In early August I had filled out an online form that was advertising modeling jobs in the Philadelphia area. The next evening I recieved a call from Andrea (John Casablancas) and she invited me to attend an open call that week. During my brief conversation with Andrea I made it very clear that I was interested in Catalog/Print Modeling.
At the Open Call we were told by Gail Holvey that if 'they' felt we had potential we were to keep the appointment given us, If they were not interested in us at that time they would call to cancel the appointment. This next meeting was to see if we were ready for an agent or if we needed 'training'. On the 18th of August my husband accompanied me to the appointment to meet with Andrea. Andrea assumed that I was interested in commercial acting, regardless of our previous conversation, however brief it was. She had even stated that "Since your heart is in commercial acting..." Again I made it clear that I was interested in doing print modeling.
After she has me act out a mock commercial Andrea decides that I need training... She also informed me that the Modeling Class is very expensive, alot more than the Commercial Acting Class... It would be in my best interest to pursue Commercial Acting because as Maureen also later put it, 'Its where I would be best marketed in', which was mainly because of my being petite and I would not meet the height requirement for most modeling jobs other than catalog/print.
Andrea made it very clear to me at this meeting as well as another informal meeting later on that October that I had to finish the commercial acting class but, I was welcomed to take some modeling/print classes after I completed the class. She also made it very clear to me that obviously I could not take all of the classes being offered in the Modeling Class.
My original commercial acting class has since graduated (November) and I still have 3 classes to finish, since I was informed that I have up to 3 years to complete the class. I should also add that classes were often rescheduled or canceled per the training center.
During the week of August 14th I called the center in attempts to speak with Andrea, I was then informed that she no longer worked there and I was then refered to Maureen, the head of that location. The conversation with Maureen I should add was far from pleasant. Maureen was extremely defensive and stated that I 'misunderstood' what Andrea had told me, she said very obnoxiously, 'we get this all the time!' She also stated that Andrea would never have told me such a thing (I was welcomed to take some Modeling/Print Classes after I finished the Commercial Acting Class)... And mocked me for even thinking that that is what she had said to me.
After a brief and arguementative conversation, Maureen tells me that I can come in to meet with her so that she can see for herself if I have potential. This in itself was an insult to me due to the simple fact that Andrea had already informed me that I had potential and that I was very attractive. I agreed to call her back to make an appointment to come in the following week, however I decided not to meet with her because I had decided that it was not in my best interest to continue to do 'business' with people who 'Say One Thing, Then Say Another', or for that matter defend someone in such a manner when they were not even present to hear the conversations.
Despite Maureen's attempts to intimidate me into thinking that I cant do anything about this situation I feel that it is a serious enough of a matter to pursue. I will also add that this is not the first complaint that John Casablancas Modeling & Career Center has had against them and I have read many complaints on various websites about similar problems in dealing with this so called 'training center attached to a modeling agency'.
I feel it is only fair that I recieve a refund because I only agreed to take the Commercial Acting Class after I was told by Andrea that I could take some of the Modeling/Print Classes after I completed the Commercial Acting Class. And now Maureen insists that that was never said. I am more than aware that this is a matter of 'he said, she said', but I will not downplay this situation and just go along with whatever this 'training center attached to a modeling agency wants to do with me.
I should also add that this is a low-budget facility
and the photo shoots that they brag about are done outside of the facility, (not even a small studio/room is available for photo shoots) which is located in a mini-mall. Professional indeed. I have submitted a complaint with Pennsylvania's Office of Attorney General.
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