| Topic | Re: Peter Sklar seminars and camps |
| Author | Sally |
| Date Created | 9/20/2004 4:05:16 AM |
| Message | Just another IMTA knock off, like the talent tours being offered by Tori Christopher Group and the seminars/competitions taking place in Dallas. They are Popping up all over. By the the way "The Bear" is a she, not a he. The reason I know this is because she is often on the rag. lol |
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| Topic | Re: Peter Sklar real or scam??? |
| Author | Kathy |
| Date Created | 9/20/2004 8:47:23 AM |
| Message | A whole bunch of red flags went up for me during Peter Sklar's "seminar". First of all he made a point of saying that all the training in the world, perseverance and connections would not get you hired in the business. He also said there is no difference in stage acting or film acting. (He is not an actor. He's a piano player). He also talked about being confident in who you are, because you are usually cast because someone will like you and find you believable. All of these things may be true, but after he interviewed those in attendance and selected a few from the group, he proceeded to talk about his intensive training program in New York. I found it odd that he was basically selling something that wasn't important - training, and for big bucks. Anyone else hear this guy? |
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| Topic | Re: Peter Sklar real or scam??? |
| Author | Just me |
| Date Created | 9/23/2004 3:00:59 PM |
| Message | I agree Kathy, I went to this meeting as well with all 3 of my kids and found it odd they wanted all 3! |
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| Topic | Re: Peter Sklar real or scam??? |
| Author | kathy |
| Date Created | 9/23/2004 3:10:13 PM |
| Message | I've read some of the other comments on so-called agents on this sight. Would it be wise to contact the Attorney General about this one? |
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| Topic | Re: Peter Sklar real or scam??? |
| Author | mom |
| Date Created | 9/29/2004 8:29:16 AM |
| Message | Just me, what did you do? Are you going to the camps? Has anyone else heard if this company is legit or not? |
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| Topic | Re: Peter Sklar real or scam??? |
| Author | Come on People! |
| Date Created | 9/30/2004 2:28:40 AM |
| Message | Kathy
What are you going to go to the Attorney Generals office about? They did nothing but give you a sales pitch. As I understand it, you never signed up for anything and never paid anything, so what is yor problem? A word of caution to all...we have to be careful about contacting the AG office with this non-sense. What happens when a real scam has taken place, if you cry worlf to often over every little thing, they won't be so quick or likely to investigate the real scammers. I'm not defending them or endorsing them, in fact I know nothing about them. I just find it ludicrous that someone would consider calling the AG's office when they have not spent any money, don't know if the program is any good or not and have no clue if the company actually delivers what they promise and what you are paying for. As you mentioned, if you read enough of these posts it seems like every agency in town is a scam to at least one or two people. The trick is using common sense here! Until they take your money or someone elses and then don't follow through with their promises, they have done no wrong. |
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| Topic | Re: Peter Sklar real or scam??? |
| Author | kathy |
| Date Created | 10/4/2004 1:48:02 PM |
| Message | I don't know what the procedure is for something like this.
Sorry if I sounded paranoid "Come on People". There are about three or four threads going on the subject of scam artists trying to attract hopefuls into programs which do nothing but take your money, and lots of suggestions to contact the atty general. Granted, I haven't' spent any money yet, but I only want to know how to find out if this guy is legitimate or not. Any suggestions? |
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| Topic | Re: Peter Sklar real or scam??? |
| Author | Bob |
| Date Created | 10/13/2004 2:54:44 PM |
| Message | My kids went. Mostly dancers there. Few actors. The acting coaches were folks from late night crime shows. Not the best place for kids to work. Gives parents 72 page contract to read follow and sign. Pushes health food on kids and won't let them leave table till all eaten. Feeds them health food and vitamins then laughs while eats cakes in front of them. Smokes cigar. Do I regret sending my kids - age eleven at the time? Yes, but not worst thing for them. I'm glad I didn't have to go though. Real or scam? There is a camp but my kids didn't think they learned more there than they had at local theater groups. He can call an agent, but you can too. Most are happy to take 10 minutes to interview your kid on the off chance that they are marketable. |
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| Topic | Re: Peter Sklar real or scam??? |
| Author | workshop student |
| Date Created | 10/16/2004 10:45:26 PM |
| Message | No he is not a scam. I have been to 2 workshops and many mini workshops. Peter is not a scam If your child is serious about acting then Peter will help alot for If you think about it the price is right for all the coaching your child will get. The best memories in my life were at the workshops and I gurantee that your child will have just as many! Hope I helped you in some way contact me if you have any questions |
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| Topic | Re: Peter Sklar real or scam??? |
| Author | Mother of Workshop Participant |
| Date Created | 10/16/2004 10:56:17 PM |
| Message | My daughter has worked with Peter Sklar for 3 years. She is more confident and has developed sound acting skills. She has also been an assistant at his workshop. The coaches she has met there have been wonderful people and she has worked with Broadway actors and dancers. She constantly receives leads in productions and I have no doubt that his training has assisted her in her goals. Yes, they have to eat "health foods" but I say GREAT! She has developed great eating habits and thinks twice about junk food. She started at age 12 and the structure may be a little harder on children much younger. Any camp is expensive. I say you will get your moneys worth if your child is serious about acting. |
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| Topic | Re: Peter Sklar real or scam??? |
| Author | recent seminar visit |
| Date Created | 10/17/2004 12:59:00 AM |
| Message | Do not have any answers but do also have questions.
Overheard him asking one woman to allow him to counsel her child in his home at the seminar and he also said to one kid that he thought she was "troubled". This was an 11 year old that just met him. He walked right up to kids and said does this feel scary to you? Will you do whatever I tell you to do if I say you will be famous? Will you come away with me in the woods for one week with no outside contact? Is this how counselors work? He also seemed to ask kids about how their fathers' punished them? What does this have to do with acting?
Is this a way of finding out about the kid? My kid did not get picked but that is ok because he did not seem like a counselor and kept telling kids that he could read their minds and knew everything about them. This seems weird to me? Does any one else think that? |
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| Topic | Re: Peter Sklar real or scam??? |
| Author | mom |
| Date Created | 10/17/2004 10:07:01 AM |
| Message | I didn't trust this guy either and didn't like his approach to the younger children at the seminar. He kept telling one how cute she was, but she wasn't selected. There were others there who I know for a fact are extremely talented, but they weren't "chosen". These kids went away from the seminar thinking they had done something wrong. How does a guy who professes to be one who will help a child with his self image, feel about creating those kinds of negative feelings for those kids? I'm sure he must be successful, and I'm glad to hear some positive feedback, but he gave me a bad taste in my mouth. |
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| Topic | Re: Peter Sklar real or scam??? |
| Author | mom at recent seminar |
| Date Created | 10/20/2004 11:14:41 AM |
| Message | I was recently at a seminar and my daughter was "chosen"-some of Peter's advice was sound and consistent with what I have tried to teach her. However, his delivery to me was not conducive to developing trust with children before one can make an important decision to spend time with him. A person who decrees to be an "expert" in adolescent feelings and behavior does not tell a young girl that he knows more about her than she actually knows about herself. The more positve approach would be to empower her to know her own feelings and self better than anyone else. I have read many of the testimonials at the web site and most are very positive including ones from the nurses and physicians who have helped out. Are any of you reading this and could you help with your perspective now that some time has gone by? Our children are precious beings!! ALso, would love to hear back from the workshop student who wrote-how specifically was it a growthful experience? THANKS! |
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| Topic | Re: Peter Sklar real or scam??? |
| Author | vobellan |
| Date Created | 10/20/2004 9:50:08 PM |
| Message | Hello,
I am a studio owner that Mr. Sklar recently paid a visit to. At first I was very skeptical about the whole "free lecture" and why a grown man would want to travel around the country for free to talk to kids about liking themselves, eating tofu and greens, and not having a boyfriend until they are 25. Why? Money. Every kid he "chooses" to attend his workshop is money in his pocket. Does anyone else find it funny that he is neither acting teacher nor nutritionist, yet lectures on both? I think there is something fishy going on and the moms who came to my school to hear him are digging up dirt on him.
Just think about how many famous, successful people did not do the "4 things" he wants the kids to do and are very healthy, successful and working. There are other ways to become a performer. |
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| Topic | Re: Peter Sklar real or scam??? |
| Author | peter sklar |
| Date Created | 11/5/2004 10:22:41 PM |
| Message | Hi Folks.
For several years now, off and on, I have been working on a new website about scams: Peter Sklar versus Scams, perhaps. How ironic to see my own name associated with the above fiction!
That said, when I was first told about the existence of the above posts, frankly I wasn't too happy.
Then I showed them to others who knew me well, and we all had a nice laugh. My personal favorite is the studio director just above here who decided that "money" has been the goal in my forty years of professional work with children. And... she's "digging up dirt..."
Happy digging, dear.
She also strenuously disagrees with the career-relevance of positive self-worth and good health. She feels it is important to point out that there are people who don't take care of themselves, aren't in touch with their feelings, and yet are somehow happy, healthy and successful.
Sigh. Pity her students.
And of course daddy's comment above about the staff all being "from late night crime shows". I'm guessing this silly fellow skipped right over all those Broadway credentials on our teachers' resumes, and spotted a few appearances on Law & Order? Was that it? (Loved the sage advice he manufactured about agents accepting unsolicited phone calls from parents. Yep. Just call them right up.)
Not to mention that stream of twisted and paranoid psycho-babble supposedly depicting my interviews with children. My God. What dark corner of their brains did this stuff crawl out of?
Anyhow, a psychologist associate of mine once told me, “People tend to believe what they choose to believe.” Nothing I have ever encountered in my near-60 years of life has led me to understand the wisdom inherent in my friend's comment, as has the little cluster of anonymous posters I call the “Google gossip crowd”- the chronically uninformed and chronically unhappy perusers of these boards.
Perfect example? According to one pseudo-savvy soul on something called "Topix", the “TRUE LITMUS TEST" of a program’s quality is the first-page gossip that pops up on Google that day.
Sure it is.
The fact is that randomly utilizing gossip boards as a "research" vehicle is like playing Russian roulette with the truth- using a defective gun.
I have always been keenly interested in people knowing ALL about exactly what I do, exactly how my staff and I work with young people, exactly what I stand for and believe, and especially what the overwhelming majority of people I’ve worked with have to say, in their own words, about my work. But to do so, you’ll have to tear yourself away from these anonymous Google-favored forums, as convenient, addictive and entertaining as they can be, and instead follow some time-honored and flawless advice:
It’s called checking references- asking for telephone numbers, and speaking with real people- which virtually EVERY child protective agency in existence would enthusiastically advocate, rather than relying on the anonymous “research” that pops up on the Internet.
It’s been a great privilege and a blessing to know as many happy, caring and intelligent kids, parents, dance studio directors, and reporters as I have over the past four decades, and to have them consider me a part of their lives. They, along with the hundreds of extraordinary new people I meet during my lecture travels each year, are the reason we exist and continue to grow.
Perhaps you’ll give yourself an opportunity to speak with some of them.
Thank you.
Peter Sklar,
Ed.M. Harvard University
www.petersklarspeaks.net
www.petersklaronline.com
www.beginningsworkshop.com
www.kidwhoplayedthepalace.net
www.petersklar.net
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| Topic | Re: Peter Sklar real or scam??? |
| Author | parent of workshop student |
| Date Created | 11/7/2004 2:31:30 PM |
| Message | My daughter attended both the Beginnings workshop and also the mini workshops,which are held each year at Peter Sklar's home/office/studio in N.Y. The workshops resulted in being a great learning experience for my child. Not only did she learn about acting, writing, yoga, shakespeare,dance,etc., it builds stronger selfworth, self confidence,good healthy eating habits and educates a realistic approach to the stresses and demands of the entertainment business. She also worked with leading professionals in the field and made lots of new friends from all over the country. Peter Sklar truly has a gift when he works with kids and it shows thru his chaperones and staff, and his personal and professional commitment to quality education. It is well worth the money invested and if your child was invited to attend, I strongly recommend not missing out on a great opportunity. |
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| Topic | Re: Peter Sklar real or scam??? |
| Author | Vicki V |
| Date Created | 11/7/2004 2:42:57 PM |
| Message | THANK YOU!
Thank you Peter for responding. Even though I have an 11 year old daughter who is a working actress, I had never heard of you or your organization until I read all of these postings.
What we have found is that not every “great teacher” or “highly recommended” program/method is right for everyone AND not everyone’s definition of SUCCESS is the same either! There are many not-so-great programs that have some wonderful teachers……and visa-verse! And there are great programs, tried-and-true methods, and many fantastic teachers, but it just is not the right match for that particular talent.
You know as a business owner/manager that customer complaints always far outweigh costumer praise in a public forum. People that pay for a service, believe they got what they paid for, and leave satisfied will pass the “good news” by word of mouth through recommendations, but rarely write a letter to the business or call the BBB, etc. So that is where you and past satisfied clients come in, we need to hear from you too, unfortunately you can not sit and monitor every discussion thread out there!
It was nice to read input from you, providing us with a more balanced view of the program and some interesting information regarding your own personal background. I will go to your web site, and I will research your program, if for nothing else but my own personal curiosity!
Thank you for sharing!
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| Topic | Re: Peter Sklar real or scam??? |
| Author | teacher too |
| Date Created | 11/21/2004 10:06:52 AM |
| Message | Peter is absolutely right...there are NO GUARANTEES for an actor that s/he will get work. WITH training, WITH contacts and WITH hard work--an actor's odds are significantly better...but by choosing a creative profession, we choose to take our chances...whether a painter, a dancer, a musician or an actor!! Those are the facts! And confidence IS crucial. I remind my students of how challenging it is to be an actor. I had a student drop in to my classes who had taken one other acting class, and hadn't done any acting work tell me that (after one month) he was ready to meet an agent...and when I suggested that he wait a little longer to get more training and maybe audition for some theater so he could build his resume--he got upset! I don't think that people understand that most people who are working (even in small t.v./film/theater roles) have had YEARS of training and resumes filled with theater and commercials, indy films, etc. etc. This impatience and thinking that there's a "quick route" to being a working actor is such a misconception. It is very hard to be a teacher in the acting business, because training isn't a guarantee of work...there are so many factors as to why a person finds success as an actor--and "success" doesn't necessarily mean being a household name. Success in the acting world can mean being able to pay your rent and take care of yourself by working as an actor...or it can mean landing roles in a few plays a year without pay--just because you LOVE to do it!! Acting training is a process...and if you don't LOVE the process...you shouldn't be an actor! |
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| Topic | Re: Peter Sklar real or scam??? |
| Author | grateful,appreciative,and sincere mom of student |
| Date Created | 12/7/2004 11:15:04 PM |
| Message | Peter Sklar is not a scam. He is highly educated and dedicated not only in the entertainment industry, but concerning child development and creativity. Especially with adolescents. He is a teens best friend, that's why they call him "Pdawg". I know this for a fact first hand because of his work with my daughter this year. She has only been to one workshop and one mini workshop and I already see such an improvement in her self image, self confidence and artistic potential. Her eating habits too. As a mother who had many serious struggles in her own life as a teen, I am very thankful my daughter was invited and had the opportunity to work with him. Especially in todays all consuming competitve world for kids it's a comfort to know she has a sincere mentor. I too, not only learned alot of great health information, I have learned some very valuable lessons about myself along the way. You could say sometimes I would trust Peter Sklar's judgements more than my own. Hope that helps anyone in doubt. |
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| Topic | Re: Peter Sklar real or scam??? |
| Author | John |
| Date Created | 12/19/2004 6:45:43 PM |
| Message | Dear Readers,
My name is John and I live in Westchester County, New York. Even though I am still in high school, I have known Peter Sklar for over 7 years. I was first introduced to him following a seminar at a local acting studio. I have been studing with him ever since.
As for the quality of his workshops, they rival professional studios in New York City, and High School University Programs. Both of which I am familiar. This is most likely because they are TAUGHT by thoes instructors. Tell me, what other programs are there that prepare students for an OFF BROADWAY showcase? If there are any...they most likely suck.
Regarding the monitary gain of Mr. Sklar; Over the years i have spent several long weeks at Peters, I know for a fact that Mr. Sklar gains very little out of these workshops. At great PERSONAL expense, Mr. Sklar puts these programs together. I have been involved in the administration of the Workshop and I know Mr. Sklar ALWAYS puts the students intrests first, far above monitary gain. At expense to Mr. Sklar, if a single student feels ill, ALL of the students are immediatly given Vitamin C, and givin plenty of water. This at expense to Mr. Sklar.
Not only does Peter provide the highest quality workshop (dare i say) In the country, but he is just the greatest, most helpfull, best influencing adult your child will probably ever know (aside from the parents of course).
The workshop is honestly a life changing experience for the students. My first time there i learned more about myself than about acting. My chaperones especially influenced me. They gave me sooooo much self convidence and positivity! This extended far beyond the workshop and events from that first year so long ago still resonate in my everyday life. I cant describe the amount of maturity and self-worth that I have gained, and my friends have gained out of the Beginnings experience. It's extreamly benificial for kids to have a positive outside-the-home influence on their lives. The students meet kids from all over the country. Let me tell you, there is nothing cooler than going to another state and meeting up with a Beginnings kid. Its awesome!
I believe the above provided you with an acurate summary of what Beginnings is truely like from the adverage students point of view.
Lets sum this all up shall we?
MAJOR POINTS OF THIS DOCUMENT
1. Beginnings Changes Kids Lives
2. Beginnings is NOT a scam
3. Peter gains very little monitarily (have you seen his house?)
4. The training rivals the TOP studios in NYC
5. Where else can you perform OFF BROADWAY as a student
Thank You (God Save The Country)
~John From New York |
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