Following up with Companies

[cardell]

Why work in a business like this if dealing with crazy people bugs you?

OK, this is my new signature quote!!

Stuart

[DesireInspires]

Why work in a business like this if dealing with crazy people bugs you?

OK, this is my new signature quote!!

Stuart

LOL!

[keithl]

speechless after reading that someone would do that.

I would have no problem not seeing where the forward is going. You can tell by the "deals" section, that things are happening.

I think Chuck brings up a great point about relationships. When you look at the people that are doing really well with TAXI, it's not about the "here and now", it's setting up things for the future. Putting your best foot forward, being prepared when you DO get that email/call saying that they like your stuff, being dependable and turning projects around. That can seriously go a LONG way with what we do.

How do you think that relationship started, when they were contacted on 7:30 on a Sunday?

Now that doesn't help with the problem and how to solve it. So, I'd go with not listing the company. And for the people who think you are pocketing money, you can tell by the TAXI emails/forum activity that deals are getting done. And if they think those posts are "planted" and those TAXI email names/pics of composers that made deals are fake, I fear they flat out could be just paranoid!

-k

[mikeymike2000]

Hi K,

I am zeroing in on a specific point that I believe is completely missed. And based on the replies here and some of the private message I have been getting, I am nowhere near being the only one who thinks like this.

My comment is not to question how to build a relationship, the correct day and time to start a relationship, how Taxi runs, or if it really works for people. If I thought it was a sham in any way I personally would not have stayed for a second year and would not keep contributing to this forum.

The point I am talking about here is that this is a two way street and it seems as though the entire membership group of people who produce content for Taxi is being chastised or was under consideration to be chastised because one person got upset and (for something they themselves are most likely at fault for). In fact, that was even pointed out in the original note if I remember correct.

The point I am bringing up is whoever this library owner is that was disturbed at an undesirable hour has no body to blame but themselves for making his or her contact information (cell phone most likely) public so someone can track them down and call them up. – Perhaps the caller didn't do the time change calculation correct, or maybe that was the only time they had free to leave a message…there are lots of reasons that could explain why this happened. Personally it is not my concern.

Again, just wanted to bring up that the only thing I am shining a light on here is HOW this happens, and then the reason for WHY. Ultimately the HOW is totally the fault of the person complaining.

The high bar of quality and common sense is a two way street.

I affirm the secretive and confidential nature of this business and the need for it…I simply disagree with the quintessential “LA Attitude” being portrayed in this thread. Something I was pleasantly surprised was NOT at the rally, BTW. Everyone was so cool, normal and down to earth this really shocks me that it was made into a topic. Seems very out of character for all involved. – Maybe it was just a bad day that is now a moot issue. But, I call ‘em like I see ‘em. Maybe you agree maybe you don’t.

[DesireInspires]

The point I am talking about here is that this is a two way street and it seems as though the entire membership group of people who produce content for Taxi is being chastised or was under consideration to be chastised because one person got upset and (for something they themselves are most likely at fault for). In fact, that was even pointed out in the original note if I remember correct.

The point I am bringing up is whoever this library owner is that was disturbed at an undesirable hour has no body to blame but themselves for making his or her contact information (cell phone most likely) public so someone can track them down and call them up. – Perhaps the caller didn't do the time change calculation correct, or maybe that was the only time they had free to leave a message…there are lots of reasons that could explain why this happened. Personally it is not my concern.

Again, just wanted to bring up that the only thing I am shining a light on here is HOW this happens, and then the reason for WHY. Ultimately the HOW is totally the fault of the person complaining.

The high bar of quality and common sense is a two way street.

Yeah. I understand your argument and agree with it.

I guess I do not understand blanket statements about professionalism in regards to composers only. From the eyes of some views expressed here, I get the impression that composers hold themselves to a very high standard without holding the people they do business with to any standards. The "bend-over-backwards" rhetoric expressed by some composers has always perplexed me.

Composers should do their best to follow rules and to not cause trouble. But they shouldn't be so docile and meek. Humility is cool, but being a people pleaser just for the heck of it is not a sign of true professionalism to me. Most composers will never get a big break with an attitude like that. Why? Because they will deem every command or request as important without figuring out the benefit for the libraries AND themselves. Both parties should benefit from deals.

Enough from me. Taxi is run by a smart group of people and they will do what is best for the business. I gotta make some bacon and eggs!

[Casey H]

The point I am bringing up is whoever this library owner is that was disturbed at an undesirable hour has no body to blame but themselves for making his or her contact information (cell phone most likely) public so someone can track them down and call them up.

I disagree STRONGLY with this statement. In this internet age, so much information becomes public without our even knowing it. And should every person who works at a music company have their home phone number unlisted? I think back then, the name of the Taxi client company was given with forward, even on special listings. Internet searches on companies turn up all sorts of stuff. If someone wants to be a jerk and does enough searches, the internet gives out a lot about the principals in a company.

Blaming the victim here is so wrong.

I'll go search your name and tell you personal stuff about you and your family that will make your head spin.

Casey

[Casey H]

And BTW, DesireInspries... Many of us know who you are because of the same power of internet searches. I choose not to share the info because of my respect for people's privacy.... It's part of my "chemistry".

Casey

[crs7string]

@Mike and Di.

I can feel fairly confident, regardless of the quality of your music, I, for one, will most likely never refer you to one of the publishers with whom I have an ongoing relationship. Both of you, IMO, have demonstrated that my relationship with my publisher would be at risk.

As I stated earlier, the profit is in the relationship, and how one starts the relationship and maintains the relationship is very important in this relatively small business.

There are, IMO, three ways to begin a relationship with a publisher.

1. a cold call
2. a "favorable introduction" (this is the nature of a TAXI forward)
3. a referral by a fellow composer.

Without question, the third option is the best option. I am fairly convinced the publisher will want to like your music and listen thru what I call "good ears".


If one of my composer friends refers me to one of their publishers and I called them at home very early on a Sunday morning, would the referring composer's relationship be at risk. I believe it would be, and for me to expect another referral from that same composer would be a very unrealistic expectation.

Why would it be any different with the "favorable introduction" of a TAXI forward.

Finally, why would one make a conscious choice to make a hard business harder by not accepting that there is an appropriate way to start a relationship and an inappropriate way to start a relationship.

There is plenty of great music for our publishers to access, why should they choose to work with a PIA.

Chuck


@ DI, I find it very ironic that someone who chooses to remain anonymous has even one sentence of advice or opinion on how to build relationships.

[michael11]

And BTW, DesireInspries... Many of us know who you are because of the same power of internet searches. I choose not to share the info because of my respect for people's privacy.... It's part of my "chemistry".

Casey

Doesn't look a bit like his picture!

[sguiles]

I just finished reading all of these posts. I would love to here from Michael if this issue was resolved or not. (But I understand if possibly you just CAN'T talk about it for some reason too).

Second, I recently had a placement with a television news program and had to do a lot of communication back and forth with the producers. They called me. I also had their emails and several different cell #s. I was very careful to ask permission to call and only if they needed it. This placement wasn't through Taxi, but indirectly, because I had created a recording and missed a Taxi deadline in July of 2012.

So I've never had a forward to a deal through Taxi (yet).

I'd love to understand how it all works when a deal goes through. So, as I understand it, when a forward gets accepted by a company, then Taxi sends you an email saying "Company XYZ" has decided to use your track "Disco Flames" for their show "Pretty Princesses of Love". The supervisor's cell # is 895-555-5555. Good luck!

How does it all go down? Fill us in (without actual names and phone numbers).