John Robert Powers Modeling
School
To Whom It May Concern:
JRP is NOT an agency, it's a school!
P.D.
P.,
You said: "JRP is NOT an agency, it's a school!"
Are you sure all JRP's are only schools, none are agencies?
Some call themselves "School and Agency."
BBB examples:
JOHN ROBERT POWERS MODELING SCHOOL AND AGENCY
390 Main Street
WORCESTER, MA
JOHN ROBERT POWERS SCHOOL & MODEL AGENCY
26500 Northwestern Highway, #330
SOUTHFIELD, MI
JOHN ROBT POWERS MODELING/FINISHING SCH&AGCY (JOHN
ROBERT POWERS)
1528 SPRUCE STREET
PHILADELPHIA, PA
Most just use the name John Robert Powers, but some
are more up front and actually call themselves a school
or a finishing school:
POWERS, JOHN ROBERT, MODELING SCHOOL (JOHN ROBERT POWERS
ENTERTAINMENT CO.)
13601 Preston Road, #C-14
DALLAS, TX
JOHN ROBERT POWERS MODELING SCHOOL
University Mall
P.O. Box 24451
LITTLE ROCK, AR
JOHN ROBERT POWERS FINISHING& MODELING SCHOOL
50 S Belcher Rd Ste 100
CLEARWATER, FL
One just calls itself a school without modeling or finishing:
JOHN ROBERT POWERS SCHOOL
15301 Ventura Boulevard
SHERMAN OAKS, CA
And the BBB sometimes or often lists them under "Modeling/Talent
Agencies."
Yes, I am quite sure that JRP is NOT an agency.
There was ONE agency which actually started trying to
sign people and make deals. I don't know if they
ever did anything more.
They were not professional, and only wanted to work
with the big-time winners of IMTA who can make them big
bucks (surprise).
It is actually against the law to have a school and
agency in the same address. (Ask the Screen Actors Guild
for clarification.)
The agency must have a license, and be signed with the
SAG franchise to operate as a legit agency, or no casting
companies will work with them.
This year has been strange, due to the changes in SAG,
and contracts are up for negotiation, so no agents are
really "signed" with SAG.
Most legitimate ones do agree to continue using SAG
contracts, and abiding by the union rules and pay structure.
If anyone signs with an "Agency" they feel
is not professional, they can write to SAG or call the
local number in the yellow pages to complain.
SAG keeps a list of complaints for professionals trying
to avoid scams...
JRP is NOT an agency, and half of the people in their
brochures they "claim" to have discovered,
are fakes.
A lot of them happened to be in IMTA competitions with
another school (some private owners), and JRP just puts
them up on the walls, and claims to have discovered them.
Like Katie Holmes of Dawson's Creek! That one makes
me so mad! She came out of Michigan or Ohio (can't remember)
in a well-known private lady's school.
She worked years with them, then got a nice starring
role on Dawson's Creek. JRP had nothing to do with it!
Yet they claim year after year to have discovered her.
And the JRP locations you mentioned are quite outdated.
Dallas was closed down by the owners three months ago.
Sherman Oaks Galleria in CA burned down over 10 years
ago. They just now rebuilt the Galleria, and, I assure
you, there is no JRP school there any more.
As far as San Fran, JRP has the worst reputation there,
since Ron himself owns that one. The BBB won't even give
him a meeting any more. He has had so many different
staffs there, that they actually closed down for good
last year.
The owner who tried to buy it from him tried to turn
things around, and she had such a terrible time, she
gave up and moved.
They opened one instead in Santa Rosa, then Sacramento.
Both locations have numerous complaints, since the managers
are all personally trained by the man himself, you got
it, Patterson.
He is GREAT at the sales pitch! His motto is "Cash
today" and worry about refunds in court later. He
banks on the fact that many people do not wish to go
through the legal system, and he wins automatically.
I would recommend that you tell all people to investigate
the laws of agency, and be sure they trust the manager
completely at each JRP. Ask the backround and professional
references like SAG franchised agents.
Good luck!
P.D.
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