Hey guys, I wanted you to all know that next weeks VARIETY will have a whole article about RPM. I just joined the agency about 3 months ago- during the slow months and my daughter booked 2 nationals and her episode of Days of our lives just aired last week- prempted by the Calabasas fire - ugh!!!!

Anyways, I was interviewed by both Variety and Children In Film who are also doing a big spread on them so watch out for it- I know the owner is very unconventional- she thinks outside the box and had a marketing degree before she stated the agency- she is a friend of a friend I went to college with, she is very into the actor doing self promotion and is the first to admit she is a photo stickler because it's so important. Her hubby is a photog so we got a great deal, but were never forced, in fact she gave me a list(I think it's on the website) of other photgraphers they recommend and we met with 2 others and really like the quality and price of her husband the best, but make your own decisions for sure.

There are also rumors that the O'Connels sp? are investing in the agency- the guy who married Rebecca Romaine and his brother.

Just wanted to add to the postings from someone who actually knows and isn't guessing that something so good can't be true. The best of luck to you all!

Are you seriously saying that RPM - an agency I've never heard of, despite being a regular reader of two acting boards - has been voted as good or better than William Morris, CAA, ICM, Gersh, et al? By anybody knowledgeable?

And if Variety is just about to have an article about them - I won't hold my breath - why not wait until the article actually came out?

Care to try again?

I have heard of RPM in passing... but I didn't know they were any sort of big deal. Are you sure it them that are good and not your daughter? Are they a kids agency? Where was this vote conducted?

And no offense to the O'Connells... but it don't impress me if they are investing... they are not exactly heavyweights in the industry (Especially Charlie, who was locked up abroad for a time for drug possession).

BizParentz has received quite a few complaints about RPM. We also know two families who say they are happy (they get commercial auditions and are non-union), although their children have not booked through them.

The complaints arise from:
--Advertising open calls
--"Auditions" for a self-submitted questionable kid project, but then the rejected kids got called by the agency for representation (ie. a bait and switch)
Contacting people cold via LA Casting profiles
--A photo mill operation (apparently the owner of the agency has a husband who is a photographer, and the building is owned by a photographer, etc)
--Signing hundreds of people on at once.

I have no idea what is true and what isn't...just sharing the nature of the complaints. We haven't truly investigated them, but the red flags seem to flying.

Variety IS doing a kids' issue coming up (November I think). I know that the lower level kids' agencies tend to ask their clients for $250 or so to have their thumbnail headshot placed in the agency's ad. It's silly and pointless (and you can see it by who buys those kinds of ads). So maybe that is what the poster is imagining is a "spread".

If they are doing an article on RPM, or if RPM has been voted (by whom?) as a top agency, Variety should be laughed at. It's ludicrous.

A

That is FUNNY! I have heard nothing but bad things about them.

And now that article's about due, eh?

Surely, this couldn't have been just another shill post.....

Sigh...

Hey I was just dropped by RPm and I am in the article in Variety too. That sucks! Just to clarify although I am pissed- the article has been pushed to October and It's the top 3 agencies making a difference in LA- they have lots of charity involvement and are reported as the fastest growing agency for kids. I have been very happy with them but I do know my auditions haven't been to sucesful the last 4 months but it's summer man- no one works during the summer.They did at least give me a nice letter and as I said they are nice people, it just sucks now I have to find another agent- for what it's worth here is my letter. Good luck to you guys

Dear RPM Client-
We have had to review our roster as we gear up for Fall episodic season and as I am sure you are aware of, are disappointed in the results that have been generated from your submissions. This in no way is a reflection on your ability or talent, just a marketing issue that as a business owner I must continually address.

Many advertising and production dollars are being affected by this "crazy" economy and we therefore don't feel it is fair to keep you on our roster without being able to acquire work for you at this time.

We appreciate the opportunity you have given us to work on your behalf and want to make sure you know our doors are always open. This is a very small town, and as our agency and associated production company continue to grow, our paths very well might cross again. We look forward to seeing your future success and wish we could have been a larger part of it.

We will be mailing a copy of this letter with any remainning headshots if applicable to your address on file.

We wish you all the best-
Tiffany Atwood and the RPM Team

So now we have to wait until October, eh?

Going on the very best case scenario here - that there actually IS some project for an article - perhaps the moral of the story is: hype the article when it comes out, not when it "will be" coming out.

quote:

Originally posted by JimChevallier:
So now we have to wait until October, eh?

Or should we be waiting until November?

quote:

Originally posted by mom who cares:
Hey guys, I wanted you to all know that next weeks VARIETY will have a whole article about RPM.

WHO?