Models, Actors: Beware of the Party For Role Scheme

Every actor and model in Hollywood will run across this scheme at some point, early in their career. You’re new in town or just making the rounds at auditions for a modeling or acting role. You get lucky and appear in a commercial or runway event. Later, you’re approached by an industry insider, usually, they are a casting director or associate producer lurking around the set, and they’ll ask you if you’d like to go to a party.

Now, this is not going to be any ordinary party, they are inviting you to an “industry party” and in most cases, this is a big deal with a lot of promise. You are getting a golden pass to be seen by industry insiders in a more comfortable setting. Agents, working actors, producers, and casting directors are usually present.

The reason why someone will give you such an opportunity is that they see potential in you. Also, it makes them look good to be associated with new and upcoming talent. They usually contact talent agents ahead of time to announce that they are bringing new talent to the party to allow them to be seen in a social environment instead of a stale studio audition.

The downside to being invited to these parties is that some of these industry insiders are not interested in your talent as an actor or model, they are “soft grooming” you so they can introduce you to the “Party for Role” scheme. This scheme is as old as Hollywood itself, and it relies on introducing you to levels of initiation. First, you are invited to an “industry party,” but this party may seem a little off. Yes, there’s a producer or a mid-level actor present, but the majority of the party seems to be small-time film investors and industry floaters. At this party, you’re approached by a casting director or producer that tells you if you are particularly nice to a certain individual, you could be considered for a particular cinematic role. This is part of the grooming process.

If you are “nice” to that particular person, you may be thrown a bone and get a role as an extra in a big-budget movie. The thing is, these roles as extras are easier to get than being tricked into sleeping with someone if you apply yourself or hire a reputable agent.

Dillon Jordan recently admitted in court that he ran a high-end prostitution service for seven years. He said that he sold women to wealthy clients for up to $15,000 and put on sex parties in the U.S. and other countries. The Californian film producer was sentenced to a maximum of five years in prison in New York City.

Jordan’s sentence sends a strong message to actors and models who want to advance their careers but may get caught in a vicious circle of providing sex in exchange for acting roles. His sentence of five years in prison shows how seriously the law takes these matters and will hopefully deter others from engaging in similar illegal activities. It is only right that Jordan faces the full extent of the law and takes responsibility for the harm he caused to so many victims.

In Summary

A crooked road is paved with a series of straight lines. You may feel the temptation to go along with one party favor, but that one mistake can easily be manipulated to get you to go along with other “dates” to secure more roles as an actor or runway shows for models.

Industry parties are a necessity in Hollywood, New York, and other hot locations around the world. Most of these parties are great for networking and getting to know the industry’s movers and shakers, but keep in mind that there are some unscrupulous players in the game looking to take advantage of inexperienced talent.

There are only 3 things to keep in mind to stay safe

  1. Have fun, but never leave with a stranger you have been introduced to at a party. Exchange numbers if it’s about business and take an Uber or Lyft home.
  2. Bring a friend if it’s allowed but let your friend know that you are only leaving with them. If you split up at the party, do not linger away too far from each other.
  3. Leave the party before it winds down. Always have a place you need to go after the party as an excuse for why you have to leave.
  4. Don’t be nervous, just be aware. Have fun, mingle and network. In most cases, you are there to further your contacts and career. When predators realize you are aware of the game, they usually stay far away from you to make sure you do not expose them.
Olivia Salinas
Olivia Salinas

Journalist and writer for NY Style and Millennial Entrepreneur Magazines covering music, modeling and the fashion industry.

Making a Name for Yourself: Starting a Creative Business in Los Angeles on a Shoestring Budget

Los Angeles, California is a city full of opportunity and creativity. For those looking to start their own business or pursue a career in a creative field, the options are endless. However, starting a business or pursuing a creative career can be expensive, especially in a city like Los Angeles. But fear not, there are many creative jobs that can be started for very little money. In this article, we’ll explore 10 creative jobs that you can start for little to no money if you move to Los Angeles.

Freelance Writing: If you have a passion for writing, you can start your own freelance writing business for very little money. You can write for blogs, magazines, and websites and work from anywhere. It’s all about volume. If you can produce copy for Facebook and Instagram ads as well as several blog posts a week, you can make more than enough money to sustain yourself in LA. One of our writers, Olivia Salinas found us online and contacted us about writing for us as a guest blogger. At the time, she worked at a ghost kitchen near Santa Monica, making $17 an hour. Now she guest posts for several blogs that allow her to backlink to her own blogs and advertisements. She now makes an extra $2,600 a month in her spare time by posting. She uses AI writing programs like AnyWord to crank out written copy from her ideas for blogs and ads. With that extra cash infusion, she put a down payment on her own apartment in Korea Town (previously living with 3 roommates), and she plans to expand her client list of blogs this year.

Photography: If you have a passion for photography, ignore what others are doing in the beginning and offer your work for free and through a membership. You can start your own photography business for very little money when you start an Unsplash and Patreon account. Use the Unsplash account to allow people to download and use your work for free. People who love your work on Unsplash will go to your connected Patreon page and join your membership plans to download even more beautiful pictures that in turn sustain your profession. It’s a better way to start your career than waiting to be “discovered.” You can also take video snippets and sell them on platforms that share revenue with you when someone buys the right to use your picture or video.

Graphic Design: The trick to being a busy graphic artist is to reach out to businesses that don’t even know they need you. Send them examples of beautiful logos and ad banners, establish yourself on social media and you can start your own graphic design business for very little money. You can even hire professionals online to do the work for you as a subcontractor for just a few dollars and sell the work for hundreds in LA.

Event Planning: Are you extremely organized and love putting together events? You can start your own event planning business for very little money. You can plan events such as weddings, parties, and corporate events. Surprisingly, there aren’t enough mid-level event planners in LA. It seems that entrepreneurs aim for high-end and low-end clients. Yet the client who wants to just hire a chef and a couple of waitstaff is stuck in the middle with no real help.

Music Production: Music is another reason why people move to LA. You can start your own music production business for very little money. You can produce music for artists, TV shows, and movies. Again, you do not need to be a musician or work out of a music studio. You can subcontract music production and make a living selling the work. Many music platforms are looking for someone to create music or beats for other artists to use in their projects and productions in and around Los Angeles. Use your social media to send people directly to your automated website, where they can download free beats or music. This will get them interested in buying your more intricate work.

Fashion Design: Fashion is the key to Los Angeles. You can design clothing and accessories and sell them online or at local markets. Better yet, rent clothes for special events. You don’t even need to have your own clothes to rent. Friends and family have wonderful items in their closets. Everything from wedding dresses to designer purses. Take photos and post them on social media and eventually, your own automated website. Make a rental agreement using ChatGPT beforehand that covers both you and the person allowing you to use their clothes and other items.

Filmmaking: If you are passionate about filmmaking, you can start your own filmmaking business for very little money. You can make short films and sell them online or on streaming platforms. Special effects as well as movie, and video editing can be subcontracted out without having any skills of your own in those endeavors. In fact, a high-end film can be shot using today’s mobile phones and post-lighting magic for a few hundred bucks and sold to streaming platforms like Netflix or uploaded to YouTube.

Voiceover: If you have a good voice, you can start your own voiceover business for very little money. You can do voiceovers for commercials, video games, and animation. Also, there are mobile apps that can enhance your voice’s treble and bass while eliminating background noise. The opportunities are limitless if you expand your reach using work platforms like Fiverr or create an automated website with your examples and offer your work per word or paragraph. There are Fiverr offerings that offer $15 for 100 words. That may not sound like much until you realize they get several requests per week, and some are for 1,000 words or more. Do the math and you’ll see that some are making several thousands per month.

Makeup Artistry: Are you really into makeup? You can start your own makeup artistry business for very little money. You can do makeup for events, photoshoots, and even movies. Get in touch with students or new photographers and film producers and offer your skills for free in exchange for credits. Use those credits and examples to build a reputation through social media. Build a website with price options and start a makeup line you can sell to artists you work with.

Acting: If you have a passion for acting, you can start your own acting career for very little money. You can audition for roles in TV shows, movies, and commercials or start your own production house that provides opportunities for actors to shine and build a portfolio through YouTube or other streaming platforms. Offer your services to student film producers to build a resume and to bring aboard other actors who will pay to build their resumes as well.

Los Angeles is a city full of opportunity and creativity. With a little bit of hard work, passion, and creativity, you can start your own business or pursue a career in a creative field for very little money. Remember, the key to success is to follow your passion and never give up on your dreams.

Los Angeles is a great place to start a creative career, and the cost of living is not as high as you might think. With a little bit of hard work, passion and creativity, you can start your own business or pursue a career in a creative field for very little money. So, go out and make your dreams come true!

Armand Lucas
Armand Lucas

Journalist and editor for NY Style and several other magazines and websites. Currently working on a book about the Quebecois in Canada and how the culture is related to Cajun Louisiana.

Cheap and Chic: How to Enjoy and Live in LA on a Tight Budget

Living in Los Angeles can be expensive, but it doesn’t have to break the bank. With a little bit of planning and some creativity, you can enjoy all that the city has to offer without breaking the bank. Here are some tips for how to afford to live in Los Angeles on a budget:

Take advantage of free events and activities: Los Angeles is full of free events and activities, from outdoor concerts and festivals to museum days and art walks. Keep an eye out for free events in your neighborhood or check out websites like Eventbrite, LAist, and Time Out LA for listings.

Look for affordable housing options: Rent in Los Angeles can be expensive, but there are ways to save on housing costs. Consider sharing an apartment or house with roommates, or look into options like house hacking (renting out part of your home on Airbnb) to offset your costs. You can also try looking for housing outside of the city center, which tends to be more affordable.

Cook at home: Eating out in Los Angeles can be expensive, but cooking at home can save you a lot of money. Consider meal prepping on the weekends or joining a community-supported agriculture (CSA) program to get fresh, local produce delivered to your door. You can also look for affordable grocery stores or farmers’ markets in your area.

Use public transportation: Los Angeles has a comprehensive public transportation system, including buses, trains, and bike-sharing programs. Using public transportation can save you a lot of money on gas and car expenses. If you do need to drive, consider carpooling or using ride-sharing services to split the cost.

Find discounts and deals: There are many ways to save money on things like entertainment and dining out in Los Angeles. Look for discounts through websites like Groupon, LivingSocial, and Yelp, or sign up for newsletters from local businesses to receive special offers. You can also try dining at restaurants during off-peak hours or taking advantage of happy hour specials.

With a little bit of planning and creativity, you can afford to live in Los Angeles and still have fun. Take advantage of free events and activities, look for affordable housing options, cook at home, use public transportation, and find discounts and deals to save money and enjoy all that the city has to offer.

Olivia Salinas
Olivia Salinas

Journalist and writer for NY Style and Millennial Entrepreneur Magazines covering music, modeling and the fashion industry.

Fashion Entrepreneur 101: How to Turn Your Love of Clothes into a Passive Income Stream

Are you tired of staring at your overflowing closet, filled with clothes you barely wear? Do you have a drawer full of barely-used purses and a jewelry box that’s practically bursting at the seams? If so, it’s time to turn your fashion hoarding habits into a passive income stream by renting out your gently used clothing, purses, and jewelry!

With companies like Rent The Runway and Vivrelle, it’s easier than ever to turn your fashionista lifestyle into a lucrative side hustle. Simply sign up for one of these platforms, upload pictures of your gently used items, and set your own rental prices. Then, sit back and let the money roll in as fashion-forward individuals across the country borrow your style for a fraction of the cost of buying new.

Not only is this a great way to make some extra cash, it’s also environmentally friendly. By renting out your clothes and accessories, you’re helping to reduce the demand for fast fashion, which is notorious for its negative impact on the planet.

But just how much money can you make by renting out your clothes, purses, and jewelry? The answer is: it depends! It’s all about supply and demand. If you have highly coveted designer items in excellent condition, you can potentially make a significant amount of money. On the other hand, if you have more basic items in good condition, you may not make as much, but you can still earn a decent amount of extra cash.

To maximize your earnings, it’s important to keep your inventory fresh and up-to-date. This means regularly adding new items and getting rid of items that are no longer in demand or that are in poor condition. It’s also a good idea to set competitive rental prices that are fair for both you and the renter.

Overall, renting out your clothes, purses, and jewelry can be a fun and easy way to make a little extra money on the side. So if you have gently used fashion items collecting dust in your closet.

So why not give it a try? You never know, you might even discover that you enjoy being a fashion entrepreneur. And with a little bit of luck, you might even turn your passion for fashion into a full-time career. Happy renting!

Olivia Salinas
Olivia Salinas

Journalist and writer for NY Style and Millennial Entrepreneur Magazines covering music, modeling and the fashion industry.

Pros and Cons of Signing with a Modeling Agency

Modeling agencies can be a great way for aspiring models to get their foot in the door and start building their careers. However, it’s important to be aware of the potential drawbacks and pitfalls that can come with working with a modeling agency, as well as how to avoid scams that prey on unsuspecting models.

One of the main pros of working with a modeling agency is that they can provide access to a wide range of opportunities and clients. Many agencies have relationships with top brands, designers, and photographers, which can be extremely valuable for up-and-coming models who are looking to gain exposure and build their portfolios.

Another benefit of modeling agencies is that they can provide support and guidance to their models. This can include things like portfolio development, casting assistance, and contract negotiation. For models who are just starting out and may not have a lot of experience in the industry, this can be incredibly helpful in navigating the often-complex world of modeling.

However, there are also some potential downsides to working with a modeling agency. One concern is that some agencies may take a large percentage of a model’s earnings as a commission. This can be especially problematic if a model isn’t booking a lot of work or if their rates are on the lower end. It’s important for models to carefully review the terms of their contracts and make sure they understand exactly what they are agreeing to in terms of commissions and fees.

Another potential issue with modeling agencies is that they may not always have their models’ best interests at heart. Some agencies may prioritize their own financial gain over the well-being and success of their models, pushing them to take on jobs that may not be in their best interests or that may be unsafe.

One way for models to protect themselves is to do their research and choose an agency that has a good reputation in the industry. This may involve asking for references from other models who have worked with the agency, or checking for any negative reviews or complaints online.

Models should also be wary of scams, which unfortunately do exist in the modeling industry. These can take many forms, including fake modeling agencies that charge upfront fees for “services” that are never provided, or “photographers” who promise to shoot portfolio-worthy images but end up delivering low-quality or even inappropriate content.

To avoid these scams, models should be careful about who they trust and be sure to do their due diligence before committing to any opportunities. This may involve verifying the legitimacy of an agency or photographer through industry sources or online research, and never paying upfront fees for services that haven’t been rendered.

Overall, while modeling agencies can be a valuable resource for aspiring models, it’s important to be aware of the potential drawbacks and to do your research to ensure that you are working with a reputable and trustworthy agency. By being cautious and taking the necessary precautions, you can avoid scams and focus on building a successful and fulfilling career in the modeling industry.

Armand Lucas
Armand Lucas

Journalist and editor for NY Style and several other magazines and websites. Currently working on a book about the Quebecois in Canada and how the culture is related to Cajun Louisiana.

Making Your Mark in the Entertainment Industry: How to Become a Talent Agent

$34K to $130K Per Year

Are you tired of your mundane 9-5 job and ready for a career change? Have you always dreamed of discovering the next big thing in the entertainment industry? If so, then it might be time for you to consider becoming a talent agent!

But don’t let the glitz and glam of Hollywood fool you – becoming a successful talent agent takes hard work, determination, and a little bit of luck. Here’s a guide on how to make your dreams of discovering the next big star a reality:

Network, network, network! The entertainment industry is all about who you know, so it’s important to get out there and meet as many people as possible. Attend industry events, join professional organizations, and make connections with established agents. You never know when that chance encounter might lead to a lucrative business opportunity.

Learn the ropes. Before you can represent anyone, you need to know how the industry works. Take some classes on entertainment law, read up on industry standards, and familiarize yourself with the various talent agencies and their areas of expertise.

Know your clientele. As a talent agent, you’ll be responsible for representing a variety of clients – from actors and musicians to writers and producers. It’s important to know what type of talent you want to specialize in and how to market them effectively.

Be persistent. The entertainment industry can be a tough nut to crack, and it’s likely you’ll face a lot of rejection before finding your first big client. Don’t let that discourage you – keep networking, learning, and pitching your clients to potential employers.

Don’t forget to have fun! While it’s important to be professional, it’s also important to enjoy the ride. You never know who you might meet or what opportunities might come your way, so make sure to embrace the unpredictable nature of the industry.

So, if you’re ready to break into the world of talent representation, don’t be afraid to follow your dreams. With a little hard work and a lot of determination, you could be the one discovering the next big thing in entertainment. So, get out there and start representing!

Armand Lucas
Armand Lucas

Journalist and editor for NY Style and several other magazines and websites. Currently working on a book about the Quebecois in Canada and how the culture is related to Cajun Louisiana.