Looks as if Dallas is home to a new branch of an old company that targets would-be models and actors with costly (and unneeded) services while masquerading as a way to “break in” to the industry.
Like many other bogus casting sites or “talent scouts” this one is targeting kids and parents interested in acting or modelling — I suspect they are trolling the net, looking for kids who have mentioned acting. And, like Casting Hub, this company is marketing itself as a way for beginning actors and models to “get noticed”, and doing it in a way that I personally find offensive.
Casting Hub runs ads on radio & TV programs targeted to kids and teens, and the latest company — Nine9, The Unagency (Formerly One Source Talent) — appears to be scraping email addresses from websites and fake casting notices posted on legitimate breakdown (casting) sites, and targeting child actors. This email arrived in my grandson’s email box today. It is reproduced here EXACTLY as it was received by my soon-to-be 14-year-old.
From: Stacey Edwards
Sent: Tuesday, April 21, 2015 9:57 AM
To: Kameron Badgers
Subject: Re: Follow Up
Hello Kameron
We have received the application you submitted and we’re interested in moving onto the next step.
I wasn’t able to reach you to speak to you further about scheduling a time for you to come into our Dallas office for an evaluation and we have limited slots available this week.
I do have appointments with Lani, the Director, available this Thursday at 7:00p or Saturday at 1:00p
The initial appointment is an opportunity for us to get to know you, for you to know us, take some photos and measurements and decide if you’re a fit for our company. Please note that other talent will be present during this process.
Please email me back ASAP with the best appointment time. We look forward to meeting with you!
Stacey
What’s Wrong with this Picture?
First, the message was sent to a 14-year-old. 14-year-olds can’t sign contracts, and they can’t legally submit applications to talent agencies. So that’s the first clue that this company isn’t exactly ethical. Legitimate talent agencies work with a child actor or model’s legal guardian or parent, and so do legitimate casting directors. Any company that tries to market acting and modelling classes or “marketing services” to kids is suspect in my book.
Second, my grandson didn’t submit any kind of application to this company — not unless they posted a fake casting notice on one of the legitimate online casting sites (which is possible, I suppose). Third, he’s most certainly not in the market for a talent agency — why would he need a service like Nine9 or its predecessor One Source when he’s represented by the best agency in Texas, the amazing LMTalent?
Last, but hardly least, navigating to this spammer’s website takes you to a home page that doesn’t exactly tell you what they do. A screen shot of the page used to appear here, but in what seems to be an attempt to get me to remove critical comments about its business practices, the company sent a DMCA takedown notice alleging copyright infringement over two years after the post was originally published. So, in April 2017, all images were removed although my lawyer and I believe that using them was clearly within the “fair use” provisions of the copyright law, which allows the use of screen shots in criticism and reporting.
The old One Source Talent site focused solely on child actors & models, with lots of pretty pictures of good-looking kids, a vague promise to help people become models or actors, and links to lots of “success stories”. Notice there’s not a word about what the company does, and nothing about how much it costs.
The newer Nine9, The Unagency, site has a few more photos of adults, but it’s basically the same site, just rebranded. Go a bit further in the website (to the “About Us” page), and you’ll find that the company maintains a searchable database of talent. In plain English, it means the company charges would-be actors and models fees to post their pictures and resumes online. It is NOT a talent agency or modelling agency. Hiring them won’t get anyone a job, as they are not in the business of placing talent. They are an information publisher who publish what are basically ads for talent.
I doubt that is how the average 14-year-old who is new to the business would understand it, however, especially not after receiving an email promising them an “appointment with a Director”. And that of course is what the company is hoping: that its spam emails will reach a child with a dream who will fall for their pitch and talk mom and dad into paying for the “incredible opportunity” the company is offering.
So, while the company’s website does tell site visitors what they do, they also tout a service that most people don’t need. Casting directors and art directors don’t troll sites like Nine9 the Unagency to identify children for their projects. The business just doesn’t work that way. Paying a company to publish your child’s photo online is (at best) a huge risk and (at worst) an expensive scam.
I have been told that there is an initial fee of several hundred dollars to register with this company. I’ve been quoted different amounts by parents, from $199 to $500 for this fee, but do not know what the current rate is. After that, I’ve been told that there’s a monthly fee of about $20-40 per month to keep your profile active. One adult actress told me that she paid over $400 for photographs, and a parent told me that she paid Nine9’s recommended photographer $350 for headshots, plus the cost of printing black and white comp sheets (an 8X10 photo with four small images on it). That’s far above the going rate for headshots in Dallas Texas — and no actor or casting director I know uses a comp card, preferring a single high-quality 8X10 image that clearly shows what the actor looks like. The small photos I saw from the Nine9 client didn’t give a very good look at her face.
As for a monthly fee, most online “breakdown sites” that post actors profiles and headshots are free. Actor’s Access, Backstage, NowCasting, Casting Frontier, MyCastingFile, Central Casting and many others allow actors to post photos and profiles free, and charge a small fee to host videos and transmit submissions to casting opportunities. By “small fee” I mean a cost of <$20 — usually $5-15 to host a demo reel, and <$5 for a submission. And I don’t mean $20 per month — I mean a one-time charge of less than $20, period. Some are completely free.
Is Nine9 a Scam?
Legally, I am sure that the company’s business model does not fall under any of the laws targeting online scams. After all, if you read their contract, and pay attention to the website, they’re not misrepresenting what they sell.
Morally, I’m not so sure. Most children see an ad or an email that offers what looks to them like a chance to make their dreams come true, and never look any further. And many parents who want to help their kids succeed don’t have the information or experience to spot the difference between a company like Nine9 or One Source Talent, Actors Models & Talent for Christ, Casting Hub (and many other similar companies) and a real casting director or talent agent.
It can be a costly mistake. Some of the “model and acting” services charge thousands of dollars to participate in their “program” — including photo shoots with “house” photographers, online listings, participation in big “talent showcase events” at resorts or in New York or LA, and tons of other “marketing services”. I’ve talked to parents who have spent upwards of $10,000 on companies like this only to discover they could have gotten more by registering with a much less costly service.
For instance, here’s my grandson’s profile on Actor’s Access, one of a number of sites that cost less than $25 a year. Of course, the most impressive online profile is the Internet Movie Database, but you only earn those when you are cast in a significant enough role that the producer of the film or TV show lists your credit there.
If you’re the parent of a child or teenager who wants to be a model or actor, take time to do your homework before your child falls prey to an email like the one my grandson just received. Here are some links to more information on what you should — and shouldn’t — pay for when your child is starting out in the business.
- The Biz Parents Foundation’s “Getting Started” Guide
- SAG-AFTRA’s Scams in the Entertainment Industry Guide
- Parents of Would-Be Child Actors: Beware of Scammers
- What a Real Audition Opportunity Looks Like
- Advice From a Reluctant Stage Grandma
- 5 Things Parents of Would-Be Child Stars Need to Know
- Resources for Parents of Would-Be Child Actors
I’m sad that this company has decided to open an office in my hometown, and I hope I don’t start hearing from a lot of local parents who signed up only to discover later that they are overpaying for a service they didn’t need in the first place.
IMPORTANT NOTE: This blog post was updated and edited a year after it was originally published, to take note of the rebranding of One Source Talent as Nine9 the Unagency. An updated blog post, in which Nine9 let me know how unhappy they were with my writing about their services and apologized for marketing its services to a minor, is now online at this link. If you are considering registering with this company, or any similar company that charges fees to be listed in a talent database, please take time to check out the industry resources listed above to make sure you aren’t paying for services you don’t need or falling prey to an industry scam. A later update, two years after the original publication date, removed screen shots in response to a DMCA takedown notice received from the company.
Marketing Where Technology Intersects Life 
Please I am 14 year old I like to be a actor in herny danger in Nickelodeon please I beg you.
Please l like to join your play so badly Henry danger.and my name is owolabi farinde ayomide. Please help me I need a job so badly.I am in Nigeria,osogbo,okinni beside bimkam school
I am not a casting director or a talent agent — just someone raising a working child actor.
Nickelodeon films Henry Danger in the Burbank Studios in Los Angeles, California. Auditions are held in California, and actors are cast based on submissions from reputable agents in the Los Angeles area. This show has been filming for five years.
In order to be cast in an episode of Henry Danger (or any other US-based television show or film), a resident of Nigeria (or any other country) must first secure a work visa from the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service. This is relatively difficult to do for an actor who does not have the contacts in the industry to secure sponsorship.
Agents cannot sign talent who do not have the legal right to work in the US, and casting directors cannot hire actors who do not have the correct documentation. I honestly do not know how a 14-year-old from Africa could be cast in a US television show — even if the show were looking for such an actor. There are dozens (if not hundreds) of legal immigrants here in the US already who are from almost any country you could name — they have the appearance and accent a casting director would want if he or she were casting for someone to play a character from that country. In order for a production company to secure a work visa, they need to hire someone who fits into one of the categories outlined by the US government, such as “someone of extraordinary ability”. This is not easy to do.
Most foreign-born actors who come to the US hire an immigration attorney to guide them through the process, and nearly all have some experience in their home country before they arrive. Others come here on a student visa, and attract the attention of a casting director or agent through their work in student plays or films, then appy for residency.
Don’t forget that you will be paying your own living costs and travel expenses for auditions, the time you spend working, and your own education costs for a private tutor or “professional children’s school”. (Public schools in the US don’t allow students to take time off to act, and actors under 18 must be enrolled in some kind of school unless they have earned a high school diploma.) This can be a significant expense.
I wish you great success in making your dreams come true, but I simply don’t know what to suggest to you. If your family is wealthy, and supports your goal of becoming an actor in Hollywood, talk to your parents about visiting or contacting the US Embassy in your home country. The embassy can tell you what steps must be taken to apply for a visa, and may be able to refer you to an immigration attorney who can help.
That said, moving to Hollywood (or anywhere else in the US) without a job is extremely expensive and difficult. And securing a job in the TV or film industry without being here is nearly impossible. For a 14-year-old to come to the US, their parents would need to have work here — or be wealthy enough to support the family here for months. It makes little financial sense for a whole family to move to LA because one child wants to be an actor, unless that child has a proven track record in their home country.
In addition to the legal requirements to work in the US, foreign-born actors also need flawless English reading and speaking abilities. There are several grammar and spelling errors in the comment I am replying to — that probably wouldn’t be acceptable in an actor auditioning for a role as a US-based character.
Last, but not least, the glamorous life you see depicted on TV and in magazines, isn’t much like the life of most working actors in the US. Only a fraction of the actors in this country (or any country) earn enough to consider acting a full-time job. Most work one or two days a month (if they’re lucky), or a few weeks a year. The rest of the time, they support themselves with other jobs — and having a visa to work as an actor doesn’t necessarily allow you to work in another job.
The truth is, it’s nearly impossible for an unknown actor from another country to get cast in a major US television series or film. You’re probably better off working in films shot in your home country, or working in the film industry in a country where your own has reciprocal work visa rights.
Regards, Deb
Hi nine9 for me scam scam
Take my money 345 dollars
They lied .. they used my son
Pinctures . Appointment for but
Washington DC nine9 lie
Not good I’m work to hard take my money
I’m feel sad … please don’t believe NINE 9
Please …
I believe there is now another child that has been targeted. shes a 15 year old youtuber and her account is now taken over by the company who is using it to blackmail her as she is currently refusing to answer any of their calls and messages. they continually message her saying they WILL delete her account if she doesn’t comply with them. they have already deleted all of her videos as a warning and are still promising they will terminated her you tube account and make it impossible for her to make a new account once they get rid of her channel. the youtuber uploaded a video of her entire ordeal. if you would like to view it her channel is Emily Jensen.
I don’t understand. How could a third party close someone’s YouTube account? Individuals or corporations set up and create their own YouTube channels, and the only ways I know of for a third party to challenge that are (a) to claim copyright infringement, and get a court to order the channel closed due to continued copyright violations (b) to claim prior ownership of the channel (for example, if an employee created it while being paid to do so as part of a work-for-hire job, and then tried to keep the former employer from taking it over when they left) or (c) if the channel was created for an individual by someone who designed it and created content for it, but was never paid for their work and a contract dispute led a judge to shut down the channel while the dispute is litigated.
I am sure there are other ways, but I’ve never heard of anyone being forced to give up a YouTube channel by Nine9 or any other “talent” broker. I’d love to hear more about this. Can you send additional details? Thanks1
Hi Deb,
Thanks for this great article and information. I live in NYC with a daughter who of course wants to be a STAR. She dances, plays the violin and does drama classes – How would I go about getting her started into the acting/modeling world – Do you know of any good companies in NYC you can refer?
Thank you so much for your advice,
Nicole
Hi, Nicole —
I don’t know a lot about New York, but this is the process for finding reputable agents/classes in almost any city.
1. Search for a SAG (Screen Actors Guild) franchised talent agency in or near your home. Here’s the link: https://www.sagaftra.org/professional-representatives/sag-franchised-agents Even if you lived in a right-to-work state like Texas, where union membership isn’t a requirement, I’d recommend a SAG/AFTRA franchised agent for any child because the union has strict rules in place that try to protect kids (and parents) from scammers and unethical practices.
2. Go to the website of any SAG franchised agency. I picked one called Generations (http://generationmm.com/) that says it specializes in young talent in New York City — I know nothing about this agency or its reputation. I just found it on the SAG website. You’ll notice at the top of the page that it has instructions on how to “become a model”.
3. Many agents also list reputable acting classes, headshot photographers and so on. Look for a tab called “Resources”.
In New York, most agencies are quite specialized. In smaller cities, agencies may handle a wider range of talent. It’s not unusual for an actor in LA or New York to have multiple agents — one for modelling, one for Film and TV, another for commercials. In the rest of the country, agencies tend to specialize by geographic location, so an actor in Dallas may have one agent for Dallas & Austin, another for New Orleans, and a third for Atlanta or Los Angeles.
Good luck with helping your daughter’s dream come true!
Regards, Deb
How can my son sign up for acting or modeling he is open to even voice actor. Where and which site should we seek into??
Hi, Alina – It depends on where you live. If you live in Dallas, the first step is getting your son into a professional film/commercial acting class. Nancy Chartier, Cathryn Hartt (Hartt & Soul), Jeff Fenter, Lauren Lazelle (The Young Actor’s House), and Twila Barnett (W.A.C.T.) are my personal favorites in the area.
If your son wants to start working before he gets an agent, register with MyCastingFile.com, Katz Casting, Actor’s Access, Casting Network, and Now Casting. All of them are free or very low cost (less than $20 TOTAL, not per month). If you register with these online sites, it’s up to you to check them regularly for roles that match your son’s age/skills/looks, and submit him for the role.
To submit, you’ll need a good quality headshot (professionally done by a photographer who specializes in them — you can’t just go to Walmart or a local photo studio and get one done), and you’ll need to fill out the online forms and put together a resume. When you submit, use the forms on each of the sites. If you are submitting directly to a casting director, write a short note telling them why you think you son would be a good match for the role. For example, if the role calls for a boy to play the victim of a bully, and your son has experienced being bullied, say so in your email. If it’s a role as the comedy sidekick, and your son has a great sense of comedic timing, say that.
Regardless of where you live, look for the local film commission site — state or city — or a site like Short Film Texas that lists upcoming productions in your area. But the absolute best bet is a high-quality acting class/coach. That’s where directors come looking for fresh talent, and that’s where your child will meet the people (agents, directors, casting directors, other actors) who can help him achieve his dreams.
Best of luck! Regards, Deb
thank you so much for writing this article. my daughter filled out an application from a link on Facebook for a casting call looking for new Disney stars. she received an identical email as your grandson. im so thankful i read this before we went in.
Thanks for the heads-up — I had not seen Facebook ads from these guys. Good to know what to look for.
Best of luck with your daughter’s dreams!
They got me for $499.00 and it hues like hell. Can anyone help me get my money back. They didn’t even get me jobs or leads. Never posted my pics just a scam.
Hi, Crystal — Sorry you had an unpleasant experience. Have you requested a refund? I sent you a direct email with the contact information provided to me by Nine9. I do not know if the person who contacted me can help you with a refund, and I do not know their policies.
I do know that Nine9 is not in the business of finding acting jobs for anyone — that’s the “Unagency” part of their name. Talent agencies find jobs for actors — or more accurately, they match actors from their rosters with casting calls sent to them by casting directors. A marketing service like Nine9 or CastHub or the others simply posts photos and bios of actors online, where they can be found by casting diretor’s who might look for them on their site.
That’s my problem with services like this. People expect help finding acting jobs, but that isn’t what the company is selling. They do publish “castings” (casting notices) where people can submit themselves for auditions. But so do many other sites that are free.
Best of luck getting a refund, and in your acting career!
Regards, Deb
Hi crystal did you have any luck getting your money back?
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They scheduled a phone appointment with my 12 year old daughter without my knowledge. When I called to cancel the appointment they told me I wasn’t being supportive of my daughter. Unbelievable. Like guilt is going to get me to allow them access to my child? Sickening.
Thank you for the heads up. I knew something wasn’t right today… we didn’t sign anything but was asked for hundreds of dollars….
I just got a call today from Nine9 for my granddaughter. First of all they mistake my name with my granddaughter who is 3. They gave me open slots for my daughter to schedule an appointment. I was told it’s $249 for resume and photos. Told my daughter about it and she was happy. I always do my research first and I’m happy I did.You saved us a trip going to this so call company. Thanks!!
Most talent agents won’t sign a child until they can read — but there are model agencies in Dallas that do sign kids at 3. Lots of work locally for kids that age, too, as both Toys R Us and JC Penny use a lot of toddlers and preschoolers in videos and catalogs.
Get her into some classes if your daughter wants her to be a child actor — WACT (Weatherford) and Dallas Children’s Theatre both have classes for kids that age, and some of the local acting coaches will take them, too. Check out the list of resources on this blog for the parents of Dallas child actors for headshot photographers and agents as well as classes. Also, a number of photographers have year end specials going right now where you can save a lot if you book before the end of the year.
Best of luck with your granddaughter’s dreams! Have fun, and enjoy the time with her — I have really enjoyed our young actor’s journey.
Regards, Deb
Thanks for all the information, much needed
They are also here in Atlanta, GA as well same re-branding. SMH. .
Thank you so much for bringing this to my attention and many others. This infirmation you provided has certainly saved me thousands of dollars and time for nothing in return.
Thank you !
Leslie
Thanks for telling me fake people
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Wondering about nine 9 agency in Dallas tx is it a scam?
Hi, Molly —
Legally, I feel sure that the Nine9 folks don’t fall under the Texas laws on scams. But I am not sure that they offer a service that anyone actually needs to buy, and their marketing seems somewhat misleading to me. I am not sure from reading their materials exactly what services people are paying for, and that always makes me suspicious. I like to know what I’m paying for — and when it comes to hiring an agent, you should never pay for anything except a commission on booked, paid work.
If you want to become a model or actor in Dallas, there are many other companies in the area with a better reputation. Here’s the key: legitimate agencies get paid when their actors book work. Some services that call themselves agencies or talent promoters get paid whether actors/models work or not. You should never pay anyone for the opportunity to audition.
Here’s a list of some excellent Dallas-area agencies and resources for actors: http://wp.me/p1tfAl-DZ. I hope you will talk to or visit at least one of these before deciding on representation for yourself or your child.
Best of luck! Deb
Read above: the same thing happened to me today and immediately asked for 399.00 and photos would be 395.00. We left and of course didn’t sign crap
Great article – thanks so much! They reached out to me today to teach a “workshop” for them. Interesting that after 25 busy years as a Casting Director based in Dallas, this is the first time I have ever heard from them. Shared your post – thanks again.
Thank you very much, Shannon! Your company has a well-earned stellar reputation, and I’m glad you agree with my post and its attempt to help parents who are new to the industry avoid costly mistakes.
Regards, Deb
Shame on them!! I just received a email from nine9. They called me and tried to get my daughter to come in I knew something was wrong frist they send the email to the wrong email which was my husband’s…..Secondly I dealt with One Source Talent before in Troy Mi and they located in the same place. Smh and when I said something about them being part of one source talent or partner with them the lady on the phone said “no” we are a different agency we do not work with them. Smh so sad but I knew it.. Thank you from your guys help.
Yes, it appears they have rebranded themselves as “Nine9, the Unagency” in several markets. Same corporate officers, same IP address. Thanks for the tip on this one!
I received an email on behalf of my daughter today{4-7-2016}, who is 12. I researched the nine9 unagency. As I continued my search on the web I found this website. I read the posting. I am grateful for information such as this. My daughter wants to be a model, but I’ll be damned if ANYONE takes advantage of her! Thank you for the information.
There are a number of legitimate agencies in Dallas that handle children, just as there are in any major city. I wish you the best of luck in identifying the right partner to help your daughter achieve her dreams!
It is sad, also went there with a resume ,picturers, once I got called in office, they told me I had to qualify for the service if they chose me,, but I have years of experience as an actress, modeling, worked in major films that made the Grammy,, I had drove 50miles to go to audition,, while there they never looked at my resume,,,,, Hey Crook! Get out of town with the games,, tired of seeing people getting they feeling hurt in your office,,,
Hi, my name is Nikki Fritz. I’m a published model with most of my work based out of California. I reside in between CA and Chicago.
A few days ago a friend and myself were under an investigation assignment for the modeling/acting company formally known as “ONE SOURCE TALENT” they now have a new “alias” which they are currently using calling it; “NINE9 THE UNAGENCY.” They have offices based all over the United States!! It’s the EXACT same SCAM ARTISTS that “represent” ONE SOURCE TALENT! Every time individuals start to catch on, they switch names and direct office locations. If you view my Facebook and Instagram you can see videos and images taken during this investigation! You can clearly see their nervous and unprofessionalism reaction, once we notified them who we were and why we were there. If you search “Nikki Fritz” for Facebook it is open to the public or Instagram search “MODELNIKKIFRITZ.”
Recently my friend and I have been dedicating our time and resources to aware the public and shut this company down and along with others that are scamming hundreds of thousands of innocent individuals!! Please be sure to check out his Facebook page and “Like” it to stay updated with scamming companies such as these and any other news information and footage. Search Salazar’s I-Team Investigation Journalism. He exposes the TRUTH and we investigate on issues that matter to YOU.
It’s not only a SCAM, but a horrible thing that these individuals are doing by, “targeting CHILDREN AND TEENAGERS.” Receiving hundreds and thousands of dollars per each and everyone of these individual’s gaurdians, whom are new to this industry, not knowing any better. 😦
PLEASE SHARE AND HELP SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT THIS AGENCY AND THEIR ALIASES THEY KEEP USING EVERY TIME THEY GET CAUGHT‼️
LETS JOIN IN AND HELP, BY EXPOSING THEM and STOPPING THEM FROM BREAKING ANYMORE CHILDREN’S HEARTS AND DREAMS, BY GIVING THEM FALSE HOPES AND EMPTY PROMISES‼️
ALL WHILE THE PARENTS ARE UNAWARE AND DISH OUT HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO THESE INDIVIDUALS, THAT ARE KEEPING FOR IT THEMSELVES!! 🙏🏼
Went to the evaluation yesterday with Nine9. Very rude and disrespectful staff. During my evaluation, I asked about the money, up front one time fee of $499 and the $40 per month service fee, she rushed me out the room and said goodbye. Extremely defensive and evasive. Horrible experience.
Thanks for the info, my granddaughter received the same email, we are in Chicago
Thanks for posting this. I just got the same email today and made the appointment. After reading this, I will not be going. What a shame.
Touche. Solid arguments. Keep up the great work.