Backstage

Most people when wanting a membership (any where), will not review the terms and conditions. I wanted to check the legitimacy of the site via forum as well as its source (terms and conditions). It states that there is a free trial (not a paid subscription until expiry/renewal) a monthly, a semi annually (6 month) and an annually (12 month sumbscription) which obviously are the paid subscriptions. All paid subscriptions are set to recurring, which means you will be billed the amount of the subscriptions including other additional membership fees, at the time and rate of the membership until cancellation by phone or email ( I recommend a phone call). None of the subscriptions are eligible for a refund except the annual subscriptions which has to be disputed with 5 days after the renewal date. The 5 day period is the eligibility for a full refund. Any dispute after is assumed a partial refund, but it cannot be past a 30 day period to receive a refund. With all that being said this is a legitimate company as far as legal terms are concerned, however I do not like the way they operate. There business practice derives from placing a false dream for entertainment purposes and recruite serious candidates just to provide them with less than they been promised, and then throw their contract in your face when you are unhappy with the results. To me it's disgusting and I don't support companies that can't even have decent customer service. In conclusion a little tip for everyone ( a lot of companies like this not all) will tell you that they cannot issue you a refund but they are a company, who if they get too many charge backs, (meaning when a dispute through your bank and receive the funds back through said bank) the monies are taken back from the business or merchant. This places a negative mark on their merchant account. If they get to many they can be shut down completely and have to start a new one with a different name and that's a lot of hassle and money and paper work. So you can simply state that you'll go through your bank, subsequently forcing them to is sue a refund to prevent a charge back.

A great site to go to regularly for people in the entertainment industry. The site has been around for a long time and there is good reason it has.

Was helpful and easy to understand. Also, I found that the answer related to my problem and I was happy too.

I'VE BEEN A CLIENT FOR 8 YEARS, AND THIS IS THE ONLY SITE THAT I HAVE AN ISSUE WITH, AND IM ON AT LEAST 7 OR 8 OF THEM.

I WAS SIGNING IN TO SUBMIT TO A JOB AS I NORMALLY DO, AND THE SYSTEM WOULDN'T ALLOW ME TO GET THROUGH, STATING THAT I NEED TO SUBSCRIBE.

MY SUBSCRIPTION DOESN'T END UNTIL 2022. IT WOULDN'T EVEN ALLOW ME IN TO ENSURE THAT MY SUBSCRIPTION WAS STILL VALID, ALTHOUGH I KNEW THAT IT WAS.

I KNEW IT HAD TO BE A PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY NORMALLY LET YOU KNOW WHEN YOU'RE ABOUT TO EXPIRE, BUT I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE ISSUE WAS.

I THEN CREATE A SUBSCRIPTION, AND MUCH TO MY SURPRISE IT TELLS ME THAT IT'S A NEW ACCOUNT, BUT IT THEN ALLOWED ME PAST TO GET TO THE OTHER ONE, ONCE ID GONE OUT AND SIGNED BACK IN.

MIND YOU I'D BEEN TRYING TO DO THAT. I'VE EMAILED THEM AT LEAST 6 TIMES TELLING THEM THAT MY MONEY NEEDS TO GO BACK ON MY CARD, ESPECIALLY SINCE I HAVE AN ACTIVE SUBSCRIPTION.

IN OTHER WORDS NOW... I HAVE TWO SUBSCRIPTIONS, ONE OF WHICH WILL NOT BE USED, AS I WAS PROMPTED TO ADD IT, OR I COULDN'T GET INTO MY ACCOUNT.

THEY REFUSE TO RESPOND TO THE EMAIL AND I'VE LEFT MESSAGES AS WELL FOR THEM TO CONTACT ME.

I'VE BEEN ON THIS SITE NOW FOR 8 YEARS, AND IF THIS IS HOW THEY TREAT PEOPLE... THEN, IT'S SO NOT THE ONE FOR ME.

THIS WILL BE MY LAST YEAR FOR SURE.

I WILL BE REPORTING THEM TO ANY AND EVERY AGENCY THAT APPLIES, INCLUDING THE BBB.

I've been on Backstage for close to three years now.
It has really helped me get my foot in the door on a lot of gigs.
My review will be as direct and honest as possible.
Pros:
BACKSTAGE is reputable and DOES have alot of legitimate acting gigs.
Great for Non Union actors.
I personally have not had any issues as far as customer support nor renewal issues.
Very wide data base for any one in the industry.
SAG approved films and shorts that can get you the accredited status to into the Union.

CONS:
ALOT. And I do mean. ALOT of unpaid/ school film type of jobs.
No real A list or major motion picture opportunities.
( I've only seen 1 out of my three years)
They say for example you have an opportunity to apply for let's say The Walking Dead or Fast and Furious. But the truth is A listed gigs will NOT appear here.
In addition those gigs require agents and SAG union. This is this sights biggest downfall.
To be a SAG member you have to have SAG approved film experience. Which BACKSTAGE does offer. BUT. As far as my experience SAG films require agents. Agents won't touch you unless you have SAG experience. So, in essence your like a Dog chasing your own tail. How does one get in the door? As it said in Hollywood. You know someone who knows someone.
Alot of infomercial type. "Teach you to act"
Without accredited teachers courses. ( a high majority of production companies and directors won't take you seriously without ACTUAL acting classes from an accredited institution)

If your an up and coming actor and need IMdB credits or a simple beginner at acting Backstage is your perfect place to learn the craft.
Backstage has given me the tools and gigs to perfect my acting, find my comfort zones and find my limits.
I can actually say I AM a professional Actor.

But if your thinking your going to land that huge gig with a major Hollywood Studio... Get ready to work your butt off and have a microscopic chance.( like a germ using a microscope to find a chance... chance)
Because without SAG union, a reputable agent/ company, and a actual film short/ audition tape done professionally.
You will be chasing extra gigs on major sets ( no SAG APPROVAL as an extra BTW) and doing Film festival shorts.

Joined Backstage a long time ago. However, one day checking my email, * at Backstage said he had terminated my account. He argued that he had sent me an email before warning me to "add my YouTube channel url" to messages I send out, and that because I didn't follow his rules, he deleted my account. He then proceeded to backtrack and give different reasons; as did the advisor on my last review of Backstage (deleted to retype), as well as on the Backstage contact page. I was given at LEAST 5 different answers as to why my Backstage was deleted.
Another argument he gave was that I had not paid for my account. Well, I joined Backstage when it was free, and was NEVER given a notice to start paying. My casting call had also been up for "too long"; another reason they deleted my account. You would think that if a website gives you a limit that THEY would be the ones to close it down once the time comes. Another reason: people on Backstage thought I was a scam. That comes down to the actors. If you ask an actor if they'd be interested to take a role and they report me for spam, Backstage should check and see if, indeed, it is spam. My messages were obviously not spam, but the workers at Backstage can't take TWO minutes to see if it's legit.
The main problem comes down to the email itself (and no, the main problem isn't that * ignored the rest of my emails without notice). The main problem? That I NEVER received the first email telling me to include my channel url. I keep my email clear, so I would've noticed it. I never received it. And, apparently, Backstage.com isn't professional enough to ask for confirmation if you get an email. They just assume. Backstage.com assumes everything. No confirmation, no warning emails, no emails telling you that you need to start paying: nothing. Horrible, unprofessional website.

P.S. Awaiting a reply to the email I sent to * several months ago. Guess he's just been on vacation.

*Personal information redacted by admin