Wow, I can't believe it's already the Friday after the rally. I had to dive right back in at the day job and am just now coming up for air.

This was my third time attending, and while I don't think anything could feel as life-altering as one's first rally, it was pretty amazing. I seem to spend less time in the main ballroom each year, and this year I deliberately focused on forum-member-related classes, and connecting (and re-connecting) with my fellow dots. And still, I scarcely had time to say hello to so many of you! (Even though I live a fifteen minute drive from the Rally hotel, next year I'm going to HAVE to get a room for at least a night or two -- it would be nice to be able to stay up late and have a second beer!)

As I confided to some of you, after a whiz-bang first year with Taxi that included my first library deal, this last year took some of the wind out of my sails. I had a loooong cold streak of returns -- and they felt all the more frustrating due to the plunging number of film and TV instrumentals listings with critiques. (I entirely understand the reason for this trend, but I credit the critiques for much of my first-year success, so I feel their loss acutely.) I haven't made a single submission in the last few months, concentrating instead on trying to improve as a guitarist, just to feel like I'm achieving some forward motion somehow.

So it was with a combination of eagerness and trepidation that I waited for a drive-by mentoring session with Kevin Houlihan, hoping to get some straight talk and constructive criticism on where I've been missing the mark. Imagine my surprise when what I got instead was across-the-board positive comments, with the only constructive criticism being that I should make sure to have 30- and 60-second edits ready to go, because I should really be going for ad agency listings. And then he asked if he could hold onto my CD! I really could not have asked for a better confidence-booster.

tl;dr version: thank you to Michael and the entire staff for another amazing rally, and extra-special thanks to all my Dot friends, both old and new, for making this weekend the highlight of my year.

Thanks for the inspiration! I just joined TAXI and went to the Road Rally on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

Jonathan,

The Rally experience for me is slightly different every year. But, every year it is a richer experience because of all friendships I've made that are growing deeper every year.

Thanks for coming to my little deal and thanks for introducing yourself after I finally quit talking.

Chuck

That's a wonderful account of your experience at the rally this year, Jonathan. The personal relationships are so important in this ol' music biz.

BRAVO on getting your CD requested by Mr. Hoolihan.

,
Suz

P.S. And so glad you joined our table for dinner on Sunday!

wickedsmaht...are you perhaps originally a bostonian? i haven't heard "wicked smahht" since i lived there. I'm so glad you had a great time at the rally. Wish we'd met, maybe next year! Sounds like you're on the right track for a good, productive 11 months in the mean time

c4ward: I also joined Taxi just before the Rally, two years ago. Little did I know that it would have the effect of practically guaranteeing my membership renewal each year, since not re-upping would mean missing the rally that's always just days away!

Chuck, I wanted to thank you for organizing that Sunday night dinner! What a perfect way to cap off the weekend. And Suz, I'm very glad to have met you! Your attitude is infectious. Truly, your spirit animal is the ukelele!

Delphia -- I'm originally from Rhode Island. My dad has the accent big-time, but somehow I escaped it. "Wicked Smaht" was something I heard a lot from other kids growing up. It was definitely not intended as a compliment. Also, this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1DnltskkWk

Hey, Jon; jes' remembered the name of that Boston band we spoke about at the rally, The Techniques.