John Casablancas Modeling School
To Whom It May Concern:
I am glad I came across this site. I fortunately have
friends who were in the modeling industry who gave me
a lot of good tips on avoiding situations like these.
But there are some details, such as agencies who want
you to use their photographer, etc., that I didn't know
about, and some problems I ran into as well.
In the past I went to auditions for John Casablancas
with my mom, who also was a single parent. (I
really feel for the lady with the three kids and the
bad car.)
We had the same thing happen to us. I was so excited
that they wanted me, but then my hopes were crushed because
we couldn't afford it.
I am now 23 and on my own (well, married), and I
tried going back there to see if they would sign me with
their agency without the school, since I have some experience
now.
I told one of the scouts that I was aware that
modeling schools aren't needed to be a model, and that
if they really could get work for me that I could
just sign with their agency without the training
for $1,600.
She just said in a condescending way: "Well, good
luck then," and made the motion for me to leave.
Every time I have had any contact with the scouts, they
were all so snooty, and treated you as if you were nothing
because you couldn't afford them.
I never, ever will go to an audition for John Casablancas
again.
W.L.
To Whom It May Concern:
My son was approached by John Casablancas Modeling
and Career Center here in Atlanta, GA.
I'm very concerned because they are charging $1,750
for training (one-time cash fee) or $2,107.95 if we make
payments.
We decided to do the payment at an 18% interest rate,
meaning our payments will be $128.53 a month.
We also had to pay $280 up front for books and $100
for supplies and $180 for registration fees.
They said because he is new and has never modeled before
he needs training. The training is for five months every
other weekend. During these five months there will be
20 Sessions.
John Casablancas Modeling and Career Center also
told me that they own Elite Model Agency.
Today I called Elite and they said that they were no
longer owned by John Casablancas. This is another reason
why I am concerned.
I also called other agencies today just to see if they
would be able to use my son. Everyone told me that my
son is far too short: he is 15 and 5'3." They said
that as a 15-year-old he is considered an adult.
So if he is too short for everyone else including Elite,
how can John Casablancas use him?
Can you help me with some of these questions?
Do you know anything about this model agency? Do you
think that is too much to pay for them to train him?
Elite also said that they didn't charge their models
anything to be trained.
Concerned Mother,
Y.V.
Y.,
It is good to read you did what many others never did.
You called the right people to check out the company's
claims. Calling not only Elite but also other modeling
agencies was a good idea.
Your last comment is really all you need to know: "Elite
also said that they didn't charge their models anything
to be trained."
Here you have one of the leading modeling agencies in
America and the world producing the top models in the
world and they don't make them pay for training. There
is a clue in there somewhere.
You don't have to pay for training to get signed by
a top agency or to become a top model: I wonder if John
Casablancas Modeling and Career Center teaches their
students this fact during the first class!
You said: "John Casablancas Modeling and Career
Center also told me that they own Elite Model Agency."
This is not true and never was true. If anything the
exact opposite was true. John used to own Elite (he started
Elite). Then he started modeling schools. Then these
schools were franchised. So they used the John Casablancas
name, but he did not really own them.
There are still lots of JC franchises all over America.
How many of them try to milk the name for all it's worth?
The problem with the John Casablancas Modeling and Career
Centers business model is a clear and significant conflict
of interest which puts every consumer at financial risk.
This is why there are laws against this sort of thing
in some states.
John Casablancas Modeling and Career Centers are effectively
paid up front to get as many people as possible to sign
up for classes.
But this is in fact the exact opposite of how the modeling
industry works. Agencies are not paid up front and only
make their money by commissions, not classes, and this
includes Elite.
The BBB said most agencies are like Elite: they do not
charge for classes.
JC is likely to be overselective in their recruiting
of students for classes, because they are paid up front.
Your son appears to be the result of overselecting by
JC.
I'm afraid Elite and the other agencies are correct
about your son. He is far too short for a male model
and too short even by top female model standards (at
least 5'8").
If you have concluded your son is not model material,
just by the industry standards for measurements, not
looks, it would make sense to try and get your money
back, wouldn't it? Or at least stop further payments
and the bleeding of your bank account.
Why don't you call JC and tell them what Elite said.
See how they try to get their way out of that! Tell them
they can call Elite themselves if they don't believe
you. Provide the phone number if they don't have it.
You can even say several other modeling agencies said
the same thing as Elite. (Maybe JC needs to go to a class
which explains the measurements of people who are model
material.)
That fact in and of itself should lead them to grant
you a refund. If they do not, however, present the same
facts to the BBB, and register a formal complaint against
JC.
You could also add you were misled into believing John
Casablancas Modeling and Career Centers own Elite.
You know you should ask JC one question: if Elite in
New York does not charge its models for classes, and
gives them training free, what is it that JC classes
offer which Elite does not offer which is so important
and so valuable that it costs $1,750?
Your last question was: "Do you think that is too
much to pay for them to train him?" If all the others
like Elite do not charge for training, anything more
than free is too expensive.
Thanks for all your help.
I contacted John Casablancas last night before I received
your email. I canceled the agreement and was told to
write a letter and send it in.
Then the director called me back and told me to stop
payment on my check, because it might go through. He
said it was out of his hands, that he had sent it to
the corporate office. Anyway, I did the stop payment
and I'm faxing the letter today.
Thanks again for all your help.
Y.V.
To Whom It May Concern:
I agreed to take the classes with John Casablancas,
being too excited about what they were telling me to
look past all of the fancy pictures hanging in the office.
I took classes from Barbizon when I was 12 years old,
and it never amounted to anything.
Then I moved to another state and immediately looked
for agencies.
I found out that John Casablancas was having an audition
and I went.
I got called back, but they told me I wasn't "agency
ready," so I should take these classes.
So I started the classes, and I started making the payments
($100 a month for 15 months, $1,500 total).
But after I took a few of the classes, I realized I
knew all of the information.
I am 18 years old, and I am in school for Skin Care,
and these people are telling me how to do makeup and
wash my face —and I am paying them? No thank you!
Is there any way that I can get out of it? What can
I do?
Please help.
M.P.
M.,
I think someone already said they pulled out of the
classes.
You'll have to review the terms and conditions of whatever
paperwork you signed. It is probably not a contract like
a model contract with an agency, but you still need to
read it carefully.
You may just have to say, "I have realized these
classes aren't for me." People must drop out of
there classes, from time to time, because they get sick,
or for whatever reason.
You appear to be in the fortunate position of not having
paid $1,500 up front, so they don't have your money.
Also, you have paid for what you have received, so you
are not in debt, right?
Hopefully, they will be reasonable and let you quit.
But if they are difficult, what can they do if you stop
going? If it can't affect your credit rating, it may
be easy to quit.
You can continue on your search for an agency. Find
an agency, not a school. Find an agency that does not
charge you for classes, but trains its models FREE!
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