Complaint Review: Gary Spatz - Los Angeles California

Hi -

I'm doing online customer service for Gary Spat'z The Playground and I'd love to help you with any problems you are having. (I'm sorry I'm a little late but I did not realize that people were posting this kind of information here - most of the ripoff report posts have been put up by our competitors!)

I'm not sure if you are a real client who has actually come to the school or just someone with an axe to grind - I hope you are a legitimate parent and I hope that I can help you!

I'd like to start with the accusation about the Better Business Bureau - a simple search of their site will bring up our business where we have a "B" rating. That is because of a single complaint - and if you read the actual complaint you see that the consumer filed it before talking to us and that as soon as we found out they were unhappy we resolved their issue! Here's the link 

http://www.la.bbb.org/ComplaintReadOnly.aspx?ComplaintID=+xmAtvKdG8cbKAENFjuziA==

Yes, there are bad comments online about our company (can you find a single company that hasn't had at least a few unhappy customers?) and there have been some people calling us scammers and other people are uncomfortable with the fact that we recruit students in public. However, we have a great refund policy (full refund up to your first two lessons and a pro-rated refund after that). Yes, we are expensive, but Gary is the most experience child acting coach in the US (maybe even the world?) and if you went to a tennis camp run by John McEnroe you would expect to pay a little more wouldn't you?

If you really want to know the truth about us why not look at what our clients have to say? Here's a handy list of places to get unbiased reviews (including a few negative ones). 

http://maps.google.com/maps/place?cid=2017328528285780699&q=gary+spatz+90067&hl=en

http://www.yelp.com/biz/gary-spatzs-the-playground-los-angeles-2

http://www.insiderpages.com/b/15240376882/gary-spatz-s-the-playground-los-angeles

http://www.merchantcircle.com/business/Gary.Spatzs.The.Playground..310-286-6773/review/list

http://local.yahoo.com/info-43655158-gary-spatz-s-the-playground-los-angeles?tab=reviews#reviews

This one is our "doing" but I think you'll see the honest opinions of our parents if you watch these videos...

http://vimeo.com/album/265573

You've got a couple of factual problems with your report that lead me to suspect that you were never a potential customer - 

Gary does teach a part of EVERY class - he's not the main teacher because there are hundreds of children enrolled at any time. If you want to know what the kids think about Gary check him out on Facebook...

You say that you "talked" to a lot of parents that have been there for a long time but aren't happy. And yet, they have not asked for their money back - even though it is an expensive school - seems odd to me that people would put up with unhappiness when there is that much at stake. Certainly, the things that they say about us on Yelp and Google, etc. don't support what you are saying. Since parents are not able to stay in the building during class I'm not sure where these conversations took place.

Can I ask - did you get your money back? I suspect that (if you were ever a client in the first place) that you did. If not I'd be happy to get you a refund for the prorated portion of the lessons that you did not attend.

As for having Gary ruin your child's dream I think that his track record and list of former students speaks for itself - as does the board in the foyer that lists current bookings by our students. Why not come and have a look at it for yourself instead of making up you mind based on a ripoff report? We have NOTHING to hide!

There is nothing that I can find on file with the California Department of Consumer Affairs though, by all means, if you have a complaint and I am not able to resolve it for you please file one there. The allusions you make are damaging only when people don't bother to check them - like the BBB rating. I urge anyone reading this to check it for themselves! The reason that there aren't complaints on record there is that it requires the complainer to identify themselves and prove that they were a client of the company- something that is NOT required by ripoff report! Anyone can say anything they like about anyone here...

Finally, I'd like to thank you for the advice that you offered to young actors. Go and see a few schools - talk to some of the parents of kids who attended. Please come and visit The Playground. We'd love to have you over to decide for yourself if we are for your child.

I don't believe that you were ever a client of our company but if you were then I am sincerely sorry that you have such a negative impression of us. If there is anything that I can do to help change your mind just let me know! I'd be more than happy to help you directly ([email protected]). I know that some of what I have said here is pretty stern but your post was personally offensive to me and I'm upset...

"Let's Talk"

Ok, Here are  complaints listed on the Rip-Off Report alone. Just type his name on this site and see what you get. Here are just a few. You be the Judge.

2005

Gary Spatz Alert! Buyer Beware

Last year my husband and I took my son to an audition after being approached at the mall by a woman. We were called back by a man named Brook Bishop (supposedly a former male model) and an employee of a company called APM talent. After a 10 minute telephone conversation we agreed to come in for a second time and that's when we were given the strong sales pitch. In order to be accepted we must spend over $2000 in fees for pictures and classes taught by Gary Spatz, a then respected acting coach.

Deciding the classes were grossly expensive we came home and checked with the BBB of southern California. We found company owner Eric Rottman had a lot of problems with his former companies here and in other states. We were relieved and disappointed at the some time. It was all just a scam. We did eventually find our son a legitimate agent and he is doing well.

Unfortunately, the story does not end there. Now just over a year later my neighbor and her daughter were approached at the mall, attended an event and called back by a man named Mr.Bishop. His new company now located in Century City is called Gary Spatz's The Playground. Once again he told my neighbor they would have to spend thousands for acting classes taught by the very same Gary Spatz. After talking to my son's agent apparently Mr Spatz at one time was reputable however, he is fast acquiring the reputation of running an overpriced acting mill. Scam artists are plentiful in this business so, if you have paid this company dimes demand your money back now!

You don't' have to spend thousands of dollars on acting classes. Call the Screen Actors Guild, buy a Back Stage West, contact your local community college or even ask a friend. Legitimate acting classes are just a couple of hundred dollars for six to eight weeks and most have agent showcases. All the real experts say that's all you need when you're just starting out to make sure your child is going to stick with it.

The City Attorneys office has a hotline for these types of scams 213-978-8100.

Protect our children.

A Parent

2007

Mr. Spatz,

Nice try, no cigar!

I was also approached like 'Angry Mom' while shopping with my granddaughter. And we were almost scammed by you and your company as well.

Let me tell YOU a little something about me. I have been a Prosecutor here is Los Angeles County for over 14 years (now retired) Due to my background and now my interest in you, I have been looking into this obvious rip-off and will continue to see this through. In the mean time, here are a few things everyone should know.

Let's start with your business partner Eric Rottman. There is a great deal of public information available on him. It appears his previous acting and modeling scams were shut down or he skipped town in the middle of the night to avoid being shut down. Your way of operating is identical. Did you think his past would not catch up with you? Please don't try and deny this fact as he has been video taped on more than one occasion by more than one person working in your office. Please find enclosed below a little of his long history.

Now, let's get to your recruitment of children. It is illegal to do business in another businesses place of business. (i.e. having your employees hang out at the malls and department stores handing out cards and hustling parents.) If your customers are so happy with you and your services than why would you need to procure potential customers illegally? Reputable workshops and acting classes depend on word of mouth and simply advertise. Key word here is 'reputable.'

In addition to the above and if that were not enough, your prices are unbelievable. Talk about excessive. Although there is nothing illegal about over charging, it does say a lot about your character. And don't give me 'you get what you pay for.' People should know there are many great classes taught by well respected companies and experienced coaches for a few hundred dollars. Unfortunately, your staff employs such high pressure sales tactics on consumers that most feel they must make decisions on the spot.

You say you have satisfied customers and that may be true. However, I have successfully prosecuted many scams that have also had satisfied customers. It means little and is not going to save your bacon.

Gary, if your wife is so 'livid' maybe you should have thought about that before getting involved in a scam. Your reputation is no longer 'unblemished.' How long do you think Disney will continue to work with you once they get a whiff of all this? And they will, I guarantee it! Are a few fast dollars really worth loosing what you say you have worked so hard for?

I will also be submitting complaints to the appropriate consumer and regulatory agencies. Since you are an Advance Fee Talent Company, I will be forwarding a complaint to the California State Department of Industrial Relations, Division of Labor Standards Enforcement in addition to the aforementioned agencies by 'Angry Mom.'

Your ethics and business practices are deplorable!

O'Brien/Rottman Talent Consultants, Inc.
aka O'Brien/Rottman Studios
aka O'Brien/Rottman Talent Placement
Pat O'Brien (Patrick O'Brien) and Eric P. Rottman
BBB Record
O'Brien Rottman Talent Consultants, Inc. This Report was developed from various sources, including the business, governmental agencies, and the experience of the company's customers.

O'Brien Rottman Talent Consultants, Inc.
1223 Wilshire Blvd. PMB # 813
Santa Monica CA 90403-5400

Business Started: 01/01/89
File Open Date: 04/13/94
Last Report Date: 12/12/02
Principal Contact: Pat O'Brien

Phone: (310) 777-5478
Fax: (310) 777-5479
Email: Not Available
Web Address: Not Available

Bureau ID: 85001965

Nature of Business
This company's business is talent and modeling management services,
workshops and photographs.

Bureau File Experience

Our files show disconnected phone numbers, returned mail or both. The company appears to be out of business. The Bureau cannot trace addresses of

2008

I know from experience. I have been there done it. Let me save everyone some time, money and most importantly your child's hart!

The scam starts like this. You and your family are out shopping and you are contacted by a woman. She tells you how cute your child is and asks have you ever thought about getting in commercials or TV? She chats on and you are convinced you should attend the big tryout or should I say the big set-up. Well, after an hour or more of driving you arrive and there are many other children waiting for their big break also. After two hours and a dog and pony show were they try and get your child all excited. This is helpful in the big picture of trying to sale you an expensive acting class.
You now drive home and wait for the Callback. Everyone gets called back if they think you have money. The next day after a brief conversation on the phone you take another drive to their office and this is were the big hustle starts. We saw a man named Mike and his office looked like a move set. What a joke. All the phony photos on the wall and phony props, a real sleeze ball this guy was.

After 10 minutes of b.s. he gets to the real reason for all the deception.
You need to spend $3000 on classes and then you will be invited to attend performance night. I then asked, what about all the negative things people are saying online? His reply was don't pay any attention to what people are saying online. It's just some crackpot I then asked why they have an F with the BBB? He said they have only one complaint and that was the reason. NOT TRUE! They have an F because of their deceptive business practices. Well, I thought long and hard and decided to give it a try for my child. (I also new if I put it on a credit card I could dispute it later if need be)

We attend the first class and I start talking to some of the other parents that have been there for awhile. A LOT of them are NOT that happy with the whole operation, contrary to what the Playground wants you to believe. The complaints were numerous including the fact that Gary dose not even teach! We attend two more classes that I sit in on and I talk to more upset parents.

My family finally decides to cancel this whole thing and get a refund. Boy that was not easy. Once they get your money they do not want to give it back. I guess the sleeze ball had already spent the commission.

Here is the long and short of it. I have nothing to gain and my only goal is to share
my experience and offer some advise.

DO NOT DO BUSSINESS WITH THIS SCAM COMPANY
Go online and look up acting schools in Los Angeles. Call and talk with them. Go see a few places. I know this will take a little time but, your child is worth it. Make a decision after you have all the facts. Don't let your child's dream be ruined by Gary Spatz and his group of scammers. Just make sure you do a little research and then proceed. It can be a lot of fun and great for your child.

Want to complain? contact the Department of Consumer Affairs. They are already aware of Gary Spatz and this Eric Rottman guy. Google Eric Rottman and lern about this theif!

2008

Fraudulent Practices

They are even telling people that all the negative things people are posting online about them are a competitor. I'm no competitor, just a dad that fell for their scam and my goal is to warn new parents to this awful truth. We went through the whole process with this company including spending thousands and going to classes. I know the SCAM, I know from experience!

Ok, here is the deal with this company.
You are out with your family and a women will come up to you and she tells you what a cute kid you have and begs you to come to an audition or what they call a 'tryout'. You attend, and the whole process is designed to get your child's hopes up about being an actor. They line the walls with photos of teen stars and autographs to complete the effect. Your child is excited and on the drive home you can only hope you get a call back. (don't worry, everyone will get a call back if they think you have a few thousand dollars to spare) The next day or two you will indeed receive a call from Terry, John or who ever. They think your child is great! But, you will need to fork over $3000-$5000 per child for their 'wonderful' acting classes to 'prepare' her or him for the" big time'. Sound familiar to anyone? I thought so. Read on..

Here is what I have found out about this company and its operators.

Gary and his group have been scamming kids and parents for many years in several states. They change company names, leave town and close the doors when there becomes too much heat or the law is on their trail. They left Dallas in the middle of the night! There is now so many people posting their experiences with Gary Spatz, an investigation by the authorities and from what I understand a news expose that it would not surprise me if they were planning an exit strategy for 'The Playground' as I write this. Gary and his group will deny he has had anything to do with these other companies, you can't hide the truth these days thanks to the internet. Poor Gary....

Google Eric Rotman, Gary Spatz and previous company names like, O'brien Rottman Studios (shut down in Dallas, Phoenix, San Francisco and Los Angeles) and Artist Promotion and Marketing. The list goes on.

The bottom line is if you have been contacted by this group do not fall for the scam. You do not need to spend thousands of dollars to get started. There are tons of great acting classes out there for a lot less money. (our teacher was nice enough but not that good) DO YOURSELF and YOUR CHILD A BIG FAVOR and go online and check out 'Backstage' a wonderful recourse for teens wanting to get started. Also, check out 'BizParentz' a non-profit site run by parents that have kids in the business.

I hope this helpful and will inform people about this company. I can put up with a lot in this world but, taking advantage of children is not cool, and this company has to be stopped!

I would also be very suspicious about these "glowing" reviews!

2008

Just started taking my teenage daughter to classes here and It does not please me to say it but, we feel ripped off just after 6 weeks. Not everything is what they tell you when you sign up for this. So, I deiced to do some checking online and have found many things that are disturbing. I ended calling and talking to BizParentz Foundation as some one had suggested on another forum about this company. BizParentz is a non-profit company that is run by some really knowledgeable people who actually work and have kids working in TV and Film. They informed me that this company and it's two principles have been running these scam schools for a few years together. They have been forced to shut down by the authorities many times in three different states for over charging and misleading parents.It's all over the internet. And at one location they just left in the middle of the night. Not going to get in to all the details here.

If you are thinking about doing business with these people I would strongly suggest you do a little more homework. You should start with the internet and Google Gary. I have discovered there is a lot of info on these guys I'm sad to say. We really feel like suckers now and will be requesting a full refund. Good luck.

Legitimate acting schools charge about $95.00 a month ( 1 class a week) this place takes advantage of the uninformed. Mr Spatz may have been a good guy many years ago, but now is someone you want to stay clear of. Yes, his office is nice and it is all designed to separate you from your money. Simply do a little research and call other acting classes and see for yourself.

2008

I would like to share my experience with a company called Gary Spatz , Gary Spatz The Playground and Gary Spatz a Young Actors Conservatory.
I took my husband and our son to what was touted as an open audition, after a woman approached us in a grocery store parking lot. She told me how handsome my son was, and her manager would love to see him. She also told us that he managed the kids from the Suite Life of Zack and Cody. I ask if there are any costs or fees. She responded absolutely not! And almost seemed insulted I would ask such a thing. We show up and there are many hopeful children lined up whose parents were also taken in by this smooth talking woman. After what could only be compared to a bad Time Share presentation, we meet with a man. He asks if we are serious about my son getting into acting. After a little small talk he said they would be in touch. There was something very disturbing about all this and we waited for the next contact. One day later we get the great news. We were asked to come in for a second audition and meet with him again. We arrive a little early and sit in the waiting area talking to a few of the other families. We compared notes and it was becoming clear were this scam was going. We are soon whisked away to an office and what a sales pitch! He finally came around to asking for over $ 6000 for classes. (Yes, that was six thousand dollars!) We gave him the old checks in the mail and walked out the door.
At this point we had enough information to look up this company and see what is out there. They don't provide any company information when the invite to the audition is made, I wonder why? I could not believe all the information others have provided on their experiences with Gary Spatz and his scam.
Why I think this is place is a scam? The first indication is the way they recruit new children. It's a simple bait and switch. The street scout tricks you into thinking this is a real audition and there are no costs involved. This is not only misleading, but in most states illegal. The fact that they have to depend on misleading people from the very beginning should tell you something. The good news is there is a new law being passed before year's end that applies to all advance fee talent companies to avoid just this. The lawmakers are aware of this loop hole in the law that was passed several years ago. Thus, making it a crime to market the way Gary Spatz does now.
Apparently, The Playground does not play around when it comes sticking it to you in regards to pricing either. I have now priced classes from 6 companies that have been referred by various sources and by looking online. These are people and companies that are not plastered all over the internet with angry parents. The prices averaged 50% -75% less than what good old Gary charges. This is also a warning sign that this is a scam. I even received an e-mail from one acting coach who has known Gary Spatz for years, he said it was disturbing what Gary was doing and he was very disappointed. I told him how disappointed my family was when we found out we had been just another $ sign to Gary.
If it seems I'm being harsh on Gary, do this. If you dig a little, follow the many posts by others, you will uncover this is not the first company Gary has been with. He hooked up with a con man named Eric Rottman, who has been investigated, sued and closed down for operating similar acting scams. Gary Spatz is not just a figure head of the company who got caught up with a bad group. He is very aware of what is going on and profits greatly.

NEWS! NEWS! NEWS! NEWS! NEWS! NEWS!

NEW LAW was passed and is now in effect!

Deputy L.A. City Attorney Mark Lambert says"Thanks to the AB1319 law, talent school scammers will hold their next audition in jail."

This new law has been a long time comming and these scam schools that charge up to $9000 for classes will soon be a thing of the past. Mark Lambert is well aware of Gary Spatz and Eric Rottman, he now has the new law to go after these two and their employees. The new law prohibits "scouts" from aproaching you at the mall and then informing you that you need to fork over thousands for classes. Sound familiar?

READ ALL ABOUT THE NEW LAW AT bizparentz.org. The owner was very helpfull in getting this new law passed as well. If you have been contacted by this company for classes do yourself a favor and first call Mark Lambert to get all the facts. Don't let your child be the next victim of this operation. If you have already given them money, ask for a full refund.

I know from the other side of the 'experience' that Gary Spatz / The Playground is 100% ligit.  After meeting w/a major executive at Disney regarding a show that one of my children was being considered for, we were referred to Gary Spatz, in 2009.  He very obviously still has the same reputation, or are you going to tell me now that Disney is in on this "scam" too?!

I sat in front of the extremely well known Disney Exec myself and heard the phone call that was made...(Once my child has gotten on the other side of all of these negotiations and movie madness, I will be more than happy to reveal who it is.)

The point is this folks; Don't shoot the messenger.  Some kids have it and some kids don't.  However, blaming Gary for a child's lack of talent or interest in acting is absolutely ridiculous.  Come on parents, buck it up, huh?

(From the other side of things)

A Very Dissappointed Parent.