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John Robert Powers And Carol Stevens Deceptive Marketing, Liars, Schemers, Exploiting Children to Make a Buck! Cheats, Frauds, Dream Killers West Palm Beach Florida
Well I would like to thank all of you for writing your reports and stopping me 1 step short of handing over my entire remianing savings!!!
My daughter and I were "Invited" to an OPEN Audition on Sat. Oct. 25, 2008. JRP had a table set up in the Regal Movie Theatre on the opening day of High School Muscial 3!
Against my better judgment, I took my daughter (who stressed how much she wanted to do this!) the next morning! It was just as I thought! They introduced the owner of JRP as well as Carol Stevens, someone who they claimed to be a famous talent scout from California! I did much research and could find no record of this famous talent scout!
They had my daughter and about 50 other kids get on-stage and read for a commercial while the camera was taping (or so they say!). Then they have your child go over to their table for a personality interview which consisted of 1 question "How much do you really want to do this?" Then they ask the parents "How flexible are you?" They told us that if she received a callback (as if anyone didn't!) it would come the next day between 10 & 11 AM.
Surprise, the phone rang at 10:25 AM. And it was a perky person telling me that they (JRP) would like to invite my child to work with them on the Masters Level!!! Masters Level classes begin at $5900!!! I told her we didn't have that kind of money and she suggested the Competitor Level Classes which begin at $1950! Again, I told her that was not financially possible.
She suggested a credit card or a helpful, generous grandparent? I told her we had neither. I asked if they had a payment plan and she said no. Monies must be paid upfront. She suggested maybe they could split it in two and I told her it would have to be a minimum of 4 for us to even consider it.
She said she would talk to the owner and call us back. She did but I didn't answer. I was busy reading rip-off report! My daughters feelings are a little hurt but I told her not to give up. She can take acting classes elsewhere much cheaper! And no mention of that commercial which she read for yesterday! Hah! What a SURPRISE!!!
Robin
LAKE WORTH, Florida
U.S.A.
2 Updates & Rebuttals
Lab In La
Anywhere,California,
U.S.A.
UPDATE: It's All About the Money!!
#3Consumer Comment
Tue, November 11, 2008
Robin from Lake Worth & 3 Strikes from West Palm -- you were very smart to catch on before you lost all your money. Every instinct you had about the John Robert Powers West Palm Beach scam, was right on target! Hopefully others listen to you.
One of their many schemes is -- they buy lists from clearing houses with names and phone numbers of kids in the ages they prey upon. Then they call and con the parents -- by telling them what they want to hear -- into believing the kid was seen on the street or wherever, telling them he/she is so beautiful and has the perfect personality for acting or modeling --and with a little coaching, for a measly $5900 (this is just the beginning) -- JRP will give them the opportunity of a lifetime -- to become a big star!! Oh yeah -- don't forget the $9,000+ it'll cost you when your kid is one of the "lucky ones" who gets chosen for IPOP.
The hook line to Robin was, "Carol did have positive things to say about your daughter, however having no experience WE WOULD REQUIRE COACHING HER."
It's no problem if you don't have the money. They'll just tell you to get it anyway, anyhow, from anybody -- because that's what they do. No morals/no conscience -- they'll take the money ANYWAY, ANYHOW, from ANYBODY!
Hmm -- I wonder why the "Owner" didn't sign her name on the rebuttal???
Jrp Wpb Owner
West Palm Beach,Florida,
U.S.A.
In response to your claim
#3REBUTTAL Owner of company
Mon, November 03, 2008
You wrote on your application for your daughter that your daughter's friend from her class is a model and that your daughter had an interest in acting, modeling, singing and dancing. Please ask your daughter to ask her friend in her class where she got started and I guarantee you the answer will be John Robert Powers West Palm Beach. Your daughter's friend from her class has been a client of John Robert Powers for over 2 years and this is where she got her start. She has since been placed with a top Miami Agency and has booked many amazing jobs as well as her siblings (also clients).
Your statements regarding Carol Stevens are completely inaccurate as she has been involved in the industry for many years (30+) and has an excellent reputation around the country and especially in Los Angeles for placing talent with agencies and managers. When Carol phoned me to let me know of this disturbing news being posted on the internet she did not take it lightly as she feels she is being slandered.
Carol did have positive things to say about your daughter, however, being that she was brand new at this with absolutely no experience we would require coaching to get her on board just like her friend did in her class.
JRP West Palm Beach has been in the community for 6 years with an excellent reputation and if you did your research on this location you would have realized that. We have an A rating with the BBB and have done since we started here.
We are a franchise and we take what we do seriously and work very hard for the kids we bring on board. If you would have taken the time to research our location and all the success stories that come from this location maybe you would have had a better experience not to mention that our client is your daughter's friend who has been very successful since coming on board with us!
You stated that you did not answer the phone when the "perky lady" called you back which was unfortunate as we did have a solution for you.
Please feel free to contact me to discuss your daughter and this matter further where I can provide you a full bio for Carol Stevens and the work she has done with kids in the entertainment industry.