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SouthYou are in: Inside Out > South > The price of fame ![]() Jamie Randall The price of fameInside Out confronts the talent agency man who exploits the dreams of young hopefuls. Jamie Randall has run a number of companies and now he’s advertising again.
In 2003 we secretly filmed a talent event in Portsmouth. They photographed our undercover reporter and told her she could make it as a model. Then they took her cash, but didn’t find her any work. The man behind the company was Jamie Randall. In the past he’s been creative with his adverts and was ticked off by industry watchdogs for not warning people costs might be incurred. ![]() Natasha's family paid Jamie Randall £170 SW1 Talent ManagementRecently he’s advertising again - this time his company’s called SW1 Talent Management - but again no mention of costs. Nine-year-old Natasha and her family went to an event in November 2008… but, three months later, all they have to show for their £170 fee is some photographs and Natasha's picture on the SW1 website. A face for radioInside Out decided to test Jamie Randall’s charging policies. We enlisted the help of a man with the 'perfect face for radio'… Radio Solent’s Jon Cuthill. He slapped on the fake tan and set off for an audition at a Bournemouth hotel. ![]() Has Jon got what it takes? His first set of mugshots suggest he’s not suitable for SW1’s £180 gold modelling membership… but that he’s OK for silver membership and that should offer up work as a film and TV extra. Part of the service he’s asked to pay £130 for includes a photo session. The law says agencies can't insist you use their photographic services. Upfront chargesThe law says that talent agencies should not charge upfront fees for their work finding services and the Government has promised to tighten the laws on talent agencies. Jamie Randall told Inside Out that he’s not committing any offences. He says SW1 isn’t an employment agency at all, but a membership club. The fees charged are for membership. But two days after being confronted by Inside Out at another of his events, Mr Randall told a campaigner, that he'd stop charging upfront fees. SW1's website now states that people can apply for membership by sending a CV and photographs. And a £35 charge would only be taken once a person was found work. last updated: 19/02/2009 at 16:27 SEE ALSOYou are in: Inside Out > South > The price of fame |
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