A telemarketer named Philip, who was actually a JRP employee posing as a casting director, cold called me on June 10th around 7:30pm and lead me to believe I had been chosen to audition for a commercial. He told me to come at 7pm on June 11, claiming that I could possibly be the next big thing. He sounded very convincing and legit over the phone and added that I wouldn't be paying for anything.
Once I got to the John Robert Powers building and stepped inside, I was ushered to a room with several other people who believed the same as I did. One of the employees then proceeded to play a DVD that showcased many famous actors and actresses who had attended JRP such as Lucille Ball, Brenda Song and Nikki Taylor. The idea was if those people used JRP and were successful, we could be too. We were each given a list of lines to read during our audition. Then we found out we weren't actually auditioning for a commercial but for acceptance into their school.
Tamela Hamilton stood in front of us and boasted about her accomplishments and what she could do for us; she suddenly made us feel that we NEEDED her to succeed in your modeling and acting careers. The phony audition quickly turned into a sales pitch.
One by one, we went into a room to read our lines in front of a camcorder operated by a regular JRP employee posing as a casting director. We were told that only the BEST would be chosen and that we would have to call the following day, June 12 between 12pm and 1pm to see if Ms. Tamela was even interested in working with us.
I called back, as instructed, and found out that Tamela wanted to take me on. I was told over the phone to come in and have a meeting with Tamela herself and to bring a check in the amount of $1165.00 which was supposedly a discounted price because I was paying all monies up front.
I arrived at the office at 2pm only to find out that I wasn't actually meeting with Tamela but one of her other employees named Pamela who introduced herself as the School Director.
Pamela appeared nervous and unsure of herself as she fumbled through paperwork and forced her contracts in my face while giving evasive answers to my questions. I was told that I would be attending acting workshops with a woman named Ms. Toni every Saturday from 10am to 12pm for 10 weeks. After that, I would be allowed an additional 10 classes for free.
When I asked her what goes on in the classes, she couldn't give me a specific answer and merely bragged about my instructor Ms. Toni who was supposedly the best of the best. She's really good, Pamela kept saying.
She basically told me nothing and only half answered my questions the entire 30 minutes I spent in her office. She had me sign and initial contracts stating that I wouldn't be late or miss classes and things of that nature. Like a fool, I handed her my two money orders, one in the amount of $1000.00 and another for $165.00.
When I got home, a concerned friend had researched John Robert Powers for me and the stigma behind this company is UNBELIEVEABLE! We found reports of unsatisfied customers on numerous websites such as this one and the BBB. The complaints were made against John Robert Powers franchisees all over the country and several of those complaints were made against Tamela Hamilton herself.
They only give you 72 hours to nullify the contract and they STILL charge you a ridiculous non-refundable deposit fee of $500.00; so you don't even get your full refund back. Basically, you pay $500.00 for a phony audition with one of her employees who couldn't tell the difference between a casting director and a hole in the wall.
I have read all the complaints I found and they ALL sounded EXACTLY like what I have written above; their story is now my story. Too many people have been cheated by these frauds, some on even larger scales, and justice must be served.
I urge EVERYONE to PLEASE check the reputations of casting directors, agents, and any acting or modeling schools/coaches before doing business with them and especially before signing ANY contracts.
Tamela Hamilton and people like her need to be put out of business and forced to give back every cent they swindled out of hard-working individuals like myself who have HONEST jobs. Period.
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