Ok, this is so bizarre. On NYcastings, a talent agency posted a listing for kids between 10-18 to audition to sing. It was for possible representation and a 3 year contract with the agency, free entertainment law services; a song to be written by adam marano a hot 100 producer and award winning session player clay sears; an additional 2 cover tracks with results to be shopped to record companies and other industry professionals.

A friend of mine took her son and she said there was a huge turnout. The agency sent a note to everyone that they would be announcing the winners soon.

My friend got a call asking her son to come and meet with them again, and she was excited; however, when she got off the phone with the head of this talent agency, she looked at her caller id and it said John Robert Powers! Horrifying.......

She called the JRP in her area and asked for the talent agency and they said they were there, but grilled her about why she wanted to speak to them...She then called the talent agency and the same girl answered and she asked for JRP...and the girl said yes, this is it. So it seems they are one and the same. She feels ripped off and doesn't want her son to go to the next meeting, but he is disappointed.....I told her to run far away from anything having to do with JRP's......

The judge of this contest was someone named steve rothstein who claims to be a former business manager of kelly ripa, pod and moby?) and the agency kauff coleman claims they represented josh duhamel, and others. the website doesn't mention any affiliation with john robert powers at all.

When she googled all the people involved nothing at all came up.

Do you think that now JRP is now billing themselves as talent agents and will try selling classes this way and that they are scamming people pretending to get their careers going? the talent agency site had people on it, but no one really seemed to have work...
www.kauffcolemanmanagement.com is the site.

I would never let my child get involved in this one...I don't see how it is legit.

Has anyone else seen this guise before?

Maybe you should let New York castings know?

I have seen castings for print, submitted and was then called out of the blue by a company saying I submitted my daughter to them for representation. I think I would remember if I wanted my child repped by someone. Especially since I wasnt looking. I have also been offerred bogus auditions but can spot them a mile away now.

I think it is really plausable that they would create an "agency" as a guise to get someone in the door. What is that called...A bait and switch. So many are onto them, they need to get creative.

You would think they would train their receptionist to be a little more savvy. What a red flag that she didnt know how to explain herself on the phone.

Thanks for your input...you know it was also on a few other audition sites. I don't know which ones as my friend is checking them. If there are sufficient people called back and asked to "take classes" then I think she can make a legitimate mention to nycastings and others. Right now, they opted not to go further so she won't know for sure what they were planning to do...it has such an 'ick" factor.....

yes, everyone knows JRP's is a rip off...it's the fact that they could be shelling using other names and people might be getting sucked in without knowing it! We want to make sure the word is out that this could possibly be happening.....

quote:

Originally posted by Medavinci: On NYcastings, a talent agency posted a listing for kids between 10-18 to audition to sing.

Is the agency name licensed?

In NYS that is a legal requirement

I would like to begin by clearing the air. NEVER has Kauff Coleman Management claimed to be an Agency! We ARE NOT an Agency, we ARE a Management Company. We are NOT affiliated with John Robert Powers, but we do share office space with them. KCM clients are NEVER asked to pay for training...in fact, we have sponsored some of our clients to take workshops.

As for the claim that there was a huge turn out for an open call, you must have been at a different open call.

If you really would like to know the truth about Kauff Coleman Management, try calling people like Casting Directors Patrick Baca or Paul Weber. You could also call top Agents Bonnie Ventis -KSA Los Angeles, Jennifer Millar - Abrams LA to name a few.

Medavinci -

First off as actors we need to protect ourselves because there are a TON of people in this business waiting to take advantage of us. So that's why it is so important to do your research and homework!!

I am a full time actress here in NY and just moved here less than a yr ago after I graduated. I am currently with KCM... After hiring an attorney to do a complete background check on Kristofer Kauff and Karla Coleman along with the JRP franchise which Karla owns(becuase although they are not connected with KCM except for sharing an office, she does own it so I wanted to make sure she had a clean business practice record). I also phoned/emailed several people to verify thier relationship with the casting directors and agents they claimed to know. All of which checked out A o.k.
The reason I did this before meeting with anyone at KCM, was because I had several situtations with managers in NY that were VERY reputable, representing Oscar nominated actors, who were some of the most shady people I have ever encountered. So naturally I wanted to choose carefully. The JRP (although it has a horrible rep. and I would NEVER reccomend it for classes or anything) that Karla owns has an outstanding business record with the Better Bussiness Buearu (you can also check with the state for claims filed against them). The attorney had helped me in a previous situtation (with that Manager who had the outstanding Rep.).
If anything, Karla and Kristofer have done nothing at this point except invest into my career, for which I am grateful. I have NEVER paid anything (I have a HUGE pet peeve about things like that...check some of my other posts) and it's so nice to finally have a manager that actaully does what a manager is suspose to do and works as hard as Karla and Kristofer. In this business and in life it's hard to find honest, hard working people who believe in you...I'm lucky enough to have found 2.

And P.S. They never represented Josh Dummell or whatever his name is...and they don't claim to. Please please people...RESEARCH!!!

"the talent agency site had people on it, but no one really seemed to have work..."- This is just rude and nasty and as one of those people it hurts my feelings. For being in New York less than 1yr.,getting in all the unions(through roles NOT Background!!!).. I'm extremely proud of all that I have accomplished...I'm just getting started.

I hope in some way this helps some people when trying to find the perfect fit in managers for them.

Oh and P.S. Sorry if my post came off as harsh but I've been on a rampage of being super Blunt.

Hello Everyone,

I'm a casting intern/maybe actress in the future but I thought I would add something for everyone. I work for Procter and Gamble/CBS here in NY and I have heard of KCM. They are very new! However,they submit thier clients to us and we have never had any bad experiences with them. I know we've had one of the late teen girls in our office and she seemed happy.
I didn't know about the JRP thing...if they(KCM) ask for money then say no and leave. Simple as that! It doesn't hurt to go and see where it leads, right? If he got a callback, then he should go, as long as there is no fee involved.

JRP = scam
ask anyone.
they'll agree

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Karla Coleman:
We ARE NOT an Agency, we ARE a Management Company. We are NOT affiliated with John Robert Powers, but we do share office space with them. QUOTE]

Quote from Kristen:
After hiring an attorney to do a complete background check on Kristofer Kauff and Karla Coleman along with the JRP franchise which Karla owns


Correct me if I am wrong but if someone owns two companies,in the same industry and runs them out of the same office, wouldnt that make them affilliated?

Im just sayin'

The point is a parent brought up a concern to share. Well done. However, they didn't pay and weren't asked to pay anything, so no foul. If she went and they asked, then there is something to complain about. Right now it's just a bunch of people jumping the gun.

Is JRP a scam, probably...I wouldn't reccomend it.

Is the other company, who knows, but now you'll never know b/c you never even looked into it enough. So why is there even a mention of this poor lady and her company you're all picking on?

I'm just trying to offer some insight from an outsiders point of view but in this industry folks it's so important to look into things before saying anything. Good luck!!

WHY are people even cryng over NOTHING?!

Boo Hoo! "Johnny got a call back and they offered him all this stuff and I found out they have a dumb receptionist who shares an office with JRP, who DOES SUCK!! But, now I'm not going because they MIGHT ask me to take/pay a class which they most likely wouldn't ask thier "clients" to cause no one respects jrp crap anyway."

Congrats, you wasted time auditioning and no have nothing to show for it.Worse case senerio: *They ask you to pay for a class and you say, take a hike and leave. Go get ice cream enjoy the rest of your day. OR *They rep. your kid don't ask for money and get work for him. Go get ice cream enjoy the rest of your day. Too bad you didnt do either one. That sucks dude.

John Robert Powers is an acting school - right? So how can it be a scam?