John Casablancas Modeling & Career Center

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I have recently joined and already having success I would recommend it to evry age and Im 49 but look 28 but no matter whatage this place to learn television commercial acting!!

can't say enough bad things about this place- and I never even got a chance to step inside the office. JC pulled my info from a public profile somewhere and cold-called me about coming in. The rep's wording sounded a bit dodgy, but I made an appt. for a casting and resolved to do some poking around. The rep told me very clearly if I no-called, no-showed, they would not entertain a future interview, which is standard business procedure. After getting home that day, I looked up reviews for Cary JC and saw an ovwhelming number of them on the negative side, many talking about them luring you in for an 'interview' which was really a sales lecture ending with solicitation to enroll in their modeling school. I decided then that it wasn't worth my time, and didn't bother to cancel my 'inteview', as it was just going to be a mass sales talk anyway. ( A friend of mine had an 'interview on the same day at the same time, starngely coincidental, and it did indeed turn out to be a sales pitch, not a casting as implied. Shocker.). I didn't think anything of it, until the next week, when I began receiving calls from Desiree (can't remember if she was the original rep I spoke to.) about future castings. That was a red light for me- if I had no-called, no-showed, why were they trying to get me in for another 'casting'? No professional company operates like that. They are obviously desperate for business. When I was finally able to return her call at a time she was in the office, I expressed my concern for the raw reviews online and the fact that I wasn't looking for a modeling school, but an agent. Any sales rep with two brain cells to rub together would realize that this was her chance to reassure me that the school was legitimate and that they were also an agency. She did indeed do the former, but without pause and in the same breath said "But I can see that whoever you've been talking to has convinced you otherwise, and I'm not going to waste time defending our school. I see you've already made up your mind." Wait- it is a waste of your time to reassure someone that your school isnt scummy so that you can get clientelle (it is only a waste of time if your business is indeed scummy)? I replied that I hadn't been "talking" to anyone (PARANOIA!) and was looking for an agent, not a modeling school, which is what they are listed as. She went on to say that they were also an agency. I told her that if she had informed me of that before going off on her personal attack rant, it would have been a bit more helpful. She then proceeded to SCREAM AND CURSE at me. I had to hang up the phone. This is why your school has bad reviews, JC Cary- reps like Desiree that are sour they are working out of Cary NC instead of LA and taking it on potential clients that aren't stupid enough to fall for the schtick. Fire her fast, and any prim donna like her, do a business makeover, and try again. Potential actors.models- stay away from here. There are plenty of legit agencies in the area that don't require you to enroll in their school before giving you representation.

I did John Casablancas before I went off to college and I loved it. YES you do have to pay to take the classes regarding modeling and acting. But its worth it if you want to build you confidence and learn not only about the industry but how to take care of yourself. Even though i enjoyed the classes, I hated some of the people who worked there. For one, when I left for college, they started treating me different. Its like they wanted me to "take a break" from college so that I could model. And honestly that wouldnt happen. And also Alecia is definitely unprofessional and rude when it comes to doing promotional modeling. And Briget keep calling me asking me to join avanti. I keep telling her noooo im in college but she insist on continuing to call me. I would say that John Casablancas is great for confident booster and noo its not a scam at all! You pay but if you work you can make money back. All I will say is that they are kind of money hunger and some of the workers are unprofessional.

I accompanied my twenty year old friend on what she was told would be a private audition/interview to join the agency as a model. We walked in to a room packed full of young girls and boys and their parents. For an hour and a half we were lectured on "what it takes to make it in this industry" by the agency director, Brigitte. She basically spent half the time talking sternly to the fresh young faces on how they need to mold themselves to fit in, and half the time selling the agency to the parents. For about thirty minutes, she went through head shot after head shot of successful actors and models who she claimed had "made it" because of the Cary franchise of Casablancas. Towards the end of the meeting I raised my hand to ask a question about up-front costs which may be incurred to new talent (costs for new headshots, model training classes, etc.) Brigitte looked at me and said "Sorry but I don't have time to answer questions." The woman had just spent an hour and a half lecturing us. I go to a major research University, and in every single class I've ever taken I have been given the opportunity to raise my hand and ask a question. In talking to a personal friend who is a major talent agent in the Southeast, I have learned that Casablancas is a running joke in the modelling world. No legitimate photographers cast from Casablancas because they see it for what it is: a scheme to sell parents "talent training" that is "necessary" for their children's success. Again, I went to this audition as a friend and observer. I am also a working actor with a regional agent, and student at UNC Chapel Hill studying Dramatic Arts and Film Production, so I have a working understanding of the business. What I witnessed tonight was nothing more than bold faced exploitation. If they sign any kids from tonight's audtion, it will be nothing more than an induction into a very malicious scheme. In a year and a half, and over $5000 out of the pockets of the poor kids' parents, most of the talent will probably have not signed any kind of major job. I took a break from Brigitte's soap box to go and chat with some of the ladies in the office. After digging around for the facts about the agency and how they represent their talent, I was completely disgusted. It is a total rip off. At one point, a larger woman named Charity (or was it Jerri?) walked into the room and interrupted my conversation. I proceeded to talk with her for ten minutes but got nothing but cold, bad vibes from her. Trust me, there are better talent agencies that will shoot straight with you in North Carolina. If you ever have to sit for more than 30 minutes in a modelling audition, something is wrong. The real people don't have more than 30 minutes to give to anyone other than paying clients. But then again, that's what prospective talent is to Casablancas. Also, if you are ever asked to pay any kind of up-front costs before signing with an agency, it is a scheme and you are being ripped off.