John Casablancas Modeling School
To Whom It May Concern:
I must admit, I am sitting here feeling slightly sick
after reading bash after bash upon a company for which
I have worked for the past six years.
I have worked in every aspect of my state center's field,
but have been instructing for the last four years.
I wanted to say at least a few words in defense of my
center and the work that we do there.
First and foremost, it is important to realize that
John Casablancas is a school. It is not an agency, although
it does have the local MTM agency affiliate. It is a
training center.
I personally discussed this with all of my potentials
while in admissions and again with my students as an
instructor.
I am a 'specialty' instructor at the center. I instruct
the Preteen Division, the Plus Ladies Division, and Women
25 and Over.
Luckily for me, for all the discouraging letters I've
seen here tonight, I have received dozens of personal
letters from former students thanking me for helping
them to better themselves.
I recently had a teary visit from a single dad, thanking
me for helping his preteen daughter into her adolescence,
and a beautiful letter from a surgical nurse who was
in my Wednesday night Ladies 25 and Over class.
I definitely am not in my job for the money; trust me,
the instructors don't get paid much. Believe me again
when I say most of the people that I've had come into
my class on day one definitely needed to be there.
It never ceases to amaze me how many people (regardless
of age) don't know how to get through a basic job interview,
put together a proper resumé, or realize the extreme
importance of a first impression.
And for those who still want to believe modeling is all about
looks, ask a professional photographer, or client, for
that matter, with whom he would rather work:
1) a fantastically beautiful model who comes to a shoot
ten minutes late, disorganized and full of herself, who
would rather spend the expensive company time discussing
her own personal likes and dislikes; or,
2) a girl not quite as beautiful who is on time, well
prepared and gets the job done.
Modeling is such a competitive field. John Casablancas
is meant to be a tool to help you prepare and help make
the best presentation possible. It is not an employment
agency.
It is important to me, as an instructor, that each and
every one of my students leaves my five-month program
a better and more polished person.
It is not my goal that they model. Some of my graduates
have had great success in the local market and told me
how well prepared they felt.
Other graduates haven't modeled at all, but have landed
better jobs or are more polished for their current jobs.
If it were up to me, I would incorporate some of the
curriculum into local high schools.
I discuss with my classes the importance of not stereotyping
and keeping business tasks separate from personal likes
and dislikes.
Appearance and grooming is about only 50% of my class
and it still amazes me that some 40-year-old women don't
know the first thing about basic skincare and walk around
in frosted blue eyeshadow with liner half an inch thick!
I feel very sad reading some of the letters on here
from people who said they've been lied to by staff members
of my organization. I would never crush a young girl's
hopes by promising her a modeling job after the classes
end.
What I tell them instead in Session 1 is that I am there
to help them present themselves to the world in the very
best possible light and have the confidence to go on,
even after a rejection or two.
I am glad to have visited the site; it will just make
me that much more determined to make sure all of my students
are getting their money's worth in confidence, basic
skills, and self-presentation, if not a modeling career.
A dedicated JC instructor,
D.L.
"Good hands alone, do not a surgeon make. Good
looks alone, do not a model make."
To Whom It May Concern:
I went to John Casablanca for six months.
When I first applied they told me that they would get
us a job. So I wanted to go, and my mother thought it
was a good idea.
So we paid $1,900 plus $300 up front for the photo shoots.
For the photo shoots we had to do our own hair and makeup.
They do not have a studio; we used to have to take pictures
outside in the cold.
Then, at the end, after you graduate, they send an agency
there, and then the agency tells you that you must have
clear skin and you have to be tall.
I'm short so we wasted our time and money.
When I went to an agency in New York City, they told
me that my portfolio was not professional, and, if I
wanted to be in the agency, I had to get a whole new
portfolio.
So, girls and guys, don't fall for the John Casablanca
modeling school.
B.R.
To Whom It May Concern:
I recently visited your site and thought it was excellent;
it's one of the only sites out there with in-depth information.
I have a question...
Recently at my school we held a career fair with reps
from John Casablancas attending. They took headshots
of any students interested. They took one of me, and,
surprisingly, I got called in for a meeting to discuss
further programs in the industry.
Now, not all students who had a picture taken got called
in, so in my eyes they must have seen some potential
in me.
I went to the one-on-one meeting with my parents, and
was told about what the company does and such.
The rep told me it would be in my best interests to
start off with the acting industry, and possibly later
on move onto modeling.
She recommended a program which cost CDN$995 for a three-month
course.
Should I be leary of a scam? Knowing that this was not
a mass casting call?
I am an Asian male, and they emphasized how males in
my age range and ethnicity are in demand. I am 17, by
the way.
The most attractive thing about taking this course is
she mentioned we get to meet with Sean, an agent with
all the connections.
Now she didn't promise any further jobs; she just said
we take it as far as we want to.
I am hesitant to sign up and pay the large fee. It would
be appreciated if you could give me any advice.
Thank you,
K.W.
K.,
The first thing you would probably need to know is the
rep is (most likely) paid by commission. She may only
get paid if you sign up. The more people who she gets
to sign up, the more she makes.
That may not seem like a big deal, but it is the opposite
of how the industry works: talent agents make their income
after the actor works. Thus there is no incentive to
tell people what they want to hear.
Why did they recommend you for acting? Based on a headshot?
What about acting? Did you read a script?
What are the qualifications of the JC representative?
Is the rep not even a talent agent?
You didn't say you had any experience (e.g. high school
or college) acting, or that you were interested in acting.
What are they offering at their school? Is it acting
classes? You didn't say. Please elaborate. Until now
letters about JC said they only offered modeling or charm
classes, not acting classes.
To Whom It May Concern:
For some time I have been interested in taking a "personal
improvement" course at John Casablancas.
I have not decided to take the next step because the
cost of the course is somewhat high ($1,250 for 10 weeks).
After seeing the letters on your website, I am
even more skeptical than I was before.
Can you please let me know if it is safe to go and take
the course? If not, are there any other places where
it is safe to go and take a similar course (makeup application,
skin management, wardrobe, etc.)?
Thank you for your time.
M.S.
M.,
Is your only goal self-improvement, not to become a
model?
Yes, my only goal is self-improvement. I have no interest
in becoming a model. I just want to learn how to put
on makeup, accessorize, etc.
M.S.
M.,
In that case, JC may be the best thing going. You'll
have to shop around (ask people in your city) if there
are alternatives which are better and/or cheaper. Barbizon
is similar but probably more expensive.
Find out more about the teachers at JC to figure out
if they are competent. Each JC has different teachers;
some are better than others.
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