Does anyone else not care about critiques?

[stevefitch]

I joined Taxi in December, 2011, and today just received my first unsolicited critique from a submission. Although I figure that some of the music I make might be suitable, or even ideal, for film scores, I am also aware that generally, the music I make will fail to meet industry standards, since The Industry is not for whom I am making my music, and I am not (thus far) collaborating with a film director on an original score or sound design. On the latter matter, I also know that I could work only with a director who's into what I'm inclined to do and how I go about it.

Thus, I wasn't surprised by the critique-review I received today: essentially telling me, "Stylistically on-target, but kinda rough around the edges." Well, yeah – it sounds like me. In submitting to Taxi, I'm pouring my music, along with many others' submissions, into a bureaucratic funnel whose critical scope narrows tightly to conventions that have been established under very specific circumstances. The specter of a $20,000 payday from a placement does haunt me, but although I might be well capable of second-guessing the Industry's particular ears and creating something expressly "for" a particular listing, I may well not, as I may well be incapable of being anything but what I am.

So, my attitude is this: I do what I do; if one likes it, great; if one wants to pay me to use it, even greater. At the very least, it helps me to sleep at night rather than causing me to stay up all night creating something that aspires to conform my capabilities to somewhat nebulous, possibly capricious, and at any rate dubious, parameters of style and production. I signed-up with Taxi on a whim, thanks to a serendipitous meeting with a songwriter on his way to the Taxi convention, and I felt that it was something I should try at least just for the sake of saying I had. If there might be a way to get across to Taxi administrators that they shouldn't even bother sending me critiques, I'd be interested to know.

Yes, all of my music (going on 30 CDs, now) can be heard at my website, in the signature of this post.

[jdstamper]

Hi Steve,

I'm a long-time Taxi member. I care very much about the critiques. For me the more feedback, the better. I would guess the majority of Taxi members are focused on making music for the industry, the critiques are important to consider in future revisions, and continuous improvement. I appreciate when a screener gives me feedback even when the listing says there will be no critique from Taxi.

Good luck with your music, just try to ignore the feedback if you're not interested in it.

[davewalton]

I joined Taxi in December, 2011, and today just received my first unsolicited critique from a submission.

Each Taxi listing specifically says whether or not you'll be receiving a critique. You didn't receive an "unsolicited" critique. You specifically asked for a critique by the action of submitting for that particular listing, a listing which clearly stated that you'd be getting a critique.

I signed-up with Taxi on a whim...

Spending $300 on a "whim"... never usually a good idea. From time to time we get people here on the forum that ask "Is Taxi for me?". Mostly the responses from members are for those people to take a little time to read the listings, to see if the listings have enough of what they do. Then to perhaps post a track or two in the peer-to-peer section to see if their music is really ready for the listings. In other words "do your homework". If Taxi only had "hit songwriting" opportunities with no film/tv listings, as appealing as it would be to get millions in royalties for a hit song, I don't really do that so signing with Taxi and submitting music would be a waste of time and money for me. Of course they do have a lot of film/tv listings and it's been a great investment and resource for me. You have to decide if Taxi is right for you.

At this point you can either (a) ask Taxi for a refund and move on. Or you can be more selective about the listings to which you submit. Don't submit to any more listings asking for music in a certain, particular style that's different from what you do. If they're looking for a blue car, don't send them a red one. Simple.

In the end, it's up to us to find a fit for our music, not up to the listing companies to change their needs to suit our music. We have to take responsibility.

[stevefitch]

Jim, thanks for taking the time to reply, even if the question were whether anyone else might not care about critiques. It was not that I could not understand why critiques might matter to some people.

I should clarify that I do appreciate that a screener might take the time to offer feedback, even if none had been promised. That means that someone had listened to it and found it somehow remarkable. It is helpful to know how or why something might be off-the-mark while "on-target," but if the screeners would be more specific as to which aspects of the production, recording or arrangement had been wrong for the purpose, aside from vague remarks such as "rough around the edges," I would feel more confident that I weren't receiving a reaction based on prejudices.

I should also clarify that I fail to understand some of the terms used by Taxi. For instance, what does "indie" mean?: I'd thought that "indie" (the music and the term) was declared "dead" a couple decades ago, but moreover, what Taxi seems to be referring to is music more polished and "produced" than what "indie" means to most people.

It comes down to a matter of acculturation, as an artist and as a person. I myself do not watch Hollywood films, nor network TV, for various reasons, not the least being that they insult my intelligence and waste my time. Consequently, my imagination or creative propensity is likely not so attuned to the exigencies and conventions of The Industry. The critiques from Taxi, while I appreciate the attention that they display, disinterest me because they suggest how I might be better able to conform to such standards, which, I confess, I seem not to sufficiently comprehend.

Again, I am probably best suited for working in collaboration with a film director with whom I share a mutual aesthetic rapport. Taxi doesn't provide such match-making, but I value what Taxi is for, and I am not trying to bite the hand that might someday feed me. It's just that I am receiving critiques from screeners without being able to "consider the source."

[stevefitch]

Re: Dave Walton's reply.

I am not interested in asking Taxi for a refund, nor do I regret having spent the $300 to join. "Whim" had been an improper choice of word, apparently. I joined Taxi because I know that some of the music I make would be good for use in film scores, or that I should like to score a film with a director who shares my aesthetic sensibility. I don't see why I should be knocked for taking a chance on something.

Neither am I interested in having fingers waggled at me and receiving condescension in this forum. I paid my Taxi fare, I'm along for the ride, and I'm learning the lay of the land, and am also learning that I could not really have known what Taxi is and does unless I had joined. And no, I'm not interested in getting-out; I'm along for a year's ride. It's at least educational, and there is some good music to be heard in the Forum. I am, however, now somewhat discouraged form posting anything here.

Maybe I'd put my foot in my mouth? Maybe it's best to let me save face, and do so yourself, by ignoring it?

[mazz]

You won't see too many listings by Filmakers posted at Taxi. There's many reasons for it, including that most indie Filmakers don't meet the requirements that Taxi has for placing listings. There are many places on the Internet to find Filmakers looking for composers, I even got a scoring gig via Craigslist. But most $20,000 scoring gigs will be not found in these sites. In the film business, a composer has to establish relationships and develop a reputation. That takes much much more than simply having music that might be appropriate for films.

Since many of the taxi listings are for clients that provide music to all sorts of the types of shows that currently insult you intelligence, it might be worth looking at that and seeing if it's a business you really want to participate in. The music and media production businesses are very derivative and referential which means they use lots of buzz words and are looking for things that sound like something else. I guarantee you the word indie is still used but what it defines may be different than 20 years ago.

It may be that your music is perfect just as it is, in which case simply ignore the feedback. However, many people join Taxi in large part exactly for the educational aspect and are looking to constantly improve their music.

Some people are more suited for composing commercial music than others. You may choose not to stoop to their level, but realize that by coming on here and sharing your views you are implicitly opening yourself up for feedback from others. How you deal with that feedback often is an indicator of how you'll deal with feedback of your music.

I wish you luck on your musical journey!

Mazz

[stevefitch]

Re: Mazz's reply.

I appreciate your fair and balanced perspective. I don't feel that I'd be "stooping" to anyone's level by composing commercially-oriented music; I just may be incapable of it. Many commercially-oriented musicians are much better musicians than I, by my own estimation. As I've said, it's a matter of acculturation. Anyone who's lived for a while in a foreign culture might appreciate that. The "derivative and referential" terms of the Industry are like a language barrier for some.

Generally speaking:

In addition, I realize that I may have inflamed some people with my initial post. There are a lot of people who have devoted a lot of their time and talent to aspiration and success in this musical world (which is one of many), so for me to question the validity of something on which they base a lot of confidence is sure to offend some, some of whom might respond emotionally. I was not trolling to offend, but perhaps being too candid. The music I make is not with commercial intent, but for love of my art and with care for my craft; if anyone might like to pay me to use it, so much the better. That had been the intended message of my original post, and it had been obscured by my over-elaboration.

[eeoo]

There is a "request critique" checkbox at the top of the submission form, I've never unchecked it but I assume if I did i would not receive a critique, right?

eo

[sedge]

There is a "request critique" checkbox at the top of the submission form

yep some are here at Taxi just as an extra bonus to see if a tune may go somewhere and not interested in changing anything based on crit, quite a few on the forum have that feeling, which is cool, nobody is bothered, no forcing to change or anything ha ! If there was I would be off like a shot!

whatever works or you, seems a long post for a simple thing, Steve!

for me, If someone wants to spend some time to tell us what they think of of tune, why the heck not, we aint gonna cry,
its just a tune.

as long as your enjoying what you do, happy days hey

[Casey H]

Neither am I interested in having fingers waggled at me and receiving condescension in this forum.

I can assure you that Dave was replying with both his hands on the keyboard.

I have nothing to add to what Dave and Mazz said about what a Taxi membership is all about and how to make the best of it.

Casey