Has anyone from NY travelled to Philly to meet with her? Was it worth it?

I remember there was a thread on this - it's called "Question about a Philly Agency" I couldn't find it directly by using Mary Ann Claro - try the quote above to see.

Basically it said that it was a legit agency but never really did answer the direct question of whether it is worth it to "reverse commute" which was my question as well. My daughter was called in by them and we were going to go during spring break from school but then she suddenly got all these calls from her NY agent and booked a two day shoot so we couldn't go. I haven't rescheduled and I think I've decided, for my daughter at least, that it isn't worth it. She'd have to miss whole days of school for auditions in Phil. and it would be rare for it to be worth it.

I hope this can help.

As far as SAG and Aftra work go in Philly...there is none.
I guess there is some print work out there. But if you are looking for union work you might as well forget Philadelphia. It has all dried up.

Although I must add that the agents in Philadelphia are on the most part professional and probably do submit for NY work.

You are better setting your sights on a good New York agent to get you work.

pj in nj

I'm going to say that I don't think it would be worth it to drive from ny to philadelphia. She is a VERY NICE person but NY is really where its at. I have had better luck finding work myself than from any agent in Philly. I've done 3 indies so far. Mary Ann sent me on 2 auditions within a year and a half. Both non-speaking.

Glad I found this thread, as I was going to post regarding this agency. I sent some materials out to a variety of agents back in January 06 and these folks gave a call.

As I'm based in NY and am both SAG and Equity, I didn't want to waste time traveling to Philly unless it was for a really good cheese steak or for paying, union work.

To be honest, I wasn't all that impressed by the website (looks amateurish) and an actor I know in Central NJ said she charges money to be on her website which in my opinion is a total waste of time as an actor can buy a domain and put up a website for a song. (I should know as I've done this and recommend you do it to folks).

Sorry, but you shouldn't have to pay fees to anyone. For any reason, whether you are non-union or union. DON'T DO IT.

Are there any Union folks out there that have had experiences with her?

If the Claro office has solicited you for "fee money" for the website or anything else, you need to contact the NYC agency department of SAG and AEA and let them know about it. They will tell you how to proceed.

I've also made the trip to see her and she sent me on only three auditions in two years. She really pushes the "website fee" thing. She want you to pay her to put your picture up on her site. She swears the reason why I haven't been sent on more auditions is because I didn't "pay for it". I know another actress who, unfortunately, paid her and she only got sent on one audition. As everyone else has said, don't waste your time. I've had much better success on my own.

Thanks for that info KimQuat. Bottomline seems to be don't bother.

I just signed up with the Claro talent agency. She told me that most of the work that she gets is in NY. So i guess I will have to wait and see about her. Has anyone had any bad experiences with her?

I hope you didn't pay $125 to be on her website.

When I met with her, she had told me that she wouldn't be able to submit me unless it was through her website. I opted to not pay the money but she does have all my info. She should still be able to submit me for projects correct?

Mary Ann is saying that the "$125 is so you can be submitted electronically, because everything is done that way now." Mike Lemon and Greer Lange the same thing you have to pay to be in their database which is that pro agency software. Where does it end - dishing out the money?

It ends when everyone realizes that these people don't get any work anyway and stop giving them money.

Any agency, management company or whatever that charges you to be on their website is full of it.

First of all, it doesn't cost them anything to upload your photo and resume to a website. Second, a website costs a couple of hundred a year (if that much) to have. Third, it doesn't cost them a penny to "submit you electronically".

Their website and anything associated with it is part of their normal business-related expenses and the talent shouldn't be paying for it.

Anyone who charges you for anything other than the standard 10-15% is trying to scam you out of your money.

As for Mary Ann Claro, I submitted my daughter to her quite a while ago. I got a call 2 days later. I checked out her website, found it to be amateurish and unprofessional, not to mention the fact that she offers classes and workshops (How many legit agents offer classes and workshops!??! None that I know of!).

Bottom line is, I never took my daughter to meet with her. I pretty much figured out what she was all about by looking at her website. .