My Talent Service

This company's principal Erik Desando has previously owned or operated other talent agencies or talent management companies in Southern California. Our past experience with Mr. Desando's companies has been that the companies failed to obtain and maintain licenses required by the State and some developed complaint patterns alleging misrepresentation of services. Some of these past businesses include but are not limited to Kids and Teens Casting The Hollywood Group and Hollywood Handbook. ~~These companies advertise for talent that imply that by responding you will have started on your road to stardom. If you answer an advertisement they will often tell you outright that they will help you obtain acting or modeling employment. The catch is that everyone who responds needs lessons or training to go before a camera or down a runway they say. This training is really what these companies are selling and their courses can obligate you for thousands of dollars. In reality they cannot guarantee you employment and you will not find such a guarantee in their written contract.~~California law contains certain requirements of advance-fee talent services and prohibitions against certain practices. If the company promises you auditions or employment or if they even ask you for a fee in advance a talent service is considered to come under the provisions of this law. Under the law they are not allowed to charge you for example to provide photographs filmstrips audition tapes or videotapes lessons or training. ~~By law you are entitled to a refund of anything you pay to an advance-fee talent agency if you do not receive the services you were led to believe would be performed. The refund is to be made within 48 hours of your request for it. Additionally you have the right to cancel your contract for any reason within 10 business days of the date of the contract. If you cancel your payment is to be returned within 10 business days.~~If your written contract does not inform you of your right to a refund or to cancel you may demand your refund or cancel your contract at any time without regard to these time limits. If your money is not returned within the 48 hours or 10 days respectively the company is required to refund double your money. Despite the law’s protections if you are not dealing with a reputable talent service you may find it difficult to enforce your rights.