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About a year ago, I signed up my 12 yr old daughter for supplemental acting classes at JRP after she landed the lead in a community theater production. We chose JRP because they had a curriculum that was geared for performing in the arts (singing, dancing, improv, acting, etc.) Since they offered more than our community was offering at that time, we chose a 60 week program which cost about $2800, and consisted of five 12 week sessions in a variety of classes. Within a week, there were auditions with a noted Hollywood agent. It was suggested that she audition so that she could get exposure, and learn how to handle rejection, since it is such a competitive business. As 'luck' would have it, she was signed with the agent. I was a bit skeptical because what are the chances of landing an agent right away? She barely had any training, and she was not aspiring to be a star! We paid a few hundred dollars for some head shots, which were absolutely beautiful. Way better than any standard school pics. As of yet she hasn't been sent out on a single audition and it's been 6 months.On the other side of the coin is my son. He crashed a couple of his sister's classes to kill a little time. The acting teacher gave him a few words of encouragement, so he decided to give it a try. He was signed up for one 12 week acting class at a 'reduced' cost of $1,000 (family discount?)with liberal attendance to other classes as well. Within a couple of days he was signed with the same agent, and has been going to Hollywood almost weekly on numerous auditions for Disney pilots, movies, national commercials, and the list goes on. With him, it is just a matter of time. He is getting exposure with casting agents, producers and others in the business. He was recently at IMTA LA and landed a $10,000 scholarship to the NY Film Academy, and was also accepted into the NY Conservatory of Dramatic Arts. He received call backs with other agents, but chose not to jump ship because his agent was doing his part of the job by getting him out there.
What I can say about JRP is that they don't make any promises. When it comes to raw talent, either it is there or it isn't, and no amount of 'school' is going to change it. That is the sad thing. JRP absolutely DOES NOT promise stardom. Yet every weekend I see lines of people waiting to 'audition' to get into the school. Most of the time it is the eager parents pimping their kids, and the kids don't have a clue as to what is going on.
A piece of advice: do the math and decide if the price is right for you. I considered the cost of assorted weekend workshops, voice and dance classes, availability, and so on and it was actually a wash. Face it, there will be charges incurred in any extracurricular activities you or your children engage in. We weren't seeking fame or fortune, just activities to keep the kids busy and directed in a positive way. Some people find it in Boy Scouts, little league and soccer. Those, by the way can also run up some hefty charges, when uniforms, equipment, and traveling are considered.
Now for the kicker: Our JRP suddenly closed its doors because they were 'restructuring' their schedule. That was about a month ago, and my daughter still has 18 classes to go on her contract, owing us $972. My son's deal has been fulfilled. It's a good thing we didn't sign up for the lifetime program or any long term contracts. A year was long enough. But as I said, this was just something to keep her busy and to give her added confidence in her community theater venue.
Will we get it back? Questionable. The owner lives 500 miles away. Sure we can travel to another school to fulfill the remainder of our contract but that isn't very practical. I'll keep you posted.
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 Comments (84) |  |
| 51. Written by Shirley, on 08-10-2009 23:03 My daughter is 17 and very beautiful. Thousands of people tell me to put her into modeling. Funny she has alway wanted to model. JRP called last night and want to see her. I am a single mom and can hardly afford to drive to baltimore. People tell me if they think she is so pretty they shouldn't ask for money. Im stumped |
| 52. Written by father of a 11 year old boy, on 20-09-2009 14:29 when we went in to talk to the woman in a private room guess what the first thing she questioned was you guessed it my occupation. well i knew it its a scam for money .well guess what jrp you all suck you build these kids hope up then ask for thousands so ask first before we drive three hours HOW MUCH MONEY DO YOU HAVE !!!! you will pay for what you do t |
| 53. Written by Actress, on 19-09-2009 19:16 I'm a current client of JRP. I don't know which JRP other people are sending their children to, but not everyone at the audition I went to got in. It was a little pricey, and we worried, but it has been great so far. I've already had three call backs from agents, and I've just completed my ten week class. For the record, they TELL you that you only get the classes you choose originally. I bought the "hobby" pack, because it was the cheapest, and they made sure to inform me that I could take the two classes I chose as many times as I liked, but that those were the only two I could take unless I paid for others. I'm in JRP for acting, and the classes I chose are geared towards successful auditioning and acting practices. The money you pay up front pays for your classes, and helps to pay for agents to fly down to see you. I know JRP used to have really bad business practices, and maybe some of them still do, but my experience at the one in Elk Grove has been wonderful, and I definitely feel I've gotten my money's worth. |
| 54. Written by Anonymous JRP Staff member, on 16-09-2009 20:09 I have worked at a John Robert Powers for over 6 months. In the time I have been here I have seen our students succesfully get booked for jobs in movies, commercials, runway shows, etc. In my experiance, those who do not LISTEN think that we are a SCAM! We spend 1/2 an hour before the auditions explaining who we are, what we do, and how the whole process works. If you do not listen, then you will be confused.... Also, as it is explained in the 1/2 hr presentation: no matter what career your child goes into there are two ways to gurantee success practice and an education. That is what we offer! You can be a client of JRP by invitation only!!! So if your child is chosen beleive in your child and our company. We have more contacts then you could imagine and have been very successful at what we do. The people who write that we are a scam on the internet are people who were chosen to be our clients but couldnt afford us...That's the truth...there's nothing illegitimate about it! |
| 55. Written by Apple, on 16-09-2009 14:42 I can honestly tell you first hand that this is a scam. I was scamed out of over $6300.00 for a five year elite contract. We were promised the world. I signed up my daughter when she was 12 years old at JRP in Boston She had 10 classes which they claimed is required. She got certificates for those classes and then when we thought she would go into more advance classes, they told me she will have to repeat the same classes. So we did and nothing happen, They had a few auditions and of course, nothing happen, no calls. We decided to stop going for a while because it was such a waste, We ask them, however, to give us calls when they had auditions. We got one call and went for the audition, it was the famous "IPOP". He claimed he loved her and she was so good that he would have no problem accepting her. He asked us to call him the next Sunday which I did. Wow, he was so pleased with her that he had called up his friends who were managers and agents in CA and told them that she was comming. He would be there to introduce her to these so called agents. The price however was $10,000.00. Told him I had to think about it. the next time I called, he would not even take my call. Why he knew that I would not have all that money to spend. "SCAM". I realized how much money I had wasted so I decided to take my daughter back. I went in and spoke with some lady about what else can she learn. What about singing, that class would be added she said and they would call me, Yep, I am still waiting. I decided to ask back for some of my money. I made several calls and no one return my call. I sent e-mails and they never respond to me. Everyone, beware, JRP are like snakes just lurking waiting for their next victim. Dont be a victim, I spent my daughter's college money to pay for the director's expensive taste and guess what neither herself or her sister does not even have any personality. they act like gods but they are evil. When you go in the first time for orientation, Oh, they tell you how hard it is to get in, They receive 500 applications per week but can only accept a few, the best. Well guess what? everyone is accepted as long as you have the money to pay. Every bad deed will come to an end. My daughter is now 17 and soon will be ready for college less $6300.00. Shame on you JRP. |
| 56. Written by Anonymous in NH, on 14-09-2009 10:04 We went all the way to Canada, wasting money for hotel stays and risked crossing the US border without passports because we didn't know about the new law passed in June 09' requiring them. Sure enough, my 4 yr old daughter who wants to act in television commercials and shows auditioned for them. We heard about JRP on the radio and that they were having open auditions to the public with Joe Lorenzo (a Disney/Nick director). When we arrived he was not the director there for that weekend, even though the booklet they handed out to all parents showed Disney child actors througout it, like Brenda Song as a client, Zack and Cody ect. My daughter did really well for her audition, was not shy at all and was adorable in the photos we had done by Picture People studio before coming to Canada! They chose one image from the stack and said to call them back the next day. They said up front that they will not call us back, but that we have to call them! We did so to find out they had some very good news for us! My daughter was accepted into their academy for a 30 class competitive program, which by the way cost $2900+ dollars!! By that point, I was excited to hear she did well enough that they felt she was good enough to do commercials and print, but I was not excited about the price! They said they would need a deposit that same day if we wanted her to attend. I think when they call back to transfer her registration locally here in the US I will tell them no. Besides, my daughter did say she just wants to do tv, not just commercials. I will also be looking for local auditions throughout New England for now on. I love my daughter so much and believe in her that I left the country to get her exposure, only to find out they want $3,000 of my money to get her in the industry! I think there has got to be a more least expensive way!! After all there has been known child stardom with little to no experience out there that landed roles on tv and required no money come from their pockets! This is not to say that I won't be seeking acting lessons to polish my child's talents; but it won't be with JRP! |
| 57. Written by Kim from SD, on 03-09-2009 11:41 John Robert Powers Wants Your Money!!! NOT your kids talent... JRP called me one day and said that my son was excepted to become an actor/model and claim that they are calling from Hollywood... So happy when he got picked (out of 20 kids) at the audition and so I paid $2000 for the 12 session acting classes and got nothing out of it. They even promised that each child at the end of the class session would all get their own commercial video but I promise you, you will not hear anything from them after the session ends... and you'll get nothing for calling them neither... It's 101% total scam... PLease be careful not to trust them!!! |
| 58. Written by Barbara, on 25-08-2009 09:22 Don't waste your money.They tell you to come audition and make you feel like your child is special and they chose them and then everyone makes it! Plus you get there they talk you into the more expensive classes.You go the following weeks they want you to by $2000.00 headshots b/c you need them to audition.Then they ask you want to go to New York we are only taking 15 students 800.00.Oh we want you to come to Ipop which is where there are alot of acting and modeling agencies $8000.00.I'm not lying come on for my family of 3 to go to Las Vegas for 5 days.It seems to me they want my money which they got 3000.00 of it.But they also wanted my daughter to go to ipop we said NO!But they charged my credit card $1666.00 and I'm in the process of getting my my back it has been 4months.We went 3 times and haven't been back.It is a scam and they say oh people bad mouth our school b/c there child didn't make it.Thats true but it seems very few due and when they show you success stories there old and say certain people are going to make it.But few may but they Robb you blind as you keep trying.This is about John Robert Powers of Baltimore. |
| 59. Written by Blue, on 05-08-2009 20:35 Tomorrow is my second time going to a JRP "adution" this time they say it to adtion for a woman with her own agency. Last time it was to see if we had what it "takes" to be a student in there schools. Their was no presurring, no guilting. They gave us a run down on the school, asked me why I wanted to do it, then they mentioned that there was a flat rate for classes. The rate was relativly resanable but at the time to expesive for us. Now I'm curiose to see what tomorrow brings but my experiances have always been good. JRP is just a school, and doesn't promise jobs, just the tools you need. |
| 60. Written by nathaly cisneros, on 15-03-2009 15:35 wow! i just read all these comments on JRP and not even an hour ago i got a call back from yesterdaes audition. it seems very weird that they would ask for money just like that the next day...idk is it a scandal..? i would hate it if my parents would get scamed like that with so much money. thanx 4 da warnings! |
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