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Dear John

Are talent conventions good investments?

First published 16th February 2006

Question:
Our young son has been attending a local drama school for the last two years. Auditions were held at the school last weekend for attendance at a US-based talent convention. Our son was selected to go, with about half of those who auditioned, and made to feel very special for being so talented. This privilege is not for free though - we are now requested to pay the $2,500 participation fee, which does not include travel and accommodation. As parents we want to be supportive towards our son's ambition to become an actor. We do however realise that at this young age, dreams and ambitions are not set in stone, so is such an investment necessary or worthwhile?

We are also somewhat suspicious of the "great opportunity to attend workshops, participate in competitions and meet the top US casting directors in the industry". Is this kind of event really to be recommended? Is there somewhere we can check it out apart from the company's own website? We would welcome your advice.

Answer:
The Stage has a number of cautionary guidelines for people answering adverts and purchasing services through our pages. You'll find them displayed close to the relevant advertisment section. Of course, the paper wouldn't be in its 126th year if the vast majority of advertisers didn't offer good services and products in good faith but if you have ever wondered why the warnings are there, you should see some of the offers and contracts floating around the entertainment industry, an increasing number of which seem to be arriving on my desk as performers and their parents ask for a second opinion before parting with their hard-earned cash.

My personal favourite so far has been the "producer of several number one hits" (which he had forgotten to name) who was offering young singers his services "without tying you to a written contract" but on the basis instead of a series of "up-front payments" of several hundred quid each which he was intending to use to "entertain music industry executives in order to promote your work". As you mention in your letter, we are in a business which trades to a large extent on dreams and in any such business, from diets and fitness to millionaire property development, it is not just fools and their money who are soon parted - many committed, talented and highly intelligent individuals get sucked in as well.

However, having congratulated you for checking out offers you are not sure of before opening your wallet, I should add that the situation you are describing is a little less cut and dried. Talent conventions, festivals and showcases are a longstanding and perfectly legitimate way for performers young and old to bring their talents to the attention of the industry. They are also a perfectly legitimate way for the organisers and their agents to earn money if they are well run and deliver what they promise. The particular convention you mention seems to be a long-running and well known one in the USA. However, the question you have to ask yourself, as you would when buying any other service or product inside or outside the showbusiness world, is whether or not the potential return from your investment is worthwhile or whether your time and finances are better directed elsewhere.

Since the convention is based in America, would you be prepared to up stakes and move your son and possibly your family to the USA if he does 'get discovered'? You should certainly be checking for testimonials from real participants in the past who have done well, but given the size of a convention and the size of America, there will always be some people who succeed. Are there any examples of performers from this country who attribute their success to this particular convention? The fact that such a large proportion of the drama school were selected and "made to feel special" strikes me as more to do with hard sell then with quality control. The substantial amount of money you are being asked to pay could also be invested in quite a decent direct marketing campaign for your son if you wanted to take that on yourselves. There are many reputable child performer agencies in Britain which - if your son really is special - would be happy to have him on their books and make money when he earns money rather than asking for upfront fees. The How To... guide for showbusiness parents on The Stage website should give you more information on this route, and you might also want to search the name of the convention you are considering on www.easybackgroundcheck.com or www.modelingscams.org, two very informative US websites.

Ultimately the decision is yours and you should be wary of allowing anyone else, be it your son, a teacher or any other outside influence, to pressure you into making it. I wish your son every success in showbusiness, or in whatever business he ultimately chooses to pursue.

Do your research, make your decision and don't let anyone put pressure on you.