Some companies are, in fact, scams—they take money from unsuspecting customers and fail to provide the services they promise.  However, the word “scam” also occasionally gets attached to businesses that do not fit that description. Here are some ways this can happen:

1. A company can be labeled a scam when it provides an alternative to the status quo. These days, the “status quo” in education is a traditional schooling environment.  Entertainment Career Connection’s approach is different, but it is not “new.” The mentor-apprentice approach to learning was in practice in ancient times, before our modern schools existed.
2. A company can be labeled a scam when a customer is unhappy with its service—whether or not it is the company’s fault. Sometimes this happens because the customer did not have a clear understanding of the product or the agreement. In Entertainment Career Connection’s case, the nature of their program sometimes attracts people who do not understand their part of the bargain, somehow believing that the program will automatically bring them a career without much effort on their part.  In fact, the mentorship-apprentice approach requires more personal responsibility and discipline than many academic environments require, because it is a form of guided self-study. But without this clear understanding, the “customer-is-always-right” mentality takes over, and the student feels entitled to cry foul.

This article isn’t intended to prove or disprove whether the Entertainment Career Connection scam exists, nor to discredit any former student who is unhappy with it.  Rather, the point is that before we label something a scam, we should have a balanced look at the facts beyond simple hearsay.  Here are some checks and balances to the discussion:

• The number of dissatisfied students from whom ECC has received complaints accounts for approximately one percent of their entire clientele.  That translates to an approval rating of 99 percent over a 25-year period.
• For every complaint lodged, ECC has been able to provide numerous favorable testimonials from students, graduates, mentors and industry professionals who attest to the quality of the program.
• ECC’s 76-percent job placement rate rivals or exceeds that of many competing programs—solid evidence that the program works for those who work with it.
• ECC has a proven track record of making every attempt to rectify customer complaints individually.

The point is that every business has dissatisfied customers, some of whom cannot be satisfied. This does not make every business a scam. Entertainment Career Connection has enough longevity and enough satisfied students that we should be slow to place the “Entertainment Career Connection scam” label on them.

Part One.  Addressing the complaints you may have come across.

[podcast]http://recordingconnectionscam.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Brian-Kraft-1.mp3[/podcast]

Part Two.  Does the Recording Connection Guarantee Success.

[podcast]http://recordingconnectionscam.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Brian-Kraft-2.mp3[/podcast]

Part Three.  The Concept of Mentor Apprentice Learning.

[podcast]http://recordingconnectionscam.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Brian-Kraft-3.mp3[/podcast]

Part Four.  Brian Kraft, COO of The Recording Connection, Passion for Education.

[podcast]http://recordingconnectionscam.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Brian-Kraft-4.mp3[/podcast]

Addressing the Recording Connection Scam

Yes, it’s an investment and yes, it’s a risk. Going to medical school is a risk. As is law school. While there are no guarantees in life, I found Recording Connection to be a worthy investment of my time and my money. Recording Connection is in business to make money, as are most businesses and to do so, they have to deliver or they would go out of business quickly. As far as costs are concerned, I found the flexible payment schedules and the cost overall to be worth it in the long run.

Yes, the costs are comparable to what you would pay to go to a community college, but think about it… if you know you want to go into the recording, film or entertainment business, why would you go to some community college that specializes in nothing to learn what you could learn at Recording Connection from dedicated industry pros? Some of my friends have gone to other music schools, some are way more expensive than Recording Connection, and none of them were any better off than I was when I graduated from I am now. I like my career. I liked what I learned there and can tell you that the Recording Connection scam is not true.

I left school and got an internship at a cool studio a few weeks later. That’s how it works, if you think you go to school and then are immediately the CEO of a label, you’re kidding yourself. This business is hard, you gave to bust your butt and the education I got helped me get my foot in the door. If there was a Recording Connection scam, it wouldn’t lead up to this.

Maris Ramsey
Recording Connection Student
Des Moines, Iowa

The Recording Connection takes an unconventional approach to instruction in recording and engineering.  Rather than take large amounts of tuition money to put the student into a separated learning environment, RC takes a far lesser amount of money to connect students with real-world working professionals who mentor them in a guided program. They continue to help the student with job placement once the program is complete.  It’s not really a different approach—it’s an ancient one. People have learned skills through mentorship for centuries, even before schools picked up the baton. The Recording Connection’s use of this approach is in direct contrast to that of more traditional schools. However, this fact alone doesn’t make it a scam.

There are two key questions to ask when determining whether The Recording Connection scam (or any other scam) is true:

1. Does the program work? and
2. Does the company deliver on its promises?

As to whether mentorship works, we only need to look at history.  Of course mentorship works!  It worked before the schools existed. One of RC’s studio mentors says, “The most rewarding thing for me is to see the students coming in here and then progressing, learning… because they are actually doing things. They are not actually reading a book and sitting in a classroom.”

As to whether the RC does what it says, one graduate from the program went to an interview arranged by the company. “I had prepared a resume and was essentially hired on as an intern on the spot. The apprenticeship approach was really instrumental in getting into that position…[after] about 2 months…I was offered employment as soon as my Air Force commitment allowed me to.”

A skeptic from ProRec.com interviewed the director of Recording Connection, and this was his impression: “What I learned over the next hour was that Jimi Petulla is no scam artist. He firmly believes in his product, and clearly understands the role he plays. At the end of the interview, I was convinced that the Music Connection is a sound business model that can actually add value to the internship process.”

Taking these things into account, there is plenty of evidence to support that the Recording Connection scam is false, but rather, Recording Connection is an innovative, legitimate approach to helping people find meaningful careers in the recording industry.

Right now I am a student and in the Recording Connection program and can tell you that while it’s not like any other school I have been in, it is definitely not a scam. First, I did my homework before I signed up, talked to a bunch of people who went through the program. I talked to some who loved it and even some who didn’t. By doing this, I knew exactly what I was getting when I started and since I did that, there is no way it’s a Recording Connection scam.

A scam is when someone promises something they don’t deliver. Recording Connection delivers exactly what they say they do – they deliver an opportunity to learn and work in active recording studios. They don’t promise that you’ll be a rock star or even a label head, they promise opportunity and they deliver. If you think you can get the same thing from books and knocking on doors, then more power to you. I wanted their help, their ability to guide me through the learning process, tell me what doors to knock on and how to succeed. Sure, it’s not for everyone and there are some things that even I don’t like about Recording Connection.

But again, it’s not a Recording Connection scam. Yikes. I hate that people call it that. I’ve wanted to be in the recording industry since I was little and I know that Recording Connection is an investment in my future.

Rob Saunders
Recording Connection Student
Baltimore, Maryland

First things first, there is no Recording Connection scam. What exists is a very real service offered to people looking to get into the recording industry. If you are interested in getting into audio recording of any kind, for music, film, video games, whatever, then you should seriously consider finding a mentor though Recording Connection and moving forward into your new career. The idea of a Recording Connection scam is typically perpetrated by two groups of people: those who are threatened by the services Recording Connection offers, and those who feel slighted by the service they received.

Competitors will always look for an advantage over other companies that can hurt their business. And make no mistake, education is a business. There are millions of dollars at stake when it comes to one type of school outperforming another, and some competitors will stoop low enough to slander the name of another organization to further their own ends. Whenever you read reports of a “scam”, you should be sure to look at who is giving this report. Anyone can make an anonymous claim about Recording Connection, and the Internet is not known for its perpetual veracity regarding the claims of the invisible masses.

The second types of scam claims, however, are somewhat more serious and should be considered as a cautionary tale. Not a warning against Recording Connection, however, but warnings of what not to do once you have a mentor. Someone claiming that they did not receive an education when they never met with the mentor Recording Connection paired them with has not been ripped off; they have failed to actually participate in their education. If you go to a traditional college you have to attend classes and do the work to succeed, and with a mentor you have do the work as well. This type of report of a Recording Connection scam comes from someone who has ripped himself off, not someone taken for a ride by a company.

By definition, a scam is a fraudulent business scheme; a swindle; a hustle, flim flam, scheme and a bamboozle. It means that a company, in this case the Recording Connection scam, is in the business to victimize people and deceive and trick them out of money. If a business is a scam, the “only” business they are in is to rob people of money and give them nothing in return. That is a true scam and usually they get discovered fairly quickly and their business is shut down.

The Recording Connection, founded in 1984, has connections and programs on a worldwide scale. It offers students hands-on experience with real working professionals in the entertainment industry. Many students, through the connections they’ve made during their training, find employment immediately upon graduation. The tuition is far less than most of the colleges which offer the same courses and the Recording Connection allows the student to work within a real studio or set location environment. For nearly 30 years, this company has earned the praise of many professionals, parents and students and nothing associated with a Recording Connection scam.

It’s unfortunate that a small group of people who might have had an unfortunate mishap with a school can create a buzz that they are the Recording Connection scam; when students for decades have felt it was one of the best places to train for jobs in the entertainment business. It’s important when reading emails, especially those that are written anonymously, that you also go to the website and read the glowing praises of this educational institution by those that actually attended. On the Recording Connection site, there are video as well as written reviews by “real” people with “real” names; not someone who spends their days trying to destroy someone’s reputation.

Finally, be assured that any company that is in the business of education and has been for nearly 30 years is doing something right. Unfortunately, now that naysayers and schemers have a voice on the World Wide Web and have labeled this company the Recording Connection scam, they try to destroy anything that they feel doesn’t line up with their philosophy. The Recording Connection, sad to say, has gotten caught up in the middle of some of these people. But the proof is in the years of graduating tens of thousands of students who are working successfully in the industry today. There’s definitely no Recording Connection scam there!

Of course, it’s hard not to be skeptical of a program that charges just a fraction of what a traditional recording or music school would, takes less time and requires no relocating. Not only that, but the Recording Connection promises to provide students with cutting-edge training combined with unique internship opportunities under the tutelage of industry professionals, and job placement help, as well.

It may sound too good to be true. When Rip Rowan of ProRec.com first heard of Recording Connection, (also known as the Music Connection), he assumed it was some sort of scam. But after interviewing its founder, Jim Petulla, he realized that the program is the real deal. “Jimi Petulla is no scam artist,” Rowan declared in his story. “He firmly believes in his product, and clearly understands the role he plays. At the end of the interview, I was convinced that the Music Connection is a sound business model that can actually add value to the internship process. Most importantly, Jimi impressed me with his honesty, candor, and earnestness. This guy really believes in what he does. ” Rowan discovered that what he thought was a Recording Connection scam was actually a terrific program with a passionate, committed founder at the helm.

Recording Connection students enter the program with a variety of interests and goals. Programs offered include audio engineering, music producing, live event sound, and more. Graduates of the school have gone on to work with some of the biggest acts in music today, including Celine Dion, Bruce Springsteen, Sting, and Madonna. They’ve also worked for VH1, Miramax Films, Dreamworks Animation, and Fox Sports. Concert promoters, recording studio managers, and producers of music, television, and film understand that when they hire a Recording Connection graduate, they are hiring someone who understands the industry inside and out, has extensive knowledge in their area of expertise, and has trained with the best. No Recording Connection scam could result in so many graduate success stories.

Online learning enables student-centered teaching approaches. Every student has their own way of learning that works best for them. Some learn visually others do better when they “learn by doing.” Course material is accessible 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Students have the ability to read and re read lectures, discussions, explanations and comments. Often spoken material in the classroom passes students by due to a number of distractions, missed classes, tiredness or boredom.
In an online environment, attendance to class is only evident if the student actually participates in classroom discussion. This increases student interaction and the diversity of opinion, because everyone gets a say, not just the most talkative.

Online instructors come with practical knowledge and may be from any location across the globe. This allows students to be exposed to knowledge that can’t be learned in books and see how class concepts are applied in real business situations.
Using the internet to attend class, research information and communication with other students teaches skills in using technologies that will be critical to workers in the 21st century business community that works with colleagues globally and across time zones. Participating online is much less intimidating than “in the classroom.” Anonymity provides students a level playing field undisturbed by bias caused by seating arrangement, gender, race and age. Students can also think longer about what they want to say and add their comments when ready. Where’s the Entertainment Career Connection scam there?

In a traditional classroom, the conversation could have gone way past the point where the student wants to comment. Because online institutions often offer “chat rooms” for informal conversation between students, where student bios and non class discussions can take place, there appears to be a increased bonding and camaraderie over traditional class environments. The online environment makes instructors more approachable. Students can talk openly with their teachers through online chats, email and in newsgroup discussions, without waiting for office hours that may not be convenient. This option for communication provides enhanced contact between instructors and students. Online course development allows for a broad spectrum of content. Students can access the school’s library from their PC’s for research articles, ebook content and other material without worries that the material is already “checked out.” Students often feel that they can actually listen to the comments made by other students. Because everyone gets a chance to contribute, students are less irritated with those that “over contribute” and can ask for clarification of any comments that are unclear.

Over 75% of colleges and universities in the U.S. offer online degree programs, with online degrees as respected as “on the ground” degrees. Because there are no geographic barriers to online learning, students can find a diversity of course material that may not be available to them where they live or work. This is especially true for professional training such as medical billing training or purchasing training and for students in remote rural areas that cannot support college or vocational training centers. So you see, there really is no Entertainment Career Connection scam.

There are many people who want their future career to be in the entertainment, recording, or music fields. However, these fields are very competitive, and difficult to receive jobs in. Unlike in other field, a college degree counts for very little in the entertainment industry. What companies look for are students who have talent, a god ear, have had hands-on experience, and come highly recommended.

The problem with going to college for a degree to work in the entertainment field is that colleges do not provide an adequate education for practical work. Employers have caught on a long time ago. In college, students are forced to stay from their concentration because they are required to take certain courses that do not have to do with their field of study, taking some of the concentration off of learning their field. The other problem is that many of the professors teaching the classes have never worked in the field themselves, or worked in the field a very long time ago. Thus, they are not able to fully instruct their students without having hands-on experience themselves. The Recording Connection scam is not a scam at all, not as much as four-year colleges.

Another downside to college is that it is very time consuming and very expensive. This expense is very unnecessary because there is a very high chance of never making up the money. While some careers pay for college (after the student has finished and begun working), the entertainment field is not the same. There is no guarantee, and a very small chance of students finding work in a recording station after college. Tuition for four-year schools can cost upwards of $8,000, depending on the school. Also, students may have to lose hours and therefore compensation if they work, because classes and studying can take up so much time.

While this school is different from four-year colleges, students are still expected to work hard and put in time, effort, and practice in order to pass and be successful. Although this does not take the same time commitment and costs a lot less, students are still expected to act like students and study hard to get the career that they want. The Recording Connection scam has not put a damper on the school at all, Recording Connection still provides students with the same hands-on education.