need some opinions please?

[flash2ace]

i recieved this email today well actually i gott two from the guy he ehard my music on mp3.com and realy liked it alot, he wats me to send him a demo cd for review, do you guys think i should trust him? i just dont know what to do here. thanks for any info.



Hello, i am a producer of live events based in Roma Italy. I have
worked
with Tony Macalpine, Philip Bynoe, Virgil Donati, Brett Garsed, Marty
Friedman, Paul Di Anno, Neil Zaza,Jeff Kollman, Erik Norlander & Lana
Lane,
japanese band Ars Nova, Alex De Rosso(now in Dokken), Andrea
Braido(Vasco
Rossi), Balletto di Bronzo, Demonia(Goblin), acoustic jazz guitarist
Francesco Bruno, jazz-rock bands Brand X and Matalex, Virtual Dream,
William
Stravato, Tony Hernando, Undertakers, Skylark, Stormlord,
Node, Novembre, Cadaveria, Cultus Sanguine, Alex Stornello, Judith,
Ancient..., in a rock place called Alpheus www.alpheus.it. I work on
jazz,
fusion, instrumental guitarists, progressive and metal bands, extreme
metal
groups and blues bands. Is my desire to have a promotional copy of your
cd's, video's or dvd's for eventually working in Italy, including
reviews
and interviews for Metal Shock magazine, Chitarre magazine and website
http://digilander.iol.it/stratocaster67.
I need your address for sending you the magazine with your review
inside. I
can also provide for an italian distribution of your items.
My address is Roberto Guarnieri Viale di Vigna Pia 32 00149 Roma Italy.

Thank You

 

[DJL]

I wouldn't do it, until you find out more. The rock place Alpheus link www.alpheus is bogus, and the http://digilander.iol.it/stratocaster67 link looks like some kind of MP3 crack/hack type website? -- But I'm not sure because it's not in english. Just email him your address or P.O. number and tell him your glad he likes your music and you'll be looking forward to reading the review, and thank him.

 

[Buck62]

It's either some poser looking to get a free CD or a scammer with a phony promotional deal.

That's the standard email he sends to everyone who's put out a CD and he's probably got a truckload of free CD's from unsuspecting indie bands and artists. It's possible this is some teenager building a big CD collection for free.

Think about it... if he's already heard your music on mp3-dot-com, why does he need a CD from you?

The other possible scam I mentioned is that he feeds your ego, makes a bunch of promises, and then asks you to put up some "investment money" into creating a bio, doing a photo layout, promotion, etc. Then he sucks up a few thousand dollars from you for his so-called "promotion work."

I've been down this road before. I received a few bogus offers from people after the release of our first CD. Some of the offers were just downright rediculous... like the guy who said he wanted to use one of our songs in a promotional video for "snowmaking machines."
The guy was in Anchorage, Alaska.

Send him an email back and tell him if he's seriously interested that he should arrange to have you flown to Italy to discuss a recording deal. Tell him that you already have another offer from another label, but you haven't signed yet.

Call his bluff!

I guarantee you'll never hear from that scammer ever again.

Sorry to disappoint you, but I've seen too many bullshit offers before. I have no doubt he's out to get something from you... either a free CD or your ca$h.

If someone REALLY believes in your music, they will seek you out and send a limo to your front door. You'll be flown to New York or LA where you'll meet with exec's from the label who are interested in drawing up a contract with you. I personally know some bands and artists who have been there.... including Disturbed, Enuff Z'nuff and From Zero.

Record deals and contract offers don't come by email..... EVER!

Trust me on that.