Support the victims of Compass Artist Management
Donation protected
Due to gross and possibly criminal negligence, a group of artists have lost hundreds of thousands of dollars from Compass Artist Management.
An artist’s relationship with their agent is sacred. They are their protector. This bond shockingly broke when actors represented by Compass Artist Management, a talent agency in Toronto, stopped receiving payments for work on projects they had completed.
Compass Artist Management has cashed the money sent from the producers of these projects, but Compass has not paid the money owed to the artists.
All told, clients of Compass Artist Management have LOST OVER $500,000 and still counting.
On top of that, these artists are now without talent representation, which makes it near-impossible to find new work.
Livelihoods are being lost. We must help.
Why should you donate?
Arts work is work. Behind the bright lights and glamour are 15-hour days and immense personal and familial sacrifices. Many of these clients are owed what is equivalent to a year's work after having spent months auditioning for jobs while unemployed or employed in other jobs to keep ahead for lean times.
This situation is dire as the money may not be made up elsewhere, and the performers counted on this money for mortgages, childcare, rent, retirement, and many other expenses.
In all likelihood, it is doubtful that a lengthy legal battle will bring about the justly deserved remuneration for these artists. Still, it may prevent the guilty parties of Compass Artist Management from inflicting this pain on others in the future.
What will the money be used for?
- Help pay for legal fees associated with the necessary legal action against Compass Artist Management
- Compensate the artists for money that is owed to them
- Any amount above the clients’ compensation will be donated to charity
How will the money be transferred to Compass Clients?
- A trustee, voted on by the clients of Compass, will be designated to oversee the disbursement of funds.
- An ongoing bookkeeping process is ascertaining who is owed and how much.
- Once the fundraiser is completed, money will be issued based on a ratio to what a client was owed. An example could be - should there be $200,000 available after legal fees to disperse, and a victim is owed 2% of the total outstanding, they will receive $4,000 or 2%.
Who am I, and why am I setting up this GoFundMe?
I am not a client of Compass. I am a fellow actor. However, when I heard this story, I felt "there but for the grace of god go I." This disaster could have happened to any of us. I also know just how dire their financial situation is. Some of these victims are my friends, and I knew their stories, but through starting this GoFundMe, I have heard the stories of other Compass clients, and each story breaks my heart.
Organizer and beneficiary
Ali Momen
Organizer
Toronto, ON
Compass Artists
Beneficiary