Barbizon of San Francisco

TOTAL SCAM. Thanks to the other reviewers for bringing this to everyone’s attention. After my daughter was «scouted» at the mall by a sales person (yeah, that’s what they really are), she filled out forms and we were contacted repeatedly by a woman whose accent was so heavy and the cell phone reception so poor that I never did quite catch her name.
My wife and daughter were actually going to go into San Francisco (420 Sutter St) this Saturday, 1÷30÷2016 for an «appointment» and to meet with an «agent». Since neither of them could tell me anything about this organization, I finally contacted the woman via the phone number that we had. I was able to get the name and address and that quickly led me to Unilocal,where I discovered what is really going on.
I’ve called the sales person back and left a message advising her to get a more ethical job and cancelling the «appointment» I don’t know why I had the decency to even call; I’m sure it’s more courtesy than they would have shown us.
AVOID AT ALL COSTS!

1 star is actually more than they deserve. This has nothing to do with the teachers but solely with the owner and managers.
After putting the deposit down for the classes, we noticed that we had fraudulent charges on our account. I called «Charlie» to provide my new card information and told her that I had fraud on my card with purchases from a hotel in Portland. Her response was «that’s weird you are the 2^nd person to call me about this», and they also had purchases in Portland. So red flags began going off in my head that there is no coincidence here, there has to be someone in the office or management that has used my card and others fraudulently. I brought this to the attention of the manager that was on duty at the location and she apologized and said we would not not have to pay for anything and would be refunded anything we were charged including the deposit. I was put in touch with the owner and his attorney and they basically did nothing at all. After a few calls and emails back and forth we never heard from them again. We stopped bringing our daughter there after going only 2 times. Since this has occurred «Charlie» has since left because as she said this is one of the most horrible places to work. We feel like we have been lied to, cheated and our poor daughter suffered from all of this. The business does not care and showed no remorse. Obviously we DO NOT recommend this place to anyone, my thought is they should be out of business.

Barbizon «directors» will call your child to tell them that they have been «scouted», explaining that meant that they were chosen as someone who has the «look» or «talent» for a particular job. Then they schedule a time for your child and you (parent) to come and meet the supposed «talent agent» who has called you. When you arrive they do not meet with you at the time scheduled but ask you to go into a room with a lot of other people and then proceed to try to convince you that if your child «is chosen» (everyone is chosen), you will be offered a place in a class that will train them to be ready to be a model. A class that you will pay a great deal of money for. They actually tell people to think about who else can help them pay, such as grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc. and to call, skye, chat, facetime, anything you can to get in
touch with these people.
I left the room within 10 minutes after seeing what they were doing. It is totally unethical that they are preying on the naïveté, as well as dreams of many people who make minimum wage and are hoping that their children can get a break in Hollywood.
The staff was extremely rude and insulting to both my daughter and I when we told her (Joy) that we were leaving. She had lied to me on the phone when asked if she was really going to interview my child or whether she was going to try to sell me classes and/​or head shots Please do not take your child there. True acting agents do NOT ask the client to spend money! True agents make money from a percentage of what their clients make when, and only, when they are signed to a job. Barbizon is making it’s money from taking money from people for classes that will NOT get any jobs for your child. The Barbizon staff who are referred to as «directors», or «talent scouts» or «agents» are really salespeople making a commission for signing you up to take a very expensive class.

Scam. I waited for two hours to have my child «interviewed». This interview is the same process for every family who has a desire to pay for a dream that has a .009% chance of achieving any direction towards an entertainment job. They insisted my child has what it takes but for 10 classes at $ 2395? Who really benefits from the high priced grooming? Certainly not the students.

After my recent experience with Barbizon, I feel now is a good time to review. Normally, I would call someone higher in charge but I have a feeling after the attitude I was given, that no one would listen anyway.
I recently went into a job interview. I put aside all the negative reviews I read and thought I’d decide for myself. The interview went incredibly well. The 2 girls I spoke with were wonderful and kind. At the end of the interview, (I will leave names off), I was told by one of the girls that I was the perfect fit and she was given permission to offer me a position! We were all very excited. I was given a tour of the office, shown which desks I could choose from, and that I would receive an email with the job breakdown within the day or next day. We gave hugs, talked about how excited we were to work with each other and I took off, awaiting the email.
I got home, started declining other job offers. Two weeks later, I still hadn’t heard from them. Assuming she just got incredibly busy and forgot, I called. They told me they would call me back. Nothing. The next day, they told me the girl was on the phone and they would send her an email. Nothing. Next day I call back pretty frustrated at this point. I got passed along to 3 different people, hung up on, (no apology), I called back then was transferred to a woman who was one of the higher ups… a general manager type. She proceeds to ask me who dropped the ball. me or them. Obviously the answer is clear. She then tells me she doesn’t know if any offer was actually given. (In this condescending tone) I just told you there was. I was really taken aback. All that would have been appropriate was an apology for the mix up. But no such courtesy came. And the mere fact that I was insulted by her basically telling me that I wasn’t correct about being given a job offer just made me realize… if this is how they treat and speak to people who don’t work for them yet… this is NO company I want to be a part of. I should have listened to all those reviews.
She wanted me to call her back if I could come in today. Not only could I not come in due to a photoshoot I have, but I had lost all interest in being a part of this company. Since I’m professional, I called her back as a courtesy to let her know I would be declining to come back in… and heres the funny part… I was put on hold for 6 minutes! My husband thought I was crazy for calling back.
My time is valuable and they clearly did not respect me or my time throughout this entire process. I dont like being treated as if I’m incompetent.
And just to be clear, I’m not writing this review because I’m mad or bitter in some way. Because I actually feel lucky to have dodged a bullet. I’m writing this so that others are cautious when going through the same thing. So feel that intuition. If its screaming «NO»…then don’t do it.

I Was there one day only they did my daughters hair and makeup and gave us good advice on skin care she even learned a pose. But my daughter is young about 6 and ended up saying she didn’t feel comfortable with the classes so we respected her decision and cancelled. The only reason I don’t give it 5 stars is cause when we tried to cancel they didn’t refund the down payment and were very rude after they found out we weren’t going to continue. I wish that didn’t happen cause now I am not too sure I will place my daughter in there classes when she is ready.

I read all the bad reviews about Barbizon, but all we have had are great experiences. (I don’t see any current reviews so the school may have changed over the years.) My daughter was «scouted» at Target. We met with one of the Director’s-Charlie, and I expressed my concerns about the negative comments. She made no promises and was very upfront with us-​they do not get the girls/​boys the gigs, it’s still up to the child, but they teach them some of the skills they will need to succeed. Nigel and Shane have been awesome helping us with scheduling make up classes and there have been a lot of rescheduling, as my daughter plays club volleyball and has a lot of tournaments.
The only downside, which brings it down to 4 stars is the cost. It’s a little pricey, but if you break it down to hourly cost, its about the same as ballet and music lessons.
My daughter may or may not get discovered because of Barbizon, but she loves the classes and has much more confidence with public speaking and a better awareness of how she walks and dresses. I would recommend this school to anyone exploring the idea of acting or modeling.

Barbizon has scammed so many of my actor friends out of money. If anyone ever promises you a job and and a dream but asks YOU for money for it. Book it and run

I am a graduate of Brabizon. Yes the school is expencive but they help with anything they can. Never once in my interview was i promised a modeling carrer, I was told that I would be sent e-​mails about auditons and I would choose which ones to go to. No perosn, «agency», or «school» should be able to fool you with the dream if you pay you will be a big time model. You have to have dedication and your own knowledge, which with me I gainned all my modeling and just pure confident skills from my Babrbizon. They may cost money but you are allowed to any of their facilities for up to 3 years. I think kids and parents call this a scam because their daugther or son was on of the kids i saw in many of my own classes, the kind that thought modleing should be easy and just contains being pretty and thats all. Modeling is an occupation just as any other, it takes steps, patientce, and alot of determination. The kids in some of the classes would never listen to the teacher, thinking she thought she knew it all (um she is our teacher she must know something), rolling their eyes when she would try and help with what they were doing wrong. You cant learn ANYTHING if you have already shut yuor brain off thinking you know better, what are you doing at the SCHOOL then? They prepare you for the real auditions, we practiced everything speaking in public, walking, how to ask the right questions, and how to deal with regection. But on top of all of the confidence that Barbizon helped build I was also given professional experence, I was the star of a ST. Louis Hair show, Was the EMCC speaker for a baby pagent, Selected for a real Six Flags photoshoot for the brocures, And also walked for a real high fashion store on their runway. Babrbizon Is far from a scam it just depends on what that kid wants to take from it. Parents my advice make sure your child is dedicated to this industry bc if not then you are just waisting your money bc the kid wont take what they need from the classes. They have to realize they came to Barbizon to learn, not to have someone tell them they are perfect and ready they shape you in the way you need to be in this industry. Ive learned to listen to everything they have to say. Ive made mistakes and if i had listened to my teachers at all times i wouldnt have made the mistakes i did. Barbizon Is the real deal for kids that are determined to make this their carrer.

The school is very expensive. It’s only good if you can really act and model. My parents spend 8 grand on this school. I didn’t get no where although i did get three call backs when i went to IPAC, but my dad didn’t want to put me through it again. So is it worth it? Yes, only if you have the money, talent, and if you’re willing to take this seriously! The staff was very nice and helpful as well as the instructors,

I’ll start by saying that I showed up 45 minutes early for my 10:30 AM appointment, placing my butt on their, (thankfully), comfortable couch at 9:45 AM.
A couple with two kids with very recent «haircuts» had an appointment before me at 10:00 AM…(stop me if this is beginning to sound like a complex math-​problem involving trains…)
They went in late, (10:20 AM), and I was left to watch the propaganda-​video they play for those poor, unfortunate people who… who…
…*heavy resigned sigh*…
…ya’ know what?
I don’t *have* the energy to flame them in my own words.
Rather, I’ll direct you to all of other one-​star Unilocalers whose reviews were mysteriously filtered off this public page, much akin to having a black SUV screech to a halt in front of you on the street as you were walking home with your groceries and having a bunch of men in plain black suits bound out with radio buds in their ears; each one holding the back of their ear with one hand and with other conspicuously-​concealed in their jackets, all the while looking nervously left and right as they muscle you into the van employing a pristine white hanky folded neatly into a square and soaked with some kind of liquid which makes you sleepy at which point, they they whisk you away to some undisclosed location where they simply make you…“go away”
No, this reviewer refuses to let that happen to him, (or his review), as if it DOES I will copy and paste this BACK once it’s been flagged because I KNOW that may happen here.
I will not describe the hell I went through at Barbizon but will, rather, instruct you scroll to the bottom and look for the section-​header that reads «About This Business» and look just above it for the number of filtered results.
*CLICK THAT*
It is here that you will find the holy-​grail of one and two-​star reviews. Those are honest-​to-​jebus reviews from real people. I would also be leery of any five star reviews you see here with a zero over a one next to the user name.
These are, likely, shills that work for Barbizon and they’ll do *any*thing to make themselves appear good to the wide eyed hopefuls they’re trying to disappoint.
I could rant-​on about the strong-​arm tactics which they employ to try to get my hard-​earned money; coincidentally, of which I have none and when they discovered THAT, all of a sudden they changed thier tune and suddenly I wasn’t talented-​enough to attend their «school».
They’ll do anything to get your money out of your pockets (even if you don’t have any), all by playing off your children’s desires to say nothing of your love for said children and YOUR desire to make them happy…
[On a side note…]
Parents…Look…if you really really REALLY *love* your kids, find them a different route to stardom, or even better, let them make up their own minds as to what they want to do with their lives like the rest of us did when we all turned 18 only to discover that we all wound-​up doing something completely *not* related to the degree we spent four to six years and several thousand dollars in student loans to achieve.
But that’s a different rant…
What I *will* do, now, is direct you to perform a Google search using the following criterion,
«Barbizon complaints 2011»
Once you do, please pour yourself something strong to drink, because as you read about what other pissed off parents have posted, you’ll wanna be numb for them.
Sure, I have typed-​up a rant of epic-​proportions that didn’t fit here but why add it? There is plenty of fodder out there on the inter-​webs (as you’ll discover with the aforementioned Google-​search)
I’ll state flatly that despite what Barbizon claims, the BBB accreditation for this location on the Better Business Bureau’s website reports the following complaints, (albeit, «resolved»);
Advertising /​Sales Issues = 2
Billing /​Collection Issues = 2
Delivery Issues = 1
(Important) — Problems with Product /​Service = 10
Translation?
Fifteen people managed to be *smart*, (bravo to you folks), and get their money *back*.
They represent an unfortunate-​small percentage of a demographic who refuse to be run over by the freight train filled with utter bull[CENSORED]it!
For every 100 people or-​so who lost their money, one of these exemplary examples of human tissue fought them for a very long time… and won. You can too.
If you type in Barbizon in THE BBB’s search engine, you’ll discover that there is a veritable plethora of these scam houses in every state of the union and you’ll see that pretty much *none* of them are accredited through the BBB.
In short, it’s a buyer-​beware world once you cross the threshold of a local office of Barbizon.
They might as well have a sign over their door which reads;
«Abandon all hope, ye who enter here», because, just like HELL, there will be lots of wailing, misery and pain if you get sucked into their pit of despair.
Be smart.
Research on the net.
Talk to people.
You’ll thank me
–Lewis

i just got back taking my twin daughters their. They are 7 year old, Well I will tell you how I went their. First a lady named Joy johnson aprouched me at the mall. She said would you be interested of having your girl modeling because they are twins. So she gave me her buisness card. So I called and made a appt. so I go their and I walk in and its barbizon. I know from modeling when I was 16 of modeling that if some agent really wants you you dont need school to be a modeling so. I got suckered in that barbizon. Her buisness card read talent showcase. Please I beg you dont believe what you read like a buisness card that says talent showcase its a scam to lure you in. And what was said all those teens that where in their want to become a model so bad that they sucker their parent to buy the class. Everyone out their never ever go to a modeling school thats how they make their money. If you want what I did just google agents that arent schools and just send a pic. of a head shot. Thats what i did when I was 16. I just should of known better when I saw the barbizon sign. Oh this is funny when I went their I only asked for her and they said she stepped out. I had a appt at 1 to for her. Please parents dont ever go their and pay for their class it wont get you are your son or daughter any where just wasting your time and money.

I went to Barbizon today and was not as excited as I should be but then they said they had a spot for me and then said well to hold your spot we need $ 495 down right now but you can pay it all at once for a smaller price. I gave them my credit card info but looked up all the reviews which were all bad but some here and there were good ones but to me it was someone from their company who did that i’m pretty sure. Out of all those reviews I read no one has gotten hired for anything so to me Barbizon is a joke and a big scam. I don’t know how they can keep doing this to people who work hard for that money when they know you won’t get hired. I hope they get shut down for the crap they put out. I am going tomorrow to cancel and hope no one falls for that crap

Barbizon Modeling «agency» has got to be one of the biggest scams of our time!
So when I was around eleven, some old woman approaches me telling me i can be a model and she’s an agent. Imagine an eleven year olds reaction.
So of course I told my mom and she as naïve as I got super excited. We then go to their location downtown for a meeting with this woman, who goes on and on about how pretty i am and what a big star I can be. Everything’s looking good until she tells me to go on their runway in the back and walk for her. Alas my walk wasn’t up to a model standard, fair enough. She says the only thing I need to perfect is my walk and then I can go on to be a model, and their modeling school which apparently is a separate entity than their agency will teach me how for several thousand dollars…
Umm wtf?! My mom saw right through the scam, but I being an idiot kid did not. I begged and begged and begged, finally mother gave in and forked over the cash. However she only did so after the so called «agent» absolutely guaranteed that I would have a modeling contract after taking the classes.
Basically the classes were a load of sh*t that didn’t teach me anything about modeling! The woman who was leading them who apparently and clearly had no experience whatsoever in the modeling industy herself, led them. All we would do was walk up and down their tiny runway, doing the silliest poses and read scripts. The one class I was excited for where we would receive our makeup was an even bigger load of crap!
No techniques were shown to us on a model! We were all just told what to apply and put it on ourselves! how is that going to teach me anything?! An eleven year old putting on their own makeup with no guidance whatsoever?! Sorry but in the modeling world that’s just not going to fly. Plus the makeup was some of the lowest quality shizz known to man!
Finally the big time came! The graduation, which was simply a few walks up and down the runway in front of the parents of students, and a photoshoot in which we only got one god awful headshit. The only improvement was, we didn’t do our own makeup on this one, an inexperienced non makeup artist did!
So the time had finally come, time to speak with my agent and get booked! SIKE. The woman who had promised and guaranteed I would be a star and get a ton of job offers NEVER RETURNED MY CALLS OR MET WITH ME AFTER THAT DAY! Come to think of it someone should file a lawsuit against them due to the false guarantees they give you!
my final words of wisdom:
BARBIZON MODELING «AGENCY» IS A SCAM. iT IS ONLY USED TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO SPEND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS AT A MODELING SCHOOL THAT KNOWS NOTHING ABOUT MODELING! DO NOT ENROLL YOUR CHILDREN, AS THEY ACCEPT JUST ABOUT EVERYONE DESPITE WHAT THEY SAY.

My daughter was recruited through one of the recruiters through Costco. We had mixed emotions regarding the school because of the mixed reviews that we read on line. We figured that we would try it just to see. In the end, we found that the school wasn’t right for her. This review isn’t criticial about the school (as we only went to one day of class). It is the accounting and finance department that I have issue with. How is it that I can pay the $ 2,000 tuition on August 7, they can credit my account that day, but, when I request my money back in compliance with their contract, it is over a month later (September 22), and I still have not received my credit to my credit card. Are they using my money to finance themselves for the month? They will not return calls. Every time I call to inquire about the charge, they tell me that someone will get back to me. No one has called back. I have opened a dispute with my credit card account. Something is a little shoddy about this school.

I still can’t believe I paid $ 5,000 to do this (including comp cards). I guess I was just being a little brat back in the day. I didn’t get too much out of this school (though I could’ve if I had decided to remember and practice more often). I forgot most of the posing, make-​up techniques etc. etc. But that’s also because there are only about a dozen classes (one per week) for a couple of months. So they mostly just touch the surfaces of things like make-​up, hair, skin etc. They do go through a more thorough job with walking, posing and acting. They basically lure you in with skills they are probably taught. Afterall, if you’ve got it, you’ve got it. You don’t need Barbizon to come to your school or try to pull people in through the phone or whatnot. You sit through this long meeting that feeds ideas into your brain about how you can become just like Katie Holmes or some other supermodel. Then they tell you that they only take people with LOTS of potential and reject 90%+ of the people who are interested. They make you think, «wow, I’m a part of the 7%»! They push you to put the down payment because they have to «order the make-​up» which is basically a bit nicer version of a box set I can buy at Walgreens. Then during your first session, you see about half the people whom you sat with at the first recruiting meeting –_​– So much for being the 7%. Okay. now after all that steppin, I must admit that they do have some amazing staff here. I especially remember Jesse (acting coach) whom is super amazing. And one lady with the blonde hair (semi-​short) is very nice too. Susan? I did learn how to walk in a straight line, back straight, and with confidence at Barbizon (something I didn’t do before). Whether I still put that to use every single day now is another story. I still remember a few make-​up tricks here and there, but I’d love to relearn everything. It’d make me feel like my $ 5,000 went to some more use. They do allow you to go back WHENEVER (throughout your lifetime) to touch up on anything you’ve learned before. But I never did it because that would probably feel kinda awkward.

I confess, I am a Barbizon Graduate of 2001. Yes! There! I said it! This place definitely helped me open up to the world and goodness look at me now… Not shy anymore, I actually know how to walk correctly and mind my manners. Definitely the place to get some modeling experience and life etticet. I would love to come visit this place again sometime, but I have a feeling that my teachers had already forgetten about me. Hahaha! Loved it though! And beware folks… bring sneakers. You never know when they are going to say «K girls! Lets take a walk ALL THE WAY to Japan town!» and you’ll be stuck wearing heals… in the rain. It happened to me! I wish I knew. I wish I knew.