PROSCOUT reviews and complaints
SCAMS
I took my daughter to proscout last night at the Hilton hotel for free interviewed. Then we got the invitation to the events, which the fees is required for $795 additional $69 per person to attend the events. At the event is where all the agents from different places will be there to look at the contestants. In my opinion, if Elite agents or NBC are looking for fresh face and talents kids they should be there no matter what without charging any fee until there is a contract sign. To be discovered for any talents and beauty that any kids have there shouldn't be any charges till then. You should not ne paying for anything when you want to be discovered.
Country of complaint: United States
Address: Garden Grove, California
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
not truthful
Proscout talent agency is both a scam and truthful... I attended just a few days ago with my child, and there were clearly people there who had no business being there, and anyone with an ounce of sense could see this- other than the people with stars-in thier eyes... First you go to a hotel in your area, and are grreted by a man named David who acts stern and serious, and will actually turn away the OBVIOUS ugly people- so you think the whole thing is legit... But the ones who are in-the-middle; he says things to make you think you will have a shot at stardom if you work hard, almost as if its right there, and the agents are all waiting to take you to the next BIG step... so needless to say; we went to the Columbus event, and it was ran quite well, and we actually had a good time. But there were clearly people there who had no business of going, and it was sad that there money was taken to the tune of 800.00 and this may have ran more if they took a seminar, or purchased phtotos there on hope of making it big. Now, once the all- day sessions start on saturday, it then you are told that the agents are coming, and its all up to you to make it happen- so this builds up more false hope for the majority of people. We had over 730 people at our event at the cost of 800.00 each, and not including the cost of classes ect. So yes, some were chosen for a call backs (my child had one)... its not worth the price for the majority of people who never had a shot anyways. I have this gut feeling we will never hear from the one agent who selected my child- so yes, we had a great time, and it was fun, but a costly fun.
Company Business Name: proscout
Country of complaint: United States
Address: Arizona, Michigan
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
please tell me the truth if its a scam or not
i was just curious how the convention actually happens.i am ateneding one next week in la and its by dream to become an actress but if its a scam i do not wanna waste 800 bucks on nothing.
even the success stories of those featured on proscouts website are not desireable. they have no big- super-stars. people like brad pitt, johnny dep, adriana lima, marissa miller, lady gaga., did not get stuck in this goo. hahahaha=)
watch youtube videos of those chosen from the convention of proscout. butterfaces. sry its true, its true. its a raffle the busnesses pay you with what they got 4 attending the convention. i figured out their game quick. if u got 1000 people attending the convention paying 800 dollars thats $800, 000 and only cheesy callback checks to offer with the money gained from the people attending the convention. its a none-the less a fricken raffle.
thats awful. sounds like more over a raffle for a good call back. if you spend close to 3000 dollars total for the event and travel, food, lodgeing, possibly pictures... most even with a callback won't even break even. its always good to get use to attending some events like this to cure stage fright though. oh yeah, then u gotta get travel food and lodgeing for the big callback 2 ahhahahahahaha. so before u see ur first check, you will have spent over 5, 000 dollars. id rather just simply meet a REAL director and get a role immediatly. thats what i hear is the best way to go. i hear all you do is send ur pictures to any company and theyll tell you iff they want you or not right away. even if you have to individually send in photos to 40+ companies. its a whole lot better than getting sucked into a raffle. most female/ male models ive seen with call backs from agents at the convention are NOT that pretty. honestly, it should take a whole lot more than abs to be a model. i seen butterfaces at that covention get selected so dont fret over it. its just like going to vegas for a few days. mabye ull get that one $50, ooo call back.
NOT A SCAM
I am completely convinced Proscout is a legitimate company. The success stories are endless. I myself know numerous people who received NUMEROUS callbacks(I am waiting for a reply email as to what it led to!). I just got back from their interview(I have attended one event. ) They turned away 3/4 of the people that showed up for the interview. If thi...
Read full complaint and 1 commentUNPROFESSIONAL
At the beginning of the session, the "spokesperson" told the audience there were going to be two outcomes from attending the interview. He said that, once you speak to one of the two interviewers (for about two minutes), you'll either get a card, which means ProScout in interested or you won't get a card, which means ProScout is not interested and you're free to leave. The children were interviewed first. My six-year-old daughter and I approached one of the two interviewers who told me (the parent) that it may be my time but not my daughter's. He asked us to sit down and kept our forms. When the adults were instructed to approach, I did so, with my daughter. We were again instructed to sit down. All the while, it seemed as though every other person was approaching was told either to stay or go. After about an hour, I approached the same interviewer and told him I did not get a card, he kept our forms and told us to stay. Rudely, he told me, "Don't worry about it. Just have a seat." I did for awhile but then decided if he was interested he would've given me a card. We left. Everyone else got their two-minute interview and a decision was made. Why did he have my daughter and I wait for over an hour to find out if they were interested or not?
Company Business Name: PROSCOUT
Country of complaint: United States
Address: Colorado
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
Sorry, this is what I posted to another complaint about PS. It isn't direct specifically at you, but the info is still applicable.
It amazes me that people can't see through this stuff. You are getting ripped off folks!
"I got picked to go to this convention or that convention." "You're just paying for them to come see you." And on and on it goes. It's complete BULL!
I have been in this business for 14 years. I began from scratch in Wilmington, NC and worked my way up, by training with a real acting coach who had 30 years worth of legit credits and doing extra work to add credits to my resume. Since those humble beginnings, I have gone on to LA, trained with the top coaches there, worked at my craft, earned my SAG card by booking (not via extra work), and have legit representation!
Today, I can tell you that I make 100% of my income from being an actor, TV show host, and coach. I have agents in NC & Louisiana, as well as a manager in LA. Never once have I had to pay convention fees to accomplish these goals. Not one agent, coach, casting director, or industry contact I've talked to has ever had anything positive to say about groups like PS.
The only $$ I spent on my career was for legit classes, legit headshots/comp cards (I ALWAYS chose my own photographer, typically used Kevin Major Howard - he's one of the best in LA), website (before the days of FB & IMDb), promo materials (biz cards and such), casting accounts (Actors Access, Backstage Online, & Agency Pro), and I pay my way to travel to auditions when not allowed to submit via tape.
If you truly want to be in this industry, find a legit acting coach and start learning your craft. That should absolutely step one! What work have they done, and with who? Who have they trained with and where? If you recognize none of their credits, then you may want to keep looking. If you want to be in film, then don't train with someone who's never done anything but theater and musicals! Get it? Also, WHAT do they teach? Scene study, audition technique, improv, cold reading? I recommend learning scene study first, so you can learn to develop a character among other things. It is entirely appropriate for you to ask a coach to tell you their background and have them back it up with credentials. If you are in a big market, you may have to audition to get into the class. You may also get placed in Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced or Master, based on your skill level. Never, should a coach offer you anything outside of "pay tuition, learn acting" and career guidance, that's it! These "one stop shops" of class, photos, advice, and representation are a scam 99.9% of the time.
Two, get good headshots taken. You can find photographers that do this type of shoot through your state film commission's online production guide. LOOK at their work! Compare it to LA & NYC headshot photographers who only do this type of photography. Pay attention to price! Outside big filming hubs like LA, NYC, Louisiana, & FL you can get these types of shots for well under $200 per sitting. Remember, you only need 2 headshots, one theatrical & one commercial. Anyone that tries to convince you to use "their photographer" is getting a kickback! You should always be at liberty to choose the person you 1) like the work of best, 2) are most comfortable with, and 3) can AFFORD! Agents are not supposed to push photographers on you; however, they may suggest several that they like the work of and allow you to decide. That's acceptable.
Three, build your resume! Student films, extra work, plays, shorts, anything legit. Keep that resume updated and current. You can find legit work by setting up accounts through Actors Access, Backstage Online, and Agency Pro. Submit yourself as much as possible. If you don't get auditions, you can't book work. Push comes to shove, buy a camera and make your own films!
Once you have some credits, and preferably a demo reel, you can begin submitting your materials to agents & managers. Understand that the odds of you getting signed with CAA or William Morris, when you are just starting out, is not likely to happen. Look for smaller agencies that are looking to develop young talent the right way. Look in smaller markets like NC, Louisiana, FL, and TX. This is a great way to start. It worked for me. LOL
Lastly, don't stop training and don't give up! This is a hard business, VERY hard! It may take you 10 years to see any real income. Just stop looking for that "overnight success" or "discovery" moment to happen. When/if that ever occurs these days, the odds are better that you'll win the lottery, so focus your energy, AND MONEY, to developing your career the right way!
Hope this helps.
Not a Scam.
I atteneded a Proscout event over the past weekend, and I can safely tell you that they are NOT in any way a scam. Firstly, take a look at their profile with the better business bureau, and you will clearly notice that they have an A + rating, which is INCREDIBLY rare and not an easy accomplishment. Second of all, they will be the first people to tell you that just because you've paid your dues for the event does not mean you are guarenteed callbacks - they simply present the agents to you, after that it is entirely in your hands to impress them. (They mentioned this at the original screening as well as at the event MULTIPLE TIMES.) Also, to the comment that the agents are 'scam artists' as well, this is incredibly untrue- agents from Ford, Elite, Ny & LA models (google these if you don't know them- they are LITERALLY THE BEST OF THE BEST) were at my event, including about 30 other agencies. Yes, it does cost money, and yes, it is a gamble because not everyone recieves a callback, but as the agent that I am now with explained to me (and yes, I met him at Proscout-THANKS PROSCOUT), these agents WILL NOT invest in a beginning model/actor who is not willing to invest in themselves, first. I can fully guarentee that this is not a scam, however if you decide to go, be willing to put in the effort to exersize, eat right, and come with your 'A' game- because these agents DO NOT waste their time with anything less- If you didn't lose the extra 5 pounds or take care of your skin ect., they will notice, and they will not waste their valuable time on someone who isn't willing to give their full potential from the start. Do your resaerch about the industry, be prepared for critisism, and realize the Proscout is a modeling convention which raises your chances of being noticed by legitamate agencies TREMENDOUSLY.
Country of complaint: United States
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
Proscout had "Discovered" talent that are overweight...so I COMPLETELY disagree with that statement. I do however agree that Proscout is legitimate.
im gonna be honest. Pro Scout or any other modeling convention is NOT a scam and I'm gonna tell u why. A modeling convention is where you get a change to meet agents from top modeling agencies and thats exactly what that means. A modeling agency cost thousands of dollars and thats not even including you flight and hotel. I must say, Pro Scout is the best convention to go to because they have their conventions in driving distance of you and it cost like 600. BUT! Heres a cheaper way to do this. You can actually go to these modeling agencies for their open calls FOR FREE! You get the same thing from a modeling convention but u save a couple thousands dollars. Its not a scam because they arent promising you anything but meeting with agents. I went to Pro Scout when I was 16 (now 23) and got one callback (the agency I'm now signed with). You just gotta be smart in this business instead of taking the 1st offer
P.S. for proof that I'm just a normal person my myspace url is myspace.com/cutestuff360
You are completely wrong about Prosout being a scam and no I'm not being paid I am being completely real with you. I was thinking the samething at first that it was a scam because there are plenty of modeling scams out there. I'm sure there are copycats out there who are saying they are proscout so that could be why there are multipul websites. You may have come across one. It probably got shut down because I'm sure the real proscout company is trying to keep pepole safe and happy because they lose credit when sites like that come up. It's the same with anything like that, there will always be pepole trying to scam pepole. When I went I met the model they had there once. She use to be on extream home makeover, so I really doubt she would be involved with a scam. I have attended a few times and have gotten a callback two different times. I however had braces at the time and was two inches too short but I was a freshmen in high school and still growing. So the agent gave me her card and said email her later because I was perfect for what she needed. So it is up to you to keep up with the agents because it is not their job to contact you when you are not signed with them. Even still if you do sign with them they have a extremely busy life and they are not going to baby you. It is a very aggressive industry so you have to be aggressive cause you are just another person out of tons who want to be in the industry. Yes it makes perfect since that you do have to pay. Think they have to pay the agents to come there and then they also have rent a very large room to hold it in. Which is always at one of the nicest places so it is going to be expensive for them. Also don't stay at the hotel "where the agents stay" cause yes it will be expensive. You really won't see the agents cause they fly in late and they will more than likely be working in their rooms. As for the agents being rude they are just being real. If you can't handle them at Proscout then you won't be able to handle the industry. Just be friendly and don't let them get to because they also may be testing you. I have always enjoyed each time that I have gone and I plan on going again.
'heyalliey' is sooooooooooooooooooooo obviously a Proscout stooge or a paid employee that's it's really disturbing he/she would think that anyone would take this so-called 'testimonial' seriously. These people have a long and documented history of swindling innocent young actor/actress and model wannabees all over this country (regardless of their bought-and-paid-for 'A+' rating with the BBB). FYI: We found plenty of verified and legitimate complaints about how Proscout con artists operate on quite a few websites. So yes, do the research yourself. Guaranteed: You'll stay as far away from these slick-talking, swindling fame hucksters as you possibly can if you want to save yourself and those around you a world of hurt!
PROSCOUT
I was an Invited PAID agent to attend PROSCOUT. We get paid $200 plus hotel, airfare and meals. All the agents show up for a fun time out of town. The LA agents represent NO celebs are basically in the business of attending showcases not selling actors. Ask any one of them who they represent and for sure you will know none of them. The organization i...
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