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  • Report:  #675464

Complaint Review: John Robert Powers Baltimore - Baltimore Maryland

Reported By:
AIM - , , United States of America
Submitted:
Updated:

John Robert Powers Baltimore
201 North Charles Street, Suite 1802 Baltimore, 21201 Maryland, United States of America
Phone:
(410) 332-4300
Web:
Categories:
Tell us has your experience with this business or person been good? What's this?

Here is the real information about John Robert Powers Baltimore:

1) Inna Elbert & Michael Elbert are the owners of John Robert Powers Baltimore. Inna Elbert is Michael Elbert's Daughter.

2) Sean Wright-Verdun is the supposed Media Director but is also the talent scout for the school and knows how to target kids. He also operates under different names so do not get fooled.

3) The school targets kids in malls, schools, festivals, cheerleading events, modeling events, model searches, etc... All of the places where John Robert Powers attends know that JRP is a scam including the schools where John Robert Powers sits in their cafeteria or classrooms marketing to kids without parental permission.

4) There is no accounting department for John Robert Powers Baltimore, Michael Elbert is the accounting department and one of the owners.

5) The reason why John Robert Powers Baltimore is still in business is because they are politically and criminally connected so stay away.

6) If you pay John Robert Powers Baltimore any money, you will never get it back.

7) John Robert Powers Baltimore brings down agents from various companies around the US who are not looking for talent but just for the paycheck and the free trip to rack up frequent traveler discounts on Amtrak or Airlines. The companies that do come down and want the kids are scam companies themselves.

8) The kids that are currently at John Robert Powers Baltimore are brain-washed through their parents who want them to be famous and make lots of money. Others use John Robert Powers Baltimore as an expensive babysitting service.

9) The trips that John Robert Powers Baltimore does are scams so do not attend.

10) The photography packages are extremely overpriced and the photographers are friends of John Robert Powers Baltimore.

11) They will try to sell you a Demo Reel which is not needed to be in the entertainment industry.

12) There is also a high turnover rate for employees at John Robert Powers Baltimore.

13) John Robert Powers Baltimore has been successfully sued numerous times.

14) John Robert Powers is not taken serious in the entertainment industry and laughed at by many.

15) John Robert Powers Baltimore also operates The Starz 2 Be Talent Agency which is a scam. Do not fall for it.

- Stay Away and if you want to achieve success in the entertainment industry, work your way up from the bottom and also contact real companies. The reputable companies are based in New York City and Los Angeles, CA.



2 Updates & Rebuttals

Not tellin ya

Hoquiam,
Washington,
they are not a legit place

#2Consumer Comment

Sat, August 16, 2014

i have a list of legit casting agencies,mangers,mangements, and agents, i have a list of talent schools and stars 2 be is not on the list tthey are not a legit place and i do have a number which you can call and report them. i know all this because when i was starting out there where so many scams and i am know signed

- signed actress/model


JNic29

Randallstown,
Maryland,
United States of America
Strictly Not Accurate and Lacking Industry Knowledge

#3Consumer Comment

Tue, March 13, 2012

In response to this ridiculous posting filled with wild accusations, I will respond point-by-point.  Please  note that I am an industry professional (not working with John Robert Powers, and I never have) who has spent 5 minutes (all that was needed) researching your claims.

1. John Robert Powers is a school system that is franchised out to respective franchisees.  They have schools all over the country.  JRP is not owned by Michael and Inna Elbert.

2. Sean is not the supposed anything -- he is, in fact, the media director and operates under that name.

3. This is standard marketing practice for people searching for talent.  To market in a school, parental permission is not needed, only the permissions of the school's administration.  Marketing to minors is by no means illegal -- do the cable companies ask you for permission before displaying a commercial?

4. Michael is not the accounting department -- an outside accountant has been retained.
5. This is not the place for criminal allegations.  You are so off-base you should consider yourself lucky you have not been taken to court for slander/defamation of character.

6. Some companies do not offer refunds -- especially schools.  If you know of someone who has suffered a breached contract, the courts can take care of it -- use them!

7. You seem to be a talent or the parent of a talent that has not received an offer.  Just because an agent hasn't signed you our your child does not mean that they do not sign their classmates.  Again, you are lacking any substantive proof, and are most likely negatively biased.

8. It seems as if you are blaming the company for something that is the fault of the parents.  This should not be included in any sort of complaint.

9. See my response to #7

10. Companies do not have friends.  What they have are strategic partnerships.  No RESPECTABLE photographer is going to be cheap.  Very simply, you get what you pay for.

11. If you don't want to have a portfolio as an actor, good luck.  Established actors do not need a demo reel, as they have been in films and their work can be seen by casting agents.  Your comment is like saying that a band doesn't need to have a demo to use for marketing.  You are again completely off-base and seem to be lacking any real knowledge of the entertainment industry.

12. Point being?  The entertainment industry has one of the highest turnover rates in the world.

13. So has McDonald's, Sony Entertainment Group, and Warner Bros.

14. From the lack of industry knowledge you've demonstrated so far, why would anyone believe that you truly know how the industry views this school?

15. Starz 2 Be is not an agency, it is an entertainment group.  JRP does not operate S2B -- S2B operated the franchise of JRP.  S2B does, however, operate a talent management company, named Starz 2 Be Management.  In addition, they have partnered with a very successful, independent agency, as required by state and federal laws.

Having viewed Starz2Be.com, it is very apparent that the company, and its school, have helped a number of individuals achieve success.  When considering a career in the entertainment industry, please be aware that it is, by far, the hardest industry to break into.  Taking classes to improve your craft is always advisable, but you are NEVER guaranteed anything.  Agents/Managers are extremely picky on who they will add to their roster.  Not all reputable companies are in NYC and LA -- there are plenty of smaller management companies and agencies that operate throughout the country focusing on helping talent bridge the gap between their current situation and the major companies.  This is the purpose for the "Sunset Clause" that is present in 99.9% of agent/management contracts.

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