THE SUNDAY POST Aberdeen October 22, 2006 Page 8
Equity warning to wannabe actors
By Iain Harrison
A PROMOTIONS firm that claims to find jobs for budding models and TV extras is casting its net in Scotland this weekend. But actors' union Equity has urged wannabe artistes and performers to steer clear.
The company in question, Southampton-based Rondevous, held interviews in Aberdeen yesterday and is due back today. It says it will place the most promising hopefuls on the books of professional casting agencies. To do this it charges between £140 and £180 -- but provides no guarantee of finding them work.
Martin Brown of Equity slammed the firm's tactics, claiming the practice of charging would¬be stars up-front fees is illegal.
"Firms such as Rondevous feed on society's seemingly unquenchable desire to get into the public eye," he said. "Unless they can guarantee a job it's my view that it's against the law for agencies to charge aspiring actors a registration fee.
"Our members have picketed previous auditions held by Rondevous because we don't want to see the public being misled.
"The brutal truth is the only way actors will make it on to stage or screen is through hard work and talent."
Rondevous appears to get round the up-front fee legislation by claiming to be a promotions firm rather than an agency.
Clive Hurst, a member of Equity's governing council, has fought a nine-year campaign against firms that go down this route. He claims Rondevous is "the latest in a long line of unscrupulous companies to try to dupe the public" in this way. He said, "The likes of Rondevous charge up to £180 to place would-be actors, models and extras with a casting agency. But in most cases they don't find them any work and they say they're under no obligation to do so. I believe they're taking money under false pretences."
The DTI is due to launch a consultation on the issue later this year. A spokesman said, "As well as providing advice to individuals on the risks of these practices, the DTI is considering changes to legislation to address them, but without affecting legitimate publications that provide a useful service."
Last month, the Advertising Standards Authority was called in to investigate Rondevous after complaints about its adverts.
Misleading
The ads claimed the firm was "one of the UK's leading management companies for modelling, fashion, catwalk, catalogue, film, TV, stage acting, dance and promotional work".
An ASA spokesman said, "We contacted the advertiser who agreed to amend the ad by removing the claims.
"Another ad for Rondevous prompted a complaint to the ASA that it was misleading because there was no mention that an agent's fee would be charged to successful applicants. As a result the firm agreed to add 'agency fee applies' to its advert."
However, in the ad Rondevous took out in the local press in Aberdeen last week, this declaration was not included.
Rondevous director Mark Vella denied any wrongdoing. He said, "We've been in business for 12 years and we work under DTI rules and regulations.
"We're not a casting agency, we're a promotions company. You get nothing for nothing in this world."
Last night, however, it emerged that the firm's planned auditions at Aberdeen's Hilton Hotel were moved to another venue in the city, seemingly at short notice.
A sign inside the Hilton advised people who had come to audition that the hotel had cancelled their booking with Rondevous. They were instead advised to call a Trading Standards number at Aberdeen City Council.
The re-arranged auditions took place at Thistle Caledonian Hotel, with around 100 hopefuls turning out.