Trying something new

So on a whim, I decided to try to become an extra. I would have done this a long time ago, but full time work tends to get in the way of that. I got an appointment with an agency.

Although the interview started out well, it didn't take long before I was sideswiped with the $160 yearly fee bombshell. This came as a bit of a surprise, because while I was in the lobby, I kept hearing the receptionist telling prospective clients that "No, there isn't any fee." Once I was in talking to an agent, they explained that they charge a fee to make sure you're serious. Every year. Within minutes they contradicted their story by giving examples of how some paying clients don't even show up for their jobs or are an hour late. I guess the fee really works then. They go on about the wonderful money you can make as an extra depending upon extreme circumstances, then let slip the fact that 'plain old ordinary' extras make bupkus (minus the agency's 15%). But it gets better.

They don't actually find anything for you. Every agency client has access to mass emails offering jobs, which you then have to respond to with interest as quickly as possible. I'm guessing then it's a battle to see who gets the job(s).

Once talk got around to whether I would be willing to pay the $160 today, I said no. I told them I needed to think about it. That's when the mood changed in a nanosecond and I was literally shooed out of the office for not being 'serious'. I think what they meant to say was 'gullible'.

I did a bit of research and while there was no concrete information on Alberta agencies, other North American agencies only charge a $25 fee to register for work. I also read that the Actor's Guild wasn't much in favour of any fee being charged to background actors. So - learned something new this week.