Before i began my "training" at John Casablanca's i had heard a few rumors, It's a ripoff, you don't get jobs, it takes forever to actually get paid if you DO get a job, etc. But i thought, "I have to start some where, why not here?" Thus began my frustrating journey.
A friend of mine convinced me to go to an open call with her. After the open call, which involved reading a short commercial and doing a walk on the runway, we were both invited back for a second audition. At this second audition we were told precisely how good looking we were, or weren't, what kinds of jobs we could get, and some other frivolous information. One thing in particular that sticks out is my questions on photographs. Long ago i had taken classes with ABC Kids and after those were over i had to pay a heavy fee for some professional pictures. I asked if we would be required to get pictures taken after the classes in order to book jobs, and she told us NO, we actually do a few sessions on photography and we can use the pictures we take in class for our portfolios. Upon hearing that i stupidly agreed to sign up for the $1300 classes. 11 weeks of great training.
For the duration of the 11 weeks, i actually had a great time. It was fun, the people in my class were fun. At the END of the 11 weeks is when i realized my error in judgement. It first came with the final we have, in which i realized we had not been taught any of the vocabulary, in fact, it seemed to me we missed a few sections from the outline. But i brushed it off, i learned the runway and called it good.
After classes were over we were offered a 2 year contract. I was also told that in order for me to get any kind of modeling/acting jobs, i would need $700 in professional pictures. I told my "agent" that i was told i did not need to do that and i could use my photos from class. He bothered me about it for a few weeks, telling me i can get work, but not the good work that comes from $700 in pictures, but i continued turning it down. He never bothered to pick out pictures from the batch i took in class so i never had a portfolio, but i don't believe that made a difference.
Something i forgot to mention is that the main selling point of the classes is the fact that you will make back what you spent on them in a short amount of time. Complete bull. The first, and only, job i got was a promotional one which entailed surveying gamers at the mall. I was told it takes up to 30 days to recieve payment. After the 30 days were up i was told it's actually 30-45. Once the 45 were up i kept hearing i hadn't waited long enough, although i'd counted, and to call back next week.in the end it took more than 3 months. When the check was finally paid to the agency, i was told to come down on saturday and pick it up. Upon arriving i was greeted with a, "I'm sorry she just left, and she's the only one that can sign off on the checks." I was furious. I told my "agent" that this was ridiculous. He responded with, "Don't ever say this is ridiculous or you'll never model for me again." In which i, of course responded with, "THIS IS RIDICULOUS." A. I already wasn't "modeling" for him, and B. ITS RIDICULOUS! So then of course the whole argument was put on me. I have a bad attitude, i call too much, i need to be patient, no other models yadda yadda yadda. I never ONCE had a bad attitude, like i said earlier, i was rooting for these people! I was hoping it wasn't all that bad! I was nice, i was patient, i called when i was told to call, and did i mention i was PATIENT?! I asked my agent if there was a way i could get my money back, because this is a ripoff. He told me "You got what you paid for." I did NOT pay $1300 for THIS. No Way.
Besides the promotional gig, i was only ever offered hair shows. I did not want people messing with my hair, and i think theres really only so many hair shows one set of hair can withstand. I never heard of anyone else landing any legitimate work. And my friend had the same troubles as me with the one job's paycheck.
So in short, Rumors stem from the truth. The rumors i heard, all happened to me. Do not fall for the traps, they will take anyone, and act like they would only take you.in all honesty, if an agent wants you to model, YOU WILL MODEL. You will not pay ridiculous amounts for training, or be put through such a hassel to get paid. I wasted time and money, and i highly advise anyone to not do the same.
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