John Robert Powers School

I heard about the John Robert Powers (JRP) School by listening to a Christian Radio Station. That goes to prove you can't always trust outright what's on a Christian Radio station.

The ad starts out asking if you would like to see your kid on High School Musical. Gives the name of a famous casting director, a limit of 200 kids and calls it an audition.

When you call and sign up for the audition, the girl speaks so fast you can't really understand her. When you ask her to slow down she sounds more annoyed then anything else. As I asked questions to clarify it became very clear that this was not what it was advertised to be.

As I asked questions and clarified the information this young girl was spouting off it became clear that it wasn't what was being advertised on the radio.

First the casting director will not be in attendence, there is no show just a pre screen to find new talent. It is an audition for the school NOT the casting director. IF you are accepted to apply to the school then you may get an audition with a casting director.

I did register my son for the audition in 3 days and was told I needed two pictures they could keep AND it was something casual dress. She still wouldn't clearly say the words so all I know is 'no jeans'

Then I went and did my homework....

Started with the official company website.

The official John Robert Powers acting / modeling school

They have an interesting list of successful graduates with the Disney Channel:

Chris Brochu with Hannah Montana
Brenda Song from The Suite Life of Zach and Cody

Other pictures show the franchise owners and VPs with various celebrities and others who attended a John Robert Powers event, not graduates or directly attached to John Robert Powers school. If you didn't read the captions or "the small print" you may think big starts like Sandra Bullock, Robin Williams and Laurence Fishburne were also graduates.

It is a school for those who want to learn about acting or modeling. Since they have been around for a long time they have certain connections and friendships that may benefit their students.

The official website says that he was an aspiring actor who apon arriving in New York discovered a need for an acting / modeling school. He wrote 3 books on modeling and personal development. (to be added to)

According to the website: "It was during the 1920's that Mr. Powers came to New York City with the hopes of becoming an actor. His business and entrepreneurial skills led him elsewhere. He overheard an associate say he wanted a group of attractive people to pose for magazine advertisements. Powers rounded up acting friends and trained them for these advertisements. The modern modeling industry was born. He founded the first modeling agency in 1923. Around the world the JOHN ROBERT POWERS SCHOOL SYSTEM celebrated its 80th anniversary in 2003."

They list the following famous people who attended John Robert Powers schools:

First Lady Jackie Kennedy
Racquel Welch
Diana Ross

They list the following as Powers Models:
Princess Grace of Monaco
Jennifer Jones
Ava Gardner
Barbara Stanwyck
Lucille Ball
Lee Remick
Ann Margaret
Henry Fonda
Tyrone Power

Impressive List of names.

The life course is a 10 week course open to anyone who wants to register. This course teaches children:

Social Graces
Goal Setting
Table Etiquette
Speeches and Presentation
Confidence Building
Over Coming Shyness
Personal Care
Walking with Grace
Voice and Diction
First Impressions
Interviewing skills

All very valuable skills for kids to learn in todays society. Any and all kids can benefit from these types of courses.

(find out cost)

According to Wikipedia the LA BBB tried to find out:

"JRP websites include photos of famous personalities and name other celebrities as graduates. Pictures such as Lucille Ball, Marilyn Monroe and John Wayne hang in the lobby of franchises.[6] The Los Angeles Better Business Bureau attempted to contact many of these celebrities through their agents or close family members, and those who responded neither attended classes at JRP nor authorized use of their likeness. Those representatives or family members listed as responding to the BBB inquiry did so in regards to: Lucille Ball, Heather Locklear, Barbara Walters, Henry Fonda, Jane Fonda, John Wayne and Betty Ford.[1]"

The LA BBB article says:

Those who are disappointed in the quality of Powers' services may not be surprised to learn that Lucille Ball, for example, never attended classes at John Robert Powers, nor did she consent to the use of her name or likeness by them. Neither, for that matter, according to their agents or close family members, did Heather Lochlear, Barbara Walters, Henry Fonda, Jane Fonda, John Wayne, or Betty Ford. (Although we communicated with a number of other celebrities shown or listed on Powers' websites, they did not respond.

For the full Article.

So the question becomes, how trustworthy is a company that uses the likenesses of famous celebrities that never went to their school?

No matter how valuable the classes or how wonderful the instruction, if you start out with a lie.....

These courses are available via invitation only through an audition, like the one they are advertising on the radio today. Each course is only 10 weeks long - I believe one day a week but I need to confirm.

The modeling course teaches:

Runway
Fashion and commercial print
Singing
Hip Hop Dance* (only in certain locations)
Karate* (only in certain locations)

Once again valuable skills for anyone, but especially children who are looking to become models.

Acting Programs are also 10 weeks long and there are more of them. A sample list:

Television Commercials
Soap and Sitcoms
Improvisation
Cold Reading
Monologues
Theatrical Workshops
Auditioning Techniques
Voice and Diction
Film

Any agent will tell you that if you have taken courses you will have a better chance at getting your first job because they know you can do the work. This never guarantees a job though.

I did call the school back and informed them we would not be coming because we didn't have money for tuition at the moment. The girl on the other line just took our name off the list and that was it. NO pushy sales tactics to get us in the door.

It was a lot of money but what made me decide it wasn't worth it was their sneaky advertising. Saying it was an audition for a casting director and then finding out that it was an audition for their school and then if you attended the school, you might get auditions with the casting director.

If you start out with a lie.........

I was talking with an agent and their agency is the agent for students at the John Roberts School. John Roberts is an expensive school, not agents.

There are other schools that will give you the same training and courses for a lot less money. If you want to act or model you will need to take courses and learn about audition procedures and how to behave.

Acting and modeling isn't all fun, it is work, it is memorization, it is a lot of waiting around. You have to be able to take direction and although it's ok to have fun it's still a job and you are expected to behave appropriately.