John Casablanca modeling school is misleading parents of children and people interested in modeling/acting. They invite you out to what is a supposed "open call". Once you get there you placed in a room with the hundred or so others people who are also in the industry. They have this fashion shows playing on the runways of Paris - really hyping up the dream, photos of former students on the wall and the national director even comes in to talk to you. They really get you and your children excited. They tell that you are they for a top casing agent who cast for Degrassi, Hannah Montana, That's so Raven and other popular shows. You think that you are auditioning for a movie part. They explain that IF you get a call back and that it will be with the next day or the following day and emphasize the need for you to be available if you are chosen. You are told that you will need to come back in for another audition so the same day of you assigned call. Nonetheless, on your assigned call day they tell you that your child was one of ten chosen out of the hundreds that they've seen but that you need to come in and pay $3000 the same day. You are forced to make a decision and come in right away because they are looking at other children. Mind you, that they've said nothing about this during the audition but instead hand you a piece of paper with your callback time on it (where it is on the back the cost of the different programs).
While, I don't necesssaily disagree with people paying for classses to master a craft, I do not agree with their tactics. It is fear and pressure based and should be closely investigated. They raise all of these kids dreams simply to shatter them. There is no real audition. It is a set-up.
Also, I know that they do not follow up on their promises.in fact, Bridgette, the talent scout that I dealt with completely rude and unprofessional. When I told her that we would possibly be interstested in signing my daughter up if I had a little more time to coodinate and plan to 20 weeks of training, she told me that I had two days to think it over. I said yes I did have to days to think over the next audition but not suddenly just drop $2000 without even a thorough explanation of what is included. She told me that I was wasting her time and that maybe I should try again when I have some money. How ignorant!!! I could have gone in the within the hour and paid for the classes in FULL - no credit card. I was offended.
Furthermore, I had even questioned when the next session starts as we spend a portion of our summer in Europe. Nonetheless, their practices should be reported and consumers -especially parents with interested children should stay away from places like John Casablanca. If they are that greedy and unprofessional, imagine how they must treat those poor kids.
Also, they are several others hidden costs that goes into the thousands that they don't even mention then. After calling back, and being refused to deal with a manager or director, I attempted to contact corporate aabout the incident with Bridgette. They have yet to respond. I have contacted several media outlets etc. It is interesting, because as she was being rude - she should have considered the reputation that she is further damaging with such behavior.
Emma
Plainfield, Illinois
U.S.A.
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