So, you have a kid that wants to be on the Disney Channel?
Here is info about how Disney Channel auditions work and how to prevent your kid and yourself being taken advantage by those that see dollar signs in your child’s dream of being a Disney star.
The Disney Audition pitch (from people who have nothing to do with Disney, Disney Channel, Disney+ or any subsidiary)
Just about every kid from Canada, the U.S. and all the way to Australia would love to be a Disney Channel star. Most kids watch the shows and say “I can do that too”, and maybe they can.
Scammers everywhere know this and have created scams that play on those dreams. They run ads online, in papers and on the radio aimed at getting these people to attend their events in an attempt to separate them from their money.
Is it legal? Yes. Here’s why.
You are driving with your kids and a radio ad comes on saying “Does your child want to be a Disney Channel Star? Auditions are being held this weekend. Call some number and book your slot”.
What you hear in the quick 30 second sales pitch is “Disney Channel Audition”. What they actually said was “Does your child want to be a Disney Star?” They never actually say that this is an audition for Disney. None of these so called auditions are affiliated with the Disney Channel or Nickelodeon. They are held in places far from the actual Disney Studios in Burbank.
It is a classic ‘bait and switch’ sales tactic. They lure people to these events dropping the Disney brand. After people call the number, they are given a time and place to go. They make it sound very real by telling the parents to bring photos and to dress up as if to meet real casting directors. Some of these groups go as far as booking convention rooms at Disneyland resorts or hotels just to make it look more legit and connected with Disney.
These events draw thousands of hopefuls and once there the entire room gets a sales pitch of how their children can be rich and famous. Each family will meet with a sales person who will use a title like ‘talent scout’ or something that sounds meaningful in Hollywood. The sales person (‘talent scout’, ‘casting agent’, ‘talent director’, ‘whatever’) will then take the child in for an ‘evaluation’. To make it look more legit they may have the child read a few lines, pose, or do something to demonstrate their talent. They will go on and explain that only a small percentage of children are good enough for them and miraculously, your child is perfect, except… for a lack of training, a portfolio and whatever else they would like to sell you.
This is where the hard pitch begins. They tell you that your child has all the potential to be the next big Disney star, but only if they take some very expensive acting classes from them, buy an expensive portfolio, or a number of other services they are trying to push. They never come out and actually say they “are casting for Disney” because that would be fraud. But they play on words to make you believe that they are somehow affiliated with Disney or Nickelodeon. They often drop Disney star names and even pay ex Disney stars to attend these events.
The cost? thousands. How much they tell you it will cost depends on how much money they think you have. People have reported being asked to pay $2000 to $8000 at the same event for the same services.
Why the price discrepancy? Because the so called “talent scouts” are nothing more than commissioned sales people who wouldn’t know talent if it fell on their heads. They make their living off commissions from sales, they push whatever they think you are willing or capable of paying so they make something off of you… the sucker. These commissioned sales people masquerading as “talent scouts” can make as much as 40% of the sale, so getting you to sign a $5000 contract puts $2000 in their personal pocket.
These one-on-one evaluations are usually nothing more than the sales people evaluating the parents for financial means. They look at the clothes the parents are wearing and other factors to decide which package to try to sell.
Just like other hard sales pitches, they add a time constraint. They try to get you to make a decision on the spot by claiming that this opportunity will go to another kid if you do not do it NOW! Why the time constraint? Simple, they do not want you to go home and think about it, ask your friends or do your research.
These scams work well for the scammers. If only 50 people of the 1000 actually go for it, that is a 1 day profit of over $100,000 for them… not bad. Once they hooked you in and you actually pay for whatever inferior service they are pitching, they have a entire line up of other services to sell you later. Some people have complained that they were out over $30,000 over this. These companies also have solid contracts that make it difficult to cancel or get a refund after you have signed up.
Once they get the first payment, you feel invested and they make you feel like paying for this, that and the other will make your kid a star.
Protect yourself!
Disney Channel never runs ads on the radio or ads of any kind for sites other then their own websites. Recently, Disney lawyers even got involved after numerous consumer complaints but there are just too many companies doing this and their lawyers can’t go after them all. Even if they get shut down, they re-open right away under a different name.
Real auditions for Disney Channel never have any fees! They will never sell classes, conventions or make promises of fame and fortune. There are millions of kids with dreams of Disney stardom, the reality is that there is only room for a handful in the few Disney shows airing.
If your child wants to act, stay away from anyone promising a fast track to fame – THERE IS NONE, unless you are related to Hollywood producers or Will Smith. Get your kids some reasonably priced acting classes to start and take it from there.
you can also read these articles http://sethkoenig.bangordailynews.com/2012/01/06/whats-happening/attorney-general-warns-about-supposed-disney-auditions-in-portland/
In Florida, where many of these are held, a Disney Channel spokesman had this to say…
“Disney Channel is not affiliated with any acting school or acting workshop, and has not authorized a talent search in Jacksonville, Florida,” said Patti McTeague.
“Disney hires talent two ways, through agents or an authorized casting call,” she added.
Officials also had this to say “Disney Channel television movies cast principal roles in Los Angeles, usually from within the Disney ranks” – what that means is they cast actors they have already worked with for leads in new shows.
You can also read Disney Auditions on the Radio
modeling scams and photo mills
Hey my name is myesha I been wonting to be an actress for a long time now and I will love to have a chance to be on Disney channel, since I was 4 years old, it didn’t happen yet, but I know it will if I believe in myself.
I can sing dance and act. I have all the star qualities and they are all just waiting to be found please email me as I have a lot to offer.
Hi my name is Naomi Luciano.
I love Disney channel and Nickelodeon.
I’m a great student and have great grades. Here is all you need about me:
Name: Naomi Lee Luciano
Gender:Female
Age:11
Race: Mexican/Hispanic
Skin color: tan
Eye color: brown
Hair color: brown and black
Birthday: June 22,2004
School: Golden Gate Middle School
State: Florida
City: Naples
County: United states of America
Height: 5’3
Weight: 80
Talent: Acting, Singing, Dancing,
Mother: Cristina Antonio
Father: Fredy Luciano
Stepfather: Carlos Alvarado
Siblings: Fredy Luciano, Uziel Luciano, Sara Alvarado
Stuff: Wear glasses, have buck tooth, have pimples
Thank you for reading this.
Hello Disney Channel! I am a big fan of all your work and TV shows. I just would like to say that I would be perfect for a role of one of the new cast mates/campers in the new Series of “Bunk’d” Spin off. Now here are some details about me.
Name: Taylor Styles
Gender:Female
Age:13
Race: African American
Skin color: Light skin
Eye color: brown
Hair Color: Black and Brown
Birthday: November/29/2002
Email:
Acting school: John Casablanca
State: Maryland
City: GlenBurnie
Country: United States
Height: 5’1
Weight: 90
Talent: Model, Act, Dance and Sing a little
Parents Name: Natasha/Mother Douglas/Father
Sibling name: Jackson/Brother
This is all the Info you need to know about me and if you need to contact me please send me a message and I will be sure to give it to you. I hope I get picked to audition for this amazing offer. Thank you for reading and I hope to work with you soon.
Hello I’m am A.j. I’m 17 and I love Nickelodeon. I’m like the biggest fan out there and it would be a big dream come true if I could someday act on a nick set. I have all the energy and I’m very enthusiastic about using my imagination in everything I do and since Nickelodeon is like my universe, it sure would make my dream a big big big reality : D.
A.j
I’m reading this article and I feel I’m the only one who understands it. I read through the comments and they are all kids around the ages 10-13 who probably have scrolled past the whole article and began putting down their information and “Sad” stories to try to get recognized, It’s not as easy as just putting your name and age and a bad story about your childhood. You actually have to have potential in acting, and just because you’ve starred in a few plays at school or your Drama teacher says you act well doesn’t mean your ready to be an actual actor or actress. I am a 15 year old girl, and I know I am good at acting but I’m not going to just sign up to whatever until I actually finish school, and get more opinions from professional directors, and accepted into a performing arts college/university. Besides most of you really don’t want to act, you want to be on t.v. and get money to blow. Also for those who did not read the article, it said that those auditions are fake and to protect yourself , also it is said that Disney usually only work with kids they’ve worked with before so stop leaving your comments your not going to get recognized!
I really want to be actor. I have been looking and looking all day long for auditions in Seattle WA but they are all fake. If you are here to help, then be my guest. I am here to Succeed, so please help me with my project and I will help yours.
The official Disney open casting call / auditions are held annually, usually in the summer. The 2015 Disney auditions should be announced soon and I will post the info once they are announced.
Hi I’m Elizabeth and I’m just a girl who really LOVES acting so please choose me. I love Disney channel so much and always dreamed of being on it. So please let me act.? I also LOVE singing.
Hey, I want to be famous.
Hi my name is Hiba and I am 12 years old. I live in Morocco
and we don’t have opportonities to do what we love. Acting was always my
passion because I shy away a lot but when I am in front of cameras or I am on
stage I forget every thing and I become the character that I am playing. I
had some experience in acting just at school but I really want to act in
disney channel. My life is acting and if I act in Nickelodeon or I can be
me and the person who I want to be.
Thank you.
Sheila here all the way from Kenya. I would love to join acting and singing. Am 18 years old and am kind of hoping my presentation will attract many Kenyan viewers and Africans as a whole. I promise to advertise your channel in Africa. Please contact me, Thanks for reading.
Hi there I’m Jocelyn Nkongolo please let me act in Nickelodeon on Henry Danger or Nicky, Ricky, Dicky and Dawn. I’m good at acting. I can act as any character. I write songs and I’m I’m black. Please send me a message in gmail if you would like me to act in 1 of the shows.
I am 14 years old and my dream is to be an actor on Disney channel.
I really want to be an actor for Disney. Being an actor Is a dream.
I am 10 years old, I love the Disney Channel!
I mean I don’t watch it all day long or anything, but I would like an audition, A LOT!
My height is 5 5″ and I can play as a teen any day.
I have been told that I have natural Talent. ( I probably sound really stuck up but I swear, I don’t mean it that way. trust me.)
Also, I can play as any character. I am VERY mature and most of my friends are older
I love acting. I am Badejo olabanji from Nigeria. I would love to be one of the cast members on nickelodeon. This is my opportunity to prove to my family and the world that a new talent has arisen.
I have been watching disney and nickelodeon for a very long time. It would be amazing to be on one of the shows or in an animation movie. I have good experience and I am very creative.
12 years old>
Thank You, Anastasia Adams
Hey,
My name is Daisy Rain Burnworth. I love acting, singing and swimming. I am also joining a model program. I have little experience but I can act really good. I was hoping I would get this part at least to try. I love the camera but I wouldn’t hog it. I am a really nice person and I forgot to tell y’all that I am 11 years old.
I am 13 years old and I live in Mississippi. I have been wanting to be an Actor for almost 3 years now. I am willing to do what ever it takes to be an Actor.
I am 13 years old and I live in Mississippi. I have been wanting to be an Actor for almost 3 years now. I am willing to do what ever it takes to be an Actor. If you give me a chance i want let you down.
Hi , my name is Amyia Jordan. I live in Memphis,TN. I’m 10 and all I want to do is be on T.V. I can sing, dance, act and model. My family would love me to be on T.V., so all I ask for is a chance to shine. If you hire me I won’t disappoint you. I thank you for all that you do and may god bless your entire life.
hi my name is Helen and I am fifteen (15) years old from Nigeria. I would love to be an actress. I love, love, love Nickelodeon shows and I would love to be a part of it. I love acting and I am a wonderful singer, every one around me thinks its impossible but I know it is possible, please, am hoping to hear from soon.
Hi, I’m aliyah and I would love to be on the show Henry Danger. I also love to act at home.
So if you need an extra actor just call me and just tell my mom that
you selected me from my school. My mom doesn’t like me to do other things.
Hi my name is Kimmel Brown. I had a dream since I was 5 years old to be an actor. I’m very good at it. I was in a play called lorax. I live in South Carolina, Summerville and it will be amazing to be an actor, thank you :-*
Hi, my name is Tracy Onyeukwu. I love singing, dancing, reading, acting,s miling a lot but mostly I love acting. Please pick me, it will be a great opportunity for I love Disney shows and wish to be part of one. At least let me have a chance to prove to you that I am worth it. I am hoping to hear from you soon.
Hi my name is Aadele Sill, but lots of people call me Dele. I am 12 years old almost 13. I am 5’4″. I have Auburn/Brown hair. I have all A’s and B’s in school. I have been trying to get into acting for the past 4-5 years. I would love to be in the show Jessie. I think I would be great at this because I am outgoing, funny, I can make friends with almost anybody, I get along with everybody, I can easily memorize scripts, numbers, dates, you name it and I can memorize it. I would be so committed to acting if I get this part. I play basketball and volleyball. If you could please give me a call or email me that would be great!
Thanks!
Aadele Sill
Hope to hear from you!
I love watching disney channel and I think it would be fun to be on it not watching it.
It has been my dream to be a star on nickelodeon since I was little. I really love acting and always been good at it. I hope I get the audition and I hope my dream of being a nick star will become reality.
I too could have been a victim of the scam on yesterday. I have the videos and pictures of the scammers on my phone if anyone wants them to prosecute. I was so furious I left before my son was even able to say his cereal line. There has been, One Life to Live actor that the promoter used to engage the audience was a pure joke. They had us sit in the ballroom for over an hour with small children ranting about this guys life and career on various, has been, shows and complained because people began to surf on phones. He lashed the parents for modeling disrespect by being on phones when they should be paying attention, told us to leave if we didn’t want to be there. The problem was not that we didn’t want to be there, we didn’t want to hear him rant and parade around giving us his biographical sketch as if we cared. He throws Disney’s name around as if he is affiliated, and he’s not. These people prey on working class people because they only run the ads on urban radio channels. I would be more than wiling to help take these guys down. They are horrible. They charge people thousands of dollars for a hope of stardom. Because of their ignorance and willingness to give the kids a fighting chance they go through with it. I wish I had the means to make sure they never did another event in life…..
I took my, then 6 years old, daughter, as well as my 12 year old sister to one of these “Big events” at the Marriott hotel here in Jacksonville, Fl. Well, they gave a room full of hopeful working class people this song and dance and mentioned their agents were once actors in various shows like, twilight zone, disney shows and several others. I had discovered this from a radio commercial, so I JUST KNEW it had to be legit, because the Disney name was being thrown around. WRONG. Well they had all the young aspiring boys and girls line up and they gave each kid a look over and moved through the lines. This salesman known as “Brock” sat me down and told me that my daughter, as well as my lil sister had “IT” and that’s exactly what any proud father and big brother wants to hear. They withdrew $600 almost immediately as soon as I gave the Go Ahead. Two days later, they withdrew another $200. During the first “class”, they insisted all adults leave the room, for privacy, or [so nobody will realize that it is a complete scam], my daughter told me that she was taught to “walk around the room”. I tried to stop payments, but I had signed the contract. It was a legal and binding one, so I cancelled my debit card instead. Only after it cost me around $1,100. These people are the lowest scum of the earth. They should be dragged through the streets. BEWARE!
Hi I’m khushboi, I’m 15 and I always wanted to be on tv to have have my chance in life. I always watched all these shows on nickelodeon and Disney channel and wondered what if that were me on tv with fans. It would be my dream to be on tv. I hope you read this comment and hope to give me a chance and make my dream come true. I am already doing work in a show.
Hi, My name is Juan. I’m 12 years old and I want too be Famous on Nickelodeon. I just hope my wish come true.