Should I spend a lot of money to go to a convention like this?

[ironpony]

I'm taking some filmmaking classes and they asked if I want to go to this convestion, which would cost money:

 

https://www.faceswest.com/

 

They said to go for the acting mostly and I can get my foot in the door, but is it worth spending the money to go to that, even though I may not get picked for anything?

 

I am working a job I hate now, and have not been able to find better jobs. So maybe it is worth it therefore, since I can't find anything in my own city. It's just that if I go, it's coming up very soon, so I would have to either fake 6 six days probably to go, and or quit the job now, even though I may not get any gigs out of this convention. But at the same time, jobs are really crappy where I live.

 

What do you think?

[alphamale]

I didn't know you wanted to be an actor or model. I thought you wanted to be a director and make movies.

[ironpony]

I like acting as well. I enjoy doing that as well. I want to do both but it would this also be a foot in the door?

[clia]

I don't know much about this industry, but this looks scammy to me.

 

What do you know about this conference? How much does it cost? (Website doesn't even say.) Who exactly is going to be there and what are their credentials? How many people that go actually end up with an agent or acting job as a result of the conference? (The "Alumni" and "Testimonial" pages indicate to me that it seems heavily model focused as opposed to actors.) How many opportunities will actually apply to you (as opposed to them looking for 18 year old female models)?

 

Personally, I'd be very cautious about spending a lot of money on something like this. Can you find anyone who has actually gone to it to get their perspective on whether it was worth it?

[d0nnivain]

On some level you will be investing in yourself. You have to do that in any industry -- get an education; get your resume together; get headshots; buy new clothes to make a good impression etc. It's kind of late in the game to be registering for this now. You probably missed the early bird discounts which were 6 months ago. You need to pay better attention to the industry events. From what I can tell you have yet to put yourself out there. You just post here & dream but never take action.

 

This does sound like a decent networking opportunity. It will be a way for you to talk to like minded folks & get ideas & leads to follow your dream.

 

It really depends on whether you have the time, the money, & the drive.

 

Some internet sites do claim this convention is a money making opportunity for the agency running it. It's about the agency not the casting companies.

Edited November 5, 2019 by d0nnivain

[elaine567]

https://www.faceswest.com/alumni - Success stories - none of these people look older than about 20.

You are 35, where do you fit in here?

[Art_Critic]

No.. if only for the reason you are all over the map with your thoughts and life right now..

 

You need some consistency in your life and you also need to figure it all out so you can stop floundering in the wind.

[alphamale]

I want to do both but it would this also be a foot in the door?

 

probably not ironpony. it sounds like a cattle call to me

[LivingWaterPlease]

ironpony, if you want to get into acting and/or modeling go to a commercial photographer who routinely photographs models for print work. Get some photos that show the type of look you want to portray, (head shot, business, mommy look, sports, etc. most probably at the age of thirty-five), get the best most representative ones printed on a 5"X7" card and take it to a talent agency. If you have what they're looking for you'll get in. If not, classes or attending events such as the one you linked to aren't going to make much of a difference.

 

Once you begin working you'll find there are businesses who will contact you to try to get you to take classes (take your money). IMO there are some talent agencies who actually sign up hopeful prospects in order to funnel them into classes the agency offers in order to profit from them.

 

I wouldn't attend the event you linked to if it involved any type of monetary or scheduling sacrifice. And if you have the time and money I wouldn't attend with expectations of getting work from it. Not saying it couldn't happen but it's not likely to.

[schlumpy]

Is there some local theater you can become involved with?

[preraph]

I've been to several entertainment conventions to do with music when music was huge, and no one is handing out jobs at those things. And if they do, it's to some 20 year old hottie as a means of getting her up to their suite.

[RecentChange]

That appears to be a convention for models.

 

Save your money. You aren't prepared, you won't be getting an acting education there, nor are you the focus of what the talent searchers are looking for.

 

Here's the deal - I attend conventions occasionally to get business (law conferences mostly).

 

First I research to find out who has attended past events. I find research the type of work they do to see if it will fit into what I have to offer.

 

Once a conference appears promising, I go, study the attendee list against my research, and then go target those people hoping to be able to have a conversation with them where I can show what I have to offer them.

 

All goes well, I end up landing some new customers.

 

Going to this thing and wandering around hoping some scout will think you are the next new face is not likely to be fruitful.

[preraph]

I would just add that the people who get invited to the inside things are people who have been sponsored by some company to be there. For instance, I had a couple of different record labels pay for me to go. I was a client of theirs. While there, they introduced me to new bands, etc. I attended the panels I was interested in, and you can go up and introduce yourself afterwards, but you'd have to be a networking genius to get anything tangible out of one of those. If you're not sent by someone and already known, then you won't be invited to the private things, though there will be things everyone can attend. I wouldn't risk your job for that, though.

 

Maybe you should just do a weekend or weekday at SXSW in Austin sometime and just see if you meet anyone.

 

Your best chance of getting into that field is starting by taking the college classes for it and maybe you'll get lucky and get to work on a school film that launches a director's career. My best friend worked with the Coen Brothers in Austin on projects, worked on Slackers, went on to work on a MalPaso film, still is on talking terms with the brothers because they go way back, but she's long out of that industry, having inexplicably abandoned it up to marry and have a kid. She always needed her day job doing it anyway, though. Not like it was big money.

Edited November 5, 2019 by preraph

[ironpony]

That appears to be a convention for models.

 

Save your money. You aren't prepared, you won't be getting an acting education there, nor are you the focus of what the talent searchers are looking for.

 

Here's the deal - I attend conventions occasionally to get business (law conferences mostly).

 

First I research to find out who has attended past events. I find research the type of work they do to see if it will fit into what I have to offer.

 

Once a conference appears promising, I go, study the attendee list against my research, and then go target those people hoping to be able to have a conversation with them where I can show what I have to offer them.

 

All goes well, I end up landing some new customers.

 

Going to this thing and wandering around hoping some scout will think you are the next new face is not likely to be fruitful.

 

Yeah that's what I thought too, which is why I didn't pay as much attention to it, but I am told that they do actors as well, so I should go for that, at least that is what the agency told me, and they would be representing me if I did.

[d0nnivain]

I am told that they do actors as well, so I should go for that, at least that is what the agency told me, and they would be representing me if I did.

 

If you have to pay the agency up front, as opposed to a % of your earnings after they get you a job, it's a SCAM.

 

You may be better served spending the $$$ on filmmaking lessons.

[mrs rubble]

If you have to pay the agency up front, as opposed to a % of your earnings after they get you a job, it's a SCAM.

 

You may be better served spending the $$$ on filmmaking lessons.

I used to do some modelling back in my 20's, the agency I was with ran an acting course, which I paid to do, after I had done it and their photographer had taken my pictures I was then put on their books. I did get sent to auditions and I did land a couple of jobs that paid very well. So in my opinion it was well worth the initial outlay.

[Watercolors]

Life is short, ironpony. Go, if you have the money saved. Quit that horrid job. Go and have fun for 6 days with some of your acting school classmates.

 

It's an experience. Why not? You never know what will come from it. You never know.

[ironpony]

Well I think it's 800 dollars, plus the fight and hotel. It's just in 15 days now so that is really pushing it. I guess that means if I did go, I can't give two weeks notice.

 

However, I could also wait for the others to come back and see if any of them got anything out of it, and then weigh what it's worth that way. But that would mean I have to wait another year... I talked to one person who went, she said she got a couple of gigs out of going once so far, but do not have any other opinions so far.

Edited November 6, 2019 by ironpony

[d0nnivain]

I used to do some modelling back in my 20's, the agency I was with ran an acting course, which I paid to do, after I had done it and their photographer had taken my pictures I was then put on their books. I did get sent to auditions and I did land a couple of jobs that paid very well. So in my opinion it was well worth the initial outlay.

 

 

Paying for classes & photos is fine. Paying for their agency services in advance is a problem.

[ironpony]

Yeah if I went, they would get the photos done for me beforehand, I would think. but it might be too late to now with only about two weeks left, not sure.

 

I talked to one actress I know, and she said to forgot the convention if it's too soon now, and just keep email resumes and headshots to people in bigger cities with more filmmaking jobs, and say you are willing to move out there for a while and see if they will hire you, but would doing that actually work?

Edited November 6, 2019 by ironpony

[LivingWaterPlease]

You can begin with an agency by modeling, then you'll most likely begin to have opportunities to go on auditions for small projects, commercials and industry training videos. Don't take classes until you begin to get work. They'll start you out slowly with auditions so you'll be able to figure out as you go along if you need classes, etc.

 

Most important thing for you to do at this point is to find a good commercial photographer. Ask to see his/her portfolio. You don't want to go to someone who does glamor shots or family photographer.

 

Before you go decide on what looks you feel you best represent. For a thirty-five year old the mommy look or business woman look is great. Another look you may be able to do is with sports equipment. You probably won't be doing glamorous photos or videos.

 

Put your money on photographs only; not classes at this point. You can segue into acting from modeling. Then when you begin getting acting jobs you'll have an idea as to whether or not classes will be beneficial and if it's something you're even still interested in pursuing.

 

Also, find some local talent agencies so that you can take your photos to them (on a 5'X7"card) and meet them.

Edited November 6, 2019 by LivingWaterPlease
additional info

[ironpony]

Oh okay, it's just I am already taking classes for it. What's wrong with classes?

[LivingWaterPlease]

Oh okay, it's just I am already taking classes for it. What's wrong with classes?

 

Nothing's wrong with classes if they're free but if not you're spending money you don't need to spend to get started. If you get with an agency and you have any talent at all for acting they'll recognize it and begin to send you out on small projects for auditions. If they don't, don't mean to be harsh, but it probably means you don't have the look, the talent, or both. And no use throwing your money down the drain.

 

Get your photos, spend your money to get very good ones, sign with an agency and at least use the money you earn from modeling to pay for classes if you're going to take classes at all. You just need to have a look if you want to model. If you begin to get a lot of smaller acting parts or even if you get sent on auditions, then you may want to think about paying for an acting class.

 

If you sign with someone they're going to want to profit from any talent you may have so they will be interested in getting work for you if there's possibility.

 

Re: photos. When you ask to see the photographer's portfolio you are looking for ads the photographer has done for publications that have actually been published. You want to see plenty of these that have models in them. You obviously want to tell your photographer what you're going to do with the photos. Listen to her/his advice if they give any at all. But, don't expect any guidance.

Edited November 6, 2019 by LivingWaterPlease

[ironpony]

Oh well i thought i would still take the classes cause i thought it would be good for me to learn more though. But I'm guessing it's probably too late to go now and i missed my chance, even uf i fake sick days.

[LivingWaterPlease]

If you've already paid, keep going to the classes. Not sure if you're taking some or contemplating it. I'm just saying don't pay for more classes if you have the appearance to begin modeling first.

 

I've been posting to you based on the assumption that you believe you have modeling potential. If you don't believe you do and just want to act as a character actor I really can't advise you on how to get started.

 

I'm coming from the angle of modeling first and segueing into acting. If you have a good look you can do this. I can't see you, obviously so you must determine that and have the confidence to contact an agency with photos. Am just telling you that you can get started that way as I have a friend whom I know very well who has been successful in modeling then acting with no prior classes or experience by this method I have described to you.

 

Not sure why you want to do it but can also tell you it's not very glamorous and can be difficult in many ways. I wouldn't want anyone in my family to pursue this type of work. You need a very strong moral compass and inner strength to stay true to yourself and also to survive. I'll add that one of my children, when underage was heavily pursued due to affiliations, to do this type of work and I wouldn't allow it.

Edited November 6, 2019 by LivingWaterPlease