Background Talent Services

NEGATIVE!!! Worst service ever.

I’ve been booked on everything from background work on Superbowl commercials for Mercedes Benz and Budweiser to audience work on Judge Judy, Dr. Drew, and Celebrity Name Game. Debby and her team are professional and proficient. I can’t recommend joining BTS enough.

Well worth working with them. The jobs that they have gotten me have been 10 per hour or above and payment has never reached beyond three weeks. Be careful with canceling with Debbie or not following directions. She is quick to retort back if you miss details or are careless with being time efficient. Background work is not glamours. If you’re hoping this will help you to be discovered, it will not. View it as a paycheck. I like their policy of pay 25 dollars a month if you work, if you don’t no payment is required. Keep this company in perspective for what it is, background work. It’s helped me pay plenty of bills.

Debbie responded to my review and simply put, yes we have worked together, you know who I am wes is not my real name dips#+&. These reviews are real Debbie so there’s no need to lie about the facts, & it’s … that you’ve been in business as long as you have and haven’t found a way to streamline the way the business works is sad and you should be ashamed of yourself. I have witnessed firsthand how you treat people and I’m not alone.

Thank you for 5 years of Commercial Background work. Debbie know’s what kind of stress hold’s with the job being a «Cat Rangler», and does it with enough toughness, and organizational ability that I’ve ever scene working with SO MANY extra’s at one time (per day.) BGT’s job’s hold better quality than any other agency I’ve worked with. Thank you for helping me make my life more exciting, fun, & adventurous.

I would like to say that these people have booked and helped me get jobs when i did work with them– i used to get booked atleast 3 times a month (gigs that payed $ 150+). Would def recommend to anyone. Again if you dont have the look” then there is nothing they can do but submit you. great price for what u get back. I was upgraded to principal after going a few times– def worth the buck! Amazing customer service, Debbie is very nice and understanding. Great service guys!

After doing several decent audience jobs with BTS, I experienced a very very rough one today that I have to let others know about!
The call was for «attractive females for a new talk show»…pay was $ ⁶³⁄₇ hours with a 90 MINUTE WALK AWAY LUNCH!!!
Now first of all, it was an extremely hot day, and we had to walk quite a distance from the parking lot to the stage… we did two show tapings and after the first one, we were supposed to have a 90 MINUTE WALK AWAY LUNCH… in reality, however, after the first show, we were walked by the PAs BACK to the parking lot and then told by some a-​hole PA that we only had a half hour left of our lunch… NUTS!!! What the hell happened to the 90 MINUTE WALK AWAY LUNCH???
On top of that, many of us didn’t bring any food, thinking we were going to get that good olé’ 90 MINUTE WALK AWAY LUNCH… there was nothing to eat within walking distance AND we were told that we were not allowed to grab something at the WB Commisary… After walking about a mile, I found a lone food truck and bought some over-​priced pork sliders…
BTS-​Please be accurate with what you tell people next time!!! This was so very very unpleasant!!!

I had a great time working with them and the overall experience is fine but I have been waiting about 3 – 4 weeks for payment and have not received it yet, all of my information they requested was fine and up to date and I did everything else they asked. I tried to email them from the address they contacted me on and they of course have not responded a week later and counting… if you just want to have some fun and work a show then go for it but when a supposedly «reputable» company can’t send me my check or at least answer the question of why I havent got it yet I don’t think I’d do it again…

I joined Background Talent Services, Sun, at their Fall Registration. To prepare for my visit, I sent $ 70 to cover my enrollment and 1 month, I thought to PAYPAL. THEY NEED 3 – 5 days 4 the $ 2 show in my PAYPAL acct, so my money is locked up tight being processed until Wed, ⁰⁹⁄₁₁. BOOHOO, I can’t pay Debby and Background Talent. I called her today, and BLESS HER, she said pay me when it’s available to me. ALRIGHTA! What a gal! I so am so excited. Let’s Get to work!!!

I joined Background Talent Services in Jan of 2012 and it was one of the best decisions I ever made! Debby is straight forward, communicates and is a no nonsense woman; she gets things done!
Check out her website
for registration information.
I’ve enjoyed every job working with Deb, be it audience, commercials, or tv shows! I’ve been struck by good fortune twice on Deb’s commercials; once by being bumped up in a SAG commercial and then being booked as a Principle on a commercial! I’m so grateful to Deb, her staff and all the hard work they do; positive experiences all around! You never know what can happen, it could be right place, right time. Register with Deb at Background Talent Services and get yourself out there!

Working with Background Talent Services («BTS», as I like to call them) has been nothing but wonderful. They have booked me on higher rate commercials as well as fun audience jobs. This place is definitely not a scam (make sure to avoid those places like the plague).
BTS is a great service to join, especially if you are looking to get into doing more commercials. Which is the main reason why I joined! More commercials equals higher paying gigs and this my fellow Unilocalers is a good thing. So far, I have definitely gotten my moneys worth and then some! The fee break down is a little tricky, but if you look at it carefully, what they are doing makes sense. I like that they send out e-​mails regularly. The information lines (you call once you’ve been booked) are extremely helpful. From wardrobe to directions, everything you need to know is always on the line. Just make sure to listen very carefully.
A few words of wisdom: Be on time. Be on time. Don’t be late. Be on time. Don’t be late. Be on time (getting the drift?!). The individuals who are habitually tardy, will not succeed in this business. With that said, be on time my friends & enjoy the ride.

One must have an understanding of this business to give a fair review of this kind of thing. When you review them you you shouldn’t really be reviewing about your experience on set. Because once you step on set, Debby really should not be held responsible for your experience. It is out of her hands. Your experience with her is before and after set. Yes if things are brutal regarding bathroom breaks I’m sure she can put in a word, but overall your review should be of your check in and check out and the clarity of details regarding your booking, period. If you have a bad experience on set you should be reviewing the production, not Debby. Her job is to book you and pay you period. If the production gets bad reviews than she can easily tell them what they’re doing wrong. If you have a bad experience don’t go back, if everyone did that it would send a clear message. She is merely a liason really Casting not production, two different things. I have never had a bad experience with BG Talent. In fact Debby is rarely there so you are likely to be dealing with a «check –in person ». When I have seen her she has been nothing but kind and cheerful ! Thanks Debby for all the last minute work ! It’s great !

I worked for Background Talent Services, for the first time, this week. I was able to make some quick and MUCH appreciated money. No muss, no fuss … a TOTALLY positive experience. Actually, better & MORE than I expected. (For the talk show I worked, I got cash AND prizes!)
I can tell from Debbie’s messages that she REALLY puts her heart into what she does, into thoroughly prepping us for what to expect — and for what is expected — and into helping as many people ‘make ends meet’ as she can.
Before I got on a show through Background Talent Service — and was just ‘on spec’ — people kept telling me «You need to talk to Travis» or «I hope we get picked by Travis!» And I was just wondering ‘Who is this ‘Travis-​guy’?’ Well, when I finally met him, I understood what all the fuss was about. He was unerringly polite, and you could tell that, were it up to him, he’d let us ALL work. Unfortunately, it’s not always or only up to him and/​or logistically possible.
I think the process — and, especially, the NOT getting in – leaves some people bitter. Sometimes confirmed/​booked people show up LATE, and then get all KINDS of irate when they don’t get in. To me, when all people had to do was show up ON TIME to make money, and then don’t, then they only have themselves to blame.
I would work through Background Talent Services again, in a heartbeat!

I have worked with Debby for the past couple months through audience work and commercial work. It has been a pleasure working with her and she has gotten me many jobs. Travis is also awesome to work with and a great guy all around. I have no complaints and can’t wait to work for them again.

I’ve been with Debby for years as well as all the other services. I do have positive experiences from all the services. No matter what job you are on, there are going to be ups and downs. At the end of the day, I do appreciate what I am doing because I don’t have to deal with office politics and you can take a break whenever you want. One do to have to make sure that you do have another gig on the side to cover your daily expenses, rent, etc. All in all, I do remember Debby having strict rules to follow, but those rules and training helped me excel on my other gigs. It’s better when someone lays out all the rules then to have a rude awaking and be not used again for doing something you might be totally oblivious to.
Debby is fair and do train her people well, so when you get called for a gig without micro-​managing, you will still succeed and be called back for more gigs.
This industry is not easy, nor is any other industry. At the end of the day, I’m always thankful that I get to avoid office politics. Can I get an amen on that? AMEN!

I asked around about the lady in charge; after she yelled at me a few times and I found out that she has a reputation of being mean and yelling at people.
I’ve had horrible experiences with her, and I don’t know if she does this on purpose or if she is sick.
there are many other companies out there that are a pleasure to deal with and the relationship can be productive and at the end of the day feel blessed and thankful for having dealt with them.
Debby at background talent casting is the worst experience I’ve ever had.
On the other hand the jobs were ok, as long as I didn’t have to talk to her or got her mean messages that particular day. The company sends you out on extra or audience work, the pay is $ 8 per hour, sometimes $ 10/​hour.
The audience work is brutal. They, depending on what show you go on, will be nice people, but the production crew sometimes are the same, and they tend to not be nice to audience members.
I prefer Burbank Casting, they are courteous and they fight for you, they make sure you’re treated fairly and every time I’ve worked for them, (Burbank Casting) I always went back home with a smile on my face and feeling blessed.
Every time I worked or dealt with Background Casting and Debby, I always went back home depressed, drained out and bummed out.

The woman who runs this business is, how can I say this nicely, insane. You might want to steer clear.