CD Models and Talent CDMT "The company they warn Models and their Parents about" Rip Off company Mount Pleasant, South Carolina

I unfortunately don't have the time to write a 20 page novel, however, I will state that cdmt stole from me and from others. As I stated to a woman named Sue, it was a terrible experience as I watched a small auditorium of people excitedly jump for joy while I watched Cory and Rebecca "rake in the dough" with a big smile on their faces. My co-talents, my friends, and my acquiantances signed up for this "showcase" and we all felt pressured into a two week away decision deadline. After signing up for it, we all recieved several e-mails with the same exact guidelines, only different deadlines. It became blatantly obvious that this was meant to feel pressured so that this married duo could thrive off of other peoples' trust, hope, excitement, and money. Did I mention the money was non-refundable by ANY means? They also try to name drop Richard F's name, who by the way NEVER shows up to one of their events! Whatever schemes this agency is trying to pull, your intelligent talent has caught on and dropped you already.

I knew paying for the event was "silly", but I guess I wanted to trust them so much that I was blinded by my own optimism. They also try to charge their talent 20%?! Industry leaders don't charge 20%! 

I DO work in the industry, and am very happy with the work that I get. The people I work with all agree that this "agency" is bogus. I feel sorry for cdmt and the people that stick with you guys. To the people whom think that some responses that they don't agree with "sound angry", please understand that some of us ARE upset. We are frustrated because we feel taken advantage of. Why would some of us feel taken advantage of if we worked hard in the industry, but got no work? We wouldn't be mad at our agents! It wouldn't be their faults if they were getting us auditions/work/keeping in contact with us to let us know no one is looking for that right now! We feel angry because we DID get taken advantage of. This company is looking for sleezy ways to bank off of people! They make people feel comfortable by getting them to pay for a "safe" environment (the showcase) that appears to be what inexperienced people might assume the industry is like. This is a load of "bullcrap".

 I wish that cdmt would own up to their deceit and give me my money back. I know they never will, because they have no backbone and no care for the destruction of people's well-being. If this Richard character is Richard Almes, I could see why cdmt would desire to influence him to compose responses. They're using him too. My, my, how it all circulates with Cory and Rebecca. Also, to whomever assumes that anyone writing a gloomy response toward this agency is trying to "discourage people's hopes and dreams" in the industry needs to understand that just because an agency is now under the microscope for some dirty pool they played with too many people doesn't mean that anyone wants to crap on the dreams of believers. We are simply angry because cdmt IS crapping on ANY believers dream to make it, by running them around in circles as opposed to down a straight and narrow path of here is the light, try your best. Are your reading what you wrote? Have you been reading these compositions AND listening, or simply reading????... 

CDMT, stop trying to name drop people that don't believe in you. Stop taking advantage of people because they believe you'll take care of them. Stop taking peoples' money unless you earned it by earning them a job. Stop replying to your well deserved, had it coming for too long rip-off-report compositions by answering it yourself, and convincing others to defend your deceptive business. And, last but not least, suck it up and take it like an adult Cory and Rebecca. Own up to your lies.   

The following is for anyone that is looking into getting into modeling or acting. As a former model myself, I can attest to the fact that modeling and talent industry is a VERY competitive industry that often gets a bad reputation. Although, I have experience in the modeling industry, we are new to South Carolina, and did not know the best way to get our daughters modeling career started. After asking around, the only company we were getting recommendations for was CDMT and the Southeast Talent Search. With some research, and the comfort level we felt after meeting the SETS team and Directors, we decided this would be the perfect organization for us. The SETS team went above and beyond working with us and helping to develop our daughters poise, confidence, stage presence, self-esteem, and talents. The showcase was a success, and our experience with SETS following the showcase has been even more lucrative. So, after reading these posts I felt the need to respond.

I normally never comment on things like this but after having such a great experience with the SE Talent Search I wouldnt want anyone to be deterred by one persons negativism. I oftentimes see that people will say something bad about a company if they do not have the experience they hoped for, which in many cases would be overnight success. Time and again, individuals want to place blame for their lack of success on the talent scouts, agency, convention, etc.; when the real blame should be placed on the individual not living up to their own expectations. The Southeast Talent Search does exactly what they say that they are going to do. They host the SE Talent Search; bring in the agencies, clients, scouts, casting directors, offer event workshops, training, mentoring, callbacks, celebrity appearances and many more services. The event is held for models and talent alike to showcase their talents, network, and eventually secure job bookings. It sounds a bit strange for someone who has worked so much in the industry, and secured such big name job bookings, to need the help of numerous showcases to meet potential agencies and clients. I would also think with all that potential that you would have done extremely well at the talent showcase.

Nevertheless, many individuals who dont hear exactly what they want from an agent or client will feel the need to blame the talent search as opposed to spend their time using the advice of the SETS team to perfect their craft.

The SETS team has the connections needed to get in with a good agency and secure job bookings, but it also takes effort and potential on the part of the model/talent. Most people seek out agencies because they do not have the resources, knowhow, or connections themselves to get into the modeling or talent industry, and what better way get started than to go to a convention.
By attending a modeling and talent convention you are able to showcase your modeling and talent potential to some of the industrys most influential agents, clients, and casting directors. The advantage of an event like the SE Talent Search is that everything is setup for you; all of the Agents from NY, LA, Miami, etc. are brought to your hometown and all you need to do is show up prepared.

This is much more practical than paying for the flights, hotels, time, etc.and spending weekend after weekend traveling to different cities in hopes that you might actually get to meet with one of these very same individuals. Most people that want to become a model, actor, singer, or dancer give up on their dream because they become lazy and stop pursuing it due to the fact that they dont know how to get started. Yes, the idea of becoming a model/talent sounds great, but the effort involved in booking a flight, hotel, and calling around to countless amounts of agencies and casting directors in hopes that they will see you is unrealistic.

The Southeast Talent Search is set up for you; their Directors do all of the hard work organizing the event to give up-and-coming models and talent the opportunity to get themselves in front of agents and clients that they otherwise would never get the chance to be in front of.

I am shocked that someone could be so bitter, and want to try and discourage an individual from being able to follow their dream. Please do not let one individuals opinions sway you from pursuing an amazing event like this.

Please keep in mind that for one individuals dissatisfaction there are hundreds of gratified former contestants, and many success stories to boot. The SE Talent Search has an amazing reputation, and the recommendations from other families and great rapport is the sole reason why our family decided to pursue this event. Of course, with any business, there will always be a complaint in one area or another but it is unfortunate that you chose such an amazing company to complain about.  I would gladly recommend this company and event to anyone trying to break into thetalent Industry!

Richard,

Does your last name start with an F? I ask because you work for a production unit that casts in town and you are the person who first started me down the "Someone should let people know about those people" path. So I'm betting it does not.

Richard I dont know how you ended up finding this report. I say that because the only people who typically see this stuff is anyone questioning the validity of a company they are about to do business with. See how this works. Youre a person looking for an Agent you search and find the company you were looking for here you think twice before using them. Now if you are the company in question then you have a vested interest in what is written here and want to make things better. Typicaly defenders who are coming to the rescue of some company are prompted to do so by the company itself. If youre following. This means that they asked you to come here and say nice things please please please. Well Richard good companies dont operate that way. Good companies would have seen their names on the report and said "Owe no. We need to do something about this. We should get in touch with the person and see what we can do to fix this" Has CDMT done this? No they have not. Instead they have asked a few people to come on and write nice things about them. I challenge CDMT to reach out to us. Us being the 4 or more people who have filed reports here about being ripped off and try to make amends. Try to fix this relationship. In the years since I wrote the first report no one has ever reached out to us that I know of and offered anything to make us happy. You
know that could have included just an apology years ago. If someone had reached out and said Dear Mr. So and So my name is Mr. or Mrs. Blankity Blank and I would like to say I'm sorry you did not find our service useful or fulfilling.

Please let us know how we could improve our service and what if anything we can do to satisfy you. Contact us at your earliest convenience at 8675309. Sincerely Mr. or Mrs. Blankety Blank. Than this report would have been amended to include "It didn't work for me but they were great to work with and made every effort to make me and others happy. I would trust that they will do their best for you also." However that didn't happen Richard. Instead it has been a series of fake rebuttals that only make them seem more pathetic each time. So in closing to everyone who reads this have a minute and just think about this. Do I want to deal with these people? If they are written about here and are not responding to any of the 4 different reports do I want to trust or do business with them? So long and Goodnight.

I have employed various CD Models and Talent's folks for over six years for our corporate productions. Cory and Rebecca have always been responsive to our needs and have gone above and beyond what was expected as an agency. Our clients were very happy with the final production and I will use CDMTA to help us cast the next one. 

I have also worked with the Southeast Talent Search as an agent for several years.  I personally have met and know close to 40 different representatives from various modeling and acting agencies worldwide from my involvement in the event.  Most of the agents travel from California, New York, Miami or Atlanta to attend the event.  Most are repeat attendees because they like the event, the talent that is brought in and how the staff at Southeast Talent Search mangage the event.  I have also met close to 500 different talent attendees who attended the events one-on-one and have not heard a negative comment from any of them. 

The SETS is an opportunity for those who believe they are talented to shine in front of legitimate casting and talent agents from around the world.  Look at it this way, one in 50,000 high school athletes ever make it to the professional leagues.  There are no promises made by Cory and Rebecca for contracts or 'stardom'.  The provide a platform for one to excel if they have what it takes to be a real national or regional talent in the film, modeling and television industry without having to move to New York or LA and live for a year auditioning.

you can say they are all about the customer and that they are a well stablish company all you want but when they call you only when you owe them money or when a new "product" comes out then you realize they are not representing YOU in the industry, they have never call with a casting for me, even though his own words were you are going to make a killing in the industry, let's showcase you in the talent search so people can see how much potential you have....then after talent search not a call, not an email.  nothing...for about 6 months..then the 1-800 came out and they send me emails to sign up.. of course I didn't because that should be part of their jobs to look for castings for me. If you are an agency your income comes from MY Work, that is why you look for jobs for ME.  by the way after that last email, it has being 9 months and not a word from them anout any jobs. 

CD Models and Talent has been an established and credible business in South Carolina since 1997. I have worked closely with this company, and I have no problem vouching for their good name. It is a common misconception that it does not cost any money to start out in the modeling and talent industry. In any modeling market, models are responsible for initial startup marketing costs.

Should agencies require a fee for representation? No. Does CDMT require a fee for representation? No. As far as commission, it is standard for an agency to take a 20% commission for any job bookings. The Southeast Talent Search, presented by CDMT, is a showcase. Like other conventions, there is an investment required to attend. It is 1/3 of the cost of other national conventions,
but unlike those conventions, Southeast Talent Search caps their number of entrants, which keeps the event small and personal. I have attended an audition, and I have seen them make cuts. Anyone that has attended an in-person audition with CDMT and Southeast Talent Search has seen this first-hand and knows that not everyone is invited to the callback and that even fewer are invited to the event. Unfortunately, this is a very competitive industry, and it is not for everyone. Clients make the ultimate decision in who they want to book. Agents cannot control how well a talent performs or who they decide to
ultimately book for a job. I do know that CDMT cares about their talent and takes an interest in their success.  

Listen Im not here to argue with anyone who likes or wants to use Cory and his bunch.

However wake up and look around. How can you prove that a single person at the event even was who they said they were? Did you or anyone you know personally get any jobs from the event? Are you getting any call backs from anyone in the industry? Are you able to make a living from what Cory is getting you? Are you getting cast on Army Wives? Its filmed locally and I would think that you should be on as more than just an extra every week. You can get an Extra gig by reading the paper.  You dont need Cory for that.  

If you like Cory and his team great. If your happy at his shop good for you. This Report is to warn people before they drink the Cool-Aid and start giving these guys any money not after.

Let me start by saying that Cory, Rebecca and Emma Rose are the greatest people to work with.  I know, because I am a current client. They have been ready and willing to help me every step of the way.  Do things cost money?   Absolutely.  Do you have to do some work too? Absolutely.   While they are spending time trying to find things to submit you for, what are you doing to make yourself more marketable? 
Its like a puzzle.  CD Models and Talent is just a piece of the puzzle.  You, as the client are another part.  The casting directors and others are also a piece.  This is a hard and tough industry.  How do you know they havent submitted you for any work.  Do you expect them to call you every time they do?  I would hope not, then they would waste their time on the phone calling people when they could spend that time looking for more opportunities.

If you look around at any of the big agencies or do research through any of the acting forums, they require you to be a member of 800 casting. This is a huge benefit to an actor. Instead of having to submit just a headshot for a job, in one click a casting director can see your headshot, resume, 10 pictures and video reels.  That gives you an advantage over someone who just submitted a headshot.  Lets face the hard truth that, if anyone is expecting to stand in line at the grocery store and be discovered, then you are just delusional.  

When it comes to the Southeast Talent Search, it is a wonderfully run event.  Do some more research on what other talent search events there are available.  How many people do they let in their events?  I just participated in the past event and there were approximately 100 people there.  Compare that to the 500+ participants at other events with the cost at 4k+.  If you dont receive a call back from one of these events, do you get the opportunity to still meet all of the casting director/agency reps?  The answer is NO.  At the Southeast Talent Search the answer is YES! 

If they are a scam do you actually thing that these agent reps and casting directors would take their time to come to their event?  I am currently in talks with an agency that I met at the event.  This is a direct result of being a part of this event.  I am a firm believer that unless you have been a part of something then you have no right to put it down.  Its like when someone has a loved one pass away and you tell them you understand.  If you have never had a loved one pass away, then you DONT understand.  If you havent been a part of their agency or their event, then what right do you have to say anything bad about it? 

Once again, all I can say is, I truly believe I am with the right agency and people that will put my best interest in front of anything
else.

The truth about CD models and Talent is ( just my personal opinion of what I know of them) that they go out of their way to give talented Men, Women, and kids the chance to show professionals what they are capable of. If those aspiring talents give it their all, and are chosen they will be offered the chance of markets that would be very difficult to reach oneself. I know personally I have submitted packages for companies in larger markets and I'm sure it ended up in the garbage. CDMT has some talented and experienced agents who specialize in working with local talents and models and marketing to a road that will further their career. Every agency has some cost, NO you should never pay an agency to "represent you". But I have never seen a free acting school, or class or whatever I'm sure they are out there and are awesome if you want to be a star in your local theater  or whatever. Yes Southeast talent search has some fees, but so do all the fly by night instant stardom expos they hold around here, so I'm just saying before you go buying in to all this filed against CD models and talent, get the info yourself and then compare it to simialr events- and you'll see the truth. Sounds to me that "the truth hurts Cory" just didn't bring their A- game.

Cory youre replying to the post as what the owner? If so your rebuttal does not make sense because you posted it as though you were a client/customer/victim. As the Owner Cory I think your very bias and in no way qualified to judge the merits of your own product. I was at one of you Talent Searches.

1. There were more than a Hundred there by my guess but you say less sure fine then.

2. I have attended things like this in the past. Yours was the first that the agents there were not allowed to pass out cards to potential talent. They had to go through you to contact Talent. What? Agencies do not own talent you know that. They provide a service that the talent likes and because they like working with them and they get good jobs through the agency they stay there. There are contracts but they usually pertain to a model staying at one agency for a salary or guarantee. You dont do that.

3. Agents get 10 to 15% max and thats the really good ones. You made all your talent sign a 20% thats crazy considering all you did was put them in front of other agents. And charge them to do that.

4. I had only heard of 2 of the agencies at your event.

5. There was no proof provided that the people there were what they say they are. For all your talent knows they could have been your friends acting. Bye the way this is one reason that at other events people give out cards to the talent is so they can verify they are who they say they are.

6. I know of at least one agent who was supposed to be at your event but said to me Im not going its a waist of time.Ok Im done listing stuff. The point is that your event was a rip off designed by you to charge your talent to meet other agents who have no interest in most of them.

You mention other events good lets talk about another event I can attest to. Models of the South is a similar event that takes place in Hilton Head. First the list of agents from when I was there included a rep from Zoli (Milan, Italy), Ford (NY), Arlene Wilson (now Aria Talent a division of Ford), Wilhelmina, Elite (I believe it was Atlanta not NY), WilliamsAgency (Chapel Hill, NC), Creative Artists Agency (LA), and Evolution Models and Talent (Charlotte, NC). Well at this event you your current agent attending along with other talent from your agency. You will participate in some competition judged by the various agency reps, a few seminars on different aspects of the industry, and also call backs. The call backs are the best part. Only people selected by the agencies are invited to come and sit down with an agent to discuss possibilities. Not everyone will get call backs. Some people will go home disappointed but not ripped off. Some will meet with an agent and decide to talk again in a few weeks or make a trip to NY, Atlanta, even LA to see them. You will be given cards and contact info. I was even that weekend taken into different test shoots for free to make comp card from. None of that cost me anything.

I am saying me because I have been there done that I worked for a few agencies and was in ads for Benetton, American Eagle, Gap, Belk, JC Penny, and J Crew. I had 3 agents who represented and none of them took more than 10%. The point is I would never have been at your event but a friend was going and she invited me. Once there I realize quickly this was not professional, and a Rip Off. I am not a model who is mad at you for turning me down or anything like that. I was a model and made a good living doing that for a few years before realizing it was not the industry of me. Now I am just a concerned citizen reporting a Rip-Off.

I have only positive things to say about CD Models and Talent.  Their staff is very professional and has a lot of experience. The Southeast Talent Search is much less expensive than other events I have auditioned for.  It is more private as they only accept 100 contestants per event as compared to other events that have thousands of contestants.  I know personally that the agency does not require you to do shoots with the agency, you can use your own photographer.  CD Models and Talent and every  modeling agency has to order composite cards from a printing company.  Anyone that is familiar with the modeling industry knows that marketing materials are the talent's expense. This sounds like this person was not accepted to the showcase or is not the right fit.