John Robert Powers Chicago Acting And Modeling School Colleen Collins LLC Scam bait and switch Chicago Illinois
This is a biographical true story of a "Talent Director" (salesman) who was hired by this traveling irish crew of scam artists and I have the real story. This is a three part story. I was hired on a strict 100% commision as a talent director. all we did in a call center is call your kids and teens and tell them Our talent scouts saw your kid at school and are having auditions for new faces.
we need the parents to come(cause they were the buying party) You are not going to a real audition. It's a school an expensive school at that. the programs will range from $2150. to $7012. everybody gets selected as long as you can pay. They will videotape you on camera and no one will watch the tape. Parents whatever you do. Do not answer the phone if your caller id says John Robert Powers on it. Have your teens google it for yourself to not look like the bad guy.
I want to give you a little backround on the so called "talent directors" as well. If this is still the ever changing staff their qualifications to audition your kids are as follows.
Veronica Izzy- weight-loss industry,plastic surgery sales
Vicki-former Real Estate agent.
Brian Buoni-male stripper, seriously I am not making that one up.
Rebecca-Retired Teacher,
Rhoada- Polish radio announcer/ a*s. manager for disney store.
So their you have it. don't believe me? go on craigslist under jobs. keyword search model school. talent scouts. ohare area. do not work for this sleazy low-life company owned by Colleen Collins. It is straight commision. they will lie and tell you how much you will make. She will make you sign a form stating you will not get paid for at least a month for your first check. She will also have you sign if for any reason you will not give her a two week notice your waive your right to your final paycheck.
The auditions all take place every sunday. If you book all your appointments and god forbid something happens to you on sunday your screwed. you make no money for that whole week. no paid vacation. gruelling illegal hours. revolving door staff. lying all day to kids and their parents. the economy is so bad everybody you will be signing up will be making payment plans and you will only receive 10% of that for every sucker you sign up.
mike ****
plainfield, Illinois
U.S.A.
7 Updates & Rebuttals
NowOnBroadway
Alexandria,Virginia,
United States of America
Threatened With a Suit?
#8UPDATE EX-employee responds
Tue, January 10, 2012
Mike's initial report sounds more accurate than the apology. Were you threatened with a lawsuit to produce such an apology, or some other intimidation tactic? How could your testimony and detailed report be merely a "misunderstanding" with your manager?
Colleen Collins
Chicago,Illinois,
U.S.A.
JOHN ROBERT POWERS CHICAGO MEETS THE HIGHEST STANDARDS WITH THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU
#8REBUTTAL Owner of company
Wed, May 20, 2009
John Robert Powers Chicago has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. Our employees are professional and we are recognized as a leader in the performing arts academy industry. Below is the content of a letter we received from the Better Business Bureau of Chicago and Northern Illinois. The letter will be available for public viewing on the BBB website at www.bbb.org/chicago on 6/1/09:
Dear Ms. Collins:
As you may know the Better Business Bureau of Chicago and Northern Illinois is introducing a new Ratings System (a letter grade from A+ to F) for all Accredited Businesses and non-accredited companies that are in the BBB database. This new ratings system replaces the previous "satisfactory" or "unsatisfactory" rating. The changeover was mandated by the Council of Better Business Bureaus (the parent BBB organization). The new ratings will be used by all BBBs across the United States and Canada.
The letter grade for your business is "A+". This new letter grade will be available for the public June 1st to view on your BBB Reliability Report at the BBB Web site (www.bbb.org/chicago).
The letter grades are calculated by computer using a proprietary ratings formula that takes into account 17 weighted factors. The largest single factor in determining a letter grade is a company's overall complaint history with the BBB.
If you feel your business grade is incorrect, we invite you to double check the accuracy of information about your company in our computer records. You may do this by going to your company's Reliability Report on the BBB Web site. On the right side of the Report page you will see an icon that says: "Update Your Business Information. Click Here." That will open a page where you can insert data about your company.
Or, you may send the BBB the following statistics for us to double check our recorded information. All information will be kept confidential.
Number of employees.
Number of locations.
Number of years in business.
Number of annual customers.
Gross annual sales/business volume.
Additional information about the new Rating System will be available on the BBB Web site. Information also was in the Alert Newsletter and the Special edition of the Alert. If you need specific information immediately, please contact Tom Joyce or Steve Bernas.
I hope this information is helpful to you and your business. Thank you for your support of the Better Business Bureau.
Sincerely,
Steve J. Bernas
Chuck
Los Angeles,California,
U.S.A.
Right on Target
#8Consumer Comment
Sun, May 17, 2009
Mike,
Your first complaint rang true for my experiences with a number of the JRP's across the country. I am embarrassed to say I was one of those Agents who was paid to come in to 'audition' young people. Although I did not visit the Chicago office, so can not comment on it, your first complaint was similar to the many experiences I came across at the other ones. You just made the error of naming names, so hence the retraction. Their curriculum is awful. and the so-called acting teachers at the JRP's I came across were not anywhere near the standard of acting teachers in LA or NYC, and had no business teaching acting period!! So my appearances in support of the schools I visited were wrong, as I quickly learned. I am mortified to say I visited about 25 schools across the US within a year when I was in a financial crunch, no excuse I am guilty as charged. There was not one school I can recommend based upon the teachers I came in contact with, and their curriculum-whether I watched them teach/work with the young people. Legit acting schools in LA and NYC do not operate at all like the JRPs I came across - which were alot. Consider yourself lucky you are out my friend.
Best
Ashamed Agent!
Chuck
Los Angeles,California,
U.S.A.
Right on Target
#8Consumer Comment
Sun, May 17, 2009
Mike,
Your first complaint rang true for my experiences with a number of the JRP's across the country. I am embarrassed to say I was one of those Agents who was paid to come in to 'audition' young people. Although I did not visit the Chicago office, so can not comment on it, your first complaint was similar to the many experiences I came across at the other ones. You just made the error of naming names, so hence the retraction. Their curriculum is awful. and the so-called acting teachers at the JRP's I came across were not anywhere near the standard of acting teachers in LA or NYC, and had no business teaching acting period!! So my appearances in support of the schools I visited were wrong, as I quickly learned. I am mortified to say I visited about 25 schools across the US within a year when I was in a financial crunch, no excuse I am guilty as charged. There was not one school I can recommend based upon the teachers I came in contact with, and their curriculum-whether I watched them teach/work with the young people. Legit acting schools in LA and NYC do not operate at all like the JRPs I came across - which were alot. Consider yourself lucky you are out my friend.
Best
Ashamed Agent!
Chuck
Los Angeles,California,
U.S.A.
Right on Target
#8Consumer Comment
Sun, May 17, 2009
Mike,
Your first complaint rang true for my experiences with a number of the JRP's across the country. I am embarrassed to say I was one of those Agents who was paid to come in to 'audition' young people. Although I did not visit the Chicago office, so can not comment on it, your first complaint was similar to the many experiences I came across at the other ones. You just made the error of naming names, so hence the retraction. Their curriculum is awful. and the so-called acting teachers at the JRP's I came across were not anywhere near the standard of acting teachers in LA or NYC, and had no business teaching acting period!! So my appearances in support of the schools I visited were wrong, as I quickly learned. I am mortified to say I visited about 25 schools across the US within a year when I was in a financial crunch, no excuse I am guilty as charged. There was not one school I can recommend based upon the teachers I came in contact with, and their curriculum-whether I watched them teach/work with the young people. Legit acting schools in LA and NYC do not operate at all like the JRPs I came across - which were alot. Consider yourself lucky you are out my friend.
Best
Ashamed Agent!
Chuck
Los Angeles,California,
U.S.A.
Right on Target
#8Consumer Comment
Sun, May 17, 2009
Mike,
Your first complaint rang true for my experiences with a number of the JRP's across the country. I am embarrassed to say I was one of those Agents who was paid to come in to 'audition' young people. Although I did not visit the Chicago office, so can not comment on it, your first complaint was similar to the many experiences I came across at the other ones. You just made the error of naming names, so hence the retraction. Their curriculum is awful. and the so-called acting teachers at the JRP's I came across were not anywhere near the standard of acting teachers in LA or NYC, and had no business teaching acting period!! So my appearances in support of the schools I visited were wrong, as I quickly learned. I am mortified to say I visited about 25 schools across the US within a year when I was in a financial crunch, no excuse I am guilty as charged. There was not one school I can recommend based upon the teachers I came in contact with, and their curriculum-whether I watched them teach/work with the young people. Legit acting schools in LA and NYC do not operate at all like the JRPs I came across - which were alot. Consider yourself lucky you are out my friend.
Best
Ashamed Agent!
Mike Casey
Burr Ridgwe,Illinois,
U.S.A.
An update and apology
#8UPDATE EX-employee responds
Wed, May 06, 2009
Speaking as an ex-employee and the writter of the story above I would like to apologize for the misunderstanding of that post. What happened between me and the manager was just a complete miscommunication. I know for a fact that John Robert Powers (at least the one in chicago) is run by a professional and talented staff with people who have been in the industry for years. They can't promise that your kid is going to be a star, but they sure can at least give your kid the opportunity to make it happen.