John Robert Powers ripoff and complete scam by taking your money and getting nothing for it! Tampa Florida

I just wanted to tell everyone who is reading this that I am 14 and currently am a client of John Robert Powers. Since I've been in this program I've learned how to be a better speaker, I've felt more confedent, and I now know how to make things happen for myself. Many many people I know that go to JRP have the same feelings and really enjoy the classes and the teachers. Yes the classes are expensive, but then again so is all sports teams. JRP is something for the people who don't feel like their meant for sports and really enjoy acting and modeling. I just couldn't have people talking about JRP without giving a good report about them too.

As with most things in life, there are good and honest companies out there, and there are the scammers. All I ask you to do, is check into any company who is asking for money up front so you know what you're getting into. JRP has many franchises and I'm sure the work ethics are practiced through the owner of the franchise and possibly not the founder. I know many people who have been ripped off by the Tampa franchise and it is my public duty to post the warning out there. The Tampa franchise has many unhappy customers and we are try to form a class action suit. They are nothing but a bunch of empty promises.

I don't know any sport for children out there that compares to even half the costs we were forced to pay.

In response to Ken and Jackie Ward in Tampa, yes their daughter was in the same class for many weeks. Reason for this, simple, their child was one of our younger clients and being so she was going to need extra training. Instead of taking advantage of them and making them monetarily responsible for every class she would take and re-take due to her age, our sales rep recommended a program where she could take classes for 5+ years.

No one forced them to do this. In fact, upon the first call we ask them if they can afford this. It is up to the parent to say yes or no. They then come in and sit down ONE on ONE with contract to take home and read. They have 72 hours to cancel and recieve a full refund! How long does it take to read a contract?

We let their daughter repeat the class at no penalty to the parents to help the young client master monologues, commercials, and basic audition techniques.

Now, the convention. Once again, there is a contract that they signed. The down payment is $1000. The convention is in Los Angeles. There are flights, hotels rooms, transportation, luggage handeling, photos, wardrobe checks, special tainers, advanced instruction, convention fees, and the list goes on. So you can see how the convention can be costly.

Clients who wanted to participate had 10 days to read the contract and cancel. Once services were rendered, no refund was entitled, which was written with a star next to that phrase for clients to see.

Upon attending the first training class, services were rendered, regardless of how Ken and Jackie may feel. Their daughter was one of the youngest we had ever taken to this convention, so yes it was a little new to our instructor. Forgive her for being honest to the client's parents, maybe she should have said something else.

Ken and Jackie were told they were not going to recieve a refund due to the contract they signed, but because they were valued clients, their initial down payment of $1000 was refunded. I even offered to transfer funds to the next convention, but that was not acceptable.

Now, they wanted the other funds refunded as well. Because that was not possible, they have retorted to giving a one sided complaint to rip-off.com.

They have no legal recourse of action. Simply said, they could not afford it anymore and they had buyer's remorse, and realizing that, they are upset that John Robert Powers will not refund them all their money.

In response to Linda from Tampa, we are not asking anything more than any other professional performing arts acedemy would ask. We have professional actors and casting directors instructing. We have agents from Los Angeles, Miami, Orlando, New York, etc. visit our studio EVERY OTHER WEEK scouting new talent. I don't think they would continue to come to a scam studio for talent if what you say is remotely true.

Janet Khargie
Director, JRP Tampa

I am writing as a teacher and a mother of a working model and am a bit confused. While I am not going to respond to many of the comments made in this report, I do have one question: What does JRP plan to teach a four year old to do? Children in this age group are not normally cast for their acting abilities.

Instead a casting director will meet with your child and see if they have the look and personality they are looking for. They will not have children this age perform monologues or read lines (for obvious reasons).

For this reason I believe that the "babysitting" comment made in this report is valid. Perhaps JRP is attempting to teach children how to be more outgoing and take direction? Perhaps, but really at this stage of development a childs personality is the major factor and no amount of training can make a shy child a social butterfly. In conclusion, unless your child is over 6 most casting directors will not even consider them for speaking or acting jobs and if they do they will be basing their selection of appearance and personality, things that can not be taught, so why pay thousands of dollars for classes?

FYI - If you want your child to get experience in the industry, meet with local talent agencts. Not only will your child get on the job experience but many agencies will offer training to thier signed talent at little to no cost.

In response to those who ask what do you teach a four year old, I must say there is quite a bit. I am an instructor at a jrp and I have many four year olds in my classes. I teach them several aspects of various acting teachers. I teach stanislavski technique, kabuki, noh, and anne bogart viewpoints. In addition, we also work on improvisation and on-camera training. Yes, its true, the majority of the development is in regards to their personality and their communication with others, but THATS WHAT ACTING IS! Its communication! And if you think a four year old cant learn a monologue and perform it an audition, you're only fooling yourself. These children are a lot smarter than you think, and a lot more talented too. They don't sit there and say goo goo ga ga. They are developing relationship skills and putting those skills to work with their scripts. Their personality helps create their work, as their work helps develop their personality, as it will with all actors young or old. The training we provide for our students enhances their communication skills, increases their chances of getting professional work, and helps them develop their own personal characteristics. Now of course I dont sit down with the kids and tell them about constantine stanislavski, but I do use his exercises in helping them develop their creative nature. Its a blast to have them in class and I learn just as much from them as they learn from me! JRP is NOT a scam! It is a great educational program where they get the opportunity to be seen by excellent contacts in the industry.

I have gone through Barbizon Modeling school and been fouled into thinking I'd be turned into a model. After graduation they never contacted me or returned calls. My parents paid $2,000 for just 6 months of classes. My husband went through John Cassablancas and after his graduation they stopped calling him also. His school cost $1,000 for 3 months. I've been in modeling for about 6 years now and have my own business www.modelingconsultant.net and after reviewing everything out there JRP is the ONLY school I recommend to want to be models.

Not only do they teach modeling and acting skills but they also do dancing and singing. In the entertainment industry it's important to know it all and be to adapt to what is being sought after by directors and agents. John Roberts Powers offers open castings calls to non-students also addiitional closed casting calls just for it's students with TOP agencies and casting directors.

My son auditioned for JRP DEC 2006. When I saw the booklet and price of the classes my first thought was it was just another 'come on' for money. We had been involved with a Model Talent Agency in Ft. Myers, Fl. and was taken time after time. JRP recommended that my son take a couple of classes, so against my better judgement and with my husband's consent relented. My son was amazed at how much he was taught from the first class. This was an entirely different experience from what we had been exposed to previously. What a relief to get something in return. When the initial two classes were completed, there was no doubt that we would continue the classes at JRP Tampa. I do not know how other franchises are run, or how this franchise was run prior to the young man who owns and runs it now, but they are a class act. My advice is for parents to be realistic regarding your child's talent and the 'business.'

I am a former employee, and as someone who has been in the business for many years now – on both sides of the table – I can say that the current John Robert Powers of Tampa is the most legitimate business of its kind!

By looking at the date of the posting, you were apparently at the JRP in Tampa before the corporate franchise owners took that studio from the former owner who was running that particular location. All those reading these postings must understand that in the case of John Robert Powers and all franchised companies – each individual business is a separate business under a large corporate name. Meaning, each JRP is individually owned and operated – the experience you may have under one owner, can and will be different than the experience you will have under another owner.

As a former employee, and an adjunct professor at the University of Tampa, I can say that from an educational standpoint the current owner has a better curriculum and training system than most universities in the state. Additionally, the opportunities are real, tangible experiences that no one else in Florida can even offer on a regular basis the way that they do! Furthermore, to call the current company a scam is nothing short of libel, when I know that they do everything possible to stop real scams that come into the Tampa Bay area, because ultimately, those less legitimate organizations only damage JRP as a company. An example of this was seen on Tampa's FOX 13 when JRP exposed the traveling scam known as PMAA.

I only make this rebuttal because I have witnessed the amazing things that they have done with their kids and teens there in the past two years, and I hate seeing some of the only helpful and honest people in this business being unjustly labeled!

My daughter has been attending JRP Tampa for over 3 1/2 years. She has been very patient, attending classes weekly and auditioning whenever given a chance. The instructors are excellent and she has gotten several acting jobs through their recommendations.

People that expect to just sign up and instantly be a star are very mistaken. This kind of job takes time and they have to be willing to put in some effort.

I have nothing but good things to say about this JRP. I have and will continue to recommend it to all my friends that have children that are interested in acting.

JRP may be expensive but if you want your child to succeed at acting, you will either need to enroll him/her in acting school or pay over $100.00 per hour for an acting coach.

Most talent agents will not even consider a child actor without some kind of training, and if they do consider your child.......they will hook you up with their coaches for additional training....be prepared to pay a coach 10 times more than JRP tuition.

How can you put a price tag on.......education, training, knowledge and experience?

Thanks to JRP Hollywood and its training, my daughter has grown from a timid little nailbiter to a very busy, confident little actress represented by the best youth talent agency in the U.S. and she would never have learned the skills or gained her confidence without them, nor would her talent agent have found her.

Thank you JRP Hollywood!!!!

I work next door to the JRP in Tampa, the building is completely empty nothing left inside and an eviction notice taped to the front from our mutual landlord 1/18/2010.   Just an observation - legitimate companies pay their contractual rent payment and dont get evicted unless they are in financial trouble.