California's scam-prevention law for talent services.
This page carries forward the parent-facing guide to the Krekorian Talent Scam Prevention Act, including what it covers, red flags to watch for, and the practical steps families can take before paying anyone.
Advance-fee rules
$50,000 bond
Parent verification steps
Bottom line for parents
If someone wants money upfront for opportunities in acting, modeling, or music, they must follow strict rules or they are likely breaking the law.
Protecting families from predatory talent services is essential in today's entertainment industry. California's AB 1319, commonly called the Krekorian Act, was created to prevent scams targeting actors, especially young performers and their families.
Before AB 1319, families could lose $5,000 to $15,000 to companies that promised a child would be discovered but delivered nothing. This law created real consequences for scammers.
This law exists because families were being sold expensive promises instead of legitimate industry help.
What AB1319 does in practical terms.
This California law regulates how companies can offer paid services related to the entertainment industry. It specifically targets businesses that charge advance fees for things like auditions, representation, showcases, and photography without proper legal structure or disclosure.
The bill was signed into law in 2009 by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to address a surge in fraudulent talent businesses that were taking thousands of dollars from families with empty promises of stardom.
The law is designed to slow down scams before they take your money.
The source page focused on four parent-facing protections: no advance-fee opportunity selling, clearer paperwork, bonding, and a direct path to sue when harm occurs.
No advance fees for employment opportunities
A legitimate service provider cannot legally charge money upfront for access to auditions, casting calls, or job opportunities before they actually happen.
Transparency and disclosure required
Companies offering talent services must provide detailed written contracts, clear refund policies, and honest information about what they are actually offering.
$50,000 bond requirement
Service providers must post a $50,000 surety bond with the California Labor Commissioner so families have a path to recover money if the business commits fraud or fails to deliver services.
Private right of action
Families who get scammed may be able to sue the company and potentially recover money, attorney's fees, and additional damages.
Who it applies to
- Talent managers and agents, though legitimate agents work on commission rather than upfront fees.
- Photographers and demo reel creators who market specifically to aspiring performers.
- Acting coaches and workshop providers who promise industry connections.
- Online casting subscription services.
- Talent showcases or open calls that charge participation fees.
- Companies offering representation packages that bundle coaching with agency services.
The real path to success
- Quality training and skill development.
- A professional portfolio including headshots and demo materials.
- Submitting to legitimate casting calls and agencies.
- Networking inside the industry.
- Starting small and building over time.
The sales patterns families should slow down around.
These warning signs come directly from the parent-facing source copy and are the right first filter before signing anything.
Guaranteed auditions for an upfront fee.
Showcase companies that promise exposure but will not share who is actually attending.
Agents who want payment before booking work.
Coaching programs tied to representation with no clear separation of services.
High-pressure sales tactics such as this offer expires today.
Companies that discovered your child at a mall, fair, or through unsolicited contact.
What normal industry behavior looks like and what it does not.
The original copy makes a strong comparison between legitimate service providers and scam operations. Keeping that contrast visible helps families make faster decisions.
Legitimate entertainment services
- Real talent agents earn 10 to 20 percent commission only when work is booked.
- Professional photographers charge flat fees for specific services, not fame packages.
- Acting coaches focus on skill development, not promising industry connections.
- Casting websites charge reasonable monthly fees with clear terms.
- Legitimate showcases can identify attendees and show that industry professionals regularly attend.
Scam operations typically
- Promise specific outcomes they cannot control.
- Require large upfront payments.
- Bundle multiple services into confusing packages.
- Use fake testimonials or staged success stories.
- Pressure you to sign immediately.
- Cannot provide bond information when asked.
How to verify a company's compliance
- Ask to see the bond certificate or get the bond number.
- Verify registration with the California Department of Industrial Relations.
- Search for complaints through the Better Business Bureau and other review sources.
- Ask for recent client references, not only testimonials on the company's website.
- Get refund policies and deliverables in writing.
If a company hesitates to show its bond certificate or registration information, treat that as a major red flag.
What to do if you've been scammed
- Document everything, including contracts, emails, receipts, and messages.
- File a complaint with the California Labor Commissioner.
- Report the issue to the California Attorney General consumer protection channels.
- Consider legal action, since AB 1319 allows claims for damages and attorney's fees.
- If a bond exists, file a claim against it for recovery.
Permit and bond notes
California Child Services Permit
#000281809
Bonded and insured
#57BSBJE4765
Common parent questions about AB1319.
The questions below are taken from the source legal-library page and preserved in redesigned form.
Does this law apply to online services or only California-based companies?
AB 1319 applies to companies offering talent services to California residents, even if the company is based elsewhere. Enforcement can be more difficult with out-of-state businesses.
Are acting classes and workshops covered by this law?
Pure education generally is not. But when a workshop promises industry connections, auditions, or representation opportunities for additional fees, it likely falls under AB 1319.
What is the difference between a talent agent and a talent manager under this law?
Licensed talent agents are regulated separately and generally charge commission after work is booked. Managers charging upfront fees while offering specific opportunity-based services must comply with AB 1319.
My child was scouted at a mall. Is that automatically a scam?
Not automatically, but it is highly suspicious. If the contact turns into pressure to pay for photos, classes, or representation, families should slow down and verify everything before proceeding.
Can companies charge for headshots and still be legitimate?
Yes, context matters. A photographer charging a normal fee for headshots is different from a discovery package promising exposure or representation.
What if the company is based outside California?
If it offers services to California residents, AB 1319 still matters, but practical enforcement may be weaker. That makes due diligence even more important.
Reference points families may want nearby.
The original page listed resource names rather than a structured bibliography. Those references are preserved here as source labels without inventing links.
Official government resources
- Full Text of AB 1319 - California Legislative Information
- California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE)
- AB 1319 Implementation Details - DLSE
- California Attorney General talent agency scam information
- California Department of Industrial Relations
Report scams and violations
- Better Business Bureau Scam Tracker
- Better Business Bureau search tools
- FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
- Federal Trade Commission fraud reporting
Industry and research references
- SAG-AFTRA franchised talent agents directory
- SAG-AFTRA anti-scam information
- Backstage industry advice and background articles
- BizParentz Foundation AB 1319 information
- Bonnie Gillespie AB 1319 compliance guide
- BBB study on job scams
- FBI IC3 annual internet crime report