MyArtistsPlace.com, Be Production
Be ProductionMyArtistPlace.com, Be Production talent scam children modeling scout scamster scamming scamsters

My 8-year old daughter and I were approached by a person and were asked to come to a talent screening test (held at Sheraton Hotel in UTC) last Saturday. We went there and my daughter went through what looked like a real screen test (not that we ever went to one before,
so we had no idea what a real screen would be like).

After the screen test, we were told that if they liked what they saw in my daughter they would call us and that everything would be free. We got a phone call yesterday from a talent director named Leah who excitedly told us
that she would like to work with my daughter and that she would like to see us for second interview. Since she told both my wife and I had to come to the second interview, I took the afternoon off from my work
(I work at Grossmont College in El Cajon).

We went to an office suite (8344 Clairemont Mesa blvd, #201, easy to locate since it's the only two story building in that block). There were about 14 or 15 families at the 2 o'clock presentation, including a San Diego police officer (he was wearing his FULL uniform) and his cute daughter. We were treated to an elaborate DVD-based presentation on what the company was
about and was give information on how cheap their photo shoots and other programs were, compared to some other program. There was vague mention about a membership cost during the initial presentation after the DVD show.

At this point, they called in a family into a room for
"second interview". We had to wait as we were one of the last families to be called in. I saw at least three kids who came out of the second interview with tears in their eyes—I asked one of these moms, why her kid was crying and she told me that her child really wanted to pursue
this but that it was alot of money; I asked how much and she told me $1800. I was flabbergasted.

I had done some research on the web the day before and found that if they ask for money upfront, it was a
scam. I saw the police officer's kid go up to the front of the room where they had set up a gong. I said silently "Oh no, not the police officer" as she rang the gong. It meant that she had paid and joined the membership.

Soon, we were called in to the second interview. Leah,
the talent director, gave a sales pitch and pulled out a laminated piece of paper with various membership levels; the lowest membership started at $1200 and all the way up to $4500. When I said no to her offer, she asked me "don't you want to support your daughter?" and
that my daughter was her first choice in a new children's tv program they were developing for CW (presumaly the local tv station). She told me that since I refused to pay, she was going to her second choice. I
told her go right ahead.

As we were walking back to our car, I saw a mother pull in. I told her that they asked for $1200 at least and that this might be one of those scams. She wanted to see for herself and went in.

The company is called Be Productions and their website is
myartistsplace.com and they look very legit. However, they prey on the weakness every parent has. There's very little information on this particular company on the web. Leah, the talent director, told me that they just opened door two weeks ago, so that might be why. I
just went to the BBB website and filed a complaint.

PLEASE, PLEASE, publicize this so people won't be scammed by this and other so called talent agencies.

Company: MyArtistsPlace.com, Be Production
Country: USA
State: California
City: San Diego
Address: 8344 Clairemont Mesa Blvd, #201

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