John Robert Powers they are proffessional rip-offs Bloomington Minnesota

I have been going to John Robert Powers Bloomington for a year now and I wanted to become an actor. I took there acting 1 class and that helped me alot. So I triede out for IPOP! 2009 Las Vagas and I made it! I know that my acting 1 class made that acoplishment possible. The traning was on 3 hour classes every Saturday untill IPOP!. A week before we left everyones families were invited to help us get one more practice in before IPOP!. We left not knowing what to expect and came back with over 60 awards! How can 60 awards equal a scam? I am not sure. I do know that John Robert Powers Bloomington is NOT a scam.

Alright, all of the people have to chill out. JRP is a SCHOOL not an AGENCY. I am not a former employee, I was a prosepctive student at the Chicago branch. 2 times. About 7 years ago, I went to one of these casting calls on accident. My brother was recommended by somebody to go to a screening. I was in 6th grade. I went with my brother and my mom down to it. I wanted to give it a shot also.

When we got there, we filled stuff out. We both were screened and told if they were interested they would call us. Well, here is where I blow the top off of two myths circulating. My brother never got called back, which means he was rejected. I got a call a day later saying that they were very interested in me. They then began to tell me the costs of it. My mom said she couldnt afford it, and that was the end of that conversation.

But wait, I get a call back and they said they would take off half from 5000 to 2,500. Again, my mom said can't afford it. Oh no, again? Yea they called and said well how about half of that? 1,250? My mom said well I'll have to get back to you on that.

The next day, my mom told me that there's no way she can afford that. She never called back. But then, the day after that, they had called and asked what the deal was. My mom said she couldn't afford to pay anything at all. They called back not more than 5 minutes later, and said that they were really interested, and said we will be very surprised if he doesn't get any work, therefore we are willing to waive all the fees. You wont have to pay anything. They continued to say that this was a scholarship that is very rarely given out.

This is where i kick myself everyday for not doing. My mom wouldn't let me go cause the classes were at 3:30-6:30PM twice a week. Not only did I have school til 3, my mom had work til 3:30, and I would have had to take the train to downtown chicago by myself, at 12 yrs old. She said it wasn't happening.

But there is my case in point that JRP is not a scam. You just have to be talented enough, and determined enough. That's what the buisness is all about. I think people go into the wrong mindset about the whole thing. They think that they are gonna be stars and that they are perfect. But then the big bad real world comes in, and gives them a wake up call. I went in for acting, not modeling. Modeling is the toughest buisness to get into. Keyword being model, you have be what everyone wants to look like. I'm not gonna say anything further on that subject to avoid the harshness.

But for acting, its completely different. You don't have to be what everyone wants to look like, you just have to fit the character. And with thousands of others out there going for the same part, you have to stand out. Not only that, you have to be exactly what THEY are looking for. Its a tough buisness. I myself am about to move out to Hollywood to start my career. Despite all the people who think it's impossible. I know that I have the capacity, talent, and determination to do so.

So to all those saying JRP is a rip-off, instead of focusing on what they did or didnt do, and wasting time in here, why dont you focus on your career. In this business, you're gonna be burned by a lot of people, said 'no' to all the time, and there will always be people who dont like you. But I know JRP is just like any acting class you'll ever attend. Sometimes the teachers aren't that good, of course it cost's money, and it doesn't guarentee anything. All it is meant to do is prepare you. And it comes down to talent. If you don't have it, and you don't hear other people than your parents or family saying that you do, then get the picture.

I'm not saying ditch your dreams, I'm jsut saying, some people are born with it, others have to work really hard to get to that point. Sorry for the long post, but I'm sick of people who complain about things like these. Peace! -D Fletcher

Misty, after reviewing my response to what Ed wrote, it was clear what I was getting across. The title says it all. I was simply setting the person straight. They had invalid reasons for bashing a wonderful and reputable company. If you ask then, why do all these people bash JRP? Well, have you ever considered the fact that JRP's competition could be posting these things to add more credit to their own company? Don't you find it odd that these people can't go into any true detail as to what happens at the audition? Here's a good challenge for ya: Look up the owner of this website and see how many lawsuits he has against him! Are you gonna say he's a scam too? hmmmm. It makes me wonder.........Anyway, I wasn't being defensive. I was explaining to someone that JRP is a school, and it offers auditions with agents, c.d.s and managers. How is that a scam? Please, answer that one question! I was simply SETTING THEM STRAIGHT. None of JRP's actions tarnish our reputation. I am proud to work for a company that gives kids confidence and creative freedom. Is there something wrong with that?

Misty, after reviewing my response to what Ed wrote, it was clear what I was getting across. The title says it all. I was simply setting the person straight. They had invalid reasons for bashing a wonderful and reputable company. If you ask then, why do all these people bash JRP? Well, have you ever considered the fact that JRP's competition could be posting these things to add more credit to their own company? Don't you find it odd that these people can't go into any true detail as to what happens at the audition? Here's a good challenge for ya: Look up the owner of this website and see how many lawsuits he has against him! Are you gonna say he's a scam too? hmmmm. It makes me wonder.........Anyway, I wasn't being defensive. I was explaining to someone that JRP is a school, and it offers auditions with agents, c.d.s and managers. How is that a scam? Please, answer that one question! I was simply SETTING THEM STRAIGHT. None of JRP's actions tarnish our reputation. I am proud to work for a company that gives kids confidence and creative freedom. Is there something wrong with that?

Misty, after reviewing my response to what Ed wrote, it was clear what I was getting across. The title says it all. I was simply setting the person straight. They had invalid reasons for bashing a wonderful and reputable company. If you ask then, why do all these people bash JRP? Well, have you ever considered the fact that JRP's competition could be posting these things to add more credit to their own company? Don't you find it odd that these people can't go into any true detail as to what happens at the audition? Here's a good challenge for ya: Look up the owner of this website and see how many lawsuits he has against him! Are you gonna say he's a scam too? hmmmm. It makes me wonder.........Anyway, I wasn't being defensive. I was explaining to someone that JRP is a school, and it offers auditions with agents, c.d.s and managers. How is that a scam? Please, answer that one question! I was simply SETTING THEM STRAIGHT. None of JRP's actions tarnish our reputation. I am proud to work for a company that gives kids confidence and creative freedom. Is there something wrong with that?

Hello,
We actually just got back from an audition, so of course I was looking up information on this company and ran across this.
First, Nick, being an employee of this company and responding in the way you did only tarnishes the company's reputation even further.
I would hate to put my daughter in these classes and maybe have a complaint and be treated the way you responded.
I suggest, Nick, that instead you respond in a professional manner to represent your company in a way that doesn't make you look like someone completely defensive.
We're still considering and researching the company before coming to our decision (monday is callbacks). In all honesty Nick, your response is leaning me to not bothering even with the callback and going with a different agent.
thanks

After reading your complaint, I can, unfortunately, only say that you seem a little pathetic. You have a lot of anger towards a company that you say 'ripped you off', but you never say just "how" you get ripped off. Here, lets review:

"I called them about a month ago to see if i could boost my career as a model in no time, i was called back by one of the talent scouts or whatever and was told that there were going to be film directors from los angelos to audition, out of excitement i rushed over there on my scheduled appointment time, when i got there, there were a lot of people there and they started their so- called speech, i went into audition, but with the director of the company. I was given a time to call the following day and lo and behold, i was picked. I am a single mother of 2 who can't even figure out how to pay my bills sometimes, they asked me to pay 500usd immediately just for classes and then they'll tell you so many things just to get you excited, they are big time liars and a scam!"

Ok, slow down a little tiger. You stated they were "big time liars and a scam", but uh, how so? You went to the audition, and you heard their "so-called speech" which probably went along the lines of saying that you need a good education and understanding for the business before you can get a great high paid professional job, correct? Then, you auditioned. You got picked. Did you interview with anyone? Did they ask you what it was you wanted out of the program? Did they talk to you about what they do? If you gave them $500, then I assume you appreciated SOMETHING they had to offer you! You say you have a hard time just paying bills. Well, there's nothing wrong with that, but why take acting classes that OBVIOUSLY take vital time away from you and your family? You sound as if you want free classes at this point.

"all they want is money, that's why they keep on calling people to come to auditions. I went there the following week for a so called audition which consists of one person, after reading my script, she asked me how long i had been taking classes there which i thought was kind of fishy. when i told her she immediately told me we were done and i left."

Soooo, did you join JRP? I am assuming "yes" because you went to a client audition. Why is it "fishy" that the agent asked how many classes you've taken? This is something they'd like to know so they know the amount of training you had from the school. For instance, if you are in a three year program, and you're working on your third year and all you audition with is a 30 second tylenol commercial, then the agent will say, "what the hell have you been doing with your time here?" And she also probably asked you because you READ YOUR SCRIPT TO HER! Lady, if you want to jump-start your career, try not embarrassing yourself with your script in your hand at an audition with an agent! She asked you because you weren't prepared. It was probably "fishy" for her to see someone walk into a professional audition with an audition piece that wasn't memorized.

"What they do is; the price is over 2000usd they tell you they won't guarantee you a job and that everything depends on you and how fast you improve and the more you take classes, the more you pay."

What exactly is it that you want from JRP? You want to take a 20 week course and start making millions of dollars? Are you insane, slow, or simply misguided in your thoughts that making millions of dollars off of acting is an everyday occuring event? I hope its option c. No one can guarantee you a job. An agent can't guarantee you a job, a school can't guarantee you a job, a magic 8 ball can't guarantee you a job. If anyone says to you, "I can guarantee if you stick with me that you'll get tons of acting work"....they're lying. What JRP CAN guarantee is opportunites for work. They offer auditions with those who have the power to cast, and those who have the power to offer auditions for work. And yes, like any other profession, you have to W O R K at it. You're laughable, really. If you think acting isn't work, you're going to have a miserable career. People go years, decades, even, and still go unnoticed and struggle for work. Not just a few, its MOST. I still find it funny that you call them "liars". This is a rare truth in this business. If they REALLY wanted to lie to you, they'd have told you that you're going to be a movie star within the first week!

"they are liars please don't let them fool you. there are a lot of accredited colleges and you universities that have liberal arts and there are also genuine agencies out there. that don't take a dime from you. becareful!"

I would love to know which colleges and schools let you go for free. And I would love to know what great classes you would get for free! Again, it seems I have to explain one more simple yet vital thing: JRP IS NOT AN AGENCY! Yes, an agent cannot take money from you UNLESS they book you work. JRP is not an agency, they are a school that offers training in the performing arts and in marketing. The money is for tuition, NOT FOR REPRESENTATION!

In summation, it seems you have big dreams, but you don't have the determination for those big dreams. You have children to look after. If you're struggling financially (and please, in all honesty, I want you to know that I am not mocking you, or belittling you for that because if anyone can attest to financial burdens, you're reading his words right now) JRP, or ANY educational system is just not for you at this time. I think your focus should be on the care of your children. There is too much to learn in this business and it requires your full focus and attention. You cannot provide that for yourself right now. JRP is what you make of it. It cannot magically transform you into a super model or an oscar winning actor. Nothing can do that except for YOU. If you attend a JRP, you have to know WHY you're there. If you're there to gain confidence, great. If you're there to have fun, awesome. If you're there to "make it big", well sister, you better work big. You better bust every waking moment reading monologues, sending headshots and resumes to agents, auditioning every day, constantly fine-tuning your body and your mind to think and breathe and live like an actor. If you think twenty weeks is going to pull that off, you're a true dolt.

After reading your complaint, I can, unfortunately, only say that you seem a little pathetic. You have a lot of anger towards a company that you say 'ripped you off', but you never say just "how" you get ripped off. Here, lets review:

"I called them about a month ago to see if i could boost my career as a model in no time, i was called back by one of the talent scouts or whatever and was told that there were going to be film directors from los angelos to audition, out of excitement i rushed over there on my scheduled appointment time, when i got there, there were a lot of people there and they started their so- called speech, i went into audition, but with the director of the company. I was given a time to call the following day and lo and behold, i was picked. I am a single mother of 2 who can't even figure out how to pay my bills sometimes, they asked me to pay 500usd immediately just for classes and then they'll tell you so many things just to get you excited, they are big time liars and a scam!"

Ok, slow down a little tiger. You stated they were "big time liars and a scam", but uh, how so? You went to the audition, and you heard their "so-called speech" which probably went along the lines of saying that you need a good education and understanding for the business before you can get a great high paid professional job, correct? Then, you auditioned. You got picked. Did you interview with anyone? Did they ask you what it was you wanted out of the program? Did they talk to you about what they do? If you gave them $500, then I assume you appreciated SOMETHING they had to offer you! You say you have a hard time just paying bills. Well, there's nothing wrong with that, but why take acting classes that OBVIOUSLY take vital time away from you and your family? You sound as if you want free classes at this point.

"all they want is money, that's why they keep on calling people to come to auditions. I went there the following week for a so called audition which consists of one person, after reading my script, she asked me how long i had been taking classes there which i thought was kind of fishy. when i told her she immediately told me we were done and i left."

Soooo, did you join JRP? I am assuming "yes" because you went to a client audition. Why is it "fishy" that the agent asked how many classes you've taken? This is something they'd like to know so they know the amount of training you had from the school. For instance, if you are in a three year program, and you're working on your third year and all you audition with is a 30 second tylenol commercial, then the agent will say, "what the hell have you been doing with your time here?" And she also probably asked you because you READ YOUR SCRIPT TO HER! Lady, if you want to jump-start your career, try not embarrassing yourself with your script in your hand at an audition with an agent! She asked you because you weren't prepared. It was probably "fishy" for her to see someone walk into a professional audition with an audition piece that wasn't memorized.

"What they do is; the price is over 2000usd they tell you they won't guarantee you a job and that everything depends on you and how fast you improve and the more you take classes, the more you pay."

What exactly is it that you want from JRP? You want to take a 20 week course and start making millions of dollars? Are you insane, slow, or simply misguided in your thoughts that making millions of dollars off of acting is an everyday occuring event? I hope its option c. No one can guarantee you a job. An agent can't guarantee you a job, a school can't guarantee you a job, a magic 8 ball can't guarantee you a job. If anyone says to you, "I can guarantee if you stick with me that you'll get tons of acting work"....they're lying. What JRP CAN guarantee is opportunites for work. They offer auditions with those who have the power to cast, and those who have the power to offer auditions for work. And yes, like any other profession, you have to W O R K at it. You're laughable, really. If you think acting isn't work, you're going to have a miserable career. People go years, decades, even, and still go unnoticed and struggle for work. Not just a few, its MOST. I still find it funny that you call them "liars". This is a rare truth in this business. If they REALLY wanted to lie to you, they'd have told you that you're going to be a movie star within the first week!

"they are liars please don't let them fool you. there are a lot of accredited colleges and you universities that have liberal arts and there are also genuine agencies out there. that don't take a dime from you. becareful!"

I would love to know which colleges and schools let you go for free. And I would love to know what great classes you would get for free! Again, it seems I have to explain one more simple yet vital thing: JRP IS NOT AN AGENCY! Yes, an agent cannot take money from you UNLESS they book you work. JRP is not an agency, they are a school that offers training in the performing arts and in marketing. The money is for tuition, NOT FOR REPRESENTATION!

In summation, it seems you have big dreams, but you don't have the determination for those big dreams. You have children to look after. If you're struggling financially (and please, in all honesty, I want you to know that I am not mocking you, or belittling you for that because if anyone can attest to financial burdens, you're reading his words right now) JRP, or ANY educational system is just not for you at this time. I think your focus should be on the care of your children. There is too much to learn in this business and it requires your full focus and attention. You cannot provide that for yourself right now. JRP is what you make of it. It cannot magically transform you into a super model or an oscar winning actor. Nothing can do that except for YOU. If you attend a JRP, you have to know WHY you're there. If you're there to gain confidence, great. If you're there to have fun, awesome. If you're there to "make it big", well sister, you better work big. You better bust every waking moment reading monologues, sending headshots and resumes to agents, auditioning every day, constantly fine-tuning your body and your mind to think and breathe and live like an actor. If you think twenty weeks is going to pull that off, you're a true dolt.

After reading your complaint, I can, unfortunately, only say that you seem a little pathetic. You have a lot of anger towards a company that you say 'ripped you off', but you never say just "how" you get ripped off. Here, lets review:

"I called them about a month ago to see if i could boost my career as a model in no time, i was called back by one of the talent scouts or whatever and was told that there were going to be film directors from los angelos to audition, out of excitement i rushed over there on my scheduled appointment time, when i got there, there were a lot of people there and they started their so- called speech, i went into audition, but with the director of the company. I was given a time to call the following day and lo and behold, i was picked. I am a single mother of 2 who can't even figure out how to pay my bills sometimes, they asked me to pay 500usd immediately just for classes and then they'll tell you so many things just to get you excited, they are big time liars and a scam!"

Ok, slow down a little tiger. You stated they were "big time liars and a scam", but uh, how so? You went to the audition, and you heard their "so-called speech" which probably went along the lines of saying that you need a good education and understanding for the business before you can get a great high paid professional job, correct? Then, you auditioned. You got picked. Did you interview with anyone? Did they ask you what it was you wanted out of the program? Did they talk to you about what they do? If you gave them $500, then I assume you appreciated SOMETHING they had to offer you! You say you have a hard time just paying bills. Well, there's nothing wrong with that, but why take acting classes that OBVIOUSLY take vital time away from you and your family? You sound as if you want free classes at this point.

"all they want is money, that's why they keep on calling people to come to auditions. I went there the following week for a so called audition which consists of one person, after reading my script, she asked me how long i had been taking classes there which i thought was kind of fishy. when i told her she immediately told me we were done and i left."

Soooo, did you join JRP? I am assuming "yes" because you went to a client audition. Why is it "fishy" that the agent asked how many classes you've taken? This is something they'd like to know so they know the amount of training you had from the school. For instance, if you are in a three year program, and you're working on your third year and all you audition with is a 30 second tylenol commercial, then the agent will say, "what the hell have you been doing with your time here?" And she also probably asked you because you READ YOUR SCRIPT TO HER! Lady, if you want to jump-start your career, try not embarrassing yourself with your script in your hand at an audition with an agent! She asked you because you weren't prepared. It was probably "fishy" for her to see someone walk into a professional audition with an audition piece that wasn't memorized.

"What they do is; the price is over 2000usd they tell you they won't guarantee you a job and that everything depends on you and how fast you improve and the more you take classes, the more you pay."

What exactly is it that you want from JRP? You want to take a 20 week course and start making millions of dollars? Are you insane, slow, or simply misguided in your thoughts that making millions of dollars off of acting is an everyday occuring event? I hope its option c. No one can guarantee you a job. An agent can't guarantee you a job, a school can't guarantee you a job, a magic 8 ball can't guarantee you a job. If anyone says to you, "I can guarantee if you stick with me that you'll get tons of acting work"....they're lying. What JRP CAN guarantee is opportunites for work. They offer auditions with those who have the power to cast, and those who have the power to offer auditions for work. And yes, like any other profession, you have to W O R K at it. You're laughable, really. If you think acting isn't work, you're going to have a miserable career. People go years, decades, even, and still go unnoticed and struggle for work. Not just a few, its MOST. I still find it funny that you call them "liars". This is a rare truth in this business. If they REALLY wanted to lie to you, they'd have told you that you're going to be a movie star within the first week!

"they are liars please don't let them fool you. there are a lot of accredited colleges and you universities that have liberal arts and there are also genuine agencies out there. that don't take a dime from you. becareful!"

I would love to know which colleges and schools let you go for free. And I would love to know what great classes you would get for free! Again, it seems I have to explain one more simple yet vital thing: JRP IS NOT AN AGENCY! Yes, an agent cannot take money from you UNLESS they book you work. JRP is not an agency, they are a school that offers training in the performing arts and in marketing. The money is for tuition, NOT FOR REPRESENTATION!

In summation, it seems you have big dreams, but you don't have the determination for those big dreams. You have children to look after. If you're struggling financially (and please, in all honesty, I want you to know that I am not mocking you, or belittling you for that because if anyone can attest to financial burdens, you're reading his words right now) JRP, or ANY educational system is just not for you at this time. I think your focus should be on the care of your children. There is too much to learn in this business and it requires your full focus and attention. You cannot provide that for yourself right now. JRP is what you make of it. It cannot magically transform you into a super model or an oscar winning actor. Nothing can do that except for YOU. If you attend a JRP, you have to know WHY you're there. If you're there to gain confidence, great. If you're there to have fun, awesome. If you're there to "make it big", well sister, you better work big. You better bust every waking moment reading monologues, sending headshots and resumes to agents, auditioning every day, constantly fine-tuning your body and your mind to think and breathe and live like an actor. If you think twenty weeks is going to pull that off, you're a true dolt.