The Scam That is The Entertainment Business

Ok, maybe the word "scam" is a bit harsh, but I still think it's fitting.  There is no other profession that requires potential applicants to spend so much money just to be considered for a job.  If you had to spend $25 a month just to send in a resume for a company, you would think, "WTF this is a huge scam!"  If you were required to get your business cards and resumes reprinted, professional touched up and completely redone every few months just to stay current in the workplace, there would be a huge revolt or legislation passed to end this oppressing practice.  Well let me just tell you how scammy the entertainment world can be...at least from a newbie prospective.

Headshots:
I have had my headshots taken 4 times over the course of 10 years.  And 2 of those times within the past year.  An actor simply MUST have headshots in order to be taken seriously at all.  And in LA, they better be the best damn picture of yourself that can ever be taken.  Headshot sessions can range from $100-400+ just for the photo session.  Then, out of that you may only get access to 1 or 2 of your final pictures.  I was uber lucky this past time and stumbled upon a sweet deal with an awesome photographer.  Luckily, the shots turned out amazing! 
This past time I paid: $100 for the headshots + $100 for a makeup artist = $200
I should expect to get my headshots redone every year, if not sooner.

Headshot Printing:
Oy, printing is so damn expensive.  There are lots of places to get your headshot 8x10 printed and they range wildly in prices.  Oh, and for those that don't know, for every audition you go to, you always need to bring at least 1 printed headshot and resume.  Some places, like shutterfly, will charge $4 per 8x10, plus shipping.  Then there are places like Reproductions that charge $60 for 50 headshots (of the same picture) plus a $18 set up free.  I've kinda bunked the system and said screw 8x10s, I'll just print out letter size headshots cause I can get those for real cheap.  However, that is clearly not industry standard and you can end up looking like an idiot when yours is the only one in the pile of headshots that is bigger than everyone elses.  But I'm all about CHEAP!  So I get mine printed at VistaPrint.com and then spray glue my resume on the back whenever I go to an audition. 
25 headshots: $15 plus shipping.(I always have a Vistaprint coupon)

ActorsAccess:
ActorsAccess is a version of Breakdown Services available to actors.  Breakdown Services is where agents and managers receive breakdowns of all the different things that are casting so they can submit their clients.  ActorsAccess is a fee based membership that actors (those who don't have agents or those who just like to take matters into their own hands) sign up in order to submit themselves for various projects.  ActorsAccess is one of the few reputable places that does this, so don't be fooled by MANY of the other websites that claim to offer this service, most of them are scams. Note: Not all projects are open to ActorsAccess members. In fact, the vast majority of breakdowns, including most major ones, are only available to agents. Anyway, there are 2 ways to go about this.  You can pay a yearly membership fee or pay $2.00 for ever role you submit to. 
I pay the yearly membership fee: $68/year

Photos and Video on ActorsAccess
This is where they really get you.  AA allows you to have 2 photos in your profile for free.  If you want to add an additional photo, it's $10 per picture!  I haven't done this, I only use the 2 free ones.  The video part is truly frustrating.  First, if you already have a demo reel of your work, you can upload it to AA for $50 for the first minute.  If your demo is longer than 1 minute, plan on spending $22 per additional minute!! Now, say down the road you add a clip to your demo reel and want to replace the video on AA, well not so fast it's $22/minute to replace your reel.  UGH!  This is something that's in the works for me and I will eventually have to pay these outrageous fees.  Why is a demo reel important you ask?  Well, for one it sells you a lot better than just a still photograph.  And second, a HUGE second, is that those actors with a reel in their profile, automatically go to the top of the list of people submitting.  So, casting directors will see the people with reels first even if they submitted days after you.  And with potentially thousands of people submitting for the same role, it certainly pays to be at the top of the list.
Future costs: $50 for a demo reel, $22 for an additional minute = $72

LACasting:
Exact same service as ActorsAccess with a slightly different set-up.  This too has a version that is only available to agents and this is where my commercial agent submits me for things.  However, just like AA, it has a service available for actors to self-submit to projects.  Since my agent is only for commercials, I need to self submit for TV and film.  I recently joined this service because I wanted to make sure I was submitting to everything I could.  This membership is monthly, plus fees for pictures and video. 
Monthly membership: $9.95/month
Photographs: You get 1 free one.  Then if you need to change that picture or add more, they start charging you.  $25 for the first additional picture and then $15 per picture after that. = $40
Video: If you want to add your reel, they charge you $5/month. I haven't done this yet.

Backstage West Subscription:
Backstage is a magazine that has lots of entertainment stuff in it, but we primarily use it for auditions.  It's mostly for theatre (and much, much bigger in NYC) but there are also some indie and student film auditions here.  While they do have a way to submit through their website, often times there is an email address where you send your headshot and resume for an audition.  Evan finds a lot of his theatre auditions here.
Monthly online only subscription: $17/mo

Classes:
Of course classes are all different and can vary in quality.  In LA, there is absolutely no shortage of people willing to take your money to teach you something. You really have to do your research to make sure you're taking a good class and that it's worth your money. Because I hate to drive, I narrowed my class search to only ones in Burbank.  Luckily, I picked 2 that are awesome and very different from each other.  Still kinda pricey though.
Eastin Studios: Awesome class tought by a real hollywood veteran.  In fact, if you saw Up in the Air, Steve Eastin was the guy who got fired by Anna Kendrick over the computer. He also has an IMDB page that's about 5 pages long.  He's awesome and his class is unlike anything I've ever experienced. 
I pay: $195 for 4 classes.  Classes are once a week. (I've taken a few weeks off from this class because I started another and I am waiting before I spend another two hundred bucks.  But I do intend on going back)
Weist Barron Hill:  I take a commercial acting class here and I really like it.  It teaches everything from the very basics to nailing the audition.  I love that I learn things that I just wouldn't think matter that actually affect casting decisions.
I pay: $225 for 10 classes. Classes are once a week.

Other things I could pay for, but I refuse...at least I refuse right now:
-Casting Director Showcases: this is where you go and perform in front of casting directors and sometimes agents in order to be seen.  Who knows if the people attending this things are legit, but they are everywhere and they charge actors anywhere from $100-300 to attend!
-Dues Paying Memberships at Theatres: There seem to be a lot of theatre's around that have memberships.  This means there is this pool of actors that are considered for each show because they PAY to be a part of the membership.  This is insane to me.  If it guaranteed me a role, then maybe I'd pay a tiny amount, but just to be considered? You've got to be kidding me. 
-Then of course are all the super scammy agents and managers that require you to take their classes, use their photographers and so on (to get a kick-back of course) and then take much more than the usual 10% agents take from the work you book.  And yes, I have been approached by these people.  Thankfully, I've done my research and know to stay far away.

Then there are the other miscellaneous things like gas, parking, postage (mailing headshots to agents, casting directors, etc) and whatever else that will certainly add up.  Speaking of add up, let's get a total, shall we?  So since I've been in LA here is what I've spent:

GRAND TOTAL: $848.00! (not including future costs to add my reel)

And let's remember that I've only been here 6 months.  There are people that have been at it for decades!  So where has all this blown cash gotten me...absolutely NO WHERE!!  I have not had 1 real audition since I've been out here.  In fact, I've only auditioned for 2 things: a student film and some random indie where I was the only one who showed up.  And the sad part is, that this is how it's done.  Until you have any real credits, no agent will look at you.  And you can't get any real credits without doing all the things I've been doing.  Well unless you are the son or daughter of a celebrity or just insanely lucky.  Sigh...and when you think that it costs crazy amounts of money just to live in CA and there are thousands, upon thousands of gorgeous and talented people competing against you, it's really easy to get depressed and bitter quick.  I'm not down and out quite yet, but putting all the costs and (lack of) rewards down really puts things in perspective.  Ugh. Someday when I book a national commercial that pays $2,000 for a day's work, then I'm sure my tune will change. :)