Breaking into Show Business Warning

Hampton Roads - These days we are inundated with reality TV shows that launch people into instant celebrity status.  Actor Keith Flippen, owner of the Actor's Place warns there are a lot of people out there just waiting to take advantage of your dream, with intensions of taking your money.

Flippen told 10 On Your Side,  "Anytime you hear fresh faces or people using well known shows like the Disney Channel or such to entice you.. assume you need to have your guard up at the very least..scam is a loaded word, but certainly there are people out there trying to take advantage of your good intentions." He said, if you think about it, why would an agency from a big city like New York or L.A. come to Virginia looking for fresh faces. Those big cities are inundated with people wanting to get on the big screen.   

I spoke with a couple of Keith's students who told me that they both almost fell for a possible scam.  Both said they were promised that they could land a great audition and possibly make celebrity status, but only if they paid money upfront. Luckily, they they didn't fall for the sales pitch.

Flippen says people will seek you out in the mall or other public places and try to sell you things like photo sessions or classes.  He says they use high pressure sales tactics.

And for those of you who want to be the next super model, be cautious of the model search convention representatives that ask for cash upfront for high priced portfolios that you might not need. Ten On Your Side checked out one of the big names in the modeling world.  The Ford Agency, out of New York, only needs a snap shot picture to see what you look like.

Agents are your link between you and your potential job. They won't ask for money upfront because the agent makes money when you get a job, says Flippen.

Breaking into the business isn't easy. First and foremost, if acting is your dream get into a good training class and make sure you're getting into the business for the right reasons.

According to Flippen, "If your intentions are to seek fame and make a lot of money,  find something else to do because you are going to be disappointed very quickly. Making a living as an actor is what I do and hope that any of my students in my studio would come to do."  Before you try to make it on the Big screen -- do your research first!

He says if you are going to get into the business, know that you are going to have to travel out of Hampton Roads for bigger roles.

And for those of you who want to get your child into show business, Flippen recommends not getting your child started until they are at least 6 years old and can read a script.

Here are  a couple links to get you started.

Click here for more on the right and wrong way to break into show business courtesy of The Actor's Place. 

Click here for a link to the Virginia Film Office

You can catch Keith in upcoming episodes of Army Wives and Drop Dead Divas.