Backstage Reviews 94

There was a mistake with the cancellation and I was charged full price for a subscription I did not need even before trial ran out. They never paid me and blocked my sender mail even though I literally have proof of scam. Their customer support is also illiterate and is probably kids.

The registration team appears to lack basic common sense. I am the owner of a laser clinic, currently working on a short advertising film. I submitted my driving licence, along with my company name, email address, and website. Despite this, the registration team asked me to provide an IMDb page.

I explained clearly that I am a small business owner not a film producer or model agency and that we are producing a short promotional film and advertising for models to participate. Their response? They insisted again on an IMDb page, references, and even a CV.

Are they seriously suggesting that every person who wants to advertise a job on the platform must be affiliated with the film or modelling industry? That’s absurd.

The most illogical part is that I submitted a national identity document containing my full name, address, and official business details and they still claimed they needed an IMDb page "for the safety of the models." Let that sink in. A government-issued ID is not considered valid verification, but a self-created online profile is?

Frankly, the registration team seems disconnected from reality. Management should either properly train this department or employ staff with basic common sense. Alternatively, they should clearly state upfront that only individuals or companies associated with the film or modelling industry are allowed to register and post jobs. It's as simple as that! Usually, i am a very easygoing nice guy, but when I meet with absurdity ans luck of common sence. I am going nuts.

I used them when I was an actor on a regular basis, used to use their call sheet (before it went out of business) and had a subscription to the call sheet and getting the magazine hard copy too. I used to think so highly of them. Something happened to them. First of all, there are so many glitches on the website, I click on links and it takes me in circles. Links don't work, when they do work, I could not advance to add my company listing.
I'm starting a new management company, getting the breakdowns and was looking to scout new talent to submit them and/or just list my company on backstage.com website. Backstage wanted to do a background check on me after going in circles for a whole day with messages from AI. I gave them everything, my drivers license, my social security number, everything about me.
Links didn't work, I was directed to other links, first by the AI then by some humans. I was told to restart using a different email, only for them to tell me that they can't accept my listing for my company (for unknown reasons, they said because I sell services) and that my account has been deleted (for unknown reasons) it felt like they were trying to say it was to "protect" the actors. I'm not selling anything to the actors, I asked them, what service do they think I'm selling? They never answered. But I had to answer all their questions and on the emails they emailed me from, they only list their first names. But they have everything about me, my social, my name, everything. I would never do anything to scam the actors by selling anything to them. Backstage got all my info, my social, address, everything about me. Tried to call them, it's impossible.
Mind you, when I was an actor, the only roles I got from Backstage were very low quality, yet, I considered them now as a new manager.
They made me feel like I broke some rule or law. Like I was there to hurt the actors. Like I was not good enough for them, like I was going to do something illegal.
I guess times are changing.
I won't be using Backstage for anything to do with the Entertainment Industry anymore.
In this industry, it feels we are all working against each other, actors are forbidden to contact casting, magazines stopping agencies from getting to actors, actors have no access to any industry professionals and vice versa, as if it's forbidden somehow. What a shame, when instead, we could assist each other. Nobody is really "protecting" the actors, they are forbidding these connections, instead of working together we made up these rules forbidding a connection. I feel so sorry for the actors. They are in the middle of all this.
They got my social. I can't believe I fell for this.

Scammed a broke teenager for like €60. Worst customer support too… i hope the person behind this scam gets what it deserves.

An absolute waste of time. Spent hours writing up a casting call under the label of 'Personal Project', I paid up, showed my drivers license, and nope, it wasn't good enough. The customer service is atrocious. You're never given all the details straight away as to what you need to provide them first time round to be 'verified'. Even when asked what would be sufficient to help satisfy their needs they straight up ignore you.

I'm a movie producer and Backstage makes it difficult to contact anyone. There needs to be a telephone number for customer support. Someone needs to start another website with better customer service.

I got an acting role from it and cancelled my subscription straight away and the process was smooth.

I had been a Backstage customer for 2 years and recently canceled only because it was not right for me. There was a mistake with the cancellation and I was charged full price for a subscription I did not need. Backstage refunded me without question. They've always taken great care and have a great platform IF USED PROPERLY. Most people do not use it properly, thus the bad reviews. Thank you backstage!!

Backstage has been an absolute nightmare to deal with. They asked for my passport, personal details, and more invasive information under the guise of "verification." What kind of legitimate company demands this level of personal data for something as simple as a casting notice? Even banks and financial institutions don't go this far.

After jumping through all their hoops, they still rejected my listing without any proper explanation. Their dismissive attitude and vague "terms of service" excuse were nothing short of insulting. This isn't just unprofessional—it's downright shady.

I will never trust this company again and will warn everyone in my network about their unethical practices. If you're thinking about using Backstage, think twice. There are plenty of other platforms that value professionalism and respect their clients' time and privacy.

Save yourself the frustration and go elsewhere.

The current state of StarNow, Backstage, and Mandy is nothing short of appalling for professional actors. These platforms, which once served as respectable resources for actors seeking legitimate work, have devolved into cesspools of exploitation and subpar opportunities. The decline in quality has been particularly noticeable since Backstage's takeover, with the situation deteriorating on an almost weekly basis. What was once a valuable tool for connecting talent with genuine opportunities has become a playground for those seeking to take advantage of aspiring actors and undermine the value of our craft.

Perhaps the most egregious aspect of these platforms is the insulting pay rates that have become commonplace. It's not uncommon to see roles being offered at a paltry £50 per day, barely enough to cover basic expenses, let alone provide a living wage. Even more outrageous are the "opportunities" that offer £200 for 15 days of work, which breaks down to an absurd £13.33 per day. This is far below minimum wage and shows a complete disregard for the time, effort, and skill that actors bring to their roles. Adding insult to injury, many jobs are advertised as paid positions, only for actors to discover that they're merely being offered expense reimbursement. Worse still, some roles are promoted with the promise of an IMDb credit as if that alone is sufficient compensation. These practices are not only unethical but also contribute to the devaluation of actors' work across the industry.

The bait-and-switch tactics employed by many listings on these platforms are particularly concerning. Aspiring actors, eager for their break in the industry, are lured in by promises of paid work, only to discover that the compensation is "expenses only" or, even more insultingly, just for "exposure." This deceptive practice preys on the enthusiasm and dedication of newcomers to the field, exploiting their passion and willingness to work hard for a chance at success. It's a manipulative approach that takes advantage of the dreams and aspirations of talented individuals, potentially discouraging them from pursuing their chosen career path.

What's particularly distressing is the rapid decline in the overall quality of listings and opportunities available on these platforms. Each week seems to bring new lows in terms of professionalism, legitimacy of projects, and adherence to industry standards. The platforms appear to have abandoned any commitment to maintaining a certain level of quality or protecting the interests of the actors who use their services. Instead, they seem content to act as passive intermediaries, allowing exploitative practices to flourish unchecked. This race to the bottom not only harms individual actors but also threatens to undermine the standards and practices of the entire industry.

It's high time that organizations like Equity and BECTU were made aware of this ongoing decline and the abysmal pay standards being promoted on these platforms. As professionals in the acting community, we have a responsibility to stand against these exploitative practices and fight for fair treatment and compensation. These platforms have transformed from useful tools into exploitative middlemen that devalue our craft and take advantage of those trying to break into the industry. Actors, especially those new to the field, deserve better than to be treated as disposable commodities. It's crucial that we raise awareness about these issues and encourage our colleagues to seek out legitimate agencies and casting calls that respect their talent, time, and professional worth.

In conclusion, StarNow, Backstage, and Mandy have become a blight on the acting community, actively harming the very people they claim to serve. Their practices normalize exploitation, undercut the value of actors' work, and create a toxic environment that threatens the integrity of our profession. It's imperative that we, as a community, take a stand against these platforms and the harmful practices they enable. By doing so, we can work towards creating a more equitable and respectful industry that values the contributions of actors at all levels of their careers. Only through collective action and a refusal to accept these substandard conditions can we hope to effect real change and restore dignity to our profession.

The account I had years ago that never bore any results, was closed. Since then, I have received multiple charges for $199.95 on several occasions associated with different cards, yet neither were ever used when the account existed. "Support" does not exist and they have yet to help me.

Backstage became Fraud! I signd up on year ago for 6 month….now I do not even have acces to an account, but they charged my credit card with 59,99€!!!!!!! I was sending sevarel mails…but no answer! I will fight for my money back!

Update: They actually got back to me and it was taken care of.

they charged me for a subscription after I canceled, or I thought I canceled my subscription and their website is very confusing about canceling subscription. A lot of small text. I also discovered it's impossible to contact them. I have called and emailed to get a refund and they didn't get back to me. This used to be the best place for actors to go to, but I don't think they are anymore.

I must pay you a lot of money to some ghost who won’t hire me? Are you sick? By ghost I mean a person who sits down and is looking for someone who he doesn’t have to do much work on and doesn’t give the goodness of God.

bad advertisement no real job prospects and still charge £101 even after cancelling, do not fall for these scammers.

new terms and conditions are extremely sketchy. basically trying to sell your info (possibly for AI) without paying you a DIME!
lots of unpaid casting calls and scammers on here as well.

Spent money an annual subscription and it is total garbage, you get nothing in return for your money, BEWARE

I cancelled my subscription months ago and they have been billing me since. Do not give them your information!!