Celebrity Spotlight: Greg Siebel

“I ended up being…where I am, not in spite of who I am, but because of who I am.”

Greg Siebel, model, actor, and shop manager at LA Ink’s High Voltage tattoo shop, has been a part of the industry for 15 years. I first saw Greg on the cover of the Tilly’s catalog last year, and never forgot the ad. He is one of few models that has ever stood out to me. During a trip to L.A., I met up with Greg at the High Voltage shop to interview him about his modeling and acting career, as well as his part on TLC’s hit show, LA Ink.

With a look and style all his own, and a personality to match, it is no surprise the Greg’s popularity has only grown. Over the years, Greg’s career has taken him all over, allowing him to be a part of high fashion photo shoots, numerous runway shows, national television ads, films, and television shows. Greg has worked with some of the best in the fashion world, such as Fabien Baron, Mario Testino, and Giselle Bündchen, to name a few. With such a successful career in the industry, and a bright future ahead of him, there’s no telling where Greg’s career will take him.

P: What got you into modeling?
G: It was kind of by accident. I lived in New York City and I was young. I always had a super outrageous style. People started asking me to do stuff and get involved with different projects. I really loved doing it and being on stage. At first it was because of the crazy look that I had, that people would ask me to be a part of things, and then it eventually translated into being a career.
P: How long have you modeled?
G: About 15 years.
P: What was your first modeling job?
G: The first modeling job I had was a runway show for Club USA. We were all in stilettos and it was with male and female models.
P: What did you prior to modeling?
G: I worked at clubs in New York. I was always a go-go dancer, a promoter, a DJ, and a bartender. I basically did every aspect of club life.
P: What has been the most exciting thing that has happened to you in your career?
G: I was taking acting classes and I was on my lunch break. I lived in the East village, and was hanging out in the West village, which I never really did. I ran into a friend of mine who asked to take a Polaroid of me for a casting he was doing for a photo shoot. I had totally forgotten about it after, and he ended up calling me back to be a part of it.
It ended up being an all weekend shoot in The Hamptons for W magazine with Giselle Bündchen and other top models. I ended up being in 9 of the 16 shots from the spread. The photo shoot was done near October, so it had a Halloween theme to it. A lot of the models wore masks in the shots, but Fabien Baron, the photographer for the shoot, said the mask was too obvious for me, and had me be shirtless and expose my tattoos. It was really cool, because I was one of the only recognizable models in the spread.
P: You said you originally came from upstate New York and later moved to New York City. How did you end up in Los Angeles?
G: I came out to L.A. a bunch of times because I have a lot of friends that live here, that seemed to love it and be doing really well. After visiting a few times, I decided to just come out here and try it. I had an agency call me 3 times, which is unheard of, while I was still living in New York, asking me if I was in California yet. I had an agent before I even came here.
P: What are some acting jobs that you’ve done?
G: I did Law & Order in New York City, an independent movie, and most recently I did CSI a few seasons ago. I have a small part in Alvin and the Chipmunks where I play a fashion photographer. I’ve also been in a ton of commercials. What’s really funny is, the first national ad I ever did was actually for Always panty liners, where I played a rock star.
P: What designers have you worked with and which was your favorite?
G: My favorite designer is Agatha Blois, one of friends, who owns New York City Custom Leather.  She’s one of my favorite to work with because she is a friend, and creates custom pieces for me. I also really liked working for Andrew Buckler and being a part of his fashion shows. Tilly’s people were awesome and so great to work with. I was in two of their catalogs and two in-between season photo shoots.
P: Ideally, who would you like to work for?
G: I would love to work with Vivienne Westwood. They’re opening a store in L.A., and I’m dying, because I’m probably not going to have any money left when it does.
P: Who is your favorite designer?
G: My favorite designer is Ann Demeulemeester. She’s part of this group of designers called Antwerp Six, who all graduated from the same school. She’s my absolute favorite, and one of those designers that I could have one of each of her things and wear everything and love it all.
P: How have your tattoos helped or hurt you?
G: I always think that they’ve made me more unique. There’s so much stuff out there in L.A. and so many people that look the same. I don’t think they have ever hindered me from getting a job. The good thing about the way that my tattoos are designed is, you wouldn’t even know I really have them because they can easily be covered up. For the Buckler job, I don’t even think I would have gotten it without the tattoos, because he loves tattoos and I was put into outfits that kept showcasing them.
It’s totally not my style, but I did an Ed Hardy fashion show, and it was actually one of the most fun fashion shows I’ve done. They told me to do whatever I wanted and be so “rock-n-roll” and go crazy. I got to be wild, and I threw my sweatshirt down and gave a rock sign. Janice Dickinson was in the audience and screaming out loud, so she was a great person to have there.
P: What do you prefer more? Photo shoots, runway, commercials,or acting?
G: I love all of them, and they’re all so different. Runway shows are great, but they’re over so fast. I love acting job, because it is a project you’re involved with for a longer period of time. When you work on a movie for a few weeks, or a month, those people become like your extended family. Photo shoots will usually be for only a day. I love being involved with projects and working with other people, so it’s all really fun.
P: How did you get involved with LA Ink?
G: My really good friend Adrienne, one of the shop managers, was already working here when the show started. I was working this fashion job downtown during market week at a showroom. I was wearing this crazy outfit with a long white sweater when Adrienne called me and told me to come down and meet Kat, because they needed someone to work at the shop. I came down and met her, and she said she loved me and loved my outfit. I was thinking, I’m coming down to this tattoo shop in this wild, fashiony outfit, and she can’t even see my tattoos, is she gonna want me to work there? We hit it off, and I ended up starting the very next day. I came in to replace Pixie on the show. After the season was finished being shot, they asked me to stay on off-season and work at the shop, and it’s been the most fun job I’ve ever had.
P: How has working on the show impacted your career?
G: I don’t think that it really has. I’m just being myself. They do say that if you want to be an actor, being on a reality show is the worst thing that can happen. But, I think that is kind of outdated. It depends on what you’re doing. This isn’t the kind of show where people embarrass themselves. I’m working here as a shop manager. I’m not doing a contest, or swallowing bugs, or dancing on top of a table. I think, if anything, people recognize me a lot more, and that can only help. Going back to your tattoo question, I ended up being on TV, and where I am, not in spite of who I am, but because of who I am.
P: Do you have any advice for aspiring models?
G: Don’t wear cologne to castings. Wear deodorant to castings.
P: Where do you hope your career will take you in the future?
G: My ultimate fantasy is to be a character on an edgy HBO or Showtime show. I want to be on one of those shows that are more like a movie, than a television show, where I can play a wild and gritty character.

Greg is with the Lemon Lime Agency in Hollywood, California. Be sure to catch him on TLC’s LA Ink when the new season premieres August 11th at 10/9c.

*A special thanks to Kat Von D and the High Voltage team for letting us use the shop for the interview.

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