EMBRACING ARTISTS SCAM XEN SIA SCAM ACHIEVIUM NYC XENIA SIAMAS SCAM EMBRACING ARTISTS IS AN OUT RIGHT SCAM AND XEN SIA IS A FRAUD SHE ONLY WANTS YOUR $$$$$ new york New York

I am an open book. I am an aspiring actor/model in NYC with no ties to this company in any way shaope or form. I saw an add on craigslist similar to the one this mom mentioned and went to the location Xen provided. I was given a free training course and some materials and found Xen to be a kind and generousd person. AT THE END OF THE SEMINAR SHE OFFERS THE CLASS RESOURCES. Printing, headshots, etc but she's not "in bed" with the local print shop, she's simply offering the same print shop she uses and they actually give you a discount. The headshots are amazing and very reasonably priced but again, it's a guy she uses and it's just a recomendation.

 The woman who is leaving this slanderous review clearly is a concerned mom who heard about these resources and I get what she's saying but Xen never pushed anything on me and at the end she asked me to give her a big hug, wished me luck and I left without spending a dime. In fact, I've reached out to Xen to critique my headshots since then and she did, for free. She even put me in touch with some other resources and didn't charge me a penny. All in all, she's honestly helped my career and gave me great advice. Xen is awesome and I take personal offense to this soccor mom who is dragging her name through the mud just because Xen recomended professional service s that cost money. Again, Xen never pushed anything on us, she just let us know of some great deals in the city and I for one appreciated that. Best of luck to all the other actors and models out there! Stay positive! Stay informed! And I DO recomend Xen and her services, don't take this "smothers" advice, it's erroneous.

 I just wanted to pipe in here. I have attended one of Xen Sia's "free" classes out of curiosity. I was very nervous because I was scared it was indeed a scam. I truely feel that Xen did provide beginner tools to actors. She did provide specific trades, materials, and books to help aspiring actors submit themselves without an agent. She even provided details on how to go about reaching out to casting companies and agents. She outlined and even provided a cover sheet. She explained how to submit via hard copy and via email.

There were many informative strategies and lessons she did provide in this class free of charge. Speciic casting agents, casting agents and scholls do teach what she tought on how to Market yourself as an actor for quite a lot of money. She mentioned she started this organization to give back to the acting community and that it helps her with her taxes end of year, which I can understand. She even explained how each actor is a company and explained how much it would cost an actor to get started and she explained a logical way to begin even if you didn't have alot of money. In acting photos are indeed what a casting agent or agent will judge each client on before their talent.

Everything she taught is VERY true. She gave each student hope that they could get work whether it be catelogs or background word to start out. It's always nice to have someone cheering you on saying there is work out there so it was a positive class. Now I can see where Pat could find this as a scam because the way the class ended of course a student would ask do you have any recoomandations for headshots? Instead of her giving several names which I thought she would she then went into a semi sales pitch for this photographer she must have a relationship with. I blieve she is helping people but definitly getting a cut back for signing students up to this specific photgrpaher. She does tell students its not manditory and that if they are not interested they can leave. Xen then shows photos that the photogrpaher does at a discounted price ith hair and make-up included to help get you started and that  all acros need about 4 different styles to submit to different categories, whether commercial, film etc... Thats very true, howver I didn' think the photos were anything special but it is a source that you need as an actor. So it is something she offers to the students if tey are interested in seriously startingout  career. My problem with this is that photos are something personal and each actor should identify with the photographer and be able to get your personality out so making the descion  of putting a deposit down that day is a very hard thing for many people. She asks students if they are interested just to leave $20.00 so they can get a photoshoot date from now till December 2014. She also mentions the $20.00 is refundable within the first couple of days. It wasn't a large sum of money so each student can then think about it if they want otherwise you can get it back. She does state that if you put that $20 down you get a $700.00 discount from what the photographer normally charges plus hair and make-up done.

She also indicates that she is there every step of the way to choose the photos for you etc...The photos had a different colored background for each different look which i feel is boring and I like outside photos frankely. She even showed examples of her photos that she uses and her are WAY more nicer then the ones provided by this photographer she works with within the agency. Do I think Xen is  scam? I can see where someone may think so...but I truely think she teaches this class to help people and probably herself if people do go with her consulting. Does she forse you into anything. No! She is only suggestioning an easy way to get started quickly trying to submit and market yourself. I actually did find her class extremely helpful if was just a little bit of a let down that she had to end the class with taking deposits...even if it was $20.00 because I knew people would view the class as potentially being a scam. I personally think its kind of nice what she is doing for people even if she is making a little commision if students book with the photographer she reccomends. My advise is go to the class its definitely worth it and you will learn something. If you want help with photos stay for the final 10 minutes to hear her out..if you are not interested in photos leave and find your own on your own time. If you are unsure about photos and you like the deal she suggests give her the $20.00 think about it if you are not interested ask for your money back or let them keep the $20.00. There is a specific payment plan that they do if you are interested and it may help some actors because not all photographer do that. It just depends on each persons situation, what they are looking for etc... There was no pressure it was i beleive a tool that if teaching this class kind of went hand in hand with. Again is it a scam I suppose it depends on what you think a scam is....I think it helps all parties involved. But at the end of the day there was no pressure tand if chosen to move forward with  photos it was just a tool to help actors able to work.