NFC New Face Connection - Stone Siegel, A TRUE RIP-OFF EVENT!! They steal, lie, cheat, destroy dreams, hurt your self esteem! Do NOT TRUST THEM or GIVE THEM YOUR MONEY!! Phoenix Arizona
I went to an NFC event with great hopes and dreams, and I believed them when they said that their event was just like other talent conventions, but for a lot less cash. I WAS WRONG!! It is true that they cost a lot less than other events, but the cold hard fact is that the reason they cost less is because the event is WORTHLESS!! I went, I competed in the so called competition, and was told that I had great potential and that I was likely to receive a call back, but I went home and waited for the call and nothing.
Please to not give them anything because the money you pay only goes to Stone Siegel who could not make it as model, and now is trying to make it from taking the hopes, and money from those who wish to make it in the entertainment industry. NFC promises a lot and delivers nothing, so save yourself and pay more for a real convention.
Kate
Phoeniz, Arizona
U.S.A.
2 Updates & Rebuttals
Stone
Chicago,Illinois,
United States of America
Note From Stone Siegel
#3REBUTTAL Individual responds
Tue, September 21, 2010
It has come to my attention on several occasions that a report was filed against me on this website.
It is true that I owned the company New Face Connection and we tried to do a good and valuable service to up and coming new talent by providing an inexpensive venue for which models, actors, singers and dancers could come and participate in industry workshops hosted by top agents, A&R people and other professionals. This event also gave opportunity to the participants to audition in front of the agents for possible contracts.
I was the owner of the company and had employees who acted on behalf of the company when selling participation in the convention. I did not speak with every single person who came through the door.
It was our policy to never guarantee anything as it is impossible to do so. If an employee did this, it is unfortunate, but not a reflection on me personally or my name.
I am inclined to believe that this complaint is a result of someone who did not get what they wanted out of the event and goes to prove that everyone will not be satisfied with the results. However, the ability to make a report on this website without any facts being checked before posting can have detrimental results for the company or owner of the company.
Ultimately, the complaint is against the company. I did not personally pocket or profit from anybody's money to attend this event and in fact, I refunded money to several participants who did not have their expectations met during the event and I even let many of them attend at no cost. I lost more than $150,000 out of pocket from the expenses of New Face Connection and dissolved the company thereafter.
I tried to provide a good service in an industry full of scams and it is evident that everyone can not come away pleased, but at the end of the day, if the complaint is against the company, it should be on this website as such and not include my name. In addition, the report filed includes a personal attack on me and my career that is false. I was indeed a model for top names in the business for 18 years, which is neither here nor there, but does represent that the person who filed this report did not have accurate facts and made a personal attack on me.
I feel bad that the results from her participation in the event were not to her expectations, but her claims in her report are inaccurate as well.
This person also mentions that the event is worthless, where in fact, several people went on to sign with agencies and had tremendous potential as a result of this event. Unfortunately, after my decision to exit this industry, I did not follow up on any of the success stories to see where they are now.
It is also unfortunate that Kate did not address her concerns with me personally and decided to express her disappointment in a public forum. Had she contacted me personally, perhaps, I could have refunded her money as well. Although, I must agree with my former employee who posted a rebuttal on my behalf, thank you by the way, the only Kate I remember was also a former independently contracted employee.
Nonetheless, New face Connection did its best to create an opportunity. If it failed to succeed for all participants, I am sorry, but no guarantees were made and the idea of the event was to provide a forum for prospective talent to meet industry professionals and learn about the business before investing greater amounts of money to discover whether they should or should not pursue a career as a model, actor, singer or dancer.
Stone Siegel
Mike
Palm Coast,Florida,
U.S.A.
Rebuttal to Kate
#3UPDATE Employee
Sun, August 17, 2008
In regards to the Rip Off report filed by "Kate" in Phoenix, AZ.
I can say a few things:
First, there was only one New Face Connection event held, ever. It was in Phoenix, AZ in late 2003. The event flew in about 25 top agents from around the world.
Secondly, I know factually that Stone Siegel put more than $100,000 of his own money to produce this event and lost every penny of it.
Whatever money contestants paid to participate in the event went towards, in conjunction with Stone Siegel's $100,000+, paying for the advertising, promotions, staff, printing, hotel ballroom and meeting space, hotel rooms for the agents, airfare for the agents and payment for agents conducting workshops/seminars among many other expenses.
By no means was this event a rip off and by no means did any money go to Stone Siegel.
The purpose of New Face Connection was to provide a venue for people who had desires to break into the model & talent industry to participate in a weekend of industry related workshops and seminars conducted by the decision makers themselves before being convinced to take classes or attend a modeling school that would produce nothing.
New Face Connection also provided the opportunity for attendee's to audition in front of these agents.
NFC, never guaranteed a career to it's participants, only the opportunity to learn and audition.
In addition, decisions and call-backs were made and held during the course of the weekend. So what "Kate" says about going home to wait for a phone call is completely false.
I believe her statement to be nothing more than a retaliation for a poor result from her participation in the event.
Lastly, "Kate" makes a statement about Stone Siegel not making it as a model himself. I wonder where she gets her information and facts from? I certainly feel that I do not need to attest to his successes as a model or anything else for that matter in this forum.
"Kate" sounds like she is lashing out towards others based on a result or disappointment of her own.
I am sure that if she was disappointed with her performance and results from alleged participation in New Face Connection and approached Stone Siegel himself, he probably would have refunded her money out of his pocket because that is the type of person he is.
One more thing, the majority of the participants paid less than $200 to attend the event.
Of course, I am sorry that "Kate" did not receive any further action based on her alleged participation in an honorably intended event, but at least she did not go elsewhere to spend the more amount of money on another event and still receive the same results. I wonder what comments she would have to make if she did?
In fact, I can't recall a participant by the name of "Kate". But there was a fellow employee with that name.