[NEohioPAL] WARNING Re: ARTS Auditions coming to the Cleveland area - TOMORROW!

Thu Apr 25 10:03:16 PDT 2013

I did contact you directly. It was after your post last week, fielding the
NEOhioPAL interest in a potential audition/event. You did not reply.

My information is from people, friends and students, who have attended your
auditions.

They did not follow through with your offer to showcase in Florida because
they felt it was a scam.

I have no opinion about you "personally". How could I? I don't know you.
The mention of your name is purely due to the fact that you're the one
posting this information.

You are in an industry littered with fraudulant and disreputable
individuals and companies. If you are unaccustomed to responding to emails
like mine, then you have been remarkably lucky!

This lengthy list of accomplishments by you and your company would be a lot
more useful to this, and every community, if you placed it up front, in a
concise manner.

Still, none of this information impresses me as a great opportunity. Can
you provide potential clients with references that they can follow up
with?  People who have actually signed film, television and stage contracts
as a result of your udition showcases?

All of that would be a lot more reassuring rather than a few headlines
touting a great opportunity with one day's notice.

I teach in this region and have done so for over 20 years. I started
provide that information because a few savvy people wanted it in order to
feel secure about their purchase, and rightly so.

Are you really that surprised that someone who is NOT well known to a
community would be confronted by skeptics?

This isn't personal, Ms. Myers. This is a business.

My recommendation is that you make it your business to answer these
questions of legitimacy before they come to your door.

Jean Zarzour
216-832-6557
SAG-AFTRA, AEA
www.lipschtick.com

findyourvoice-voiceactinginstitute.blogspot.com
On Apr 25, 2013 12:08 PM, "Kim Myers" <artscallback at me.com> wrote:

> Ms. Zarzour:
>
> I refrained from responding to your remarks (about me personally), and
> would be the first to stand in the front line in protecting our area
> talent. Although I respect anyone and their opinion, I feel it necessary to
> protect my reputation, as anyone would. It is not in my nature to be part
> of confusion, and or controversy, so writing this response is uncomfortable
> for me.  As we are entitled to our own points of view, it is important that
> we maintain a level of respect personally and professionally.  You see,
> second hand information is quite unreliable, and unfortunately does not
> provide solid "facts".  Because you choose to  name me in your
> communication, and post on a public site; it is absolutely necessary for me
> to defend my honor.
>
> I, too, am a veteran in this industry, and maintain fresh relevant
> professional relationships in the entertainment industry worldwide for 20+
> years.  My organization is prides itself in integrity, and have assisted
> many talented artists in pursuing their careers successfully. I would
> suggest that when you decide to defame an "opportunity"  or "personally
> discredit an individual"  - that you understand the details before doing
> so.
>
> If anyone has ever attended my events, presentations, educational advice
> and guidance over the years ... we have always been well received by
> parents, families, educators, and more.  I hold my professionalism in check
> always,  and continue to provide an  "opportunity" to meet the industry
> leaders that are best suited for those that I meet along the way.  This
> past year alone, I have facilitated over 1/4 million dollars in educational
> scholarships to higher education in the performing arts; this is just one
> percent of the details that you do not know about me personally.  I travel
> internationally with some of the industry's top agents/castings, just
> returning from government sponsored trip to the country of Namibia, Africa
> -- helping launch dreams for the first time in history.  Why do I feel it
> necessary to mention this now; because I work very hard in maintaining
> great integrity in an industry that has very little, and I will not stand
> idle and allow this to continue.
>
> I am a huge advocate of monitoring "SCAMS" in this industry, and for your
> information - I was born and raised in the Cleveland area, and find it
> offensive to be immediately judged without proper and clear understanding.
>    The ARTS is well respected internationally, as an educational experience
> for those that are fortunate enough to be invited, along with exposure.  We
> are supported by a multitude of parents, artists, universities, educators,
> in addition to offering CEU's and Professional Development credit to those
> educators in attendance. The past two years alone, we were approved for
> college credit, and hope to continue to do so.  Had you personally attended
> one of my information sessions; you would have gained a better
> understanding of me and my organization.
>
> I do not believe that Neohiopal has any intention of making this a place
> to discredit professionals in the industry, nor would I EVER think of doing
> something of this nature.  I respect this subscription, and appreciate any
> veteran in the industry trying to protect aspiring artists, however, I will
> not sit quietly and allow individuals to build them self up and their
> business, while tearing others down without facts.
>
> I would have appreciated a more direct communication, allowing my office
> to offer insight of our organization and offerings without the continuation
> of this defamation of one's character.
> My personal email is kimmyers1 at me.com
>
>
> Respectfully yours -
>
> *Kim Myers
> Executive Director
> The ARTS
> Marriott World Center*
> *June 19 - 23, 2013
> December 18 -22, 2013
> www.theartstalent.com
> 1.800.STAR.102*
>
>
> “Talent is God given. Be humble. Fame is man-given. Be grateful. Conceit
> is self-given. Be careful.”
>
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>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On Apr 24, 2013, at 9:32 PM, Aaron Collier wrote:
>
>  Jean,
>
>  Thanks for saying something. Generally, this type of cattle call,
> ultra-commercial, audition process is lacking in credibility.
>
>  As Jean mentioned, be very cautious. A lot of these "from the coast" and
> "super-connected" agencies prey on primarily mid-western cities.
>
>  First of all, there is an social and artistic imperialism that takes
> place with these agencies that blow into town. Have pride in your region.
> You're not from remote Montana (not that that's bad lol). You're from The
> Greater Cleveland region. A region with, frankly, a misrepresented market.
> It's a market with over 4.5 million people, top 15 (combined statistical
> areas) in the country<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Combined_Statistical_Areas>,
> and the second largest theater community between Chicago and NY. As far as
> major casting agencies, yes, there are a couple markets with the monopoly
> on that, however, that's true for the most of the cities in the US.
>
>  Point being, You have resources. By the way, there are some great local
> resources too. We have to get over this Local as inferior thing. That
> mentality is what "star-search" agencies feed off of.
>
>  As Jean mentioned, "Spend your money on proper training with reputable,
> known arts institutions and instructors".
>
>  Aaron Calafato
> Actor/Writer/Activist
>  calafato.aaron at gmail.com
>  www.aaroncalafato.com
>
>   ------------------------------
> *From:* Jean Zarzour <lipschtick at lipschtick.com>
> *To:* neohiopal at lists.neohiopal.org
> *Sent:* Wednesday, April 24, 2013 5:42 AM
> *Subject:* [NEohioPAL] WARNING Re: ARTS Auditions coming to the Cleveland
> area - TOMORROW!
>
>  I would caution anyone about seeing this as an opportunity.
> I have a few friends who have been to one of Kim Myers "opportunities",
> only to discover that the next step is shelling out $3500 for the
> "...unique opportunity to perform on stage for five days, in front of the
> industries TOP AGENTS and CASTINGS!"
> And that's just the fee you pay before your travel and lodging costs.
> Companies like these make lots of money preying on eager, naive parents
> and their children.
> While they may have some distance, remote connection with the success of
> some children, I'd want some solid proof of that "fact" before I'd pay a
> dime.
> Spend your money on proper training with reputable, known arts
> institutions and instructors, and if you're lucky, for trips to larger
> cities when given the opportunity to meet with reputable agents and casting
> directors - but, as a 30 year veteran in this business, I caution you to
> never pay an entrance fee for 5 day auditions that will most certainly
> amount to nothing.
> Jean Zarzour
> 216-832-6557
> SAG-AFTRA, AEA
> www.lipschtick.com
> findyourvoice-voiceactinginstitute.blogspot.com
> On Apr 23, 2013 5:26 PM, "Kim Myers" <scoutingdirector at aol.com> wrote:
>
>  *ATTENTION:  ACTORS, SINGERS & DANCERS!*
> *Ages 5 - 85*
> *If you are seeking representation in Chicago, LA, NYC, Atlanta and Miami*
> *THIS IS SOMETHING YOU DO NOT WANT TO MISS!*
> *
> *
> *International Scout, Kim Myers will be scouting in Cleveland for *
> *ONE DAY ONLY on Wednesday, April 24th at the Hilton Garden Inn Beta
> Convention Center in Mayfield Village.  *
> *Call our scouting office at 1.800.STAR.102 for details of this audition.
> *
>
>  *Kim Myers works alongside agencies and castings throughout the year,
> and will be selecting NEW FACES for submissions to top agents for upcoming
> projects.  Parents across the country have raved about Kim's approach to
> representing talent, and offering the safest way to launch a part-time to
> full-time career in the industry of entertainment. *
>
>  *If selected, you will be offered a unique opportunity to perform on
> stage for five days, in front of the industries TOP AGENTS and CASTINGS!
>  Hundreds of new talent have been placed this past year! *
> *
> *
> *Attending this upcoming audition, is incredibly educational and FUN! *
>  *CALL NOW 1.800.STAR.102 for more details. *
>
> ______________________________________
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> NEohioPAL is SELF-SERVE. If you need to unsubscribe, change from digest to
> one-at-a-time delivery or vice-versa, go on hiatus while out of town,
> switch from mime to plain text or vice-versa, etc. check out the FAQS at
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> ______________________________________
>
> Please consider a voluntary contribution to support Neohiopal -
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> those of the person in the 'from' or 'reply-to' header. The fact that this
> message is posted should in no way be taken as an endorsement by the
> administrator of this list. Subscribers should perform due diligence for
> all goods, services and activities promoted on NEohioPAL.
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