My husband took my 13 year daughter in for the first "audition" and it went pretty identical to the other reports people have posted-1 on 1 interview, call back for about 8-12 people out of the original 150 or so-and then a 2nd interview to see if the agent wanted to use one of the kids for the special "commercial" they were getting ready to shoot. We were 3 hours away on vacation when we called to see if she "made it through" and they said yes and to come in that night-well there was no way I was going to cancel our trip and drive 3 hours for what I personally thought would end up being a scam (my husband was more hopeful) so I said when we got back I would bring her in that Saturday-
So I took her in and Sol Mei (not sure of the correct spelling) took us in to her office and right away started gushing at my daughter-she then walked in to the other room and came back with their "classes booklet" and asked which one I would be enrolling her in. I said none-not until I look into your program more and see if she has a real shot at this. We have 4 children and even 3000 extra is a lot for us. She asked why I had bothered to come down and waste her time if I wasnt going to pay-I replied that I hadnt been aware that I would have to pay anything, because no one told us that on the phone-they had simply stated it was a 2nd interview-she then accused me of lying and my husband as well-said we didnt have an honest communication level and that was why they never wanted the parent who hadnt taken the child to the first "interview" to attend the second. She implied that I wasnt capable of making that choice because since I'd missed their original song and dance (my words) and obviously wasnt smart enough to see what I was missing.
I started to get pissed-a liar and Im dumb? Really, and in front of my daughter too... Telling her that I obviously didnt believe in her enough to follow through. So when she could tell that I was getting more and more angry-she took my daughter by the arm and forced her to leave the office (without my permission) and then proceeded to give me a guilt trip about how she had held a spot for my daughter and had kept another girl back because of it-to which I claimed BS-because they never hold any kids back if the parents have the cash and I know it-
I basically told her to shove it and walked out the door-and also filed a report with the BBB-to which one of the employees at JRP responded that I was irrational and knew coming into it that I would have to pay that day. Which is total crap-they dont tell you anything about the money, or else no one would ever come back.
Basically what peeves me off is that they lie, not just to the parents but to the kids as well-teenagers are already going through so much emotionally, to be told that you can "make it" only to either go nowhere or have parents that cant afford it, all the while thinking you could have been the next Hannah Montana-well its just wrong and horrible for your self esteem.
My daughter, luckily, wasnt upset and was smart enough to know that it was a scam, especially when we were waiting for the elevator and these 2 girls ran out to their dad (these girls were both very overweight and awkward-not really what you imagine after seeing the pics of their other "clients") telling him how they made it and were going back the next day for a 2nd interview-and how they were going to be on tv-the guy had assured them~
My daugher and I just looked at each other and it was so obvious.
I feel sorry for anyone who has been lied to, verbally mistreated, forcefully manhandled, and disrespected by these people-
I guess some people really dont mind creating years of hurt and therapy for the kids they walk over and crush in order to get their paycheck~
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