Complaint Review: East Coast Starz - Clayton North Carolina

I've been in this business as a photographer for many many years and am also a model mom in NYC. And what you have to realize in that not everyone is model material nor do they live within the proximaty of a market area. Please read my blog article at www.catherinefiehn.blogspot.com  Don't pay to walk, let your kids watch others walk instead.   I've know Stacie for many years and she is a wealth of advice, a model mom and a well known stylist in the children's modeling indusry in NYC. She is the real thing. If you want your kids to model you can send snapshots to agencies or go to open calls or submit online these days. But I will tell you one thing. It can be a "who you know" business at times and Stacie is a great person to know. You can submit to agencies and come up for the summer. Stacie events are full of working NYC models and some kids who just want to have fun! That is what is important!!  NOT A SCAM but not a sure thing either (that depends on you and your child).

EastCoastStarz has 2 different types of events.Starz & Stargazer.

Nobody is guaranteed to break into modeling industry. 

Real agencies do attend  the larger event Starz and have meet and greets.

Not everyone gets a follow up call you have to be realistic

But a lot of kids have been successful from these opportunities 

Stacie does know the agents she is more than a model mom

She is  top sought after Ny kid stylist

To get a meeting in person with an agency is a great opportunity.

All the kids are kind and friendly.

It is a fashion runway show

crowns for all? yes because kids love them! (@big show not Stargazer)

It is not a scam!!!!

Kids have a blast!!!

We have done at least 6 events  & are signed up to do Stargazer in Dec

Here you  get outfit , professional photos  with hair & makeup for  lilltle over a $100

Honestly photos cost more than this whole Stargazer  package

The large event  costs more But is way more to it. 2 days of fun team competitions winners get day in NYC with a pink limo as a ride!

* this where you can meet top NY agencies

Do your research look on fb- they have tons of satisfied clients who are already top NY child models and  they too keep going back for the fun experience Lauren & Stacie host at both of these events.

All continue to return For the Fun- Friends- Experience!!!!

Not only to break into show biz..this is not  just what Starz is .It is also confidence building. Friends.Fun!!!

.

Nobody can promise success as a model.Not even a top NY agency. Be realistic!!!

It is true, I just found this by accident and gosh this report hit the nail on the head. That road show is a rip off, all you do is spend and spend. My child never got a dam thing out of it.  Starz is in no way any help to any potential model.  If you want to model do go there. Stacy is a fast talker who wants to be 16 again and its sad that she is the way she is. Lauren is the shy and behind the scenes person with the money, all of your money.  its nothing more than a glorified Pageant.  Yes the girls look good but for the price its better that you book a weekend stay on your own with a group of your friends, you'll have a better time and not feel robbed. Complete waste of time, Go search for your own reputable scouts starz can not do anything for you

My daughter has competed in Starz and will compete in future Starz events.  Nowhere does Starz claim to be a modeling agency.  It is a runway competition where the kids can go, have fun, and make new friends.  Yes, there are agencies that attend. Each contestant has the opportunity to meet with the agency for the possibilities of having representation. And yes, children can be scouted there. However, it isn't promised that EVERY child will! Stacie and Lauren really put a lot into each show and make the girls all feel like models, no matter if they are 1 or 16! They make sure each child goes home with a crown and a swag bag.  Nobody leaves that stage empty handed, which is great, especially for the little ones because they all receive a crown.  It is not a rip off. Sounds to me that the person who originated this post is just an uphappy mother or father whose child did not win.  Not everyone can win the Starz title.  It depends on how well the girl does in all of the areas of competition.  My child didn't win the first time, did that discourage us and have me sit down and write a Rip Off Report? No! I registered her for the next event, and now for the event coming up again in May.  Also, Star Gazer isn't what this person puts it out to be.  You pay your deposit, receive a gift card that can be redeemed for your outfit.  If the outfit is only $100, that is all you will spend.  Nobody needs to spend $350, unless you personally want to.  Instead of trying to give Starz a bad name, maybe try to learn to be a team player and be happy for the other contestants! 

 I am a mom of a teen who competed in this competition two times.  The first time she did not win or place, but we loved the way this show was run, and how it was different than other pageants.  We went back a second time, not expecting much, and we did win.  The win was just an extra plus.  This show has to be one of the most exciting shows we have ever experienced.  My daughter did many glitz pageants when she was younger and many of them called themselves "model search pageants, etc.... it never went further than that though.  This competition does offer real opportunities.  My daughter  did book 2 modeling jobs and one was a paid runway show in NYC.    I really loved the fact that East Coast Starz offers interview because that is something that all kids need to learn in real life.  You will also leave the competition with wonderful photos for your portfolio.    Both of us actually preferred this competition over other pageants we have done.  The directors, Lauren Handler and Stacie Fitzgerald work hard to make each show even better than the last one.  I am glad that we found  Starz and kind of sad that my teen has aged out, and will no longer be able to compete anymore.  This is one show that any person involved in pageants should definitely try.

I took my daughter to Starz 4 and it was amazing. We were not promised anything. While my daughter did not win or got scouted, she had an amazing time. They do not promise that the children will "make it" in the industry or that they will get scouted. It is definitely a possibility, but doesn't happen for everyone.

I know for a fact how hard the ladies (Stacie Fitzgerald and Lauren Handler) work for the kids. I see their constant efforts on Facebook and at their events.

I can't wait to take my daughter to a Star Gazer event. Yes, you do have to purchase an outfit, but there are different prices. Then you get to model, get pictures, keep the outfit and great memories.

Too bad people misunderstand or do not read all the details. Starz rocks!

We just went to our first East Coast Starz event last weekend, November 9th and 10th, 2013.  We decided to give it a try because my daughter likes fashion and loves to dress up. 

We didn't spend our money ($400) to go there to get picked up by an agency, nor were we mislead into thinking that we would be picked up.  That being said, my daughter, who has no experience with modeling, was chosen for a follow up interview with several reputable New York based model management companies and picked for a photo shoot with a great children's photographer.  I don't want to get everyone's hopes up by naming names, but we really had no idea this was even possible.  We also received a headshot from the photo portion of the event that we are very proud of.  There is too much to list one by one, and I felt compelled to set the record straight about East Coast Starz. 

My point is, the reason's to do it are for the experience.  They treat the girls nicely, they make friends, and they build confidence by getting on stage in front of the crowd.  You can learn about the industry from parents that have been there (pageants, modeling, TV, films, etc..) and come out of it having learned a good deal if you wish.  I am glad we did it, and my daughter is already asking about Take 7. 

If you are going there to get found, it is definitely possible, but there is no promise. 

I do not find this to be true. We paid a small fee ($100) to attend, and that amount could be put towards an outfit, but we were never made to buy anything. Some were low cost, some were high cost, but there was no pressure to do so.

We never expected this to be a place to be discovered, either. What we read in the information was it was about the experience and fun. Friends were made and it's something many of us do, every year. Just fun.

They do have connections in the industry, and have gotten kids into the industry, with their connections. This is a model pageant, plain and simple. Many pageants, and events like this, are scouted by agents.

People who want an agent, can just submit to one, but kids have also been found for the industry, this way. That being said, I have never seen stated that they promise you anything more than is advertised.

We have never done the event, but have many friends who have, and all of the info is out there, about it. I disagree, with the poster. It's not a rip off, but with anything, where you are entering your child, read all the info and ask questions, so there is no surprise.

Thanks.