Maryanne Claro Talent Agency they want your money,get you to pay for workshop classes even if you have experience Philadelphia Pennsylvania

Do not be fooled into paying to be on her or anyones website, or to have them give you an ActorsAccess account as you can do this yourself and link it to an agent. Also, if she does not ask you to audition then how does an agent know you can act? Her and many others in Philly will "sell" you hope but don't bite. Her interpersonal communication skills are not even average, this is the nice version I am giving you. Do stay away and you will save yourself. If you want to act then go to school, make conncetions, and don't get trapped.

I don't know anything about the Claro agency, except that they are union-franchised. but please know that fees to be placed on an agent's website is NOT standard practice.  There are several that do it, but it is not a requirement, like a headshot and resume would be.  When someone does have this fee, it's usually (or it should be) optional. If they are legit, they will take the fee out of your first paycheck you receive from a job they booked for you, if you know enough to put that on the table. Why? Because a legit agency is only going to work with you if they think you are going to make money. In the case of a major modeling agency, this practice may be more prevalent as they are a different category (my son was signed to a major one recently.)

I have worked in this business since my 20's (I'm in my 40's now) and my son is on a major sitcom (not as an extra or a day player, but as a regular recurring role) and has appeared in celebrity magazines, websites etc., so I do know a little bit of which I speak :)  Oh, my son is 7 and has never paid fees for any classes, photos, website, etc. or even been asked to do so by his agent.  The first agent that wanted to work with him when he was 5 (they represent lots of Broadway kids and have a client on an Emmy award winning show) told me NOT to put him in any classes at this age because when the kid is talented, casting directors like to see the kid's natural ability.  Hope this helps.

I was going to just ignore your comments when I saw them a few months ago, and leave it to the agency to respond. But since I have come back to this page and read your "update" I had to respond. My son is a current client of the Mary Anne Claro agency. We were referred to this agency by his acting coach. I met her through a well established local training workshop for kids. She highly recommended this agency. She is also represented by them. She informed me that she is usually sent out on 3 or four auditions per week on average. Her excact words "Call my agent, set up an audition, she's really great." Which I did. When we arrived at the scheduled time, we were seen by the receptionist,(The mother) who had me fill out some paperwork on him and looked at his headshot, and zed card. Meanwhile the owner (The daughter)was in her back office on the phone. (Also being observant ) I herd that she had recieved a call from Mike Lemon's (One of Philadelphia's biggest movie casting directors) office asking her for actors to audition for a part. She was making phone call, after phone call, contacting people who fit the part that they were looking for. After my son read for (The mom) and there was a second when her phone wasn't ringing, she called Mrs. Claro out to see my son. She then invited us into her office and my son read for her again. She looked at his headshots, and zed card, and told me she would love to represent him, if I was interested. There was no talk of any classes or extra money other than to post him on the website, which I have found is STANDARD PRACTICE. ALL OF THE AGENCIES IN THE AREA NOW DO THIS. While in her office she showed me a DVD of one of her other clients, and male actor who has been on Law and Order SEVERAL TIMES, countless commercials, and even a movie scene acting opposite ROBERT DINERO!! If you know ANYTHING about the entertainment business, you would know that not EVERYBODY can be a star. And you have to be VERY HUMBLE, and have THICK SKIN. Which judging from your postings you do not. Rejection is a part of the business. A BIG PART. So if you, and your little male friend who claims to have been a client can't handle rejection, or humble yourself to see that maybe you are not as good as you THINK you are, then maybe you need to think about getting into another industry. Are you going to continue to BASH and BADMOUTH anyone who says you need more experience/practice? I would polish my craft, and perfect it. And if your friend only got 1 audition in a year maybe he needs a new look, or new pictures, or to change SOMETHING. Anyone who deals with Mary Anne Claro for themselves will know that you are just a bitter person who seems to be considerably narcissistic. And as for your comment about there being no activity in the office, aside from the phone ringing off the hook, there was a couple being interviewed by Mary Anne's mom, as we were leaving who brought thier little girl all the way from NYC, on another person's recommendation. I would highly recommend this agency, and highly recommend that you look within yourself darby, as to whatever your issues are. It's a tuff business, deal with it, or get out!

I have been represented by Mary Anne Claro since 2002. I came here with a dream of becoming an actress and she was the first person who would listen to me. With her being in the business for 33 years I thought I should LISTEN to her with all her experience. She is very straight forward and if she thinks you have IT she will let you know. If she doesnt then she will let you know that too. Then there are steps to building a career in this business. Can you imagine reading for Speilberg and never taking an acting class? She is going to be honest and tell you whether you can improve your skills. She has been my #1 fan since the beginning. I studied at the agency and since had a very successful career. I have represented Toyota on the International Auto show circuit in which I travel the country for the past 6 years . She has sent me on countless auditions, from commercials to TV and Film. Presently I am also working on a full length feature film due to Mary Anne's contacts. Two years ago, I decided to move to NY and got a NY manager. Honestly, Mary Anne got me more auditions in NY than the NY manager did.
So my question is: if Mary Anne was ripping people off then how did she make it in this business for 33 years? Now you can decide!!!!!

I just wanted to update everyone on some information and insight on what else I just learned about Maryanne Claro Talent Agency.I just met this guy and he told me that he paid for their workshop classes and Mrs Claro also pitched him about paying ,I think around $200.00 dollars to be featured on her website.He told me that he been with them for over a year.He only was sent on one audition which was an unpaid,nonspeaking extra.He also told me that some of the other talent that went through them who already are experienced actors were pushed into taking their workshop classes and spend more money just to put their pics on her website.He said signing up with them and I'm going to quote exactly what he said.''Signing up with them was the worst fucking mistake he made!!''Excuse,my language I was quoting his exact words.If you want my opinion Maryanne Claro Talent Agency advertise their extreme prices more than trying to help the talent or ''hopefulls'' get the exposure they need to make it.It's such a shame how those scam artists manipulate people into paying them all of their money and putting themselves in financial debt trying to get in the industry.Maryanne Claro charges around $500.00 for their classes,around $200.00 or something to put your pics on their website not to mention whatever else they charge you for.My only question for them is Why?Why manipulate people?It's not right.When I was at my appoinment at Maryanne Claro(12/07)she didn't say anything about what their agency was going to do for me or my career!It turned into a sales pitch for workshop classes and I felt pressured and uncomfortable.Their phones wasn't ringing,meaning no clients wasn't calling about work or auditions for the talent.I'm very observant now!Their suppose to be agency had too many rooms.It's obvious they make money off of selling workshop classes and charging talent for putting pics on their sight.What a sad rip off!!I feel sorry for the talent thinking their helping them!!