Mistakes are the footprints of professionals

[johncolumbo]

Hey guys,

There is something about Taxi that is so amazing that I want to point out in this success story. Mercy and grace. This family is full of it and I love it. I tweeted something the other day as I meditated on where I'm currently at in life... it was "If you’re afraid to make mistakes you’ll never accomplish anything. Mistakes are the footprints of professionals. * Apply mercy liberally." I think the Taxi family does an awesome job at encouraging, being firm and realistic, but also applying grace and mercy in perfect balance and that is the major reason I speak so highly of them. Thank you all for being so awesome. Now, on to my success story.

Last year was my first rally experience and I met tons of people and handed out lots of business cards. I learned a ton of stuff and then came home and continued to keep in touch with many folks I met and continue to today. I continued my studies at Berklee Music Online and submitted several instrumental tracks while continuing to study and learn the craft. Those were returned, but I received priceless feedback and moved on. Then I received an email 3 weeks before my 2 years of Berklee studies were to end and I were to get my masters certificate in songwriting... the email was something along the lines of "I received your business card at the rally last year and I have a contact who is looking for EDM, where should I point them to on your website?". Uh oh, this is crazy... what do I do now? So, I updated my website really quick the best I could even though most of the music on there wasn't that good in my opinion and was more than 6 months old and I replied with a link. I then called this person and thanked them for the contact. Then that following Saturday I got a call from the owner of a music production library and I just kept my mouth shut and took lots of notes and asked all the necessary questions I could think of. And, by the way, watching Taxi TV made me all that much smarter cause one of the things he mentioned was stingers and I was like "is that the same as a buttoned ending?"... yea, I hadn't been able to watch quite enough Taxi TV to have heard the word stinger yet, but enough to know what on earth he was talking about, so thank you for that Michael!

I then put together a production plan and contacted my Berklee instructor and asked if we could make working on 3 songs for this pitch my last 3 assignments and we did. Then, and here's where Taxi and the family really shines, I contacted James Kocian (cause I made friends with him before and during the rally last year by way of Taxi of course) and asked him for any advice he may have. You know what he did? He called me up like almost immediately and I started taking notes furiously. So, James and my Berklee instructor mentored me and I worked myself to death writing 3 songs and working my normal day job (shoot I ended up having to buy a new computer the week before the songs were due and reload all my software on it because my other machine was not working due to all the new plugins I was using for the first time). Then I pitched the 3 songs to this guy having never received a forward from Taxi (yes that was a huge risk on my part). A week (a VERY LONG WEEK for me) after sending the email I received an email along the lines of "we are going to pass on these songs for now". It was very professional and straight forward, but it was a reality check as well.

So, I submitted all 3 songs to Taxi for custom critique, graduated Berklee, and contacted the guy and told him my plans to continue to submit to Taxi and asked if there was any further opportunity. He said "well, I need some hip hop instrumentals in the next 10 days if you want to give that a shot". So, I did. And you know what? I got in with a "not too bad, I'll take it" response to the 1 track I was able to create for him. I know it's only 1, but I did it and you have to start somewhere! Here's a link to the hip hop track that got in https://soundcloud.com/johncolumbo/john ... v2/s-1DRn2

I just wanted to share that with you all and thank you so very much for everything. There is no way I could have ever made those contacts and gotten into the music business without Taxi. You are a blessing and I pray that God continue to bless you and your business greatly cause it is doing a great service.

Write, submit, forget, repeat... (do the absolute best you can and don't be afraid to make mistakes).

[funsongs]

Bravo!
And I have already experienced firsthand your generosity and 'pay-it-forward' attitude.
Rock on, John!
Cheers.
Peter

[johncolumbo]

Thanks Peter, hoping to see you at the Rally my friend!

[kclements]

Nice story, John. Thanks for sharing.

It all starts with just one forward, or one track accepted, or one relationship.

Congrats
kc

[johncolumbo]

Thanks kc.
I'll be on the lookout for you at the rally this year. It's funny, I knew only 1 person heading to the rally last year and now I have around 15 people I need to catch up with going into this year's rally, that's so encouraging.

[andygabrys]

JOhn - big congrats to you on WORKING it!

look forward to seeing you at the Rally and hearing more.

[kclements]

Thanks kc.
I'll be on the lookout for you at the rally this year. It's funny, I knew only 1 person heading to the rally last year and now I have around 15 people I need to catch up with going into this year's rally, that's so encouraging.

The beauty of the Taxi Experience. I look forward tweeting you.

Cheers
kc

[PaulBergren]

Great story John and congrats on you first bit of success. Sounds like there will be more for you. See you at the Rally!

[pedrocosta]

Thank you for sharing John,
The generosity of the group has no bounds.
And you did all the right things, asking questions, taking notes, being gracious, and professional.
You are well on your way

[andygabrys]

and congrats also to making it into the members newsletter!