an unlicensed model/talent agent or manager'?
What about other states? In all other states, model/talent scam crimes are usually prosecuted under the more general category of fraud.
Advice on this subject from a top Florida law firm: "In order to own, operate, solicit business or otherwise engage in the occupation of a talent agent, a person or entity must first procure a license from Florida’s Department of Business & Professional Regulation. Please understand the serious nature of filing - or not filing - to be a talent agent in the State of Florida as there is the potential for criminal prosecution and felony level penalties if one does not comply with the Statutes." - The Bradley Legal Group.
Also, having an agent or manager - license or no license - that tries to sell you photo shoots, comp cards, workshops, acting classes, etc. raises very serious ethical concerns. Can you say, "Wow, wouldn't that be a huge conflict of interests?"
Florida State Law Statute 468.410 criminalizes the act of charging money for registration fees, photo shoots, comp cards, acting classes, workshops etc. by anyone involved in the booking of models and talent for compensation no matter what title they go by "agent", "manager", etc.
Also according to Florida State Law Statutes 468.401 and 468.403 a "person" can only legally represent herself or himself, a family member or one artist (model or talent) at a time without first procuring a Talent Agency license. So if you if you are offered representation by a "manager" who is already representing one or more people, ask them for their Talent Agency license number which, by law, must be displayed on their website.
According to the Florida Office of Film and Entertainment: If a Florida based "agent" or "manager" can not provide you with a Florida Talent Agency license number, report them to the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation as ONLY licensed and bonded model/talent agencies and managers can legally procure bookings for you in the state of Florida.
You are protected and you will have recourse through the Department of Business Regulation if someone fails to pay you for a booking (for example) ONLY if the job was booked through a licensed and bonded agency or manager.
So be wary of unlicensed individuals that offer to 'manage' you and/or your kids or and be especially wary of anyone claiming to be a combination photographer/manager, photographer/agent, modeling school/agency, etc. as it is very likely that all they will do for you is sell you worthless workshops, classes, training, acting lessons, photo shoots, etc.
Talent Managers Association Guidelines
• Talent Managers shall generally be compensated on a commission only basis.
• No fee may be charged or collected for profit at the expense of the signed client (talent) by any Talent Manager from any Artist for: Registering or listing the Artist in any publications or registries: or b. Letter writing: or c. photographs, film clips, video tapes or other reproductions of the Artist’s likeness or performances: or d. any other charge or fee of a similar nature.
• No Talent Managers Association member shall engage in any fraudulent or felonious activity.
According to the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation - here are some of the dangers of working with unlicensed model/talent agents and managers:
• Poor qualifications. Unlicensed persons typically do not have the education, insurance and/or qualifications required to qualify to obtain a license.
• Poor quality work. Unlicensed persons typically do poor quality work and/or do not finish the project.
• Possible criminal background. Unlicensed persons often have criminal backgrounds that may include fraud, theft, violent crime, sexual offenses and substance abuse.
• Likelihood of being the victim of a scam. Unlicensed agents or managers will often disappear after taking your money, and the Department cannot discipline an unlicensed person, help get your money back or require the person to finish or improve the work done.
• Limited recourse. When you have a dispute with a licensed agent or manager, you can call the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation which has the authority to discipline agents and managers and even revoke their license which gives the licensee more incentive to play fair. This type of action is NOT available against unlicensed agents and managers, however, and quite often the only recourse you will have will be an expensive, and generally futile, civil suit.
Is your agent or manager properly licensed and bonded to legally book models and talent in the State of Florida? Find out HERE
Report fraudulent and/or unlicensed agent/manager activity to the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation HERE
Click HERE to request more info