Complaint Review: John Casablancas Modeling/Acting Center - Vienna Virginia

Unfortunatly, JC is a rip off. I worked at their Alexandria location, several years ago. Anyone can join, who dreams of being a model, actress etc. It doesn't matter what you look like, sound like or whether you are talented or not.They call themselves "Talent Scouts", and walk around malls, streets checking out a potential vulnerable target. Usually its a young female, who may seem shy or timid. They approch with a comment like, "Has anyone ever told you, you look like..." or "You have great eyes, have you ever thought about modeling?" They will give you the card, and ask you to call to make an appointment, for an interview, take a simple test. The test is based on your personal outlook about yourself. From there, they make an assesment, sometimes the different Scouts come together to view your application or questionair. During the interview, you will be asked to "walk", to see if you have the "runway" potential. You maybe scheduled for a photo shoot, but a polaroid will do for your file, for now. Then if they feel like its too close for lunch, they may ask you to come back in an hour, while they make calls. This is all to give you the impression that, the business is "ALL THAT"!! Like you need them, they dont need you. If it all works out, by the time you have walked out the office, you have agreed to contract, to take classes. All that matters is you join, and commit to a contract. When the customer walks out believing they're on their way to success. The sales "agent" has marked off a notch off his chart, to claim commission. Most of the students don't complete the course, because the "teacher" is not really a qualified teacher. The student doen't learn more than he or she already knows! What you can practice by watching "how to videos" would save you alot more money and aggrivation. I can't recall one successful story, during the time I worked there. I do recall, however the disappointments, and numarous calls from students in efforts to get refunds. When I began to notice the trend, I left on my own accord. There were practices that were extreme, and I couldn't be apart of that. I was young then, and really clueless to crued world. So to all who have yet to encounter, the "SCOUT" BEWARE!!!!! IF YOU REALLY HAVE THE DREAM AND THE TALENT YOU NEED TO GET PORTFOLIO, AND CHECK OUT THE AGENCIES PRACTICES, BACKGROUND. THEY TOO HAVE A LIST OF CLIENTS AS REFERANCE. ALWAYS READ BEFORE YOU SIGN!!!!!

i recently went in to be interviewed and i am in the process of taking the classes, JC is not a rip off i am working in modeling for locals to pay payments for thee classes so if you have a job or work to pay for the classes then it is a great oppertunity to look into! this proves "you have to work for what you want" if your not serious about maoeling or acting then you dont need to go ito it why would you wast your time if your not intrested in this career? JC is a great place t get a start 3 months ago i lost my baby and i was struggling to pay bills and even to pay for her funeral i thank god for JC now my bills are caught up and i'm having fun!!!Keep me in your prayers!

i recently went in to be interviewed and i am in the process of taking the classes, JC is not a rip off i am working in modeling for locals to pay payments for thee classes so if you have a job or work to pay for the classes then it is a great oppertunity to look into! this proves "you have to work for what you want" if your not serious about maoeling or acting then you dont need to go ito it why would you wast your time if your not intrested in this career? JC is a great place t get a start 3 months ago i lost my baby and i was struggling to pay bills and even to pay for her funeral i thank god for JC now my bills are caught up and i'm having fun!!!Keep me in your prayers!

i recently went in to be interviewed and i am in the process of taking the classes, JC is not a rip off i am working in modeling for locals to pay payments for thee classes so if you have a job or work to pay for the classes then it is a great oppertunity to look into! this proves "you have to work for what you want" if your not serious about maoeling or acting then you dont need to go ito it why would you wast your time if your not intrested in this career? JC is a great place t get a start 3 months ago i lost my baby and i was struggling to pay bills and even to pay for her funeral i thank god for JC now my bills are caught up and i'm having fun!!!Keep me in your prayers!

i recently went in to be interviewed and i am in the process of taking the classes, JC is not a rip off i am working in modeling for locals to pay payments for thee classes so if you have a job or work to pay for the classes then it is a great oppertunity to look into! this proves "you have to work for what you want" if your not serious about maoeling or acting then you dont need to go ito it why would you wast your time if your not intrested in this career? JC is a great place t get a start 3 months ago i lost my baby and i was struggling to pay bills and even to pay for her funeral i thank god for JC now my bills are caught up and i'm having fun!!!Keep me in your prayers!

While I am not a direct employee of the John Casablancas franchise, I have worked closely with one office for nearly three years. I simply wanted to voice my opinion on the "modeling school scam" issue. First off, it has been said time and time again that "No legitimate modeling agency would ask you to pay money up front for modeling classes." and I strongly agree with that statement. (I also do work for the other modeling agencies in town.) However, it is important to remember that John Casablancas is NOT a modeling or talent agency. They are in-fact state-licensed schools. Just like the local university they are a certified educational facility. And in accordance to state law (at least in Pennsylvania) it is unlawful for the John Casablancas school to represent their students. "They promised me that I'll become a model and that they'd find me work." While I have not heard the sales pitch in person, I am sure that no smart sales person would ever promise you anything. But, I can certainly see where that idea can be construed, especially upon impressionable young people or parents naive in the way that the modeling industry works. But, you hear about former students who are satisfied with their educational experience at John Casablancas and that "they" have found them work since the student's graduation. So, how, if it is indeed unlawful for the school to find work for their students, do the students get work? In fact, there is a talent representation agency attached to the school. The Agency is the "they" that you all hear about getting the work for these people. And, every student who graduates from the school is guaranteed a contract with this agency (that is, if the student pursues the venture.) Now, by attending this school, you thought that you were going to become a high-fashion model, didn't you? Well... are you 5'8" or taller? Do you have a 20 inch waist? Do you truly, honestly, on a daily basis, look like Daria, Gisele, Heidi, Tyra and all the rest? And, even if you do, do you have the pose and class to rub elbows with them on the catwalk? Do you have the business sense to get the rates you deserve? If you answered "No" to any of the questions I just asked then maybe you should rethink that career on the runway. But, you really want to be a model, don't you? Well, silly, don't you know that there are tons of jobs besides being a catwalk vixen that don't require you to eat a cracker a day and exhaust yourself all night by making public appearances FOR FREE just to get your face our there in the first place. How about being a promotional model? Or, doing freeze-modeling? Yes, that means that you may be standing in the entrance to your local Wal-Mart handing out product samples or standing in the window of a store at the local mall wearing some fashions off the rack. But do you know that you can get paid up to $20/hr. to do that? Or even more, depending on the client and the contract. Call me crazy, but I'll take that over $7/hr. slinging grease patties at the nearest fast-food joint any day. So, you might still be asking yourself, why do I need modeling school? The answer is that you don't NEED modeling school. You don't need that Louis Vuitton handbag either, but you bought that to make yourself appear more classy didn't you? We can't all be "America's Next Top Model," but we can make a little cash off our cheery smiles and bright eyes, can't we? So, remember, John Casablancas is a school. An educational institution. Just because there are 20+ franchises around the country doesn't mean they are scams. Colleges have various branches. Are they going to mold you into the next Heidi? Probably not. You can't make a poodle into a giraffe. Also remember that when you hear people like Joel Wilkenfeld (President of Next Model Management) say "You cannot train to be a model. You either are or aren't." they are talking about high-fashion models and Fashion Week runway models. But by God, you can appear in a local commerical or print ad. You can act in the local playhouse or in the local dance troupe. Your education is what YOU make of it. You only get out what you put in. What you are paying for is experience and the advice of the people that have come before you and are sharing the stories of their experience with you. We do care. We are kind-hearted. Give us the chance that we deserve and I'm sure you'll be delighted with the results.

I happen to know that as a student of John Casablanca's oyu take out a loan for your classes. This loan is through a finance company and you agree to pay that company back. If the individual that filed this report filed it to get even for some disagreement then you need to make yourself more aware of how things work in the industry. You are being used in someones vendetta. If you borrow money to go to college and decide after going to several classes to drop out, is it the colleges responsability to repay your student loans? Please remember that there arte people who are very successfull thant use public transportation rather than drive alone and congest our roadways and contribute to air pollution. There could be several reasons that the person was seen constantly taking the bus rather than driving. in short please quit being someones pawn and get back to the reason you were started, to protect the consumer. Do a little homework before you slur a componies good name for a private vendetta.

Theres no rip off here you must have not been up forward that you wanted to make a career of modeling because i go there and they helpeed me i do freeze modeling and i get paid for it its not going to happen over night and you at least have to go through the classes to get a job in the modeling buisness and they dont ask you for the money up front because i go to the classes and all the people i know make payments everytime they come to class.Also how are you going to get on them when you didnt even go thruogh the classes so you dont now anything about the company to even call them a rip-off....(witch there not).you just didnt persue it to the fullest extent of witch you could and you choose not too,so its not that there a rip-off its your fault not working out a payment plan and persueing a career that you wanted to make for yourself.!!!So ThErE nOt A RiP-oFf CoMpAnY!!!!

Theres no rip off here you must have not been up forward that you wanted to make a career of modeling because i go there and they helpeed me i do freeze modeling and i get paid for it its not going to happen over night and you at least have to go through the classes to get a job in the modeling buisness and they dont ask you for the money up front because i go to the classes and all the people i know make payments everytime they come to class.Also how are you going to get on them when you didnt even go thruogh the classes so you dont now anything about the company to even call them a rip-off....(witch there not).you just didnt persue it to the fullest extent of witch you could and you choose not too,so its not that there a rip-off its your fault not working out a payment plan and persueing a career that you wanted to make for yourself.!!!So ThErE nOt A RiP-oFf CoMpAnY!!!!

Theres no rip off here you must have not been up forward that you wanted to make a career of modeling because i go there and they helpeed me i do freeze modeling and i get paid for it its not going to happen over night and you at least have to go through the classes to get a job in the modeling buisness and they dont ask you for the money up front because i go to the classes and all the people i know make payments everytime they come to class.Also how are you going to get on them when you didnt even go thruogh the classes so you dont now anything about the company to even call them a rip-off....(witch there not).you just didnt persue it to the fullest extent of witch you could and you choose not too,so its not that there a rip-off its your fault not working out a payment plan and persueing a career that you wanted to make for yourself.!!!So ThErE nOt A RiP-oFf CoMpAnY!!!!

Theres no rip off here you must have not been up forward that you wanted to make a career of modeling because i go there and they helpeed me i do freeze modeling and i get paid for it its not going to happen over night and you at least have to go through the classes to get a job in the modeling buisness and they dont ask you for the money up front because i go to the classes and all the people i know make payments everytime they come to class.Also how are you going to get on them when you didnt even go thruogh the classes so you dont now anything about the company to even call them a rip-off....(witch there not).you just didnt persue it to the fullest extent of witch you could and you choose not too,so its not that there a rip-off its your fault not working out a payment plan and persueing a career that you wanted to make for yourself.!!!So ThErE nOt A RiP-oFf CoMpAnY!!!!