This is long winded so heres a too long didn't read.
TL;DR: Virgo Talent is awesome. Boo haters.
Got upgraded to SAG ocp on their set.
Made an entire years worth of pay in a day.
I'll get to my story in a second (it's after the asterisks).
Welcome to Los Angeles, a place that is filled with seedy scam agencies that take your money and run. Virgo is not among them. Similar talent agencies which I would love to name in direct messages are abysmal. They take not only 10% off what they book you for but WHAT YOU TAKE HOME. This is highly illegal as a company that provides this service should NEVER be allowed to access what you actually made on set through payroll. That is your information and yours alone. If you are booked on a job with Virgo at 200/10 hours, virgo takes ONLY 20$...that 200$ paycheck is often a ton more with milage/meal penalties/overtime ect.
I don't have to call in. Ever. I just spend 30 seconds logging in and pressing a button that I am available to work. Just log in every day...it's that easy. I don't have to sit through hours of voice messages on some call box. I know that real people are on the other end working to get me booked instead of seeing my name as a number in some cattle call pool.
You are meant to show up and be professional. You are booked on your look - so remember that. It's NOT Virgo's fault that they haven't actually gotten you a booking. You may not have a look that the casting wants at the time but rest assured your time will come. You may also not be logging in and changing your availability.
For those of you who have only been with Virgo a few months and are complaining that they take your 40$ just remember ITS 40 BUCKS! In the long run the money you make with Virgo is exponentially larger. It's a one time fee. You book one job, boom that fee is paid for. Also virgo will still book you (albeit much less) if you register FOR FREE without their verified photo. This is pretty much a no lose situation.
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Here is my story with Virgo and why I will recommend them to EVERY SINGLE person I know that wants to break into acting and even those who are just looking for other employment on their off days.
I have been with Virgo Talent since November of last year. In a few months, I booked 2 gigs that paid upwards of 200$. I then got verified and handed them 40$. Actual bookings were fewer than my availables (makes sense as I look like a bearded mad-man) but I did what I was supposed to and logged in every day. The photo they took of me was terrible as I am hyper critical, but in truth I drank heavily the night before so my skin also looked like crap - that's my fault. Just think of how many people they have to photograph in that one day as well. Just because your picture sucks in your opinion doesn't mean casting directors will think so. It's just to make sure you look like X at the time of your booking.
So fast forward one month to January.
I took a booking in san diego with a fitting in los angeles and showed up to set an hour before my call time. It was a long drive, so why not? We shot over two days and it was one of the best shoots I have ever been on (still with a boxed lunch though!). I was living a fantasy in period clothing on a gigantic boat in the ocean. Screaming, yelling, and just general hooliganism was asked for by the director. The next day I got to fire black powder rifles and battle red coats as giant pyrotechnics went off around me (warning, it smells like crap because it's manure). Total money taken by Virgo? 54$...thats it. 10% of my booked rate.
When I got my check I was absolutely thrilled. 50 cents per mile to and from San Diego...a boatload of overtime and meal penalties...I made almost 3 times what I was booked on and had the time of my life.
Then... I saw the commercial. I had not only made the final cut, but I was in a shot that ultimately got me upgraded to SAG as an on camera principle. I was shown for one second. One measly second. That 250/10 booking from Virgo turned into a 5 figure pay day after I filed an inquiry claim with SAG because I had met all the prerequisites for an upgrade.
I have gotten nothing but "Great Jobs" from Virgo. No one has ever contacted me with anything other than congratulations. Even my commercial agent has tried to get a piece of this pie (and failed), but not Virgo Talent. I'm still with them as I haven't bought into SAG yet because I'm waiting for a legitimate part or production as I am SAG-E until I pay the induction fee. Also I have been rather lax with self promotion and my voice/demo reels, but again that's my problem.
Okay, I'm done. Soapbox over. Hell yes, long live Virgo Talent.
And if you have long hair, a beard, and are better looking than me....please don't join virgo talent. They are terrible, yada yada, beware, I hate you, go shave and join Virgo talent. read more