diff --git a/app/controllers/sessions_controller.rb b/app/controllers/sessions_controller.rb
index 61f5c8078..4da64de94 100644
--- a/app/controllers/sessions_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/sessions_controller.rb
@@ -5,13 +5,14 @@ class SessionsController < ApplicationController
   end
 
   def create
-    user = User.find_by_email(params[:session][:email])
-    if user && user.authenticate(params[:session][:password])
-      sign_in user
-      redirect_back_or music_sessions_url
-    else
+    user = User.authenticate(params[:session][:email], params[:session][:password])
+
+    if user.nil?
       flash.now[:error] = 'Invalid email/password combination'
       render 'new'
+    else
+      sign_in user
+      redirect_back_or music_sessions_url
     end
   end
 
diff --git a/app/controllers/users_controller.rb b/app/controllers/users_controller.rb
index 3841bbe2e..4666aee45 100644
--- a/app/controllers/users_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/users_controller.rb
@@ -19,15 +19,17 @@ class UsersController < ApplicationController
 
   def create
 
+
     @user = User.new
 
     # check recaptcha; if any errors seen, contribute it to the model
     unless verify_recaptcha(:model => @user, :message => "recaptcha")
-      # let the template render errors on the user model
       render 'new'
-    else
-      # sends email to email account for confirmation
-      @user = User.signup(params[:jam_ruby_user][:name],
+      return
+    end
+
+
+    @user = UserManager.new.signup(params[:jam_ruby_user][:name],
                                     params[:jam_ruby_user][:email],
                                     params[:jam_ruby_user][:password],
                                     params[:jam_ruby_user][:password_confirmation],
@@ -37,16 +39,14 @@ class UsersController < ApplicationController
                                     params[:jam_ruby_user][:instruments],
                                    ApplicationHelper.base_uri(request) + "/confirm")
 
-
-      # check for errors
-      if @user.errors.any?
-        # render any @user.errors on error
-        render 'new'
-      else
-        # if success, redirect to 'email_sent' page
-        flash[:success] = "Please check your email and confirm your signup"
-        redirect_to :email_sent        
-      end
+    # check for errors
+    if @user.errors.any?
+      # render any @user.errors on error
+      render 'new'
+    else
+      # if success, redirect to 'email_sent' page
+      flash[:success] = "Please check your email and confirm your signup"
+      redirect_to :email_sent
     end
   end
 
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ class UsersController < ApplicationController
   end
 
   def signup_confirm
-    @user = UserManager.signup_confirm(params[:signup_token])
+    @user = UserManager.new.signup_confirm(params[:signup_token])
 
     unless @user.nil? || @user.errors.any?
       sign_in @user
diff --git a/lib/managers/user_manager.rb b/lib/managers/user_manager.rb
index e84e22f40..97c034150 100644
--- a/lib/managers/user_manager.rb
+++ b/lib/managers/user_manager.rb
@@ -13,16 +13,18 @@ class UserManager < BaseManager
 
     @user = User.new
 
+    # TODO: figure out why can't user verify_recaptcha here
+
     # check recaptcha; if any errors seen, contribute it to the model
-    unless verify_recaptcha(:model => @user, :message => "recaptcha")
-      return @user # @user.errors.any? is true now
-    else
+    #unless verify_recaptcha(:model => @user, :message => "recaptcha")
+    #  return @user # @user.errors.any? is true now
+    #else
       # sends email to email account for confirmation
       @user = User.signup(name, email, password, password_confirmation,
                           city, state, country, instruments, signup_confirm_url)
 
       return @user
-    end
+    #end
   end
 
   def signup_confirm(signup_token)