07/31/09

so-so

by TrudyTramaine

a few years ago i wanted to do modeling/acting so i went to a JC audition. they said to come back on a certain date to get everything set up.

so that's what i did. my mom and the lady talked about payments (and let me just say, it's A LOT of money!) in the end my mom gave her a check or whatver.

i started classes and they were every Saturday 8am - 1pm. in all honesty i dreaded every class i went to, they were SO boring! and maybe it was just me but they were. applying make-up and the cat-walk was ok but...other than that BLAH!

the teachers were nice though and they'd joke around with us. at the end of my classes i was supposed to go to a meeting so they could review me but i never went.

i missed some classes so i needed to make them up but seriously, it was BORING. i couldn't take it.

so i just stopped going. and the lady emailed me about a audition a few months later so i went and checked it out but i was a minute late (no exagerating) and they said i had to come back. so i just didn't.

and two years later here i am typing this review.

the plus side to it is that i learned some runway tips, i got make-up brushes and i did a photoshoot. (:

it's not a scam. they tell you in the begining that they're not promising you a job, they're helping you. and that's what they do. the rest is up to you.

they give a weekly list of casting calls all over that you can apply for.

people say it's a scam because of how much money you have to pay. and truthfully, it's not worth it. not the amount of money they're asking for. if it was less then yeah. i'd refer people. but i don't BECAUSE of the money.

hope i helped. and no, i'm not someone from JC that was asked to come up and review it.

• Pros: photoshoots, runway tips
• Cons: too much money, no guaranteed job

02/11/09

I am suspicious

by msjay2u2

I am suspicious whenever I see several 5 star ratings that appear on the same day. I doubt very seriously several people got on to sing the praise on the same day and only after a negative comment . I would bet money that the agency posted the 5 star ratings and I would have to go with others which is all 1 stars. Word on the streets is they are a rip off school taking your money and not delivering.

BUYER BE AWARE!!! Any agency that has to stoop to such low tactics as to post their own stars to boost up their rating must be a crock!

Also notice if you go to all the 5 star raters profiles they all only posted one rating which was to these people and notice also how they advertise all the features of the agency in their rating just like an advertising. They are so obvious. I wouldn't trust them.

11/10/08

would like to make a point to all haters

by lamodel

As a former model from Los Angeles I would just like to make a comment on some of these reviews that I have read on this site. First of all, I have worked with some of the top agencies in the world and have shot with some of the best photographers in the world. The reason why I say this is because I have done this for REAL and know the real thing when I see it. I have a niece that has been working with the Raleigh John Casablancas center now for several years. All I can say is that it is the real thing. They never make any promises to you from the beginning. I have found that people that make negative comments like these people are just miserable people who have a bad attitude in life and please know right up front that with that kind of attitude you will get no where in life especially as a model or actor!!!! I would like to comment on the comment someone made about the owner, she is a very intelligent woman who actually knows this business and if you think she is tuff then good luck! You would never make it in the real world of modeling. To the same woman, why do you try to make it sound like its a bad thing that they moved thier office to Cary Nc (not Morrisvile)? I think that the move they made was a huge benifit to thier students. The previous office was in Raleigh in an area that had become not so safe for the kids and the new office is beautiful with new equipment for the students to use in thier training. Why is that such a bad thing? This is what I mean about your negative attitude. My niece has been booked on several jobs while working with them and we have actually made our investment back! What you put into this business is what you will get back. If all you do is sit back and look for the negative then that is what will come your way. Quit complaining and be willing to work and keep working. Dont quit just because you didnt get booked for every job that you audition for. I have seen my nieces self confidence grow so much in the past year. Thank you JC!

• Pros: honest staff
• Cons: none

06/02/08

John Casablancas Raleigh, NC

by floridabutlers

John Casablancas in Raleigh,NC was one of the BEST experiences I could have ever given my two daughters. The staff there and at Avanti remain some of the most wonderful adults I could have ever exposed my two girls to. The staff is professional, knowledgeable, warm and enthusiastic. It is however up to the client to utilize the tools that are given to them in order to meet the goals that as an individual have been set. Irregardless of what one decides to do in or not in the "business" this training leaves you with an abundance of lessons that will carry you through life.

05/20/08

Scam!!!!!!!!!!!

by modelbabe101

JC is such a scam. trust me i just got a callback this weekend and they said that i had to pay $3000 just to take a class till October which right now it is May!! Then they guarenteed that i wouldn't be able to get a job for at least another year and possibly never at all!!!!!! Ya know even babies model and they have no experience and they get paid for it..........which totally isn't fair!!! I have definitly learned my lesson. Any place you go to that wants your money is just a scam!! Those people just want your business so that they can make money!!!! Don't ever fall for it you are totally wasteing your money!!!!!! Also the whole point for me was to start saving for a car!! And i can tell you that's not going to happen now!!!! Anyone who has had good experience is saying that because they live in Beverly Hills!!!! HELLOOOOOO, that's where ever movie star lives it's no wonder thay got a job!!!! Just trust your gut, if you think that it's a bad idea then don't go for it!!! I have read more than 2,000 reviews on no more than only one website and everything on there was a bad idea!!!! Just realize that a chance comes around ever few days, weeks, months and even years!! But just because you have to wait doesn't mean that's a bad thing!! That might actually be the case where all your dreams will come true!! All you got to have is patience!!

• Pros: NON
• Cons: Worst experience and scam ever!!!

04/06/08

WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE

by model1010

I would just like to comment on the lady speaking in regards to John Robert Powers and John Casablancas. You shouldnt even compare JRP to Casablancas. Not speaking badly to JRP, but for myself and shopping around to see which would be best for my daughter, Casablancas proved to be the place. They have an actual agency, which by the way the biggest agency in the world would never gurantee you work or else they are not ligit. The confidence and life lessons learned at Casablancas have made my daughter such a wonderful person and she has gained so much in High School since. At JRP they wanted so much money for just 5 Weeks! The minimum Casablancas gives you is 3 Years of Training GURANTEED. Notice I said training and not work. My daughter could never book a single job but that would not matter to me knowing she is learning so much and gaining so much out of this Career Center. If anyone is to read these that is fine, but in the end whether it be a negative or positive comment, go to the places yourself, do your shopping like you would a great pair of shoes. You'll see that im right about Casablancas!!!!!!

• Pros: EVERYTHING
• Cons: NON

03/09/08

The worst in the model and acting world

by elelimo

John Robert Powers and John Casablancas are two of the biggest rip-offs in the industry. I am not trying to be mean but the people giving them feedback don't seem to know what a good agency does for you so they think this is good. This place never gives you jobs regulary. The most you will get is once a month, if even that. I regret any penny I wasted with them. I am now represtented by a great, REAL agency, who sends me on auditions a couple of times a week. I work regulary and the only good thing that came out of this is the one sentece credit I can write on my resume, which I could do just fine without. Please don't fool yourself into thinking this is right for you. Find a agency with a good, honest backgroung that will serve you well.

• Pros: NONE
• Cons: I was told that I got a "a" for my acting by the lady that graded me but the other lady made me pay and said I got a "b".

12/02/07

Best Career Center

by hhhggg

To the woman who claims John Casablancas is a bad place. All i have to say is wonderful things about this place. My daughter could not have been more confident in life without it. Thank You to thh staff. Esp. Bridget and Jennifer! Also in regards to the comment she made about fishing around for more agencies. Well, i did, and I found 10,000$ dollar courses and 5000$ dollar courses and they didnt even give 1/4 of what JC does. John Casablancas is the best deal out there. So yes, i would recommend someone audition at JC and then audition at other places. You'll find what i write is true.

12/02/07

John Casablancas Raleigh

by wanda1024

The John Casablancas Modeling and Acting course is an excellent opportunity for anyone - young or old. My teenage son is currently taking the course and it has been worth every penny! He has learned about grooming, style, resumes, and interviews - as well as how to walk on a runway or pose for a photo. He had the opportunity to participate in 2 productions. The first was totally professional. Our family and guests were very impressed. The second production is today and I can't wait to see it! The owners and staff at the JC Center are wonderful. They always have something nice to say about my son to me. I appreciate that. I had the opportunity to talk at length with the owners during recent rehersals. They have a wonderful family dynamic and are really nice and helpful. The JC staff is also professional, helpful and nice. They never make me feel stupid for asking a question that has already been answered, but which I forgot. With respect to work, my son has worked as an extra on "One Tree Hill" on 3 occasions as a result of his association with John Casablancas. He had more opportunities that we could not take advantage of because of school or other obligations.

You get out what you put into most opportunities, but I feel that we got out much more that we put into John Casablancas.

• Pros: Great people, great environment, excellent instruction and opportunities
• Cons: None

12/01/07

Raleigh John Casablancas

by formerstudent

As a former student of John Casablancas, i have nothing but positive comments to say about this company. I first auditioned for John Casablancas when i was in the seventh grade and unlike common assumptions, they did not take everyone who auditioned. I was cut my first time and the reason for that was that i had a low interest level. I then re-auditioned for them six months later and then received a callback. In the interview they sat down with my mom and I and told us everything we needed to know about this business and the reality that it is. The total interview lasted for right under an hour and at the end my mom knew this was the right thing to do for me because at the time i did not have any self confidence. Once I started my calsses at JC i could tell a sudden difference. As weird as it sounds i learned such things as not wearing white socks with black dress shoes, or wearing the proper tie with the proper dress shirt. These things later came into play when i interviewed for my first real job which i landed. I learned what a resume and headshot was and my confidence shot through the roof. I had auditioned for the school play 2 years in a row and never made a part. The year i went to John Casablancas was the year i finally landed a role in the school play. I ask that god please bless over someone who cannot see the good in a career center such as John Casablancas. (Its not all about the job you might or might not get, but its about the life lessons that you learn here at this center that could never be bought)

• Pros: the honesty from the staff