Complaint Review: John Robert Powers Acting And Modeling SchoolTy VuScott Hamilton - Charlotte North Carolina

I am a graduate student at UOP online and I can promise it is not a rip-off. I work on graduate work for hours every night. I have been with UOP for 7 months and the program is extremely intensive. Most of the professors have a PhD and all professors are actively working in their field of study. My current prof. is a researcher in Japan. In every class we are required to conduct weekly research studies with our learning team (composed of four-five students across the United States). I can assure you...if you are not intelligent you cannot survive in these classes.

Margaret, I think you are right in saying that no one can promise fame or fortune. Because that is NEVER a guarantee! If any school JRP or otherwise says they can offer you fame and fortune, then they are full of it. The JRP schools that I know of do not offer such a falsification. JRP does offer marketing tools to help get into the business and make life easier for an aspiring performer. We have to be careful here. Here's what needs to be understood. When JRP wants a client, they SELL the product (which is their school). They may say things like "You'll get great opportunities with us", or "we can guarantee that your child will get the chance to become a star" Of course they can. Walking down the streets of Hollywood could guarantee you the "chance" to be a star. They are selling their product. Its what all salespeople do. And the salespeople at JRP are good at what they do. Its like any commercial you see on tv. No one from any jrp I know of ever promised ANYONE they're going to be a star. JRP promises opportunity and development. Now, aside from the selling aspects of the school, you have the education aspect. JRP hires great instructors, all with several years of experience in the business. The clients are in great hands. If you're a student, and you keep going to audition after audition, after audition....and still hear the same thing, "needs more work", "great job, almost there!" etc. Its not meant to keep the kids here and spend more money. Thats a great conspiracy theory. They're agents, they want to have clients because the more clients they have, the more money that potentially goes in their own pockets. But an agent finding the client they want to sign is like finding a needle in a stack of needles. It takes time, persistence, and a "no quit" energy that quite frankly only a handful across the world actually have. This business is NOT EASY. In fact, its even harder once you do start making a name for yourself and start making big bucks. These agents know that, and they arent gonna just pick a kid that has a cute smile and a good look. Lives have been ruined by fame and success. They take their time picking what they want so they don't get another Dana Plato (or anyone else from Diffrent strokes for that matter), River Phoenix, or any famous person that crashed and burned. You've got to look at the overall picture at what JRP does. They offer opportunities, and a chance to learn about the industry. Plain and simple.

Margaret, I think you are right in saying that no one can promise fame or fortune. Because that is NEVER a guarantee! If any school JRP or otherwise says they can offer you fame and fortune, then they are full of it. The JRP schools that I know of do not offer such a falsification. JRP does offer marketing tools to help get into the business and make life easier for an aspiring performer. We have to be careful here. Here's what needs to be understood. When JRP wants a client, they SELL the product (which is their school). They may say things like "You'll get great opportunities with us", or "we can guarantee that your child will get the chance to become a star" Of course they can. Walking down the streets of Hollywood could guarantee you the "chance" to be a star. They are selling their product. Its what all salespeople do. And the salespeople at JRP are good at what they do. Its like any commercial you see on tv. No one from any jrp I know of ever promised ANYONE they're going to be a star. JRP promises opportunity and development. Now, aside from the selling aspects of the school, you have the education aspect. JRP hires great instructors, all with several years of experience in the business. The clients are in great hands. If you're a student, and you keep going to audition after audition, after audition....and still hear the same thing, "needs more work", "great job, almost there!" etc. Its not meant to keep the kids here and spend more money. Thats a great conspiracy theory. They're agents, they want to have clients because the more clients they have, the more money that potentially goes in their own pockets. But an agent finding the client they want to sign is like finding a needle in a stack of needles. It takes time, persistence, and a "no quit" energy that quite frankly only a handful across the world actually have. This business is NOT EASY. In fact, its even harder once you do start making a name for yourself and start making big bucks. These agents know that, and they arent gonna just pick a kid that has a cute smile and a good look. Lives have been ruined by fame and success. They take their time picking what they want so they don't get another Dana Plato (or anyone else from Diffrent strokes for that matter), River Phoenix, or any famous person that crashed and burned. You've got to look at the overall picture at what JRP does. They offer opportunities, and a chance to learn about the industry. Plain and simple.

Margaret, I think you are right in saying that no one can promise fame or fortune. Because that is NEVER a guarantee! If any school JRP or otherwise says they can offer you fame and fortune, then they are full of it. The JRP schools that I know of do not offer such a falsification. JRP does offer marketing tools to help get into the business and make life easier for an aspiring performer. We have to be careful here. Here's what needs to be understood. When JRP wants a client, they SELL the product (which is their school). They may say things like "You'll get great opportunities with us", or "we can guarantee that your child will get the chance to become a star" Of course they can. Walking down the streets of Hollywood could guarantee you the "chance" to be a star. They are selling their product. Its what all salespeople do. And the salespeople at JRP are good at what they do. Its like any commercial you see on tv. No one from any jrp I know of ever promised ANYONE they're going to be a star. JRP promises opportunity and development. Now, aside from the selling aspects of the school, you have the education aspect. JRP hires great instructors, all with several years of experience in the business. The clients are in great hands. If you're a student, and you keep going to audition after audition, after audition....and still hear the same thing, "needs more work", "great job, almost there!" etc. Its not meant to keep the kids here and spend more money. Thats a great conspiracy theory. They're agents, they want to have clients because the more clients they have, the more money that potentially goes in their own pockets. But an agent finding the client they want to sign is like finding a needle in a stack of needles. It takes time, persistence, and a "no quit" energy that quite frankly only a handful across the world actually have. This business is NOT EASY. In fact, its even harder once you do start making a name for yourself and start making big bucks. These agents know that, and they arent gonna just pick a kid that has a cute smile and a good look. Lives have been ruined by fame and success. They take their time picking what they want so they don't get another Dana Plato (or anyone else from Diffrent strokes for that matter), River Phoenix, or any famous person that crashed and burned. You've got to look at the overall picture at what JRP does. They offer opportunities, and a chance to learn about the industry. Plain and simple.

Nick, I don't think your 80,000 college education was a rip off, because hopefully you are working in the real world making at least that amount or more. Making money is what really counts here. Again, I never wanted to be in the business, and my friend did, but never got anywhere. And I have heard many people over the years tell me that JRP, Barbizon, and a few others I cannot think of are a rip off. They may be a good place to attend to learn things like self confidence, poise, makeup applicaiton, etc. THEY SHOULD NOT BE SELLING THEMSELVES AS A SCHOOL THAT CAN GUARANTEE A JOB AND THAT BIG BREAK!!!! Because that puts them in the same classification as some of these on line colleges like UOP, AXIA, and these rip off career schools like ITT, WEST WOOD, REMINGTON, etc. They all promise students high paying jobs, but basically do not teach or prepare a student for the real world!!!

For you to say all acting and modeling schools are scams, you must be out of your mind. JRP offers excellent training to get into the business. It also offers great opportunities to be seen by professional agents. Yes, there is a possibility to get "noticed" and make it big, but its not likely. I guess its how you look at success. Success to our students isn't always million dollar contracts. Success is being able to gain the confidence to stand up in front of a room and perform. Sometimes its a success just to get a child to be open enough in the classroom to talk. For others, success is finally accomplishing that love's labours lost monologue. You seem jaded for some reason, and you didn't even attend a class. That to me, makes no sense. You ramble and ramble about how JRP is a scam but you never go into detail. Please, give us some plausable arguments, or, stop wasting time and energy, because no one wants to hear it. Here's something to think about. I spent over $80,000 in college and post-graduate training. I dont have a million dollar contract, so, should I say that my education was a scam?

I filled out a card in the mall when I was in high school some 20 years ago along with a friend of mine. She had parents that were wealthy enough to come up with the tuition. I did not, however I raised some of the money myself. But after I saw the lies and BS my friend went through, I said forget it. I was not interested in acting, I was only interested in modeling for local department stores as a way to make a little money on the side and to keep up appearances. I just think its very sad that the people that have hopes of getting into the industry have been ripped off to where they want to give up. Again, I never had a real interest in it, just wanted something to add to my resume. ALL MODELING SCHOOLS ARE A COMPLETE SCAM!!!! If you are such a good actor, then give interested people valuable advice, not bull$%&t like some overpriced salesperson.

Acting, modeling, performing, it's a hard business. Finding reputable schools, agents, managers, and even jobs is hard. You need to know how to navigate around this business. Landing a job involves MANY people. The talent agent can submit you (using headshot and resume), the casting assistant can call you in, your parents or you get yourself to the audition whose material your manager has helped you prepare. But it's the casting agent who gets the last say. Blaming the school for lack of jobs is misplaced. It could be any unfortunate factor: bad audition, casting agent's bad mood, room is too cold, weather is distracting, wrong lip color, anything. It's not fair; I don't make up these rules. But that's the business. Your child might remind them of a brat they auditioned last week. It's made of people, and not everyone will like you for whatever reason. Don't blame the school.

You can not expect this company, any company, any person to make your child a "star." Before you begin to place you child in the entertainment industry in ANY capacity, you MUST do your research. There are many people who can guide you honestly, YOU have to be the one to find them. Much of success in this business is based on lots of legwork on your part (or in this case, your child's part): studying camera techniques, learning lines, learning how to package yourself properly. You should never expect a talent scout to have all your answers, satisfy all your needs, fulfill all your dreams. Legitimate talent scouts probably see potential, but other than that, no predictions can EVER be made regarding your success. Also, private businesses do not have to give up information just because you ask. That "giving company information" idea is usually for publicly traded companies. You probably feel that you got taken because you didn't do your research. Sorry, Charlie...

Really Margaret? Is that the best advice you can give us? (Welcome to the Internet.) My comments have over 20 years of TV/film, commercial, and stage experience behind them, as well as the many years I've spent studying and teaching my craft. I am a professional actor and I believe teaching is of great value, though it is unfortunate society doesn't hold teachers in as high regard as they should. That is a topic for another day. Margaret, it's obvious by your attack you lack Before you post comments it would be very helpful to everyone reading if you knew (or learned) a little bit about what you're/we're talking about. (JRP is not an agency.) Please stop wasting people's time with untruths and stop trolling websites looking to pick a fight. I'm sorry you had such a bad experience with modeling, wherever it was. (By the way, where was it that you had this experience? Help us out. Was it JRP?) Can you at least attempt to support those looking to be an educated consumer by sharing information of value? If you're out there reading this trying to decide whether to give JRP a chance, I say do just that give them a chance. If you like what they have to say, great! Enroll. If not, say no and walk away. You have a choice. As you can tell by Margaret's comments, rejection is a big part of this business. Acting and modeling isn't for everyone. Be careful, and be smart. Use you head and follow your heart. Back to the original point of this post (before we got sidetracked) Yvette, did you continue to seek a resolution with JRP? (You should if you're that unhappy.) Was your complaint ever resolved? I would like to know. I think it would be helpful. Respectfully, Professional Actor P.S. To the Parent of John Robert Powers Charlotte student: Glad to hear that things are going well with your sons' career. Stay persistent.

As a former employee of john robert powers, I have witnessed a lot of issues that makes it feel like a scam. It is the sketchy marketing/advertising that the business formulates on its own. Although, once you enter into the school you see students improve and it makes you feel great that they started their program and have made it that far. As far as getting work goes... You are too errogant if you expect to get work from going to a school 2 days a week. Sure, JRP is very expensive... Their "Scouts" and "National Directors" are more than likely liars about being in the fields and mislead people about who they really are.... But after you get past that, you see that some people just develope naturally through the instructors and the school directors. So whatever skeptics you might have, it is a chance... usually the last chance you have to start developing your talents. So sure, be very skeptical in the beginning.... You cant take someone to court if there is something you signed in writing.... Keep that in mind if you have any uneasy feelings about all of it. They will ask you for the money upfront, be prepared to have your check books ready if you want to sign up someone. Just keep in mind, the marketing and advertising end of the business are bogus. The reason they ask for the money upfront is to create that impulse urgency to purchase. So just beware in all cases.... If u expect you or your child to land something big out of it, it is highly unlikely. A lot of actual agencies and casting directors laugh about JRP on a regular basis.... Because of the UNSUCCESS stories... Beware that sometimes that impression is enough for someone to not give you work. But if your doing it to prepare yourself for a future, it really isnt a bad circumstance. I would just make sure that if your willing to sign their contract, you can have them sign one of your own. I would basically spell out that after the completion of courses at JRP, you dont wish to be mentioned by the company or have any future involvment or affiliation. Ive seen a couple of cases to where people who have been successful didnt recieve a call back because of their affiliations.... HAPPY STARDOM!

YOU are in IDIOT. These people were scammed and they should sue JRP in small claims court. All modeling school's are a rip off the the people working there are just a bunch of dumb, lying salespeople. I went to a casting call as a teen to an agency that has been out of business for quite a years. They wanted a lot of money I did not have, and for what? They do not get anyone any jobs. I was a little dissapointed, but I got over it and finally told the sales scammer to stop calling me because she was not going to get a dime! I would like to know what you are actually doing in the way of professional acting and if you are doing anything of vale? why don't you be nice and give these people some good advice!

our 4 year old son off gave our son high hopes =================== Since when does a four-year-old have high hopes about any career aspiration? Perhaps they were your hopes projected on him??? Maybe you don't need to make your small child a wage earner in your family...perhaps he needs instead to play in the sandbox, read or watch Sesame Street on TV...things that further his personal development.

My son (13) goes to JRP Charlotte and I have been very pleased with them. Yes, they are expensive, but I see them doing a lot of work to teach my son and help him with his acting talent. The parent complained about JRP giving him the commercial and monologue sheets to help his child memorize his lines. JRP can only do so much in 2 hrs a week. They need our help as parents to develop our child's talent. I work with my son, making sure he rehearses, have him practice on video so he can see himself, etc. JRP is an investment in your child's talent. Just like you watch your stock investments or real estate investments, etc. and stay involved and on top of them (or should), you have to do the same with your child's acting. JRP is not a babysitter or a miracle worker. I think people have unreasonable expectations of what other people can do for them. JRP trains the kids for 2 hrs a week and tell the parents what to do at home to add to that training. They have progress meetings and tell the parents how the kid is doing and show the comments from the visiting agents and producers who have flown in to Charlotte to audition the kids. They make suggestions to improve the child's performance. Scott and Tomeka at JRP have been awesome to my son and I. Scott told me exactly what my son needed to work on to get better. Tomeka spent her own time searching for the perfect monologue for my son that would show off his comedic and voice talent and he got 2 callbacks at iPOP! Las Vegas last month! That is not a rip off! That is results. But they weren't handed to us. We worked hard for them. My son had that monologue down perfectly and his scene performance was great too. He earned his callbacks. It looks to me that some people go in with unrealistic expectations. Also, if a person really can not afford to lose the money, they shouldn't invest it. Parents should go in to JRP with the attitude that this is a chance for my child to gain increased self-esteem and discover IF they have any talent and if so, enough to make it in the entertainment business. And with the attitude that they are going to help with the process and not expect JRP to do all the work for them. And with the understanding that the money may be lost forever and if they can't handle that, then don't go to JRP. The entertainment biz is a tough, competitive biz. There are no guarantees.

I would take John Robert Powers to small claims court, to at least to try to recoup the original money spent. Most modeling agencies are a complete SCAM trying to rip off the general public as ususal. Can anyone actually name a current star that attended this school/agency? Probably not.

It's always disappointing to read negative feedback. I am curious why you said such terrible things about John Robert Powers and the two people, calling them heartless and cruel, without listing any specific examples of what they did that was so terrible. I applaud you for adopting your sons and starting a family. JRP has many clients who study not only to perfect their craft, but to gain confidence as young performers. JRP is not an agency, but does offer guidance, instilling confidence through knowledge and experience. From a performer who supports the arts, I'm sorry your experience with JRP wasn't wonderful. The way I understand it, at John Robert Powers there is no additional financial obligation once you've registered and paid your enrollment fee. However, you may enroll in more classes once your initial enrollment period is over. You should never allow yourself to be pushed into anything. Simply put, if it doesn't feel right, don't do it. Parents, if you're pushing your child into acting or modeling because it is or was your dream, don't do it. As you stated, the trip to New York is optional, and I believe only for those performers and parents who are ready and willing to go. Your comment insinuating they target a certain class is unfair. Most businesses look at demographic studies. My advice to performers out there is if you are getting into acting to be famous, or expect overnight success, then you're probably in it for the wrong reasons. "Discoveries" do happen, but any professional actor will tell you that rejection is a big part of this business. In addition, just going to a great class or studying with a good teacher is no guarantee of success. An actor must be committed, you've got to be willing to do more than just attend class, you must stay persistent and work hard to perfect your craft. And yes, there is luck involved. That being said, in order to be successful, in my opinion, you should always be taking classes, further educating yourself. Acting should be your passion. You've got to love it. I wish everyone could feel the joy I've experienced as an actor, but I understand acting isn't for everyone. This business isn't for everyone. I completely respect that everyone is entitled to their own opinion and free to post it online. I believe it is important to get a good education in order to establish a solid framework for lasting success. It is important that young performers prepare for a career in acting, and understand how to navigate through the business of acting. If you're a parent of a young performer, you'd be wise to learn the business too. You're not just their biggest fan, you're really their personal manager. It takes an incredible amount of determination to succeed in this business, in any business. JRP is a good place to get educated and prepare for life as a performer. I hope your child sticks with it if this is what he dreams about doing with his life, and I hope you encourage your sons to follow their dreams, whatever they may be. As for the two people you mentioned, I know them personally, one of them very well. I think you were wrong to include their names in your complaint without any examples. I think you were wrong, period. The JRP school director and teachers care about what they do, and they do a great job preparing young people for a career in this industry. Even if your child decides not to pursue a career in acting, JRP can teach them a lot about life. But again, everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and mine differs from yours. I wish you well in starting a family, and break a leg. By the way, did you ever complain to JRP? I would like to hear the resolution. Have a blessed day! Respectfully, Professional Actor