With almost 30 years of experience as President and CEO of his own digital media and entertainment marketing company, EC Advisor Paul Zamek brings extensive experience in aspects of artist management, entertainment, and technology to each of his meetings. We are so excited to have him (and his impressive taste in hats!) as a part of our Advisor Program network!
You’ve owned your own marketing and management companies for almost 30 years. What have been your biggest benefits and biggest obstacles so far?
One of the stones I use in building my life is to have no regrets, so any obstacles are very few and far between. The benefits, on the other hand, have been tremendous. Regarding management, representing an artist is a responsibility that I take very seriously. The “commodity” here is someone’s talent, a person’s very essence, soul if you will. So trust and mutual respect – which includes a strong work ethic – is key. Once those important elements have been established, the rewards include being a part of realizing dreams, providing a platform for creative talent, and in a small way making the world a better place. The material rewards can also be substantial and mutually beneficial. From a product, entertainment, consumer goods marketing standpoint, the benefits would include the constant opportunity to learn, gather more experiences and to stay relevant. To spot a gap in the market, to fill that gap creatively and to enrich every stakeholder.
If there was one thing you could tell everyone about being a long-term entrepreneur, what would it be?
I’ve found that in order to stay afloat in the entertainment industry’s continuing sea of change one has to be open to any and all adventures and opportunities. Forging strong relationships in as many trade categories as possible whilst being able to foresee trends and connect the product to the market is a good start. Tenacity, reliability, trust, loyalty, product knowledge and energy are absolutely required. Leave the ego at the door.
Have you had your fifteen minutes of fame yet?
Not necessarily, but I’ve been close enough to fame to opine that it isn’t all that it’s cut out to be. Although it can seem very exciting and definitely has distinct benefits, it needs to be handled with care. Actually, in my opinion, its a bit overrated… 🙂
What quote or song lyric has guided you on your entrepreneurial journey?
“A Wop Bop A Loop Bop A Lop Bam Boom” (Tutti Frutti by Little Richard)
“We skipped the light fandango/turned cartwheels across the floor” (A Whiter Shade of Pale by Procol Harum)
And of course, “All you need is love, love is all you need”. (Love Is All You Need by The Beatles)
For a quote, I like Winston Churchill’s ” “Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.”
And I refer you to the poem “If” by Rudyard Kipling.
What is the best characteristic an advisor can bring to the table?
Curiosity backed with experience.
How do you validate an idea?
I research the market, study the competition- trends, music genres, domestic and global appeal – and then I dive right in.
Anything great happened to you recently?
Every day brings me closer to my goals. So yes, something great happened to me recently… I woke up next to my soul mate, in my own bed and in one piece.
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