John Casablancas Modeling School
To Whom It May Concern:
I was at one point a teacher at John Casablanca's, but
was let go for medical reasons.
As for if it's a scam, after reading the letters, I
feel like I should have read these letters a long time
ago, and let the letters anger me to no end.
In my experience, they train the teachers, but they
train them by having them sit in on other teachers' classes.
Half of the teachers aren't licensed; the school is,
but that doesn't help.
If that was my child, then I would make sure that person
who is teaching my child knows what she is talking about,
and not second-guessing it.
I know first hand about the school at the center where
I worked. The director half the time didn't know what
was going on; nor did she care, she wasn't in the rooms.
The night of one of my class graduations, after I got
in to work, I found out half of my class was not going
to graduation.
This was due to the fact that they didn't pay the rest
of their loans. It was horrible; the students were upset
and crying, and yet I couldn't do anything about it.
"Why wasn't I told this sooner about my students
owing money?" I asked.
That question was never answered.
Some of these people who are teaching your children
have never had a job in the industry. Keep that in mind
when you sign a check over to them.
One of things I never understood was why in the world
we were teaching runway to students who could care less
about it, such as students who were there for television.
It made no sense, but they had no choice.
I loved my classes. The students were all talented and
had a spark about them. Yes, I made my classes fun, but
I figured I didn't want it to be a thing where they dreaded
coming to see me every week.
I'm glad that I found all this out because I could never
be involved with a company like this.
W.P.
To Whom It May Concern:
I recently went to the J. Casablancas agency in Atlanta
with a friend who was enrolled in the classes. I was
just there for support, so I wasn't allowed to be in
the class with her.
While I was waiting with her parents, one of the receptionist
ladies came and told me how pretty I was and tried to
get me to sign with them that day. Other staff members
did as well.
I do aspire to be a model (runway and print). I have
experience with tv scripts, runway, and photography.
I went home and told my mom. So my friend's mom talked
to my mom about how much she had to pay for the classes.
That's one of the reasons I can't go to the class. Another
is that Atlanta is three hours away from me.
I know you don't need modeling school to make it, and
once my friend got out of the class she told me what
she learned. Everything that she had learned and was
going to learn before graduation, I already knew, either
from books or other sources.
Once my mom figured out the total cost for clothes,
makeup, more makeup, and pictures, etc., she said, "NO!"
I have such big dreams to be a model. I know I am model
material. I have people (strangers) walk up to me asking
if I model and telling me how pretty I look. This happened
one time when I went into the MAC cosmetics store, for
instance.
One of the staff members was so sure I was model material,
she gave me the number to her friend, a photographer,
to have test shots taken.
I am a black female, a little taller than 5'6",
14 years old, and weigh 111 pounds. You can tell how
photogenic I am just by looking at my portfolio.
I just need tips on how to break into the business.
I know it's going to be hard. I have some tips from all
of the books I've been reading.
So can you give me some tips in breaking into the business?
I would most appreciate it.
Thank you,
I.P.
I.,
You're at an age and weight which fits the NY fashion
model standards, but are you still growing? If you get
to 5'8", you may want to send Polaroids or sharp
non-professional snapshot pictures to top NY agencies.
It sounds as if you are not very close to a major modeling
market, although Atlanta is probably the closest to you.
If you are going to work as a model in Atlanta, you will
probably need to live in Atlanta. Otherwise, what are
you looking at? Six hours of travel plus hotel accommodation
each time you want to go to a go-see or a photo shoot?
The rule of thumb on location is you should be within
driving distance of where you can get modeling jobs.
You must be able to get to the auditions and assignments
easily or on time.
It can get a bit awkward and complicated for a teen
who wants to model but does not live in a major modeling
market. A lot of the best modeling jobs are available
to teens, e.g. high fashion, but they are usually committed
to school and living with their parents. They lack flexibility
and mobility.
Many doors are therefore closed until school is out
and the summer vacation starts. Some parents will then
move with their kids to NY, for example, so they can
get work.
It's a lot to ask of your parents, and, as others have
already discovered, it is no guarantee you will get work,
or enough work to cover all the expenses.
You can talk to your parents about how committed they
would be to helping you travel if and when the need arises.
Then visit agencies in Atlanta which are reputable and
find out if they will sign you.
Meanwhile you can call top NY agencies, and find out
their current requirements. They will probably say you
need to be at least 5'8", but there is no harm in
calling.
Good luck!
To Whom It May Concern:
I was "involved" in John Casablancas and I'm
very upset at what all they said! John Casablancas said
famous people like Cindy Crawford went there... and the
list goes on!
Are there any REAL agencies out there?
A.L.
A.,
Cindy Crawford did not go to John Casablancas. She is
not into modeling schools, either. Perhaps the confusion
stems from the fact John Casablancas used to own the
Elite agency, and Cindy Crawford used to be represented
by Elite Model Management. In any case, she never went
to a John Casablancas modeling school as a student, or
to any other modeling school.
There are real modeling agencies out there, and they
are not modeling schools. Actually, if the "agency" has
modeling schools which aren't free, they are not an agency
or not a reputable agency. Have you ever heard of one
reputable modeling agency which charges models for classes?
How to find a reputable
modeling agency
To Whom It May Concern:
I was in high school one day in my 10th grade year when
John Casablancas was doing casting calls to get the word
out about their agency.
And I gave them my number and of course they called
back.
I visited their office to do an interview and they signed
me. Along with everyone else. I thought this was a major
thing being signed on with an agency.
I went through classes and admit to learning some helpful
things, but not enough new info to justify the money
my mom paid.
We also got ripped off by the photographer who said
we didn't pay for our pictures, but it turns out the
manager of that particular agency took off with a bunch
of money —including our check!
Needless to say, it was a big waste of a good $2,000!!
Now I am enrolled with On Track Modeling and have gotten
some promotional work...
I was just wondering if your could research and find
out if this agency is scam proof. I don't want to be
fooled again!
Thanks!
T.L.
T.,
JC is not an agency; it's a school. Just to clarify
for anyone reading your letter since you are still under
the impression they are an agency.
There is a lot of info and complaints about On
Track Modeling. Hardly scam proof if
you pay up front. They apparently are extremely low
end (promotions) and their models, if they work,
earn the lowest of the low wages of all models. It's
like minumum wages, only worse, because it is not
regular hours.
If you are serious about modeling, find a strong agency
which can get you significant work.
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