John Roberts Powers model agency: Good or Bad?

There are a number of agencies that purport to help create working models out of children; a good percentage of them actually do. However, there is always some debate as to what degree that they actually help. One of these agencies is John Roberts Powers.

JRP has been around for over eighty years, helping to create careers for models, actors, and other performers. They have had a large number of successes, having a reputation for creating professional talent and placing that talent in a wide variety of films and shows. Although they have a great reputation for teaching them how to not only be better at what they do, but to also make sure that they lead successful lives. There are some issues with the company, however.

There are a number of rules that modeling agencies must follow. One of those is how they maintain networks of helpful companies, for example, an agency can recommend photographers, but can't have an in-house photographer nor can it accept money or other renumeration from a photographer, especially to recommend business to that photographer. Suffice to say that agencies tend to skirt such rules, even though there are fines for getting caught. Although JRP as a whole is rather good about it, and does keep an eye on it, local agents have been nailed on occasion.

Also, there is a limit to what an agency can force its models and actors to do. One of these are classes; one of the JRP's major sources of income is its classes. Although they are useful to potential models, enrollment is supposed to be voluntary; JRP has been accused on a number of occasions as forcing its talent to take the classes. As these classes are not cheap, sometimes setting a model back hundreds of dollars, this can be a major issue.

And, of course, there is the matter of commission. In California, an agency can take 10% of the model's fee; this is a standard commission. They can also take an additional 15% (for a total of 25%) if they also manage the talent. Because of they offer classes to their talent, JRP has been known to take the management commission; just something else that agents have been slammed for.

In general JRP does good by its talent. Production companies know that JRP talent will do a great job, and is some of the best-taught talent in the business, meaning that they go to JRP. Understandably, there is the usual issue of being a major player in a business where major players are looked at in suspicion, especially when it produces cookie-cutter talent, and that size is responsible for a good part of why people tend to mistrust it. Obviously, make sure that you go in with your eyes open, and if it seems that you are being asked to pay for too many things or if your check for shoots seems to be a little light, then debate looking for another agency. It's up to you to keep your agent honest.