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Professional Talent Warning

There is an audition for the University of Phoenix this weekend that is listed on various online classifieds and social networking sites that may hurt your career if you work it. The notice specifically states "No Agent" (please do not audition if you're signed with an agent). There is a reason why agents do not want talent working on forever buyouts and that reasoning should extend to up and coming talent without an agent as well. Let me explain the issue... The University of Phoenix is a member institution of The Apollo Group, a public company that is traded on the NYSE. Last year, 2007, they had revenue of 2.7 BILLION DOLLARS! They are offering talent $300.00 for a FOREVER buyout for the session and your image and therefore your endorsement! This limits the talent from ever accepting any work from any competitor FOREVER! In this business it is called a "conflict of interest". THIS KIND OF WORK HURTS THE ENTIRE INDUSTRY AND ALL THOSE INVOLVED SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES AND HAVE A HARD TIME SLEEPING AT NIGHT, THOSE INVOLVED AT THE UNIVERSITY OF PHOENIX INCLUDED. Please pass along this warning to naive unrepresented talent.

At 10:24pm on June 5th, 2008, Raquel said…: University of Phoenix needs to spread their billion dollar love and pay talent what they are worth....hey...didn't they pay a couple million bucks to have their name parked on the Cardinal stadium...hummmmmm!....but they cannot pay talent...thats a cryin' shame!

At 8:08am on June 6th, 2008, Reed Farrell said…: The biggest mistake that any performer can make is to agree to a "forever buyout" at any price. It gives you a lifetime conflict and can cause you major losses. The union contracts forbid this nonsense and legitimate agents vouchers limit use.

At 8:39am on June 6th, 2008, Gina Mure' said…: Thanks so much for explaining this. I can't tell you how much time and $$ I wasted when I was younger not knowing people in this industry. You have no idea how much I appreciate you and Dani!

At 9:10am on June 6th, 2008, Nick Tarr said…: Guess that is how the rich get rich and the poor stay poor.
Personally, I did not need any explaining. If Dani and Bill asked me to do or not do something that would be good enough for me.

Maybe a little PR might be good...rally a bunch of agent actors to protest and call the media. Maybe that is why they are having it on a Sat. and not a weekday...less media attention and more weekend wanna be action.
Gone are the ways of honor....

At 9:16am on June 6th, 2008, farmorecasting said…: Thank you Bill for posting this warning. It is shameful that in this day and age any organization/company should try to hire talent for a 'buyout in perpetuity'! This stands as a warning to any talent - if you read any posting which states that any represented talent needn't apply. This is shameful that an instution of higher learning hasn't learned anything.

At 5:13pm on June 6th, 2008, Bill Lackner said…: I am honored to be represented by Dani's Agency, I was taught early in my career by a dear mentor and my agent not to work on these types of project and Dani and Bill have my total support. Lets keep the industry right for everyone. WHY would ANYONE sellout for buyouts. Bill and Dani thanks for keeping it right for us.

At 6:20pm on June 6th, 2008, Teri Frost said…: I found this out the hard way when I did a print ad for the University of Phoenix early last year.

At 9:41am on June 8th, 2008, Xavier said…: Thanks for the information Bill. As always, you are a gentleman and a scholar! I will do my part to pass it on.

At 2:40pm on June 8th, 2008, Kristin Lyn said…: Thanks Bill for the advise -- all warnings should be posted so that people don't get thier lives turned upside down for one job. They don't want agents because the agents would tell them not to do it. Luckily I have never had that happen to me, I would never settle for a buy out, no matter what the money was. It's a waste of talent. I beleive that talent should be paid no matter what. We don't work for free!
Thanks Kristin