The agent Barbara wants to represent me but I don't have much info on her. Anyone know her reputation?

I can have the staff at Secret Agent Man headquarters look into it for you. Send me a PM and give me the complete name of the agency, address and the full name of the agent. Also, let me know what kind of agency it is - theatrical, commercial, etc.

They are fairly new; have been around for only a few years. A friend of mine is with them and says he never goes out-not to say that's necessarily typical. Their client list is underwhelming-nobody with any real credits. I'm sure they are probably go-getters, but at this point they probably don't have a lot of pull with CDs.

Did you end up signing with them? I've got an offer of representation from them, but haven't really seen anything good said about them on here.

I have been with Steinberg's for just over a year. Barbara gets me out on auditions and I booked an overseas commercial. She doesn't get my friend out much. So life is 50/50 but I would recommend her as a first agent to get started.

STEINBERG AGENCY IS BOGUS STAY AWAY, if you know what is good for you and you are looking for an agent Please do not go with this agency, they are a joke and a waste of your carreer and time. They will do nothing benefiting for you and you will end up spending lots of money doing fake Reels, that Gill (another fake agent at Steinbergs) created from sides he gets off the breakdowns or from stuff he makes up. Barbara and Gill will make it mandatory that you get your Reel done before they submit you, and they make you go to this shady Guy named DAN at a place called American Image Gallery or something like that. located in the valley at some small studio. CAN WE SAY KICK BACKS?????

Anyways unless you are rich and have lots of time to waste with BS people then I suggest to steer clear of this agency. Barbara and Gill are BS agency and do not deserve to be in this industry, I am surprised SAG has never done anything for the Actors on this one? Isn't SAG there for us?

quote:

Originally posted by latinoactor123:
STEINBERG AGENCY IS BOGUS STAY AWAY, if you know what is good for you and you are looking for an agent Please do not go with this agency, they are a joke and a waste of your carreer and time. They will do nothing benefiting for you and you will end up spending lots of money doing fake Reels, that Gill (another fake agent at Steinbergs) created from sides he gets off the breakdowns or from stuff he makes up. Barbara and Gill will make it mandatory that you get your Reel done before they submit you, and they make you go to this shady Guy named DAN at a place called American Image Gallery or something like that. located in the valley at some small studio. CAN WE SAY KICK BACKS?????

Anyways unless you are rich and have lots of time to waste with BS people then I suggest to steer clear of this agency. Barbara and Gill are BS agency and do not deserve to be in this industry, I am surprised SAG has never done anything for the Actors on this one? Isn't SAG there for us?

Agreed! Leaving them was the best thing that ever happened to me. I had only six auditions in a year....SIX. Since leaving I have had a lot of success, enough to quit my day-job.

Thats funny, I've been repped by Barbara for the last 2 years. They asked me for new headshots and a reel about every 6 months. I couldn't always afford it and I thought she was a bit intense, but she did get me 4 sweet national commercials that paid very well not to mention several smaller gigs after I got new shots and a reel together now I get about 6-8 auditions a month sometimes more.

For headshots and reels she gave me several people to go to and Dan just had a great deal and the lighting for the photography and video was really good. I was really happy how my reel came out, when I was shopping around there were others that were in the $800-$1200 range for the same thing. For what he charged me I think it was a great deal. It was the first time I went to him and he did a great job. After all I got way more auditions after getting the new shots and reel done.

Other than the last minute notice for auditions I feel Barbara has done a good job for me and her recommendations were solid. There are some things that you really need to get the attention of casting directors. A solid body of work, good headshots and a reel. Oh don't forget networking, the most important of all, you never know who knows who in this business. You can get ahead or just look like a bitter hack.

HI BARBARA!

quote:

Originally posted by ELDORADO59:
HI BARBARA!

HAHA, yeah. Two nationals a year, but just couldn't afford those headshot huh.

HAHA, yeah. Two nationals a year, but just couldn't afford those headshot huh.[/QUOTE]

Before I got the gigs

Zenial you still looking for a day job?

quote:

Originally posted by actingforlife007:
HAHA, yeah. Two nationals a year, but just couldn't afford those headshot huh.

Before I got the gigs

Zenial you still looking for a day job?[/QUOTE]

Oh, I see. You were told to get new headshots BEFORE you booked the nationals. So the headshots they wanted you to replace worked out great. And by ignoring their professional opinion you made out quite well. Or perhaps none of what you had written ever actually happened.

This a message board you have all the time you need. If you are going to engage in complete fabrication in the very least it should make a modicum of sense. Normally I wouldn't care, and would just ignore your comments but there are artists on this board who are looking for ACTUAL advice.

And no, I haven't needed a day job for a while now. Not that I would put anyone down that did, our work ebbs and flows. It's the inherent nature of our business that sometimes we need to support ourselves by other means than our craft. So, by trying to insult me with your comment about my looking for a day job, you have only revealed yourself as one who clearly does not understand or perchance care about the plight of an actor. Or maybe, you truly are, just clueless.

o.k to EXPAND on what "actinginyou" stated above which is ALL true if you know about Barbara and Gil... oh one more thing unlike that post i WILL name names.. the BOGUS guys that BARBARA and GIL (who's NOT an agent) will send you too and TRUST me they WILL make you go through him.. his name is DAN from "American Image Gallery" and YES he does tell you that he needs to run things through GIL first before they can shoot anything!!! can you say "FISHY"?? people use your own common sense Steingberg's Agency is a FRAUD Agency!!

now to further expand YES Barbara will tell you to get more pics, to get yuor reel to do this and to do that.. Barbara and Gil will have you CONSTANTLY meeting with them to tell you what it is you need and constantly keeping you distracted with the BS stuff that they need, that they will NEVER send you on an audition...

true we as actors NEED great headshots and reels etc. but the CRAP reel that they have you do through DAN of "AMERICAN IMAGE GALLERY" you WILL NOT be able to use anywhere and then Barbara (being the genius that she is) will say oh, well don't worry i'll have it uploaded to OUR site??? HUH??? then WHY didn't you say that in the first place instead of having us spend hundreds of doallars with DAN????

unless Barbara and Gil at the Steinberg's Agency already have a MOTIVE for doing so??? can we say kickback??? people they are ALL in this together... Stay away from them!!!

now to address the GIL situation NO he's NOT an Agent!! NEVER has been!! YES he sold peanuts and now he's selliong us actors a HUGE bag of B.S Too!!! it get me so angry that they are still interviewing people to sign with thei agency!!!

i HAVE reported them to SAG who said to me that they've gotten several complaints from them and are going to investigate but people lets not make it just a FEW complaints we need ALL actors who's gotten used to the SHADY practices of Barbara and Gil over at Steinberg's Agency to put an END to them and their DIRTY Dealings!!!

i know they read this so i WILL let them know that there was a fellow actor who not only interviewed with Barbara and Gil in that tiny office with one computer who was miked up with a mini recorder and recorded the ENTIRE interview!!! LOL!!! that's SO funny!!!

oh, i'm laughing at that because that SAME actor stopped by the SAG offices and played it for the SAG REP. LOL!!!! who by the way was NOT too happy to hear the bill of goods that BARBARA and GIL were trying to sell them!!!! LOL hahahaha!!! great job barbara hahahaha oh and gil you and the things you said were even worse than what barbara had to say... LOL.. you guys are INCREDIBLE (not in a good way either)

Check out how so many more people have now added to this board, Becoming popular now. NOW the actors and actresses can Speak out for once about certain scams and scam agents around Los Angeles Finally we have a place to speak out and maybe see something be done about it.
SAG should take care of this agency, it is about time they look into this. With this economy we do not have the time or money to deal with being scammed, by Barbara Lebaron, Gil Farcheesy (something like that) of Steinbergs talent agency.
It is great to see more and more talent speaking out everyday, including secret agent man (a Back Stage Columnist). Thank you fellow actors / actresses for joining forces and helping stop this Scam Agent.
Another Place that has the kick backs is the all so know Argentum Photo Lab, their prices are higher, and they give kick backs in the form of credit and sometimes other discounts to all the photographer, agents and managers. I am just tossing this out here not to change the subject just to make you aware, since we are all venting about scams, why would you want to pay more so that your photographer gets more out of the $400 shoot you just did.

That bounces right back to the Dan thing, what is that tie in, doesn't seem right. Also again where are all the headshots stored when you give them to Barbara and Gill? These days headshots are not needed as much for the agents and managers, mainly you need them in your possession for audition or if you are searching for new management or an agent. Otherwise there are very few reproductions needed. So that's something else for you to think about.
Ok the board is open to the next comment can't wait.

Also does anyone know what the name of that other site is that Dan and Barbara say they are using to put the demo reels on for free? Since Actors access will not let you post a demo reel because it is actually a slate in disguise? What is that site address does anyone know what that is? I did this demo slate garbage and then was told all along I would be able to put it on Actors Access, I dropped off the CD to them, and they said it is $50 to put it up and review it. I left it there after 2 weeks I was told it is not a reel it is a slate and that I am not allowed to use it. I wasted all that money and time which I did not have and had to borrow part of the cash to have it done during the slowest time the holidays. Then I was told that they will take care of the problem, and then they blew me off for over a month. I since then left them and moved on and pretty much ate it on that unusable demo reel. I have not been able to upload it or use it anywhere, it is a slate and i can not use it at all, they assured me i would be able to use it and they would take care of it, THEY LIED, Dan never re edited it either, and it was never added to that other other for free, a huge $400 loss.