Barbizon has undertaken an AIO analysis of social media reviews to obtain a better understanding of our target market. The results were as follows:

 

Activity, Interest and Opinion Analysis

Competitor reviews color-coded for activities, interests and opinions:

John Robert Powers

Review 1:

My name is Floyd Marshall Jr. CEO of Gazelle Films in Philadelphia and a proud graduate of John Robert Powers. Mindy are Mr. Ross are phenomenal and the tools they gave me helped me to get a great manager (through them) Cathy Parker Management.  I have fond memories of the classes and the people I shared them with, a lot of whom I stay in touch with to this day. I attended Powers in 2006, attended the MIAA''s in New York and had a great experience. The work ethic that Mindy Sills taught I still practice to this day. It's helped me in casting my own films and stage plays. I've done numerous independent films, print work, voice overs etc, due to the skills I was taught at this school.  They don't guarantee you'll be an overnight success, but they give you a work ethic which you need in this business to succeed. A lot of what I've done I credit to having gone here because they gave me my start and for that I'm eternally grateful. And if you're curious as to if this is a real review please Google me. I'm on IMDB and the web.

Review 2:

This is a school and (supposedly) an agency that will charge you for portfolio pictures and comp cards and lead you to believe that they will find work for you.  They will also want you to go to the big modeling convention in New York because they swear that if you do, you will exponentially increase your chances of being noticed and booked by a big NYC agency.  I attended JRP but stopped short of going to the convention, so I can't verify how true that is.  My guess is that it's a lie and that the convention is just another moneymaker for JRP.

Review 3:

I will be lenient and not completely diss JRP as I did another modeling agency because, unlike that agency,  they did get me a paying gig at a cooking convention, and I made a sweet buck there for eight hours' work.  I can't remember now exactly how much they paid me because it was years ago, but it was a nice chunk of change.

But that was the only gig I got from them.  My advice is to attend JRP'S classes on makeup application, runway walking, etc., but stop short of getting portfolio pictures, because that's where you really get rooked.  If it turns out that you don't have to pay out of pocket for the pictures (because things may have changed since my days at JRP), fine, allow them to be taken and do what you want with them.  But give a firm "No" if they request that you need to pay out of pocket for comp cards or any other so-called professional pictures.  

From that point, take what you learned in JRP's classes and use it as an enhancement when applying at a *real* agency in NYC.  The *real* agency will, or should, appreciate that you took the time to learn the techniques associated with modeling.  If gigs arise through JRP, whether they are paying or not, accept them.  That way, when you sit down with an agent at a NYC agency, you can look her in the eye and honestly tell her you have experience.

The *real* agencies will never charge you up front for portfolio pictures, and here's why: if they sign you, they will set up an account for you and charge those pictures to your account.  The agency then reimburses itself from the money you earn from bookings.  JRP doesn't operate this way, and neither do any of the school agencies, because as a rule, they don't make their money from bookings; they primarily make it from classes and pictures.  

Another truth, and this one is hard to swallow, is that you stand pretty much a 0% chance of making it in high-fashion modeling unless, if you're a woman, you're at least 5'8" and a no bigger than a size 4.  (I'm not too sure on the requirements for men, but I suspect that you need to be at least 6'0' tall.) The school agencies will feed you this bull about how, if you're shorter and/or have a bigger dress size, they can find work for you as a commercial model.  This is what I was told, but it's a lie.  I got nothing, and you will probably get nothing; it's high-fashion or bust in this industry.  

In fact, even if you fulfill the high-fashion height and dress-size requirement, you may still come away with nothing from the school agencies because, as I previously mentioned, they make few if any profits on bookings.  If you want to be a model, take my advice: go to these places to learn how to be a model, but decline to have your pictures taken.  Then apply to the NYC agencies.  You can do that online via their webpages if you don't want to physically go to NYC.  It will take a certain amount of persistence, but if you apply regularly, even to the same agencies, you will probably hear something from them eventually, and then you will take it from there.

This is a long review that wasn't completely devoted to JRP, but I thought I would use them as a platform to reveal what I've learned about this industry through research and, above all, learning the hard way.  I wish someone had given me this reality check before I blew so much money on my modeling endeavor. :(

Review 4:

My name is Ariana Martinez.  The week of July 25th, I was a 2015 International Model & Talent (IMTA) contestant in NYC.  I gained the knowledge to know what it takes to be a Model and an Actor at John Robert Powers, Philadelphia.  I was trained by the finniest.  Mindy and Mr. Ross knows best!  The training I took pushed me to be noticed by Agents from all over the world and got me to win many awards.  Besides all the awards I've won at the IMTA, my greatest accomplishment during the IMTA week was being the first runner up for Commercial Model of the year, Runway and Fashion Print.  It was an Amazing week!  It was the training I received from John Robert Powers that got me to be noticed by agents and call-backs from Barcelona, Finland, NY, LA and many more.   My career just got a super head start and I just wanted to take the time to thank John Robert Powers, Philadelphia (Mindy and Mr. Ross) for getting me this far.  Awesome!

Review 5:

As others have mentioned, this company is not trustworthy, in the least.

In September 2012, we took our two daughters to an "audition" to determine if they wanted to start classes. At the time, they thought they did, so we enrolled them both in a class, and left a check for the tuition.

Before doing so, however, I specifically asked about their reimbursement policies. They assured me, both verbally as well as in writing (in the contract we signed) that they would honor a 100%, no questions asked, reimbursement if received within three days.

After I picked up our daughters, that same day, they both relayed to me that they did not want to continue. Therefore, the following day, I diligently sent them a fax, an email, and a voice mail. The first two had our signed cancellation page.

Evidently, they ignored it all, went ahead and cashed our check.

I have been leaving them voice mails since.

No one has ever picked up the phone, nor responded to any of my messages.

It is INCREDIBLE that a company of such questionable practices is allowed to continue and clearly prey on our children.

Somebody is asleep at the wheel somewhere, to allow these people to go on.

If you are lucky enough to be reading this BEFORE giving them your money, just don't. If you are, like me, stupid enough to not have checked YELP before, post your experience. Who knows, maybe somebody someone will notice.

Thanks

Review 6:

My daughter and I were walking around Valley Fair mall and we were invited to their office. My baby was the one of the cutest and we got invited to join. Here's the catch............You have to pay an overpriced photo package.  Anywhere around 600-1500 packages.

I was a little dissapointed because you have to shell out money first. I'd rather go to real auditions rather than pay them.

Casablanca

Review 1:

John Casablancas Modeling  & Career Center has been a very good investment for my granddaughter. She has been with JC for about a year now and has grown in confidence and is prepared for auditions.  

This place not only teaches the kids the talent they need to step out in the Modeling and acting world. They are always there for them to get advice from and over look contracts  so you don't get scammed by other a Agencies.

The first time Francis did a  photo shoot for her head shots, he was real good with explaining how to position herself to get the look she wanted. His love for photography shows in his work.

Francis and Dalena are there for everyone that is apart of the San Jose JC Agencies You can't ask for a better Contract then at JCs.  It gets you started in the right direction in this industry. They want you to succeed.  They take pride in there talents. They don't just Sign you they teach you. The rest is up to you

When my son and daughter first started, my wife and I did not truly imagine a career in modeling or acting for them. We simply wanted them to build some confidence and learn to be able to present in public. We observed them gradually learning how to smile less awkwardly, how to walk a runway with their chins up, and how to read lines without sounding robotic.

Fast forward 2 years, and we are surprised that they love what they are doing, especially acting. They regularly book jobs now, with a fair mix of non-paid and paid roles. Among paid roles, they have been fortunate to have landed commercials with some big names including Intel Corporation (twice!) and the National Basketball Association.

Review 2:

The owners Francis and Dalena are honest and upfront from the beginning. Yes, this school provides you with the education, tools, and agency that are the precursors to success in the modeling/acting world. No, success is NOT guaranteed - just like earning an electrical engineering degree doesn't mean you're going to get hired by Google. Your success will depend very much on how hard you are willing to work, and how resilient you are to rejection. My children were turned down at numerous auditions before they finally started getting cast, and since then their batting average has improved dramatically. You have to be willing to fail first in order to succeed, and to be willing to keep on trying - don't give up!

In the end, what really matters here is that our children are having a great time and are doing something that they are proud of. They understand that you don't win every audition, and are able to take rejection graciously. They know that their success is a result of their own hard work and perseverance. They are stronger and better human beings because of this experience.

We are very happy with the education and the support we receive from John Casablancas, and plan to continue for years to come.

Review 3:

I will say this again. DO NOT ENROLL YOUR CHILD AT THIS PLACE. They act as if they do not accept everybody but they do. If you have money BELIEVE ME they will take your kid. My daughter sat in classes that only had 2 kids in them at times taught by teachers who barely knew anything. My daughter knew more then the teachers and I was stunned when I saw her notes from the classes, plagiarism at its finest, the teachers are just stealing stuff off the internet and teach it themselves. I pulled my daughter out and will not pay them a dime. ON my own I got my daughter paid shoots, and she has been published 6 times! She is also currently Miss National Jr Teen USA! We did that alone..... This place is a scam. They just want your money. Please please please be careful.

Review 4:

I enrolled my daughter here. I was unsure at first because I know they take anyone who walks in there door. They claim to pick and choose but they take anyone. I still enrolled my daughter to give her the experience. She did learn from them and I thank them for that but I realized all they were worried about were getting their monthly payments. If I did not answer they would call my daughter whom was 14! She is a minor and by law they cannot contact her for payment. My poor daughter would come to me so upset they were hounding her for payment. Making the story short, They sell you in the beginning claiming and promising you many things that they do not deliver on and when you complain they lie and say they have tried to contact you. I took my daughter out and now they are sending me to a collection agency. That is fine they will never get another dime out of me. I will never refer anyone to them and have already warned people about them. They act so nice but are only worried about the money.

 

 Review Summary

Review #	Activities	Interests	Opinions
1.1	People who do independent films People in print work People who do voice overs		Phenomenal Fond memories Work ethic skills
1.2		Portfolio picture Comp cards Attending a big modeling convention	It's a lie Moneymaker
1.3	People who like to work on portfolio pictures/auditions	Want a paying gig Make-up application Runway walking Interested in being a commercial model	Getting rooked on portfolio pictures Not a real agency  Stand 0% chance unless moan and at least 5'8 less than size 4 Blew money
1.4	Commercial Model of the year did runway and fashion print		They know the best Finniest people
1.5	Likes to go to auditions		Not trustworthy, in the least Questionable practices Clear prey on children
1.6	Walking around the Valley Fair Mall	Attending real auditions	Overpriced photo package
2.1	Goes to auditions Does commercials	Head shots Acting	Good investment for granddaughter Supportive Takes pride in their programs
2.2	Children turned down at numerous auditions	Getting cast	Honest and upfront  Success NOT guaranteed, depending on hard work and resilience to rejection Great time and doing something proud of Stronger and better human beings Happy with eduction and support
2.3	Daughter is Ms. National Jr. Teen USA (pageants and modeling)		Not not enroll They act like they accept everybody but they do only if they have money Plagiarism Scam- they just want your money
2.4			Collection agency Only worried about the money Liars

 

Activities: (4) People who proactively go to auditions, (3) Something to do with modeling (i.e. print work, commercial, pageants), (1) Acting (i.e. voice overs, films), (1) going to malls

Interests: (3) Modeling (i.e. runway walking, commercial modeling, portfolio picture, modeling convention), (3) (i.e. head shots, acting, getting cast), (1) (attending real auditions)

Opinions: (6) Wanting affordable programs (i.e. scam, collection agency, liars, "they just want  my money"), (2) Mentions of young children, (3) Success of the programs, (1) Fond memories, (1) Supportive

Conclusions: Psychographic lifestyle profile of the target customer—people who are very much interested in the entertainment industry, both mostly in modeling, but also acting, who are very conscious about affordability and trustworthiness of the company. 

Customer profiles

Aspiring Models- People who are proactive in going to auditions and joining pageants. They want to a clear sense of support and trust from the company and are conscious about the affordability of programs. 

Pre-teens- Most of the people who are interested in modeling or acting seem to be younger children. The target demographic seems to be people whose parents or grandparents are involved in pursuing their passions.