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  • Report:  #360547

Complaint Review: JRP

JRP Beware of expensive scam artists, JRP,who claim to make your child a star. Houston Texas

  • Reported By:
    The Woodlands Texas
  • Submitted:
    Fri, August 08, 2008
  • Updated:
    Sun, August 24, 2008

I am a mother of a young child who has a legitimate agent for modeling and acting here in Houston, Texas. The company has been awarded by the Better Business Bureau many times.

As we are new to this, I am always anxious to get my child any auditions that seem reputable and possibly "the" chance to get a good job. Hence, when I was listening to one of our popular radio stations, 99.1, and heard an announcement that a very successful casting director from NYC was coming for one weekend only I got excited. He is involved and represents some very well known actors and television network. Some of those mentioned were, "The Suite Life of Zack and Cody," "Target," and the "Gilmore Girls."

Now, I googled him and saw that he personally was a major casting director. I called the number given immediately and was given an address and a noon audition time. I was also told that the purpose of his visit was to audition children for an upcoming "Hannah Montana" project.

When we got there, I discovered I was at a place called JRP. I had not heard of them or their poor reputation. There were several gentleman in suites who introduced their new owner, a Hollywood casting director, and a good friend from NYC (the casting director referred to above). We were told our children would be given three lines to read, coached before auditioning, then put on camera. We were given three lines, not coached, and not put on camera.

Much was said about how JRP has many famous clients and that they were the ONLY place in Houston that could get us on national tv commercials, etc.
They also told us we were to call a phone number at a specific time the next day to see if we got a callback.

I was somewhat suspicious after reading their literature later that day. I called my child's agent and she said not to sign a thing. She made me aware that JRP was a scam and has a bad reputation. This was very disappointing but at the same time enlightening - I was warned.

As predicted, when I called "Maui" at noon the next day, he said, "Your child has a callback! You must be here by 4:00 to sign our contract!" When I politely said that it was a Sunday and I would have to speak to my agent first, his tone of voice became dark. He went on and on about how I was passing up an opportunity of a lifetime (entailing spending over $1,000.00 in "classes"), and that my agent was a liar. He added that our agency was "only a school" and would never be able to get us any work.

This all become very ugly and upsetting. I again politely declined.

I am writing this to any parents out there who want legitimate agencies and do not want to be ripped off!! JRP is a franchise that scams innocent people out of a lot of money, then quickly moves on to other cities around the country. Always check websites like these as well as the Better Business Bureau before signing with anyone.

If someone says you need to pay for a callback and claims they can make you or your child a star - red flag. Do not do it. No one can guarentee such a thing. Hope this helps someone and good luck to all you talented people out there!

Lynn
The Woodlands, Texas
U.S.A.

1 Updates & Rebuttals


Houston Parent

Houston,
Texas,
U.S.A.

Happy At JRP

#2Consumer Comment

Sat, August 23, 2008

My child attended JRP and worked with Maui. Davis has now done three national commercials and can be seen in an upcoming episode of "Criminal Minds". What has your child done? Every path in the acting and modeling industry is different.

JRP in Houston is a good, sound, well connected school. With a great placement program. They would not attracted the quality of agents, managers, and casting directors they do if they were a SCAM.

My child is represented by Coast to Coast talent in Los Angles. Well before we had the opportunity to audition for Sydel, Davis was e-mailed actual scripts that I had to tape and submit directly to the casting directors.

I realize that JRP is a school. I am assuming you realized they were a school. My contract actually states in three places that "JRP is not a licensed agent". I get very tired of parents, especially parents that so easily use the word scam, immediately informing consumers that a company is "BAD". I am confused that if your child already has an agent, who you can just call on a Sunday, why you would need another. One can only claim to be scamed when they actually pay or enter into a contract and the services in the contract are not delivered.

Maui arranged for Davis to audition for Kari at Agency Models, a Minneapolis based agency that handles Target. Davis landed a national commercial with Target because of this. Maui is not my son's agent, and received no compensation for his help. I did invest in acting classes. I still invest in acting classes, only with independent coaches in LA, and it helps. When I need a second opinion, I call Maui.

I have a very successful kid that works on a national level thanks to Maui and JRP. My child had the opportunity to do one-on-one auditions with top agents (Abrams Artist, C.E.S.D., Coast to Coast) and casting directors (Joey Paul, Trisha Bullock) because of JRP. He received coaching, which I gladdly paid for, and will again and again to keep him competitive and educated.

So things did not work out for you. I hope your child has the same success as Davis with your agent.

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