John Casablancas Modeling School
To Whom It May Concern:
My sister recently informed me that her twin sons (who
are 18 years old, very tall, well built, attractive,
one more so than the other but attractive, and have bad
teeth) are enrolled in the John Casablancas modeling
school.
It is costing her $1,700 (only $1,400 if she paid in
one lump sum!) and from what I hear the school made it
sound like a deal ("two for the price of one").
She also mentioned that the school will need them to
have pictures every six months and, of course, the pictures
are taken by their photographer, and my sister can either
buy the prints individually, or the roll of film for
$20.
My sister knows nothing about photography, acting, or
modeling, and is susceptible to praise of her children.
Do you know anything of this agency? My sister and her
family live in Ayer, Mass. so I am assuming that the
agency is somewhere near there.
Oh, yes, she also stated that the one son went to some
modeling event at a hotel, which is where he met the
Cassablancas people.
When her son informed them that he had a twin, they
told him twins work all the time, and that he should
bring the other twin back.
It all sounds a little shady to me. My husband and I
are actors, my husband more successfully than I, but
I am not a total rube, and the situation sounded a little
warped.
If I am concerned, I need to provide my sister with
some proof (she won't investigate herself), otherwise
she will think me jealous, and trying to conspire to
ruin her children's chances at happiness.
She is VERY paranoid about people "having it in" for
her and her family.
Can you offer any insight or information?
Thanks so much... and sorry if I went on too long.
L.L.
L.,
The first person online I saw who said they had a John
Casablancas modeling and talent school diploma said: "I
know I shouldn't have done it. Scam!"
Similar
sentiments were expressed by others with first-hand
experience:
- 1. My comment is not necessarily all bad, but I would
like to say that if you are a young adult (17 and up),
you do not need to go to John Casablancas. I went to
their classes for a couple of weeks and quit because
it was a waste of time and money. If you are 12-14
they could be useful, but at my age, I already know
how to pluck my eyebrows. This is one of those so called "agencies" that
is really more of a school. When you go there, they
do not offer to sign you at all; all they offer are
their classes. A good agency will have nothing to sell
you.
-
- 2. The place was filled with young girls, no taller
than 5'5", who did not have a particularly beautiful
look, and who were led to believe that if they spent
$1,500 on six months worth of classes on how to do
their hair and makeup, then they would be the next
supermodel.
-
- 3. PLEASE! DO NOT SPEND YOUR MONEY HERE!!! It is
just that, a school, with ex-models or wannabes who
want to take your money even if they know you'll never
get a job in your life. I took the nine-month course
when I was 14.
The first thing that looks suspicious from what you
said is getting new photographs every six months. This
does not make any sense.
Modeling agencies typically advise parents not to have
large numbers or a portfolio of pictures taken of their
babies because their looks change quite rapidly, so they
would need to get new portfolios made every six months
or whatever. They become obsolete rapidly; a simple snapshot
will do.
The looks of 18-year-old young men are not changing
very quickly, if at all. Most have stopped growing by
that age, right? So what is the point of having new pictures
taken every six months? Does it help the model? Or does
is it just more money for the company?
As far as the modeling event at the hotel, this is a
common scheme. What happens is a free event is advertised
on the radio or in a newspaper. But the free event is
a sales pitch. The sales pitch is for modeling photos,
modeling conventions, modeling websites, or modeling
schools.
They will call it an audition, an open call, a meeting,
whatever, but it is always free. Once they have the attention
of the aspiring model (or their parents), and work them
up, they ask for money, or something that costs hundreds
of dollars.
Now that leads to the whole concept of modeling schools.
There are a few big ones like Barbizon and John Casablancas,
which have franchises, but there are smaller ones out
there, too. Modeling schools do not guarantee anyone
will become a model.
Why? Aspiring models will look about the same when they
leave a modeling school as they did when they entered
it. Modeling schools don't offer plastic surgery.
The first thing agencies look for in a potential model
is not a modeling school diploma, is it? It is not the
same as trying to get a job in computer engineering or
most other professions. That could cause some confusion
over and interest in modeling schools. How many supermodels
who were plucked from obscurity went to or graduated
from modeling schools?
Most all of what models need to learn can be learned
after an agency signs them. They will get it free. Which
is why modeling agencies don't send their models off
to modeling schools after they are signed.
I don't know if all this is going to convince your sister,
but you may want to suggest the conventional wisdom,
which is to send good pictures to agencies, or better
yet, visit them. It costs little or nothing. Why limit
them to one (John Casablancas) school/company when it
offers no guarantees, and the alternatives are cheaper
or free?
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