BackstageReviews 291

How desperate does this site have to be to post theme park auditions that I can see details and time of auditions for free if I just go to that theme parks web site? This isn't professional at all if they're showing us auditions that do not require their subscription fees for us to find.

Boycott this web site, no one should ever have to pay to look for casting calls, it's like looking for a job, job web sites post openings all the time for positions, this is just another scam talent agency trying to rob money out of those that don't know how the acting/entertainment industry works.

I found it very difficult to reach them (impossible by phone). Then when I finally got one of their people on a chat about payments and about other matters, he/she refused to identify him/herself when I asked a question about their relationship with agents and directors. So I asked a director I have worked with and she said this company used to be good, but recently they have changed some of their policies. She said they are more interested in money and in falsely promising people roles than in actually helping actors. They also dont do anything much for people who are not in LA or New York. Stay away.

Don't waste your time or money. You can't reach a human being. The chat is bogus, they change up names. As soon as your click a link through a "special" page you get charged, and then they send you an email offering a free month but NOT for you - for new customers. They can't get it together, they are just collecting money off of people desperate for casting calls. You'll find this to be huge waste of time, some of the listings are fake, and they will go away/be filled weeks before the date ends - actually conveniently after you apply. Don't bother! Get a good agent, and do it the right way. NO FAMOUS PEOPLE USED THIS TO GET ANY NOTEABLE ACTING JOB!

I unexpectedly stopped getting my weekly digital backstage. I didn't notice at first and when I did I realize it had been quite a while. I emailed them to take care of it. They did and gave me a partial credit on my next subscription renewal. They could have easily said no but they made it a priority to help me out. Not sure what happened to my subscription months ago but it doesn't matter. All subscriptions are up to date and they gave me some of my money back.

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

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.

They are a great resource for all actors, especially those just starting out, like myself. They have real opportunities and anytime there's a possibility of a scam-- they take the steps needed to take a casting down and keep actors safe. As for billing, you get an email noticethe same way you would from a subscription to Netflix or Hulu plus etc. They're the most trusted database out there in my opinion and have been around since 1960 for a reason.

Although the people posting jobs are legit, the actual company itself has terrible customer service. I signed up for one year in order to take advantage of the discount instead of paying a monthly rate. The customer service was terrible, they do everything by email and don't call you back, which is extremely unprofessional. So I decided I did not want to renew my subscription for another year. They charged my card with out asking for my permission, I found out about it on my bank statement at the end of the month and when I called to cancel and get a refund they said I only had 5 days after they charged my card to cancel. If they had sent a receipt like they are supposed to I could then have cancelled in the 5 days following. Save your time and money and use a more professional services like Actors Access, I know I will be.

This site took my money, on the day free trial ended. I asked for them to cancelled my subscription and they still billed me. Run away from this site. I only had $19.00 in my account and now I don't have any money to eat now. I told them that and they told me that monthly subscriptions are non refundable. This site just will still your money. Run far away from this site.

Backstage fooled me once, but a second time, they won't. While I was a paying member, I got a few invites to audition. When I realized membership wasn't worth it, I decided to cancel at the end of the period I signed up for. Once I wasn't a member, my email was filled with invites! I mean, several every week compared to one or two in a month. I believe that Backstage somehow "promotes" your profile while you don't pay to get you to come back. Once you pay, forget about it! Sorry, I'm not biting again!