Surkus, an emerging mobile app, allows newly opened restaurants and businesses to create their ideal crowd and pays people to act similarly to extras on a movie set

Businesses can now give off the appearance that they are hot commodities thanks to an app that allows them top build the perfect crowd.

Surkus, an emerging mobile app, allows newly opened restaurants and businesses to create their ideal crowd and pays people to act similarly to extras on a movie set. It tagline: 'Go out. Have fun. Get paid.'

The app even makes users get hand-picked by a casting agent-like algorithm that looks at a person's age, location, style and Facebook likes.

Users work to maintain their 'reputation score', am identifier that helps influence whether they will be cast again.

And there's no point in trying to leave early as the app is tracked with geolocation and users try to leave, they do not get paid.

Payment varies, with people earning as little as five dollars up as much as $100, with an average range of $25 and $40.

Users work to maintain their 'reputation score', am identifier that helps influnce whether they will be cast again

There's no point in trying to leave early as the app is tracked with geolocation and users try to leave, they do not get paid

Surkus chief executive Stephen George said that the app acts as a matchmaker for businesses and customers. The app poses a potential threat to public relation firms and promoters who work to brand businesses to wider consumer bases.

'So many companies know their core demographic, but they don't know how to get a hold of those people,'the 30-year-old said to the Washington Post.

'They hire promoters and marketers and PR agencies to connect, but it's a one-sided interaction that involves blasting out a message to get people engaged, but they don't necessarily know if that message is being received.'

Surkus chief executive Stephen George said that the app acts as a matchmaker for businesses and customers

The app poses a potential threat to public relation firms and promoters who work to brand businesses to wider consumer bases

Surkus has gained 15,000 members in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Miami and San Francisco, with anyone being able to download the app

But the app does have critics, with criticism directed toward the prospect of a 'pretty' crowd.

'I understand the need for quick results and attendance and that sometimes brands need people lined up at their door,' said Kerry O'Grady, a professor at New York University's School of Professional Studies who teaches courses on public relations.

'Okay, you have a bunch of pretty faces at a party, but what does that do?

'It's not going to do anything if they just want to get paid to party and have no attachment to the brand itself.'

Members have attended 4,200 events for 750 clients - from big-name brands, to live-ticketed shows, movie castings and much more - and prolific users can make up to $4000 a year. The app takes a portion of the client's budget for each event

When an event is scheduled, the app's algorithm sort's through profiles using a client's desired search criteria

The Chicago native got his start with Groupon as a sophomore at DePaul University before investing $250,000 in Surkus in 2015.

Since then, they've gained 15,000 members in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Miami and San Francisco, with anyone being able to download the app.

Members have attended 4,200 events for 750 clients - from big-name brands, to live-ticketed shows, movie castings and much more - and prolific users can make up to $4000 a year. The app takes a portion of the client's budget for each event.

When an event is scheduled, the app's algorithm sort's through profiles using a client's desired search criteria.

Once identified, Surkus sends 'availability request' to the member's phone. Those who attend are paid within 24 hours via PayPal and are asked to keep the source of their invite, discrete

Once identified, Surkus sends 'availability request' to the member's phone. Those who attend are paid within 24 hours via PayPal and are asked to keep the source of their invite, discrete.

Women are paid more than men on a consistent basis.

O'Grady questioned the ethics surrounding the businesses that choose to use the app.

'Good PR is all about transparency,' she said.

'But in this case you're telling people to be discreet, but you're also telling us the events are organic and that people want to be there, and that's not okay.'

That notion was dismissed by George.

'We want to know as much as possible about you, so we can make sure we're on target with your interests and what you love to do, so that you just can't say no to an invitation,' he said.