Trust and Collaboration (jumping off from Michael Laskow)

[Russell Landwehr]

In the first part of Michael's letter (found at the bottom of this page: http://www.taxi.com/industry.php ) he talks about Trust as it pertains to Collaboration between TAXI members.

Quoting:
Trust is the cornerstone of all solid relationships, and that certainly applies to the music industry. When a more experienced TAXI member meets a relatively new member at the Road Rally or on our Forum, they may offer to collaborate with them if they feel they can trust the newer member to bring something to the relationship. Trusted relationships benefit both parties.

What Kind of Trust?
Can they trust them to deliver on time? Can they trust them to always act professionally? Can they trust that person to act with integrity? Can they trust that person's skills, and know they can rely on it to lift them both up?
End Quote

And I think there is even MORE to it when collaborating with TAXI members... a couple of things come to my mind that I think are also a foundation of that Trust.

First
TAXI members are more knowledgeable about this industry than the "common" musician. As a result of constant immersion in these Forums, Regular viewing of TAXI TV, and contact with each other at the Road Rally and in social media, TAXI members pretty much have a great handle on the "business" and "legal" stuff.

I've been involved long enough on these Forums to see this "knowledge torch" taken up by newer members. In the early days, there were TAXI Members very active in the Forums who took the time to explain the details of this business to the up-and-coming members. Now, these newer member voices are passing along this knowledge (along with some "old-timers" who are still with us) to the newest members. And to the newest members, I say: Ask those questions, you will get answers and you will grow in knowledge.

My point with this is that when collaborating with TAXI members -and specially the ones active in these forums- you can TRUST that your collaborator has a good grasp of terminology and the workings of the copyright/licensing/publisher/writer world. As opposed to non-TAXI members I've collaborated with, to whom I must explain in detail all the little bits that we take for granted... those things we've learned through constant immersion in this environment.

Interestingly, all seven TAXI members I've collaborated with have been collaborations without signed agreements between us. Sure, slap us upside the head for this, but I really believe this is because of the TRUST we have for each other having known each other through participation in these FORUMS and meeting at the TAXI ROAD RALLY.... and how we all understand the workings of the "Sync" part of this business. (BTW, I don't think signed agreements are a sign of mistrust, just that the absence of them is a sign of GREAT Trust)

Second
As TAXI members, I think part of this TRUST we have for each other is because we know that the investment of time and money that we put into TAXI membership shows dedication and COMMITMENT to this process.

I contrast this to folks who may "poke their head in here" looking to "hook up" with a collaborator. Really? Show us some hard work. Post in Peer To Peer. Comment in Peer to Peer. Watch back episodes of TAXI TV.
JOIN TAXI. Write to specific listings. Hit some deadlines. Show some COMMITMENT. Show some DEDICATION.

The best collaborators are NOT doing this as a HOBBY. This is their CALLING. This is their CAREER. And the Knowledge that they are Collaborating with others on this same CAREER Path is another cornerstone of this TRUST.

Shout out to my TAXI family,
Russell Landwehr

[TerrellBurt]

Well said, Russell!

[Paulie]

If not the right place to ask this, my apologies in advance.

When you collaborate with someone, what files are you sharing? Are you sending a.zip of each track audio file to be imported into a DAW or are you getting together live via Skype or something else to work real time?

I'd like to make myself available to drop sax solos and parts on tracks for people if needed, but I'm not sure how the recoding logistics would work.

I like the concept of trust, and the ideal that Taxi members are a trustworthy bunch. I hope to ask enough questions to generate group learning and some day have a torch to pass instead of being the n00b chasing down the torch holders to ask all of my questions.

[Russell Landwehr]

Heya Paulie.

I took your question into a new topic http://forums.taxi.com/topic130405.html

My first collaboration with a TAXI member was after having been a contributing member of these Forums for quite a while. That more experienced TAXI member expressed an interest in collaboration after getting to know each other socially through this site. This is the TRUST thing that Michael is talking about. (and me too)
The collab we did was just for fun, but when I got a Library deal later on, I brought him aboard as a co-writer.

Even though I know I bring skills to the collaboration table, I still feel that I've benefitted greatly from the collaborators. Not just in the end product, but also by learning from them. And imparting wisdom through the collaboration process is both builds and is because of... Trust.


Russell

[mojobone]

E-collab tips probably deserve a thread of their own.

[Russell Landwehr]

Good Idea, Mojo.

I broke it out in this topic: http://forums.taxi.com/topic130405.html

Russell

[FMstereo]

Great post, Russell!

Cheers