Just trying to spread the word, if anyone cares. They tried to intimidate me into paying %30 on a job, and would drop me if I didn't. You have been warned.

Please explain in detail!

Did you get the check plus 10% agency fee directly to you?

Also, was this non-union? I know some agencies DO take 20% from non-union jobs.

And how does Mavrick deal with the agency fee? Some agencies just take that 10%. While a lot of ATA and non-SAG agencies take that 10% agency fee plus another percentage from your base rate.

I'd like to hear more too! What kind of job was it?

Here is the situation: I worked a non union commercial, that paid my rate plus 20%. I am a bit confused, as on any contract as well as everything that I have heard states 10%. I was paid my fee minus taxes, and Mavrick was paid 20% directly from production. I then get a call from someone named Eric, stating that I needed to send them an additional 10%. He was very rude, and stated that if I didn't send the money, I should just go somewhere else. Obviously, it being non union, there is no one to protect me. I am not sending the money, so now I am out of an agent. But, I would suppose that a lot of actors out there are too desperate or scared or don't know any better, or are so wanting to be represented, that they could get away with this all the time. Another red flag: They wouldn't put it in writing. I asked to them to send their request via email and they wouldn't do it. They treated me like I was an idiot. Sarah told me, "You obviously don't have any experience with this. This is standard practice". This is the only forum that I know of to actually get my voice out! Thanks in advance for any advice.

I, too am curious if this is standard practice because the same has happened to me (not with Mavrick Artists). If I was paid on a job a "rate plus 10%", my rep still took 10% from my rate on top of the 10% they already got. Hopefully SAM can shed some light on this because I always wondered why an agent/manager would do this? You would think the "rate plus 10%" is sort of a bonus to the actor but it seems in my case and in SMW's case it was actually a bonus to the rep.

SAM, is this just how it goes?

Wow, really, I thought Mavrick was one of the good agencies. I know for print my agent takes 20%, I have NEVER heard of anyone taking 30! Mavrick did send my boyfriend an email saying they saw his profile and wanted to meet him. He didn't go, but I thought they were reputable. Definitely leave if this is their standard, there are smaller agencies that will get you work for the right rate.

I would love to help but I don't know much about non-union work. We don't have a commercial department so everything we do at my office is union. I've heard that some agents take a higer commission (20%) on non-union jobs but I'm not clear how the Labor Department feels about this.

Now let's clear up the whole scale plus ten thing. For the sake of clarity, let's say daily scale is $500 and we're talking about a union job. So if you're paid scale plus ten for a day of work, you will recieve a check for $550. You get $500 and the agent gets $50. And that's it. The agent doesn't get to take another bite of your $500 because by definition, you can't make less than scale. That's why the production company tacks on the plus ten.

On the same note, the agent doesn't get to commission the entire $550 - meaning he doesn't get to take $55.

Hope this helps!

It's common for commercial agents to take 20% from non-union work because the highest a non-union pays is $5000 at most and $350-500 on average.

SAM, that does help...although it only tells me I definitely got short changed! Oh well, live and learn. thanks for your help.

Thanks, SAM, that does help.

Although, I was shocked to speak with someone at LACasting who said that he worked as an agent for years for models (same ideas as non union) and since they make no money for residuals, they "double commission", so, in fact, make 40% off of jobs! He seemed shocked that I didn't know this, but how is it fair that they, who represent hundreds, take 40%, and the actor, who is only one, take 60%?

I emailed to get everything in writing and never heard back from the agency.

Either way, I spoke with the Labor Commissioner and am filing a complaint.

They sent a booklet outlining agent's laws. Something EVERY actor should have! SAG seems to have lost their hold over agencies, so it appears that if an agency is STATE LICENSED, this is the company watching over them. It is a dense read, but very important to note what they are and are not allowed to do. Namely, take more than 20% commission.

Thanks for all the advice, and I hope that people read this and become more business savvy because nobody can help you, ultimately, but you.

SMW - thanks for the follow up!

The agency is not getting 30%. if you check what the +20% is for non-union/print work you will see that it is an agency fee paid to the agency for the talent. Not payment to the talent. So the agent would have gotten the +20% and then taken his 10% from your payment, as part of the agreement that you have with him. Should you have booked that nonunion alone there would be no agency payment.

quote:

Originally posted by blahblahblahblah:
The agency is not getting 30%. if you check what the +20% is for non-union/print work you will see that it is an agency fee paid to the agency for the talent. Not payment to the talent. So the agent would have gotten the +20% and then taken his 10% from your payment, as part of the agreement that you have with him. Should you have booked that nonunion alone there would be no agency payment.

Huh? You're dead wrong. The 20% is indeed not "payment to talent", as you say, but it certainly satisfies the maximum 20% commission you pay the agent. If the agent asked for an additional 10% that would be 30% of the total paid by production-not allowed at all.

Yes, blahblah

though it may be the way some agencies do things, it is illegal according to the labor commissioner, and I am filing a greivance, as I suggest every actor do if this happens to them.