JPF Home Page Forums General Messages Songwriter Message Forum Mr. Eric Zanetis

Background: Eric Contacted me and we exchanged emails. I sent him my rough demos of my music. He sent me this in response.

Need more than my eyes to see this. Some one tell me that this is a reasonable offer. I don't have that kind of money and don't want to be an "artist" just the one who writes the songs for the "artist" You know like a...what do they call them....oh yes...Songwriters.

Can anyone provide me a fram of reference here?
WIth all due respect to Mr Zanetis, it sounds like a pitch that could begiven to me and a thousand or so other people.

Can any one comment on this letter below?
I am not sure how to take it. I certainly don't have 15000 to 25000 dollars.


Dear Paul,

Thank you for sending the CD of your songs. There are
some viable songs there. I believe you could benefit
greatly from a real producer and professional album
created.

A lot of people have mistaken ideas about the proper
role of a producer.

In truth, producing a record means selecting the
vocalist, helping to choose the songs, putting
together an ensemble of musicians, choosing the
recording facility and personnel, and overseeing the
process so that the project goals and aspirations are
reached.

Then of course, it is the producer's job to exploit
the work commercially so that income is derived.

Therefore, the producer is the artist's "right hand
man", music business advisor, and counselor in musical
matters. That is why producer generally have 25 years
experience in the industry as I do.

Four of the last five albums I have produced have
promoted their artist's to signing with major record
labels for worldwide distribution. That is a pretty
good track record that I work hard to maintain.

I really enjoy what you do and hope we can work
together. I believe it would be extremely rewarding.

I do not charge exhorbidant up-front fees to produce
an artist that I like, but choose to earn like the
artist, from sales. I do ask the artist or financial
backer to pay my costs, which runs from $15,000.00 to
$25,000.00 depending upon the number of musicians
used, etc. on a 12-song CD.

If you are interested in collaborating on a
Grammy-award winning album, please let me know. I
have time this summer available.

Eric Zanetis

You've summed it up pretty well yourself!


M



------------------
Michael Leahy
The Accidental Lyricist
http://michael-leahy.indiegroup.com

I've never had to pay ANYONE I was "collaborating" with. Pro or newbie. Watch out!!

Good advice.

Dave

I find this confusing, too. Can't help you out, but I'm curious.

(1) I thought producers normally took a cut (like 50% or something) of profits.

(2) It looks like a contradiction to say, no exhorbitant up-front fees, and then say you need to pay for his expenses. I didn't know the demo costs were called the producer's expenses.

I'll be looking back here to see what responses you get. Good luck! --Jean

I thought producers were supposed to pay for it all and then get a cut from the royalties and what not....either way, that sounds like an awful lot of money, I'd check them out on the BBB, ironically though his name sounds familiar for some reason, maybe do a search on his name too? Best of luck to you, just be careful and do your research ALWAYS before signing anything, and consult an entertainment or copyright lawyer if you can.
~Sammi
www.LyricsandPoemsbySammi.com

Appearently the gentleman is trying to sell you a service that you don't need. I would inform him that you are a songwriter only and are looking for places to submit your songs.

I haven't checked lately but an Artist can get a complete Album done in many good studios in Nashville ready to go for around 6 to 8 thousand dollars. That includes 1000 CD's and perhaps Publicity Photos also. I am always amazed when someone wants to do a 2 song demo for a little less that $5000.00 dollars. I have seen exhorbant prices for these services, even received them in the mail. Also been told that the "Sharks" still lurk around Nashville looking for the unwary newcomer to sell them a service. As long as you are paying for it anything is possible. Beware.

Paul here is some info I found when I did a search on Erc Zanetis' name.....

Here is a link to a guest book that Eric Zanetis signed, it has an email address and a site for him in the message (for research reasons, I'd check it out, copy and paste))
http://www.htmlgear.tripod.com/guest/control.guest?u=della2000&a=view&i=1001&r=http://search.yahoo.com/bin/search%3fp=Eric%2520Zanetis

Notice who the producer is on this song in this link
http://www.coquet-shack.com/lyrics/McGraw/Dont_Take_The_Girl_0068.htm

Also producer on this one, link below
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/cynthiakaay

I remember now why the Zanetis was familiar to me, I had gotten a letter in the mail from Country Music U.S.A. with a contract and the president of the company was Alex Zanetis..(any relation I wonder?) Anyway, I decided not to sign the contract, but here is the info I found on the BBB about Alex Zanetis...maybe you could contact them and find out if Eric is related?

This is the link to the BBB report on Alex Zanetis' companies (copy and paste to your internet address box)
http://data.middletennessee.bbb.org/commonreport.html?compid=15047&code=

Best of luck to you
~Sammi
www.LyricsandPoemsbySammi.com

read 'everything you better know about the record industry' i think it would help you in making choices on things like this.

Everyone's instincts here seem to correctly move towards the VERY obvious... run away.

Brian

I wish to thank everyone for chiming in on this. Feel like I got a thousand dutch uncles.

I think it cliched it when he asked me if I wanted to collaborate with a grammy winning album. I mean up to that point I was willin to listen to what he had to say. I figured with a very talented Philadelphia producer/engineer, I can do a 10 song multi-insttrumental high quality production CD for about 6-7 thousand. In Fact you all have made it more clear to me that that's where I need to go. I really appreciate all the wealth of experience you all funneled my way, it was valuable and I am grateful.

Regards....Paul

PS I am gonna reply to him and ask him what songs he liked.

Your welcome Paul, glad to help, please keep us posted.
~Sammi
www.LyricsandPoemsbySammi.com