Explore Talent Exorbitant fees, does not deliver, makes promises they can't keep, charges for public information Internet

I had a similar experience to a previous posting. I signed up for their 7 day free trial on a whim just to see if I could find any movie extra work during the summer. They called me a week later and told me there were "casting directors in my area that were interested in me." They asked me if I was "serious about acting and modeling." I told them I really just wanted to be a movie extra, which didn't seem to phase them. They made it sound like work was pretty guaranteed, and they offered me a three month membership for $70 since I work during the school year. They told me I could be an extra for a feature film and get paid $300 a day, so I assumed it would be worth the investment even if I only got a day's work . (Unfortunately, in my later research, I realized agencies that work on commission are more legitimate...for example, they take 10% of your earnings instead of asking for an upfront fee. Explore Talent got my money and now they have no incentive to get me any work. In addition, other agencies I later found that charge initial fees were MUCH lower and usually offered a money back guarantee.)

In the following weeks, I created a detailed profile and submitted myself for several jobs, but no one ever contacted me for the jobs I submitted myself for. I also followed opportunities on Craig's List and I found that most of the jobs on Explore Talent's website were straight from Craig's List. Explore Talent was charging me for information I already knew. In addition, when I called to ask about why I wasn't getting work, they took the liberty of submitting me for several jobs for which I was not a good match. I could tell they just went down the list and clicked "submit" because there were about 15 jobs they submitted me for within minutes of each other. I got an email for an audition in Las Vegas, which is almost 300 miles away from me. I was also submitted for a job that was seeking a male model. (I am female.) They also submitted me for a high fashion show before I had even uploaded any pictures...there was no way they could have known whether I was qualified for that.

I truly hope that others who read this will steer clear and not make the same mistake I did. You are smart to do some more research before jumping in. I wish I would have been less impulsive and read up on Explore Talent before giving them my money.

Regards.

Anonymous
Long Beach, California
U.S.A.