http://www.adultfyi.com/read.php?ID=36770

Yes, Joel Lawrence, head of Gold Star Modeling, is currently living in Miami but not for the reasons that have been suspected.

Right now there's a thread on www.xxxporntalk.com suggesting a variety of conjecture why he might be, but Lawrence tells me he had to go to the Sunshine state essentially to clean up the mess Eli Thomas left him with.

“I had to reconstitute the branch. You let somebody go, I’m not going to let my business go.”

There had been big fanfare about Eli’s coming aboard and establishing a Florida branch of Gold Star Modeling.

“The way I had Eli operate out of Florida was more of a sub-contractor,” Lawrence explains.

“I tried to franchise the agency in three different places- Florida, New York and Europe and the results were the same. The girls got work and I never actually got any money. The franchise idea would have allowed me to expand globally, quickly, and it was a role of the dice to throw money in and trust people that I knew were a little iffy.”

Lawrence is candid enough to say the experiment failed miserably.

“At the end of the day I could not get people to send money back and handle things in a proper way.”

Lawrence says a lot of people got the impression Eli was either an owner or employee but such was not the case and there was no termination. Lawrence simply told him the subcontracting gig was up because of breach of contract and that he owed Lawrence a bunch of money.

“It’s typical Eli,” states Lawrence. “He owes me a shitload of money. Everyone told me this would happen but I got a little over aggressive and it cost me. It was a bad year to get over aggressive as it turned out.”

Otherwise Lawrence says Gold Star Modeling is fine, contrary to other rumors.

In the wake of Hurricane Eli, Lawrence has acquired new Florida digs and has put together a staff.

“I’m going to be here about two-thirds of the time for the next six months. Though I’m not moving [permanently] to Florida.”

According to Lawrence he had a sense almost from the get go he was going to have to replace Thomas.

“But it’s kind of hard to do long distance.”

Lawrence concedes that the past year has been a hard one and that he made his share of mistakes in dealing with the money crunch.

Lawrence believed that had the franchise idea worked out from the beginning he could have done it in every porn-friendly city in the world within two years.

“It was a great idea where I would not have had to put any money in those places and gotten a third of the income,” he continues.

“But the problem ended up being that I picked the wrong people, then when the recession hit, I had to handle LA and deal with restructuring LA- I started paying commissions because the old business model of waiting for the phone to ring just doesn’t work anymore.”

Because of that, Lawrence said he didn’t have the time to oversee the franchises properly and that allowed those people to run hog wild and that sort of collapsed the whole thing. It was one of those circumstances where you’d think even bad people would see a good deal. But it turns out that bad people are bad people, so call me stupid.”

Lawrence compares his experience with Thomas to the parable of the Scorpion and the Turtle [or its variations].

“Sure as shit he stings me, but it’s hard for me to realize that somebody could be that stupid.”

Otherwise, Lawrence says things are back to normal and he plans on “suing the bejeezus” out of Eli.

Lawrence also says if Eli had just been a stupid guy it would have been one thing, but the problems were infinitely more serious.

“Of course everyone tried to warn me but I forged ahead. Some times you role the dice and it works out. Some times it doesn’t. I was rolling to be number one but at least I’m number three right now.”

Lawrence estimates that he lost at least $100,000 in the venture.

“But it’ll all come back.”

I also asked Lawrence what gives with the Adult Talent Agency Trade Association [ATATA] because that was part of the XPT thread as well.

“My impression is that since I’ve been gone, good things are not happening with ATATA,” Lawrence answers.

“It was going and doing quite well, but there have been problems. I think it will continue, but they haven’t been following my plan. It’s hard to tell which way it’ll go, though I'll eventually come back and resurrect it."

Hmmm, if this Eli guy hasn't strangled his computer, like he allegedly does his whores, I'd like to see his response to all your hatin.

Is Florida the porn version of the old west? The place you go to after you burn all your bridges in CA? Where those that can't deal with civilization retreat to? Where a select few with that have functioning brains make boatloads of $$ off all the rubes, wackos and yokels?

Can't Donny Long and Eli go into business together and cancel each other out?

No, I did not know the whole Florida progeny of when Eli begat the Donny Long.

Alright, if it is an "I told you so" then it makes sense.

I have no problem with the BangBros people.

Good one brutha.

http://www.xbiz.com/news/video/95148

Alternative Modeling Downsizes, Relocates

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. — Adult talent management firm Alternative Modeling announced today a reorganization within the company and a downsizing of its Florida offices.

The company moved out of its 4,000-square-foot office and webcam studio due to what owner Eli Thomas is calling a restructuring “to accommodate the current industry climate.”

Thomas cited a recent office robbery as contributing to the move as well.

“What’s happening in the industry now is not the usual summer slowdown,” Thomas told XBIZ. “This is the slowest period we’ve had since we started our business seven years ago.”

The firm introduced two new models available for immediate bookings — veteran performer Mason Storm and newcomer Brittany.

“It’s great to have Mason back, she’s a great asset to have on our roster and Brittany is going to do great in the Florida market,” Thomas said.

The company added that despite the recent market downturn businesses would be wise to take advantage of this time to become “lean and mean.”

“We are more focused now on profits and acting more efficiently. We might have to make an extra 20 phone calls a day, but it does make a difference for the company,” Thomas told XBIZ.

Alternative Modeling was founded six years ago by Thomas and works with a number of key decisionmakers in the adult industry’s magazine, website, DVD, cable and hotel/motel pay-per-view genres while working to recruit new talent.

The company will continue to maintain its Studio City, Calif., office.

**************************

http://www.tonybatman.com/2008/09/gold-star-modeling-taking-over-the-agency-world/

Gold Star Modeling Taking Over The Agency World?

CHATSWORTH, Calif. — Adult talent management agency Gold Star Modeling has merged with adult talent management agencies Blue Max Models, based in New York, and Alternative Modeling, based in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
“In essence, those companies have ceased to exist,” Gold Star Modeling owner Joel Lawrence told XBIZ. “They are branches of Gold Star Modeling now, with all the functions and services that the L.A. branch provides, including housing and transportation for the talent. They are both already functioning. We are bringing, roughly, two girls a week to each of the two offices, so six to eight girls a month right now.”

Lawrence called the merger a win-win for the talent.

“They can work in Florida or New York, and then come to L.A.,” he said. “It’s a win-win for local producers too, because they can deal with a bigger company, with more agents and more services as well as more talent coming through their state on a more consistent basis — and more high-end talent as well. It’s also a win for producers in Los Angeles, because the local offices can agent out makeup artists, locations, equipment and technicians in Florida or New York. They will now be able to easily go and shoot in those other regions.

“It’s a win-win-win for everyone. The agents in the branches now have more talent that is coming in from L.A., and their local talent has more places to go. It wins for the agents, it wins for the talent and it wins for the producers.”

Lawrence said that the merger could encourage more production outside of Los Angeles.

“It’s hard for producers to spring up in New York if they don’t have a steady stream of talent,” he said. “It will develop those regions to further them as a source of production.”

Alternative Modeling’s Eli Thomas told XBIZ that the merger has been in discussion for a while.

“It’s been in conversation for the better part of three weeks,” Thomas said. “It’s a very exciting move for all of us. I’ve been working on building a national organization, with an office in L.A., so this is the best of both worlds for me.

“Joel and I are very excited about the merger between Alternative Modeling and Gold Star Modeling. Each one of the geographies — L.A. and Florida — get our undivided attention, so it is a benefit for everybody. My talent working under Joel in L.A., and his talent working for me in the South Florida market I know so well.”

Florida-based production companies include Bang Bros., Reality Kings and Score Group, plus other producers.

“There are about 30 companies that shoot regularly in South Florida,” Thomas said. “A third of them shoot every day. A third of them shoot two or three days a week, and the other third shoot, like, once a week.”

Blue Max Models’ Joe Max told XBIZ he is happy with the merger.

“I’m excited, thrilled,” Max said. “I think it’s going to be great. Joel is bringing 120 girls, his knowledge of the industry and his connections as far as L.A. is concerned. As a nationwide agency we have a lot more to offer producers and talent.

“In the last two years production in New York has gotten bigger and bigger, and a lot of producers are flying in from L.A. they want to shoot in New York and get something a little different.”

Representatives of the newly-merged Gold Star Modeling will be at the company’s booth at Exxxotica New York this weekend, including Lawrence and Max, and performers Jaelyn Fox, Asa Akira, Rhyse and Rhylee Richards, Felony, Jacky Joy, Tina Tink, Sasha Hollander, Nikita and Summer Holiday.

why is goldstar merging with alternative (alternative to atractive ) models if joel was just complaining the other day that eli ripped him off?

Dino, isn't it time you prepare a nice (updated) overview of the 'talent' agencies? Some sort of organigram with a few names with be ok as well.

Lemme guess, you were a professional driver for Eli, too?

Did any other whores give you the Herp?