Hi there everyone... I've got some questionsand hope that you can help...

So, JRO has been advertising "auditions" for the Hannah Montana casting director on our local Disney Channel. My friend called the number to sign up her daughter for the audition and called me right away and told me to call my daughter.

I had a odd feeling about it, but I led just to see what they said. I couldn't really understand the woman that well as she had a heavy accent and I was on a cell phone with not-so-good reception.

Anyhow, I hung up and immediately googled them as it felt funny to me. Andnot so surprisingly, I found a whole lot of info on them including many very niformative posts right here on this board (thanks BTW)...

Here's my question (sorry it is so long-winded)... I told my friend all that I found and that I really do not feel comtable taking my daughter here and actually leaving photos and stuff with them when I really do not feel that it is a legitamite "agency".

After researching, I realized it is actually a school, not an agent as they had said they were on the phone to me. So, my friend still thinks that she wants to go to this. That's her decision, I know that I can't stop her from going... Bu, her reasoning for going is because they moght throw out names of their "clients" that she could just write down and contact on her own to smit her daughter to.

If anyone has gone to these "casting calls", do they actually do that there? Do they name-drop enough info that you can find out how you can contact these people on yown? And another thing, are these people, like the Hannah Montana casting directors, really people you can contact on your own to begin with? I imagine that you need to go through managers or agents to get these kind of appointments?

The other thing that bothers me about this is that they are doing some really major false advertising... Not only that you are audining for Hannah Montana, but they don't even mention that you need to enroll asa student to even get auditions? The closest school to us is a 3 hour drive! Anyone that falls for this here will need to drive their children 3 hours to take these classes.

Any info you can give would be great Thanks so much! :O)

It would definitely be a waste of your time and gas just to go to one of these cattle calls just to hear a few names or learn who is casting what. All that information is readily available to the public. As far as getting names to submit to, no, you don't need an agent or a manager to find out who to submit to. You can get all the information and resources you need by reading through this message board. All the answers are here, just click on the find button and enter Getting Started in NY or For Parents of Children Getting Started.

Tell your friend to read this message board so she too can save herself from wasted time.

Here's another JRP thread with more of the same.

http://bbs.backstage.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/9611031/m/686101431

quote:

Originally posted by MomOf1:

So, JRO has been advertising "auditions" for the Hannah Montana casting director on our local Disney Channel. ...I really do not feel that it is a legitamite "agency". After researching, I realized it is actually a school, not an agent as they had said they were on the phone to me. ...Bu, her reasoning for going is because they moght throw out names of their "clients" that she could just write down and contact on her own to smit her daughter to.

If anyone has gone to these "casting calls", do they actually do that there? Do they name-drop enough info that you can find out how you can contact these people on yown? And another thing, are these people, like the Hannah Montana casting directors, really people you can contact on your own to begin with? I imagine that you need to go through managers or agents to get these kind of appointments?

The other thing that bothers me about this is that they are doing some really major false advertising... Not only that you are audining for Hannah Montana, but they don't even mention that you need to enroll asa student to even get auditions? The closest school to us is a 3 hour drive! Anyone that falls for this here will need to drive their children 3 hours to take these classes.

Any info you can give would be great Thanks so much! :O)

OK
Good for you for spotting a scam!!! You are correct, JRP is a school, not an agency. I can tell you for certain that I have NEVER seen JRP (as agency or management company) on a sign in sheet at a casting office in NYC!!! ...not for film, not for theater, not for commercials and not for print, and my kids have been on hundreds of auditions and go sees in NYC over the past 16 months.

Will they throw out names of clients you can contact? Doubtful. But what's the point anyway. You can find the names of every legit agent and CD by perusing the internet...check out Ross Reports, check out IMDB and read this board. The info is all here for free!

Are you auditioning for Hannah Montanah? ROTFL NOOOOOOOOOOO!!! First of all, any roles that are available on Hannah Montana would be guest or co-star roles. These roles book very quickly (within days or maybe a week or two from audition to callback to job), are short term and are ALWAYS booked out of LA because they are considered LOCAL jobs. They do not pay for your transportation, accommodations or per diems for auditions, callbacks or even while you are working. Anyone who tells a kid living 5 hours by plane from LA that they are auditioning for HM should be hung by their toenails.

Do you need to enroll as a student to get any auditions? Absolutely NOT?! I know many successful kids who get tons and tons of auditions and book huge projects and have NEVER stepped foot in a JRP.

JRP plays on parents' and kids' dreams of being a star, being on hit shows, looking for fame. The reality is that they tell almost everyone their kid is great and then they hit you up for anywhere from $2000 to $10,000 from the get go to make your kid's dream come true. That money could be much better spent on searching for legitimate representation, getting great headshots (approx cost - anywhere from about $250 to about $750) and getting some great training. Private coaching in NYC with some of the best can run from $50 to $125 per hour, appx.) and great classes here (and almost anywhere) can be found for much less than the fees charged by JRP.

Kudos to you for trusting your gut and not falling for the JRP sales pitch. If your child is seriously interested in pursuing professional acting, read the getting started threads on this board and seek out legitimate representation.
GL

SCAMS to AVOID!

http://bbs.backstage.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/932105/m/12110087