8772140770

okay so i was watching kdka, a local news station when this commercial came on that said AUDITION! in big letters. then a cartoon girl with pink hair said that they were looking for kids and teens ages 6-17. she said that you could star in Drake and josh and iCarly. i find this a bit suspicious considering that they don't even make new episodes of drake and josh and they both star Miranda Cosgrove, she can't be on two different shoes at once. the number was..1-877-214-0770. then she said they were holding auditions in my area. I don't know if i want to call...help!

is this act thing in pittsburgh real or just a scam

Well, I saw this commercial on tv with this phone number saying theres auditions in my area.  I called and got an audition may 25th [today] at 6pm.  Even after reading all this, I might as well try it out, yknow? they didn't get any credit card information or anything from my mom like they did for anyone else and honestly, the worst thats gonna happen is they're gonna be like 'oh well this is just an audition for our school, not for an actual commercial.'  I don't see the harm in letting your kids go, so long as you bring a parent with them and make sure they realize it might not all work out.  it's probably good experience, anyway.

My daughter heard about the auditions on the radio and thought it would be just a fun thing to do so I called and we went Sunday, July 13, 2008 at 6:00. Very soon we realized that this was just a ploy to get people to sign their kids up for their workshops which cost from $1950.00 to $9900.00. We went ahead with the "audition" just for the experience.
I called back Tuesday and was told a particular "talent agent" would return my call and 4 hours later she did. As I suspected, she told me that my daughter was their number 1 pick from all the girls in her age group and her particular aency wantd to work with her. When I didn't immediately whip out my credit card and just pay them, and started asking questions instead she became very rude and hostile with me. She ended up telling me that if my daughter didn't "want it" badly enough there were a million other girls that did and she hung up on me. I was appalled at the behavior of this so called "professional." Yes, it's a ploy to get money and her "hard sell" attitude was definite proof of that.
I have checked them out with the BBB and their rating is satisfactory but the BBB offers valuable tips about what to watch for with this type of "business." Several of the tips they tell you to be on the look out for are practices this organization is doing.
I'd be very interested in how many other daughters and sons were ALSO chosen as their number 1 pick from July 13. I'm absolutely sure my daughter was not the only one.

Stuff like this makes me so glad I keep main stream television out of my household.

ACT was in Cleveland this weekend, and will be again next weekend. Said they only took 35 out of the 800, but they took everyone we were there with (11 kids).  Said I would have to pay up front, sign tonight.  I told them I had a flat tire and couldn't get up there for callbacks and they requested a credit card on the phone.  It was at the Crown Plaza.  Dates for workshops to be at hotel, still were not booked as of today.  Phone numner was 877-214-0770, call back number was 8772141882, and Zack caller id call back number was 4806865104. Lilly was modeling scout.

okay so i got a call from these people and they are totally scamers they want about 6000 dollars from you and they take you to this one acting class where you totally learn nothing at all so its basiclly useless. dont listen to these people.

JERKS!   The same thing just happened to me and my 10 year old daughter yesterday at the Hyatt located in downtown Cincinnati.  Today I called the hotel to advise them about the scam.  I thought surely they would not want to be associated with this type of criminal activity.

ACT audition scam. Female named Lily. They want $2000-$9000 to provide talent classes for your child.  It is all about the money.  They only want your cash or credit card number.

i am going to this acting place sunday in stamford is it a good idea

they called to confirm the appt I made.  They obviously have called ID because I never gave them my home number, but originally gave them my cell no.  Do not go, ignore all commercials regarding this.  They have made 12 million dollars in a 3 month period.  Over 1 million in one day in Chicago.  They must be stopped.  Lily Neda has a criminal record in San Jose CA.  James Ingram is not an agent!  He is employed by ACT, the talent school.
They do not give what is promised to you.  It is not an audition, but simply to get you to enroll and pay $$$$ to
be a part of a school.
We did go to the audition.  It was a joke.  Hundreds of families hoping for a dream.  They make it sound like you will not be chosen, but in reality they accept most everyone and you call back to find this out.  This is a SCAM!
tell everyone you know!  Glad I found out.

Thank You all for posting.  My 9 year old really wanted to try this I never beleive this stuff but what is is doing on a kids channel.  I am going to file a complaint with my cable company as well as the channel.

http://www.abc6.com/home/related/40804477.html

This news station in Rhode Island did an investigation of ACT while they were in Rhode Island.  Video and comments.  It 's called Dream Makers. Not sounding good.

Yes, this is a scam.  Same story, my daughter heard of this company on the radio, Disney, Nick, etc... so we allowed her to interview, chalking it up as a good learning experience.  Much to our surprise out of the 700 kids that attended the Baltimore session, she was "selected"...along with MANY others I am sure, even though they state that only 8-10 per age group are selected out of the 700 kids. Lily Neda was the "scout" and she was rude, pushy, demanding and unprofessional.  She wanted our credit card number to enroll in the classes, much of what you have heard already.  They are money seekers... protect your children and do not get them involved at any level in this scam.  So sad that a "company" like this exists.

Hello. I just spoke to someone over the phone, and they told me that they needed an answeer before 7pm, I am soo scare that if a give them my credit card number , wounld not get too much benefit out of the workshop.(My dauther is 10 y/o and auditioned at the Marriot in Long Island NY.  on 9-13-09)    Is this a scam?

Thank you for your posting.  I hope you decided not to go with this organization.  I took my two children to auditions in Secaucus on the September 19th.  The staff was really nice and I think the experience was fun for the children.  My spider senses starting going when I read the packet.  We too heard the ad over the radio and thought the auditions were for Disney etc.  I can see now that this is a ploy to get money from parents.  When we saw how quickly we were expected to respond with money and enrollment, I immediately researched this organization on the internet.  Parents, I highly recommend you avoid paying this company any money.  There are a number of legimate performaning arts schools out there with the right connections.  Save your money and do your homework before giving any money.  Thank you all for writing on this one!  You have save us lot of money!

I took my kids to an audition in Secaucus yesterday and today I was called. They liked both of my kids. They said I have to come in today and finalize everything and pay the whole tuition which is 1950 per child. They said if it was too much they would only do one child first. I need to know is this a scam?

We too have fallen victim to this SCAM...Parents, DO NOT let your children audition.  We were very suspicious but decided to let our daughter audition.

Be advised that Lilly Neda, portrayed as a talent scout with years of experience was actually a real estate agent who lost her license in 2007 due to a criminal act.  Stay Away from anything  referred to as The or ACT.

Hey families, i myself have gone through the entire process. I know how this works from the moment you call to the moment you show up. This is in no way a scam, your kids are put infront of an agent and or director of the time of your audition. Its free to do so, none of you have to come back or stay for the entire presentation. How is it a scam? Everything's explained to you from the day you call. You will meet and interview with a scout then interview with the agent on camera were your son/daughter will read a script. Then your free to go home. Very simple, if your kid does not get chosen by the agent or director, well they had a great time. If a scout wants to work with your kid well you have the OPTION to do so. Most kids dont have experience and want to land big parts and get hired. We all love our children but lets be realistic here. Iv seen kids get picked by the agents and start working, it happens. Lilly is a hard worker, just like the rest of us, i think its childish to brings someones past. If parents are mad thier kids didnt get picked by the Agent well then i can see how this is a scam, your defending your kids.

THE EXPERIENCE FROM THE CHILD'S POINT OF VIEW: (well not really "Child" :P)

I did something like this a few years ago. The number was 1-877-214-1894. (Close to the ones being mentioned) I forget some of what happened, but I do remember that I auditioned with a Hershey's commercial thing and then i got a callback. So, we went to that and then we found out we had to pay up to $10,000 for some classes like acting, modeling, commercial, etc. My mom said that she didn't want to pay that much. I remember exactly what the lady said in reply to my mother's comment: "Well. Thanks for wasting my time," she said harshly. This was the worst experience probably in my life and I hope that this will never happen to any other child. Still, years later (about 2-3 yrs) I remember it vividly. I wrote it down. Even the number. I know I will never forget this horrible experience. Watch out for scams, Mothers and daughters/sons. I remember the best part of my day: the guy who collected the $ for our parking. He said, (something along:) "I've seen a lot of girls who's dreams have been smashed by these people. Do NOT let it get to you. You're too good for them," he said as he smiled. It brought warmth to my heart knowing that someone, other than my mother, understood what just happened- even w/o all the details.

Please. PLEASE. Be careful. You never know what is a scam and what is true.

Also: I may have gotten a 2nd callback a few weeks later. Not sure. But I didn't (and couldn't) go to it.