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Agent "Gallery Fee"

 
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Mike Harrison
M&M


Joined: 03 Nov 2007
Posts: 2029
Location: Equidistant from New York City and Philadelphia, along the NJ Shore

PostPosted: Thu May 02, 2019 8:30 am    Post subject: Agent "Gallery Fee" Reply with quote

I'm guessing an agent's "gallery fee" is paid in order to be listed on the agent's website.

Is this considered "pay-to-play" or a standard thing?

***EDIT: I need to clarify. I'm listed on this agent's website, so the fee is apparently so that I can respond to audition requests. Again: P2P or standard operating procedure?

***EDIT #2: I failed to mention this is an ANNUAL, not a one-time fee.
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Mike
Male Voice Over Talent
I have taken leave of my sensors.



Last edited by Mike Harrison on Thu May 02, 2019 2:45 pm; edited 2 times in total
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Jack Daniel
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Joined: 23 Jun 2016
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Location: SoCal

PostPosted: Thu May 02, 2019 8:47 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Sounds shady to me.
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Jack Daniel
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ConnieTerwilliger
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Joined: 07 Dec 2004
Posts: 3381
Location: San Diego - serving the world

PostPosted: Thu May 02, 2019 10:15 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Mid-west? If so, I told them I wouldn't pay the fee and they unlock my access every year.
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Bruce
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Joined: 06 Jun 2005
Posts: 7921
Location: Portland, OR

PostPosted: Thu May 02, 2019 10:20 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

My feeling has always been that a competent agent should be able cover all their basic representation expenses from the 10-20% fee they get from everyone's bookings. Headshots and demo production are usually talent expenses, but agency websites, postcards, brochures, advertising... that should come out of their pocket.


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Kim Fuller
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Joined: 29 Jan 2011
Posts: 639
Location: Portlandish, Oregon

PostPosted: Thu May 02, 2019 11:24 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I paid a $50 one-time fee for visibility on the agent website, too.

Last edited by Kim Fuller on Fri May 03, 2019 9:06 pm; edited 1 time in total
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todd ellis
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Joined: 02 Jan 2007
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Location: little egypt

PostPosted: Thu May 02, 2019 12:26 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

i paid a one-time $50 web fee to a smallish agency and haven't felt bad about it. they get me loads of work. so, i guess that's the measure for me.
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Bish
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Joined: 22 Nov 2009
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Location: Lost in the cultural wasteland of Long Island

PostPosted: Fri May 03, 2019 5:14 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

On-going (annual) fees are a no-go for an agent.

I have one agent who used a webmaster to add new talent to his roster and there was a one-time $25 pass-through cost for set-up. This wasn't an issue for me as it was nominal (and this agent is a straight 10%... not 15~20%). If the fees are a revenue stream, then the argument for them being a P2P is strong.

I like Connie's approach Smile
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Bish a.k.a. Bish
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Bob Bergen
CM


Joined: 22 Apr 2008
Posts: 937

PostPosted: Fri May 03, 2019 6:40 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

This is yet another union vs non union issue. It is not legal for a union agent to charge any upfront, administrative, or marketing fees. For non union it’s the Wild West and they can do whatever they want. But you cannot blame the agents. You have to blame the talent who say yes to this.
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Lee Gordon
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Joined: 25 Jul 2008
Posts: 6843
Location: West Hartford, CT

PostPosted: Fri May 03, 2019 9:35 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Based upon Mike's edits to his original post, I'd say it definitely smells like a P2P.
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Art
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Joined: 27 Sep 2017
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Location: Atlanta, GA, USA

PostPosted: Sun May 12, 2019 12:13 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

ConnieTerwilliger wrote:
Mid-west? If so, I told them I wouldn't pay the fee and they unlock my access every year.


I had this experience with the Midwestern agency others are likely referring to. I also told them the $50 would be a dealbreaker, and they waived the fee (I felt like quite a wheeler-dealer). And I do get a lot of auditions from them.
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Mike Harrison
M&M


Joined: 03 Nov 2007
Posts: 2029
Location: Equidistant from New York City and Philadelphia, along the NJ Shore

PostPosted: Sun May 12, 2019 6:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

In the six years I'd been with this agency, the only audition requests I'd received were for commercials, and I'd never booked any. So, that, plus the fact I'm strongest in narration, I declined further representation.
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Mike
Male Voice Over Talent
I have taken leave of my sensors.

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Velfin
Been Here Awhile


Joined: 17 Oct 2011
Posts: 252
Location: Currently Eastside Seattle / Formerly SW Minneapolis

PostPosted: Mon May 13, 2019 6:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

One of my favorite agents (MN, now retired) used to charge $25 annually to cover some kind of admin. It felt a little weird, but they were on the up-and-up and definitely got me plenty of work.
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Kendra Hoffman
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