website thubmnail of Backstage

Backstage

How would you rate Backstage?
grey star
grey star
grey star
grey star
grey star
GB
2 reviews
1 helpful vote
Follow Jelena F.
Unfollow Jelena F.
Send Message
Share Review
Report Review

Great support
November 27, 2017

All support team members were so friendly and helpful like a real friend. They want make sure you understand what you ask for and lead you in new experience. Thank you

Date of experience: November 27, 2017
Pennsylvania
1 review
3 helpful votes
Follow Lynne J.
Unfollow Lynne J.
Send Message
Share Review
Report Review

SCAM company refused to end the monthly charges on our credit card. We never authorized any such charges and never used any of their services. American Express actually had to BLOCK them from future charges. STAY AWAY FROM THIS COMPANY!

Date of experience: June 4, 2019
Francis R. Backstage Rep
over a year old

Hi Lynne,

I'm sorry that you had a less than stellar experience with us here at Backstage. We do offer several plans that include an initially free trial, and then per our terms of service, roll into an automatically renewing subscription similar to programs such as Netflix or a gym membership. Also per our terms of service, you can contact us to cancel at any time. While the Monthly Subscriptions are not eligible for a refund, you still have full access for all time paid.

Backstage has been around since 1960 and is one of the most trusted resources for actors in the world. In addition to publishing a weekly magazine for actors, our casting platform includes a messaging service, a digital profile, an auditions calendar, entertainment-industry resources, and access to over 6,000 roles for projects actively casting across the U.S.—with new roles being added 24/7. The talent database is searched by filmmakers and casting departments over 2 million times a month.

Thousands of actors get work through Backstage every day, but don't take our word for it, check out #IGotCast or view our celebrity testimonials here: https://www.backstage.com/celebrity-testimonials/

As always, our customer service team is available to answer any questions or concerns you may have, and give you advice on our customers careers. Reach us weekdays from 10am to 6pm EST at customers@backstage.com. If you'd like to email us at customers@backstage.com we can take a look at your account and conversation with our representative and make sure everything was handled properly.

Maryland
1 review
1 helpful vote
Follow Sofia S.
Unfollow Sofia S.
Send Message
Share Review
Report Review

Godsend
September 25, 2017

Backstage is amazing. The ultimate connection to the industry in all aspects, for all positions, all locations, all everything. Absolutely a necessary tool if you want opportunity at your fingertips.

Date of experience: September 23, 2017
New York
1 review
2 helpful votes
Follow Lauren Y.
Unfollow Lauren Y.
Send Message
Share Review
Report Review

I like Backstage's 'look'. The listings are easy to digest for different roles, compensation, etc. I just wish they had as many listings as other sites.

Date of experience: November 5, 2018
Nigeria
1 review
1 helpful vote
Follow Divine A.
Unfollow Divine A.
Send Message
Share Review
Report Review

I appreciate the sincere approach of Backstage platform in their quality standard of customer relational approach and communication skills. Great work!

Date of experience: April 19, 2023
Richard B. Backstage Rep
over a year old

Hi Divine, thank you for your kind feedback! Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.

New York
1 review
5 helpful votes
Follow Ivanhoe A.
Unfollow Ivanhoe A.
Send Message
Share Review
Report Review

I called several times on Sunday immediately after I got your email regarding auto-renewal and again yesterday, Monday. No one answered so I left a message saying "please cancel my subscription, I do not wish to renew." I also went to your customer service page and made the same request in writing. Also there was no option on your page to stop auto renewal.
Despite all that you still took money out off my account today, Tuesday, AND AT A HIGHER PRICE THAN LAST YEAR. A price which I was not notified about.
This is NOT THE WAY TO DO BUSINESS.
Also, your voicemail claims to have "Live Chat" Mon-Fri from 10am -6pm. You do not have Live Chat which is deceitful. If you did this problem would have been resolved.
I'm asking again, please cancel my subscription and refund my money.
Ivanhoe

Date of experience: May 10, 2022
Richard B. Backstage Rep
over a year old

We're sorry to hear that you've been struggling to contact our Customer Support team over the past few days. Chat is temporarily out of service and we hope to have it back soon. We're doing our best to answer everyone's messages as quickly as possible. Please note that we sent you a reminder email a month prior to the renewal. In any case, I'm seeing that my colleague has already processed your cancellation and refund earlier this morning. You can expect your refund back in about 3-5 business days, depending on your bank's processing time. If you have any other questions/concerns, please respond to our email and we'd be happy to address them.

New York
1 review
0 helpful votes
Follow Peter R.
Unfollow Peter R.
Send Message
Share Review
Report Review

You can count on the staff at Backstage to answer your questions as best they can. They are very helpful, and will go out of their way to find solutions to your problems.

Date of experience: September 29, 2022
Richard B. Backstage Rep
over a year old

Thank you for your kind review! :)

Florida
1 review
4 helpful votes
Follow Daniel O.
Unfollow Daniel O.
Send Message
Share Review
Report Review

Beware of Backstage
June 30, 2020

On June 12 I was billed by Backstage for the annual membership. However, in March I had went on the website and turned my auto renew off. After being billing, I went back to my account to see my auto renew was STILL ON! I was charged the annual membership of $149 and never received any email receipt regarding this.

I contact their customer service today on June 30, just 18 days after the payment. They continued to tell me that I was past their "10 day" grace period and no refund could be issued. I was even okay will settling for a pro-rated 11 month refund. But they still said that was not possible. Not to mention I have not used their site in over a year...

This is very sketchy that I attempted to turn the auto renew off, yet it was still on. And what kind of company doesn't send a receipt after a payment is made? If I had received a receipt I would have cancelled right away and fell in the "10 day grace period". Instead I happen to look at my statements and see this just 8 days after the "grace period."

This is no way to conduce a business ESPECIALLY admits a global pandemic when so many of us are hurting for money due to loss of jobs. When they say "its not possible to issue a refund" this is a lie. It is possible, they just don't WANT to. With just a couple clicks they could issue a refund or partial refund.

BEWARE of Backstage, not only did I get ZERO jobs from this service, but their business model seems to be setup to auto withdraw funds and have people forget about their membership. I have not experienced customer service this poor before.

Date of experience: June 30, 2020
Richard B. Backstage Rep
over a year old

Hi Daniel,

As my manager explained in your chat with him earlier today, we are unable to find any evidence of you self cancelling your subscription until today. We sent you a reminder email a month prior to the renewal, as well as provided a 10 day grace period through which you were able to contact us for a full cancellation and refund. Since you did not contact us within this time frame, we are unable to issue a refund for you. These are the Terms of Service you read and agreed to upon subscribing to Backstage. If you would like to discuss this matter further, you can reach us via email at customers@backstage.com. Best, Stephanie

Washington
1 review
7 helpful votes
Follow Michael M.
Unfollow Michael M.
Send Message
Share Review
Report Review

Backstage is good for unrepresented actors. It's mostly student films and microbudget indie stuff. You won't get a life changing gig, but it is useful for building your resume. I had used them for just over 2 years, and was satisfied, until the pandemic hit. I explained to them that I could not afford the service, to which Ben replied, "How about if we give you 2 months for free and move your billing date?" To me, this sounded like "We'll let you keep the service and postpone billing for 2 months." What they should have said is "We're still going to charge you now, but next year, we'll charge 2 months later than the date we are currently charging you on." They didn't say that because that is obviously of no help. I disputed the charge, and the bank reversed it. I cancelled that card, and offered to pay Backstage directly via debit. Richard informed me that I would not be given access to my account unless I dropped the dispute. It was a moot point given that the card was cancelled. I tried contacting Richard several times offering to pay my bill, but never heard back. The big takeaway is this: If you have to use Backstage, keep a close eye on your bank account. They'll charge you without letting you know, and will use a multitude of strategies to make that transaction indisputable. They will also talk a good game, and though they don't outright lie, they definitely obfuscate the truth. Watch your cash because they like to stick their hands in the cookie jar.

Date of experience: February 2, 2021
Richard B. Backstage Rep
over a year old

Hi Michael, we're sorry to hear that you were dissatisfied with your support experience on Backstage. Unfortunately once a dispute is processed with your bank, there is no way to regain access to your account without dropping the dispute. Since you said you cannot drop the dispute, your account is locked until the dispute is settled. As for the renewal of your subscription, we sent you a reminder email a month prior to the renewal. If for some reason you happen to miss this email, we also allow users to contact us for a full cancellation and refund (for long term subscriptions) within 10 days as a grace period. Keep in mind that users also have the ability to check for their renewal date at any time through their Account Settings and self cancel. Unfortunately since you did not do this and instead issued a dispute with your bank, we will now have to wait for your bank to respond.

GB
1 review
9 helpful votes
Follow Barbora V.
Unfollow Barbora V.
Send Message
Share Review
Report Review

Don't subscribe
June 30, 2020

I subscribe this website. They said it's 6 months for free. After like 3 months I unsubscribe because I did not like it that much and I after another 3 months I was charged on my bank account £20. When I asked for refund as I already cancelled this and that it does not make sense to pay for something when I am unable to get a job as it was during lockdown they refused to refund me. I WOULD NEVER EVER SUGGEST SOMEONE THIS WEBSITE!

Date of experience: June 30, 2020
Richard B. Backstage Rep
over a year old

Hi Barbora,

As we discussed via email, unfortunately there was no record of you self cancelling your subscription or contacting us for assistance until you reached out to us in April and my manager processed your cancellation. Monthly subscriptions are nonrefundable per our Terms of Service. We have done our best to accommodate our users during this difficult time, but I'm seeing that you refused our special offer. If you wish to discuss this further, please email us directly at customers@backstage.com and we'd be happy to help. Best, Stephanie

Overview

Backstage has a rating of 2.7 stars from 288 reviews, indicating that most customers are generally dissatisfied with their purchases. Reviewers dissatisfied with Backstage most frequently mention credit card, free trial and last year. Backstage ranks 2nd among Talent Agency sites.

service
62
value
60
shipping
2
returns
5
quality
59
This company responds to reviews on average within 1 day
+21