Today I got used a ride-share service to go to an event that I normally have a ride to. This lead to a bizarre ride that may have opened a door to a great opportunity, but it’s… complicated. Essentially during small talk I mentioned to my driver, an elderly man in his 70s, that I’m trying to earn some certifications for marketing. He then immediately asked me if I *did* marketing and knew how to make a website and “things like that”. Not realizing that he was far too exited, I said yes. This man immediately put in a CD with his music and spun a TALE. Apparently, a few weeks ago a rider of his recognized him and asked a few questions about his career. The rider made several claims: That Driver’s Christmas song went “Quadruple Platinum”, he was as just well known in certain circles as Elvis, the record label was absolutely screwing him over, and that he knew all of his because he worked in radio in a different state. I think the Radio man may have grossly misinformed this old man about how streaming works as well, but I’m not 100% sure that was entirely on him. This old man was thrilled I was listening and then tried to pitch having me help him market (mostly help him with creating a website and contacting distributors) the CDs that he was confident he could sell “by the thousands” in exchange for royalties and possibly a flat rate. I gave him very neutral answers, even when he insisted he wanted to primarily sell through physical stores and the CDs *two songs* were very Americana. I just told him I would think about it… because it *could* be a nice addition to my portfolio. When I got home from my event, I looked up Driver. This old man was featured in a *single* article (though it was very flattering) and none of his songs have even passed 1000 plays/views on any of the platforms I’ve found them on. Unless the song went Plat in another country and I’m somehow missing it, his Radio rider was either lying through his teeth or the old man is severely misinformed. I don’t know what it is (nor which is worse), but it marketing this would be a challenge even without the morality/ethics of the situation were clear. If I do take the opportunity, I don’t think there’s an ethical way around being realistic about the numbers, but I don’t want to crush the dreams of a sweet elderly man. If I’m going to take any money it will be after I throughly inform him about how unlikely his chances are to sell anything - especially with a physical first mindset. So I’m stuck. Would it be better to just agree to just the royalties (accepting the fact that’s almost certainly charity) and keeping things lighter, free/cheap, and hopeful or to break down how everything he told me is false to keep things grounded and realistic? Should I let this go altogether so I’m not stomping on this dream? I’m going to sleep on it, but I just wanted to see primarily if I would be the A if I took the gig and gave a realistic market plan that may devastate the man.