I expected a return, but the reasons surprised me.

[tlever]

I also got a return on the same listings - there were several for that show. I thought my submissions were spot on what the listing asked for. It was returned for same reason - too adult or dark for a teen-based show. Would really have been helpful to know that upfront, wouldn't have wasted the $30 or so submitting to the multiple listings.

[WeWillWriteUaSong]

Did anyone have any luck calling taxi about this? Is that appropriate in this case? Would they consider giving credits to the ppl who were returned based on the "teen" aspect? I didn't consider calling but with so many who were returned, not for the music, but for something not included in the listing....

[DanL]

I assume that we talk about this listing:

TEXAS BLUES SONGS with Male or Female Vocals are needed for a bunch of Non-Exclusive, $2,500, Direct-to-Supervisor placements in a TV Series. They’re looking for original, Mid-to-Up-Tempo Songs that could be found on playlists with artists like (but not limited to): Lightnin’ Hopkins, Long John Hunter, Johnny Winter, Fenton Robinson, Albert Collins, Big Mama Thornton, etc., etc., etc.
 
Quoting the Music Supervisor: “The characters in this show travel to a number of different locations in several cities, so we need songs that will be used as background source music and sometimes as featured uses for each of those locations.”
 
Give them Blues songs with a full band performance, and a believable Blues vocal that sounds like the real thing. They need songs that can set the mood for various scenes, so authenticity and a true Blues vibe will help you get to the top of their list for this pitch.
 
Lyric themes with references to Texas are welcome, but not necessary, just a bonus. The more universal your lyrics are the better, so please avoid references to specific names, dates, brands, and profanity. Mentioning places and times in your lyrics could potentially work for this pitch (e.g., “A foggy night in Austin.”) Do NOT copy or rip off the referenced artists or songs in any way, shape, or form. Use them only as a general guide for tempo, tone, style, and vibe. Broadcast Quality is needed (great sounding home recordings are fine).
 
These will be $2,500 (estimated, depending on ultimate use), Non-Exclusive, Direct-to-Supervisor placements, and you’ll keep 100% ownership of your copyright and master recordings. All submissions will be screened on a Yes/No basis by a TAXI A&R person handpicked by the Music Supervisor. No full critiques. Please submit 1-3 Songs online or per CD, no later than 11:59PM (PDT), on Wednesday, March 2nd, 2016. TAXI #U160302TB

[DanL]

As others I wrote a song specially for this listing too, with lyrics about Texas. And as others I got it returned for reasons I hadn't expected.

I started playing blues over 20 years back, so I thought I would have a fair chance to get a forward if I wrote a song. I put down a lot of time, and I mean a LOT of time. I was worried that my production and mix wasn't good enough so I did several re-recordings, versions and mixes before I was satisfied with it.

And then I got a return. And the reason they gave me was that the tempo was too high and that they needed songs that was more of a "pocket feel". The listing asked for mid- to uptempo songs, and "pocket feel" wasn't mentioned anywhere in the listing. By the way my tempo was not that high … in my opinion it was between mid- and uptempo in the blues genre.

So the return of that listing made me a little moody. It had been good to know the facts before you put down days on writing and producing a song that - frankly - is almost impossible to place elsewhere. When I did this song I was new to TAXI. In retrospect I shouldn't have put down all that time on that song. At least I have learned something … I will never again put down so much effort and time to make a specially written song for that kind of listing.

[DanL]

Several of my friends were returned for the "teenager" requirement that was not in the listing text. They will be contacting TAXI monday morning to find out about this.

Russell

You happened to hear anything, or did I miss it?
TIA

Did anyone hear anything more about the listing?

[mojobone]

If my "feel" was not "in the pocket" that would be a welcome critique; something I could improve on, and on the whole, it's a lot nicer than saying I'm groove-challenged, LOL I once asked to sit in with a major blues artist and was told no, because quote "we get a certain feel to our music." It felt really bad to me that this man assumed from my appearance that I didn't already know that, and that I couldn't play that. Maybe I shouldn't have wore a cowboy hat to the gig, but I figured Otis Rush does it, Gatemouth Brown does it; why can't I?