ASCAP Expo Anyone?

[silverorlead]

Hey all,I actually had posted this as a reply on another thread, but I wanted to start one to see if there were any TAXI folks that are also out in LA this week/weekend for the ASCAP Expo? Reply to this thread or pm me! I'd love to see some TAXI friends out here!-Bri

[silverorlead]

D'oh.

[andreh]

Quote:D'oh. Brian-I'm an ASCAP member and I was considering going. Have you been to these in the past? Did you learn/gain a lot from it?André

[twilsbach]

This was on my radar, just couldn't pull it together. I'm a BMI member myself, but I know it was open to any and all.Instead, I'm stuck at home with the animals. At least the weather finally broke in Indiana.

[tedsingingfox]

Hey, Bri.BMI here, too. But at my current rate of pay, ONE trip to LA per year is about all I can swing; and I'm waiting until Nov. Ted

[silverorlead]

Hey guys, just thought I'd reply with an update, as I've been here for a few days now and am about to head in to the final day of the Expo. It's been very interesting for sure, but honestly with the price tag (a couple hundred depending on when you signed up), or even if it were free, it's definitely nowhere near as valuable as the TAXI Rally. There's such a focus there on connecting people and getting them to the next step, and the attendees seemed to run the gamut from the very beginners to the very successful.Here, I don't mean to bash it, but I feel like this ASCAP Expo is worse in both regards. The vast majority of attendees seem to be a lot less educated / knowledgeable about what they're doing, and the panels tend to be mostly interviews with famous people, with very little information about connecting the dots of a career and starting out. It seems to be a funny disconnect when the bulk of their attendees need focus on first steps into the industry and help making connections and all of the panels (with one or two notably great exceptions) are either interviews with famous people, information you can find in books, or worst, run by people trying to sell you something.Now all that said, I love ASCAP, but as far as a trip to LA (I hear you Ted, I'm thinking next year I might stick with just the one!), the Rally had TONS more valuable information and networking for someone at square 2 (definitely past square 1, but not very far past it yet). Everything from the Drive-By Mentoring to the Mentor Luncheons to the one-on-one sessions (which they technically have here but which were all filled up by 6 months before the convention so I didn't get to have one), to the performance opportunities are all well-designed to facilitate industry connection at the Rally, and I think ASCAP could definitely learn a thing or two (admittedly this is only the 3rd ASCAP Expo, so I'm sure they're still learning furiously!).I'll cut my rant off here, but thought I'd share with all concerned!-Brian

[silverorlead]

And to top it all off I hope I get home! I'm supposed to fly American tomorrow (and I do realize that that is not technically ASCAP's fault )

[ragani]

Hi Brian,Hey, thanks for keeping us posted-- I appreciated hearing your thoughts and comments, as I was considering the ASCAP convention this year, if only to compare it to the Rally (which I've been to twice). I couldn't make the ASCAP dates this year, and after everything I got from last year's Rally, I was frankly feeling just fine with sitting this one out. I'm sorry to hear that the convention is not making the marks for you. Of course, we all know why that's happening to you-- -- it's because we've been SPOILED by the TAXI Road Rally!!! SPOILED SPOILED SPOILED!!! Honestly, I can't imagine a better convention for musicians and songwriters-- and one that has so much incredible and heartfelt camaraderie and collegiality. Never seen anything like it before. And if anyone ever hears of anything better than the Rally, I want to know about it! American? Geesh. Crossing my fingers for easy travels for you! (I'm thanking my lucky stars that we didn't schedule our usual American airlines travel to India this year!)Raags

[silverorlead]

True. Spoiled silly I think is the problem. Honestly I'm on a break here at the Expo now and after posting my frustrations this morning and then attending several really cool panels I realized that I'm probably being a little too hard on the poor Expo. Truthfully, it has some very cool things to offer, and has a few unique things like theatre and opera stuff that wouldn't really make sense for TAXI to do, and of course networking with your PRO is always very beneficial as they're such great people (at least in ASCAP ) and always looking to help their members.All the same, I think my feelings stemmed from the idea that I paid a couple hundred dollars for this, and while it does have some great stuff, the Rally has just as much and much more for free so I'm just spoiled silly That's all!-Bri

[Pinkstar]

When I read Michaels e-mail "Which Music Convention is MOST Valuable" I knew right away who that company was. I'm an ASCAP member. I wanted to go but didn't. Now I'm really glad I didn't. Long live the Road Rally!!!!!