So, again, I've stated our advertising is the one thing I would change if I could, but alas, I am not an owner. Now, even with that being said, if that is the main issue everyone has with JRP, that doesn't validate a barrage of hatred and loathing from anyone. It is a school for crying out loud! Now, there have been NO legal ramifications for JRP's photo's on the way. So that leads me to believe either, they HAVE gone to a JRP and took classes there at some point in their life, or those who didn't, don't quite care whether or not JRP is using their photo's. You say education is not their selling point, have you ever even been to a JRP audition? Do you know what is said? The first thing that is acknowledged is that JRP doesn't work with any kid that doesn't have a b average in school. They also explain IN DETAIL, that education is the key to success, regardless of what occupation you fall into in your life. Ask any parent who has a kid enrolled at a JRP and see what they have to say in regards to how JRP feels about education. If they display famous names, its because they're proud of the success that JRP has. Even if those famous people didn't gain their fame BECAUSE of JRP, they were, at some step in their life, a part of JRP. Yes, they have salesmen that get people in the door. But once you're in the door, and if you're paying attention to what is said, you will understand that JRP's only focus is education. Well, its at least my focus. I know I'm giving quality education. I can safely say that there is no other school in this area that offers the quality of education I provide. I would be willing to back that up if anyone has any rbuttals to that!

No one likes to see children and/or their parents taken advantage of. This includes spending unneeded dollars for unnecessary "training." I believe Bizparentz.org said many lawsuits have been brought against the various JRPs forcing them to take down the photos. I believe parents of kid actors have posted that every professional agent/manager/cd insists that "JRP" be removed from a resume before they will represent/manage/hire an actor, esp a child actor.

avidactor, I think it's great you care about the kids and work hard to help them. Also that you have your degree and experience that qualifies you. I can see from your post you do care about your students. Maybe you should consider moving from JRP before it's a mark against your resume. Go to another more reputable school...or heck even open your own and make a name as a teacher for yourself. It could be the start of great things for you!

I would love to start my own school! I wouldn't know where to begin! If anyone can help me with that, I would be forever grateful. Right now, JRP is really helping me get out of debt though. I can't find any acting job, or teaching job that is offering the salary I am making now. I do private coaching on the side, and Im constantly offering workshops for the parents of the students at JRP (for free silvera). If anyone can offer advise as to starting your own school, I would owe ya big! I know staking out a space to use is key, but finding the funds to even do that is extremely difficult right now. Even with the salary I have, I am living paycheck to paycheck, and I don't think any bank with an ounce of sanity will loan me the money to start up my own program, any ideas???

This is not the first time this has been mentioned. I'm glad you're considering it.

I'm completely guessing here, but wouldn't this be a small business loan, as opposed to a personal loan?

And maybe you could rent a space in a reputable dance studio, or with a community theater with its own building. Naturally complementary, and you'd attract more students that way. Maybe you can do this in addition to your current classes, until you see more income coming from the new endeavor.

starting my own school is something I've thought about for some time now. It has always been an issue with $$$. Even getting a small bizz loan is hard. Financially, I am, to say the least, very bad off. I'm going to keep looking into it. There's not many theatres or open spaces around here. I will be keeping my eyes peeled. There is a theatre that rents its space out, but not for classes. It has some kind of leasing terms where you can't teach there because nothing can be affiliated with the theatre that could possibly hurt its rep. I'm going to keep checking. In the meantime, I do have to stay with JRP, I don't want to leave the families and the students high and dry because they do rely on me for a lot of things. I want to thank you all for understanding where I'm coming from at least! I know not every JRP is running the way it should, but at least I can say that ours here is doing the right thing...as far as the school itself goes!~

Do you think actors really base their decision on which acting school to go to - on the famous faces who came before them?

So if someone tells me they taught Jane Fonda, am I so stupid to think that I'm going to be Jane Fonda if I take this class?

>Originally posted by actorforlife:
>Do you think actors really base their decision on which acting school to go to - on the famous faces who came before them?

The young trusting types ... YES


>So if someone tells me they taught Jane Fonda, am I so stupid to think that I'm going to be Jane Fonda if I take this class?

Since I don't know you personally, I can't answer that.

quote:

Originally posted by actingupVT:
At one point I thought of going to Barbizon, but I didn't really want to look like a model.(; Is Barbizon still around and are they legit?

In my experience, Barbizon is not worth it. They're still around, and they claim that people like Jena Malone got their start there. Perhaps they did, I don't know. But I wen to their open call four years ago, when I was fourteen. I wasn't invited to join (I was on a swim team then, which equaled a very hectic schedule), but I had been referred to them by a friend who attended. Since, she has told me that she wishes she had never gone. It is extremely expensive to attend- one of the reasons why I'm glad I wasn't asked back- and my friend has never even gotten an audition, let alone a job, through them.

i really dont have time for this, but this post has been nagging at me for a few days, so i need to say this.

i'm sorry avidactor, but i dont think i buy your innocent act. everyone who is legit knows the status of jrp. so i can't imagine you are as legit as you say you are or you wouldn't be there, unless you are desperate. not in MD anyway. kansas? maybe, but not MD.

plus, i dont buy the baloney of not having other options or no way to get out of there and start your own school. um, hello! have you LOOKED around MD?

what about the schools at imagination stage, round house, young artists theatre, CCTA, HCC has a great summer program, etc. i can rattle off over two dozen schools all over MD/DC/NoVA that would welcome someone with your non-jrp credentials. and i'm sure there are dozens more i never looked at or can't remember at the moment.

want to start your own school but have no money or space? have you even seen the list of operating community theatres in the area? fells point, spotlighters, RMT, liberty showcase theatre, dundalk community theatre, laurel mill playhouse....i could rattle off even more of these.

with the exception of maybe spotlighters (who i believe now has their own education program), most of these theatres have their own space or have the connections to get space.

if you walked up to ginni at LST or linda at LMP and said, would you be interested in adding an educational aspect to your theatre? if so, i have the plan, and i would like to do it. i bet they'd be open to the idea.

and they come with.... a community! students ready and willing.

sure, you won't be able to quit your day job right away, but after 6 months, a year, you could have your "own" school, and can bring your poor jrp students with you.

i haven't been in MD for about 5 years, so i'm sure things have changed since, but really, there are no excuses for down there.

you say "there's not many theatres around here..." where are you? unless you are around the eastern shore (b/c i dont know that area), i guaruntee i can name 5 theatres and/or schools near you. and that's if you stay more than an hour away from Baltimore or DC. once you are in those areas, the list jumps to over 200! i dunno... sounds like you are happy perpetuating the scam.

but what do i know?

Chill jacktress, Im not in MD anymore. I am very familiar with those theatres, I've worked at all of them. To be honest, JRP pays their teachers better. I am very familiar with DC. There are 85 resident theatres, theres tons of industrials, commercial work and everything a great actor could want. I was a part of actorscenter, and I was represented by Taylor Royall and Carlyn Davis. Believe me, I know baltimore and DC inside and out. Ive done shows at the kennedy center, keegan, woolley mammoth, arena, WSC, shakespeare, folger, and I attained my mfa from CUA. I know the area all well and good. So don't think for a second I didn't weigh out my options. But I moved. And theres only 6 theatres in this town, and all make you rent the space if you want to teach classes. I cannot afford to rent space. Not with 80,000 in school loans and 30,000 in credit card debt. Im barely making ends meet now. So I work here, and it pays me enough to keep afloat. And guess what? I teach acting! I don't scam anyone. I work with them on Stanislavski, commedia, and even viewpoints. Don't associate my hard work with JRP's name. I work for the kids, and I do a damn fine job of it. So what if other JRP's don't give a rats ass about their kids, I'm not one of them. Don't call my work a scam. I bust my ass 6 days a week 10 hours a day for these families. I won't be here forever. I'm not perpetuating the scam. I am upfront and honest with all the people I work with. I even let the kids know where they can get additional training AT the other schools close by if they're not happy with mine. I have nothing to hide. So ask yourself that question again, "What do you know?"

quote:

Originally posted by avidactor:
I was a part of actorscenter, and I was represented by Taylor Royall and Carlyn Davis.

I guess the proof is in the pudding, as Carlyn Davis is a CD, not an agent, as is Taylor Royall. I'm with jactress on this one.

Hmmm, do you live in Bmore? You truly don't know the market down there do ya? Didn't think so. They both submit you for work. AS AGENTS. Do your homework Cilvera, I thought you were good at that?

Funny, cuz this was in my email a minute ago:
Taylor Royall would like to submit your head shot....

Non Union Industrial Video


Client: EFX Media
"Power of Howrey"

Shoot Date: Thursday, March 20th, 2008

Shoot Location: TBD


Spec: Background Actor - Lawyer in Power of Howrey network

Rate: $130



****Please reply to this email with the subject "Industrial Availability" and let me know the following:

Name:
Available all day into night, if needed, or just during the day:
Availability on March 19th (in case the director requests you for an additional day of shooting):
E-mail Address:
Phone Number:



We will email you as soon as the client makes their selects***



Thanks,

--
Melissa Dunn
Casting Associate
Taylor Royall, Inc.
6247 Falls Rd.
Baltimore, MD 21209
Client line: 410.828.6900
Talent line: 410.828.1280
Directions: www.taylorroyall.com

Hmmmm, want some pudding?

I also work in DC, and again, I think your posts,especially this one, speak for themselves. Best of luck to you, and I think the point has been made re JRP.

The point here is, I think, that avidactor appears to be a non-union actor - and still doing extra work? - and so maybe, professionally, of limited experience.

I would like to say, however, that based on his posts elsewhere I fully accept his sincerity and his desire to give value to his students. His resistance to acknowledging what the Better Business Bureau and others here say about his employer is, I'm afraid, reminiscent of "decent" people who work for cigarette companies and protest, in all sincerity, that their product is legal. In other words, it appears to be the kind of blindness that often accompanies a paycheck.

But I don't think it's fair to suggest that he's anything less than sincere in his own desire to serve his students. It appears however that not everybody is inclined to ascribe the same benevolence to his employer.

taylor royall is in fact an agency owned by mom, and betsy royall is casting owned by daughter (or vise versa, i can't remember now) and they work very closely together, sometimes its hard to tell each business apart. but carlyn davis IS a casting director, NOT an agent. but agreed, the fact that he's showing off about extra work? hm. and being from the area, i also know what it means to say you've "worked" at some of those theatres, it's highly possible they were not shows of the normal season but other smaller things, but we dont know, so yes, we can't make those opinions.

i am curious how he's managed to work at all of those theatres, considering he doesn't live in MD anymore, and the theaters I listed are small community theatres and schools I listed are for children/teens, which he clearly is not... but again, what do i know? i performed at them all (less two), so i do know.

C, he doesn't get it. and knowing that there are people who could help him, he's not doing so well at telling us where he IS so we CAN help since his profile is obviously lying about his location. the help is not wanted. i'm leaving it

agreed, JRP is a dead thread here.

alright guys... i leave today on my 8 month tour of The Sound of Music in Asia! after 24 hrs of flying (ugh)... with NO jrp in sight

J--have safe and wonderful journey!---keep us posted!

please people. You are out of your minds. Ok, the dc market, its small, its not NY. So, being a union actor there, you're not going to get much work, unless you constantly work for Shakes. 90% of the actor's here are non-union. We work because we love it, not for the money. We have day jobs to fulfill our income. carlyn davis DOES work as an agency because they booked me work for the wire. CD's and agents here really blend because the market is so small. Its a weird set-up, but its how its done here. I've been acting professionally in DC for about 12 years. So, don't question my professionalism. I only recently moved 2 months ago. So I've spent several years in DC WORKING. I've also spent many a years working doing training simulations for several government training facilities. Its what we do since most theatre's pay around 200-500 per production...not enough to suppliment any income. And I wasn't "showing" off as you say. I was only proving that Cilvera was indeed wrong. But apparently because I teach at a school with a bad rep, anything I say is going to be scrutinized and ridiculed. Why can't you people actually BELIEVE me? Is it because of JRP's corporate business tactics? That makes me a liar? Like I said before, I work for the kids, not for the company. The kids sign up before I even meet them. I have NO say in whether or not they SHOULD or SHOULDN'T be there. All I can do is make sure they get the best training WHILE THEY ARE THERE. I am NOT professionally limited chevy. I don't hike it up to NY every audition I see, because, well tolls suck. I was happy with my acting career in DC. I was constantly working, regardless of how I got paid, and whether Im SAG or not. Which I am not..I'm eligible. But I don't see the point of dumping out dues right now when I can barely keep my head above water now. And Im not lying about my location either. If you had any sense, you can see when I started my profile here, and the fact that I've stated before that I've recently moved. You people are chicken hawks at best. I come on to defend the fact that Im educating children with every bit of knowledge I've learned from insanely amazing teachers from my education. And you want to bash me, simply because I do my teaching at a JRP. Well, I honestly don't follow the elitist mentality that seems to serve some folks. I know, at the end of the day, I'm giving great education to great kids. You know, its all good. Because after I leave JRP, I'll still be acting, and still doing my thing and being happy with it. I guess thats what it all amounts to. I don't spend time belittling others for doing what they want. Peace out.

I just wanted to hop back on here. I apologize for name calling, it is uncalled for. i know you are all very hard-working people, and you want to help others, and thats why you post in here. I came across a little strong from the get-go especially with you cilvera, and for that, I am sorry. I do get offended when people talk smack about the education at jrp, but i do have to look at the overall picture of what this company has done in the past, and what it is still doing today. Not all JRP's work that way though. The location in DC is wonderful, and the one here is great. The owners of these particular location are great people who do care about their clients. They have given me a great place to teach (and learn as well). They have been supportive of my teaching style, and they've given me enough respect and resposibility to actually run a school of theirs. Thats what I was trying to get at, even though I might've been a little rude. I do appreciate everything you all post on here, and I do value your comments. I honestly do wish everyone in here great success in their endeavors, and I do hope you believe that there are some (even though we work for the "machine") that are trying to make a difference at these places. Please keep posting great advice, and thank you for your input for everything! Sincerely,
Nick Scott
JRP Academy Director
JRP Charlotte, NC