Complaint Review: JRP International IPOP - Springhill Tennessee

In late November 2012, I responded to an ad on the radio by calling 866-510-5311.  The ad claimed it was for auditions for children for networks like Disney and Nickelodeon.  We were told to go to the Magnuson Grand Hotel in South Bend, IN on December 8 for the audition.  We were taken into this large room where there were hundreds of other parents and children.  The owner, Jeff Sievers, talked about how they were looking for talented kids with good morals and good academics.  He claimed that JRP had people who had been in the business for a long time and that they had connections.  Some of their “successes” included Jake Short from Ant Farm and Brenda Song from Suite Life.  He also stated that the children would be auditioning before agents and directors.  There was also mention of IPOP, which was being held in Los Angeles in the summer.  If chosen, the kids would have an opportunity to perform in front of even more directors and agents.

Jeff also talked about his daughter, Shayla, who died from cancer in September 2012.  While I am sad that his daughter died, it is inexcusable to exploit her as a means of getting sympathy from the parents! 

http://www.ripoffreport.com/shine-competition-20/modeling-talent-agencies/vancouver-nationwide-4bb20.htm

My daughter auditioned for the JRP program with R. J. Sievers (Jeff’s father) by singing and reading for a commercial.  She was called back and we were asked to meet with R. J. on December 9.

My husband and I, along with our daughter, met with R. J. to talk about JRP. We paid for the Career Program and signed a contract with JRP.  Their Career Program (or Career Marketing) includes submission for national commercials, film, magazines, catalogs and Disney and Nickelodeon shows.  Career marketing continues until the child is signed with an agent, manager, or is working in the business.

Their training began on December 15 and was from 8:30 to 2:30 on Saturdays and Sundays. The first person training the kids was Jessi Durham.  The parents were not allowed to be in the same room with the kids during this time.  Training was not held during Christmas weekend or the following weekend.  The second weekend was due, according to Jessi Durham, to JRP not booking her flight. 

The following weekend, Jessi was no longer coaching the kids; it was Tabitha Sievers.  Tabitha is Jeff’s wife.  She was there the first and second weekend in January (brought her daughter with her one day; she had to be under 2).  During the first weekend in January, there was a photo shoot.  We paid for the pictures and never received a CD in the mail as promised.  The second weekend was the “showcase” where the kids were supposed to audition before agents and directors.  It turned out to be only Tabitha and a talent scout from BMG Models in Chicago (Shae Cooper).  We were told by Tabitha that everyone would be contacted, regardless of whether they were chosen for IPOP in Los Angeles in July.

Since then, we have not received any contact from anyone associated with JRP.  I have tried calling, texting, or e-mailing the following people: Tabitha Sievers, Jeff Sievers, Jessi Durham, and R. J. Sievers.  R. J. and I actually spoke on the phone and I told him that I had not heard from anyone.  He promised to get back with me.  He never did.  I called him again and left him a voice mail to please call me right away.  He never called back.

We are not complaining because our daughter was not chosen for IPOP.  What we are complaining about is: 1.) we never received our pictures; 2.) we have not heard anything back from them, so we do not believe they ever had any intention of representing our daughter.  The Career Program (Career Marketing) is supposed to get her auditions for commercials, films, etc.   How are they going to represent her if they refuse to contact us?  We believe this whole thing was a big scam to get our money. I have been in contact with several other parents whose kids participated in the JRP program.  The same thing has happened to them.

Beware of JRP!