First Rally? Here's some info

[hummingbird]

Q: how many Taxi members will be at the Rally? 200ish?A: there will be more than 1,000 people at the Rally. I imagine something like 70% Taxi members and 30% guests.Q: I'm confused as to what a "Dot" isA: http://taxi.proboards27.com/index.cgi?b ... read=9247Q: what's the "Dot Lounge"A: the sunken area of the bar to your left as you enter the hotel... sort of became the hang-out area for forum members last time & will be again

[ckbarlow]

EEEEE! I'm so excited I'm getting goosebumps!Great post, as always Vikki.Hey, wonderful forum people - I just wanted to say I'm sorry I've been absent for the last couple of months. I've really missed this wonderful community. I've been super-busy (with good music stuff, thankfully).But I'm a'comin' to the Rally as part of the Nuevo Mexico contingent, yes sirree. Can't wait to Get My Dot On! ck

[hummingbird]

Oct 6, 2008, 9:16am, ckbarlow wrote:But I'm a'comin' to the Rally as part of the Nuevo Mexico contingent, yes sirree. Can't wait to Get My Dot On! ckHEEE HAWWWWWWWWWWW can't wait to meet ya!

[anne]

I'm posting this to help you if this is your first rally, so you don't become overwhelmed with choosing from everything!These are only my opinions, and not anything from taxi! Other people may have great suggestions as well, so please post them here if you do.My "rally" background: : the first rally I attended I was mostly focused on the "artist career path" for a singer I was working with. At the second rally, I was focused mostly on tv/film for my own music career. This information is therefore formed from my opinion based on my experience of trying to figure which would be my first choice panels and classes for my purpose. To keep the information to members only, I'm referring to the taxi rally information link that you would have received via email link. I'll be referring to panels first, and just the dates and panel order rather than the names.Same with the classes, in the second half of this post.Some general suggestions for rally first timers:ALL first timers, or anybody who is not getting forwards, should be at the last paenl on Friday and the 3rd panel on Sunday. If you are thinking of the "artist" career, get to the the first and third panels on Friday, all Saturday panels, and the 2 mid-day panels (1 is before, 1 after lunch) on Sunday. If you are on the "tv/film" career path, or non "artist" path, don't miss panel 1, 2, 5 on Friday. Saturday get to panels 1, 5, 6, Sunday panels 1, 2, 3If you've just returned to music after a long absence, or have not worked professionally yet, I would recommend taking some of these, I can't stress enough how helpful the listening panels will be to get you oriented to what the music supervisors and execs are looking for. I was out of music for almost 20 years, and the panels bought me up to speed faster than anything else could have. They also helped me define my own musical goals and choose to pursue the career course I'm on now. *********DRIVERS ED CLASSES**********FOR ALL FIRST TIMERS: Friday class number 21, Saturday #21 , and at 10:45 on Sunday (repeated sessions) should be a "don't miss" class!Classes may depend more on "where" you are in your career, so I can only try to offer you a few guidelines. Look at the "Driver's ed courses grid" pages to follow this advice. I will number them in order left to right, top of the page to bottom, not counting any empty grids, mentoring, or product classes. The first class listed is number one, the one to the right of it is number two, etc. Because of the sheer volume of these sessions offered, I'll mainly say that if you use common sense you will get the most out of the rally. For instance, if you are just starting out as an artist you definitely will want to learn about touring, social networking, radio play, making cds , creating a buzz and marketing, and home recording (if you diy record) in the panels and a few classes.If you are returning after an absence, I'd focus on the classes that are good for "getting current" in your style and sound: recording at home or getting your demo cut. Also self confidence / personal achievement, networking classes would all be helpful.If you are focused on tv/film I'd recommend the same classes, but also any of the recording or performance classes (if you do either at home) or the demo class are also helpful for us as we tend to record our own material. *******I'm going to sound like a a Nanny now*********Some of this is just good manners and sounds like I'm nagging - but really will help you get in and out of class rooms faster and more happily.Now, the best advice I could give for going to the rally or any convention - Drivers ed classes:First and foremost, don't mob and crowd the doorway when waiting for the room to open. The classes are first come first serve, so PLEASE FORM A LINE! It sounds elementary, but in the excitement people get pushy and noisy - its just normal for that to happen. A line really works much better than a mob as it keeps the noise down for the classes that are "in session", and nobody needs to defend their "turf" to get in a room. Secondly, LET THE PEOPLE IN THE PREVIOUS CLASS OUT OF THE ROOM before trying to go in. Your in line anyway (right?) so you will have a seat in the class, and those leaving need to get out before you can sit down. Third - if you have a buddy, each of you can hit different classes, take notes, and share them with each other. This lets you cover more ground and opens up seats, too.Fourth - don't gab during the classes unless your participating... Fifth - offer your chair to old folks like me! No, but seriously, some people have reasons that they can not stand for an hour or sit on the ground for the length of a class, and its really nice of all you young whippersnappers to swap places. Just as an example, I have leg and back issues that you wouldn't notice just looking at me, and it is not uncommon for this to keep me from doing something (like stand for a long time). I'm definitely not alone in this. Please be respectful of others who may need something that you don't "see" a reason for, even in your excitement to get somewhere. Its good practice for all the networking you'll have to do in your career anyway!Sixth - if you know your going to need to leave the class early, please sit by the door or other place (end of a row) that makes it easier to get out of the room. Seventh - DON"T FORGET TO GO TO THE PANELS. I can't stress how comprehensive these are, especially for first time rally goers!Eight - HAVE FUN and MEET PEOPLE! Remember that everyone else is probably just as shy, self conscious, or overwhelmed as you are. Learn how to introduce yourself to strangers and practice "networking" with your new rally friends. You will need these skills and the accompanying confidence as your career grows. Finally, if I may say so...and I'm mentioning this based on several comments by several pros at the last 2 rallys..... drop the attitude (if you have one) and keep an open mind.Even the most experienced people will learn a lot at the rally. The mentors and teachers and panelists - all pros - even comment through the weekend at how much they learn from these experiences and, unless you are so far beyond their level of accomplishments that you shouldn't even be there, your 'tude isn't going to get you anywhere and will more likely keep people from wanting to help you out. So, in short (?) I hope this little blurb from my own experiences can help some of you first timers. If I can help any of you in any way, feel free to help. I'm not any kind of expert, but I'm always willing to share what I do know with others. Just say hi - I'm usually in the sunken lobby area when I'm not in classes or panels trying to learn more myself!HTH-Anne