Forum Newbies... a few thoughts + FAQ

[toddt]

Hi everyone,After reading almost the whole of the main Taxi site cover-to-cover, I've gone ahead and joined up.Although I have done a bit of dance/electronic music production and had the odd club release I am very new on the structured songwriting side - so I have loads to learn. And I live in London so in advance please excuse my apparent overuse of the spellings "-ise", "-our", "ogue", and, hopefully mostly (although doubtfully), "cheque"! Anyways, aside from what seems like a great service (and I think I've read enough to have a fairly decent grasp on what it can and can not do for me), there's obviously a very strong community here which seems to provide as much if not more of the value, so Hi, it's good to be here, and I look forward to helping out and being helped too.But I've just got a couple of quick questions, and if anyone could respond that would be much appreciated:- Apparently you can request a specific listener for custom critiques, but are you likely to get that listener? (I've had a custom critique that was hugely informative/educational and would like to use that listener again)- What if your favourite listener leaves? Is there any way you can be told (i.e. when you submit your next request for them?)Thanks all, and see you 'round,tt

[davewalton]

Oct 29, 2008, 2:02pm, toddt wrote:After reading almost the whole of the main Taxi site cover-to-cover, I've gone ahead and joined up.Jumping in with both feet... very brave and commendable. Quote:And I live in London so in advance please excuse my apparent overuse of the spellings "-ise", "-our", "ogue", and, hopefully mostly (although doubtfully), "cheque"! I just finished a co-write with a Taxi member from "over there". We had a hilarious time "translating" slang, local expressions and the like. I read a funny comment by somebody not long ago that described the US and UK as "two countries divided by a common language". Quote:Anyways, aside from what seems like a great service (and I think I've read enough to have a fairly decent grasp on what it can and can not do for me), there's obviously a very strong community here which seems to provide as much if not more of the value, so Hi, it's good to be here, and I look forward to helping out and being helped too.I agree this is a very strong community. Amazing amount of help and a good variety of styles. Plus many here have good success in general, placements and such. That's the one thing I really like... rubbing elbows with people getting deals, not just reading about them in some publication.Quote:But I've just got a couple of quick questions, and if anyone could respond that would be much appreciated:- Apparently you can request a specific listener for custom critiques, but are you likely to get that listener? (I've had a custom critique that was hugely informative/educational and would like to use that listener again)- What if your favourite listener leaves? Is there any way you can be told (i.e. when you submit your next request for them?)We can request certain screeners as well as requesting anyone BUT certain screeners. I've never requested specific screeners (or not certain screeners) because I'd always gravitate towards screeners that happened to be genereous with their comments. I've found that I get a better picture of my music when I examine it through the eyes of a wide variety of screeners... letting the chips fall where they may.For example, one screener always has high praise for my stuff, another always gives me "Not great but OK for the listing" for just about every song of mine they critique. Probably the truth about my music lies somewhere between the two. It reminds me that I'm making good progress but that I always have work to do. Welcome,Dave

[toddt]

Hi Dave,Brilliant re the language comment! Couldn't agree more, it's confusing thru and through.And thanks for your answer - what you've said regarding screener selection makes complete sense (if we wanted sunshine blown up our whatsits we'd just ask our family/friends for feedback hey). I guess my point is though that I have put a couple of tracks forward for custom critiques (wasting no time...), and whilst one came back with a certain general numerical score but with really informative and specific comments, the other came back with roughly equivalent scores but basically nice comments with not lots for me to learn from (and I know I'm not anywhere near there yet).Hey one more thing to the Taxi masters - and I don't want to be controversial - but if I was to resubmit a track for custom critique (and asked for either a specific screener or specifically NOT a screener) would the second screener/listener look at the first critique and use that in any way? Or would it definitely be a critique from scratch?Thanks again,tt

[hummingbird]

Oct 29, 2008, 3:26pm, toddt wrote:Hi Dave,Brilliant re the language comment! Couldn't agree more, it's confusing thru and through.And thanks for your answer - what you've said regarding screener selection makes complete sense (if we wanted sunshine blown up our whatsits we'd just ask our family/friends for feedback hey). I guess my point is though that I have put a couple of tracks forward for custom critiques (wasting no time...), and whilst one came back with a certain general numerical score but with really informative and specific comments, the other came back with roughly equivalent scores but basically nice comments with not lots for me to learn from (and I know I'm not anywhere near there yet).Hey one more thing to the Taxi masters - and I don't want to be controversial - but if I was to resubmit a track for custom critique (and asked for either a specific screener or specifically NOT a screener) would the second screener/listener look at the first critique and use that in any way? Or would it definitely be a critique from scratch?Thanks again,ttIt would be a critique from scratch unless you included details in your submission.I find I get the best value from my custom critiques when I ask specific questions that state what I'd like to know.

[wrdsnmuzik]

Hi to all, I've been a Taxi member for over a year, but only joined this forum this week! (no, networking was never my strong suit) But I've been hanging at harmony-central.com so I'm familiar with the general vibe. Perhaps I'll start a thread to introduce myself properly, but thought I'd start here. Have poked around and heard bits and pieces of some Taxi artists (such as Vikki--very impressive, I love 'don't look under the bed', had me reaching for my popcorn!). Impressed by the talent.So . . . best wishes to all, and look forward to getting to know y'all.

[devin]

Welcome wrdsnmuzik! Lurking the forum is a great way to figure out what music is getting forwarded, and who's making it. It's also an amazing spot to get almost-instant feedback from forum peers on any tunes you have shaping up...check out the peer to peer department for examples.Cheers!

[erandall]

quick question:what's the difference between "lyric lovers" and "couch grouch lyrics?" is there a place where the lyrics are sorted by genre?Cheers,Ellen

[hummingbird]

Nov 18, 2008, 9:11am, erandall wrote:quick question:what's the difference between "lyric lovers" and "couch grouch lyrics?" is there a place where the lyrics are sorted by genre?Cheers,Ellenyou should only post in 'lyric lovers'. A special board was created for CG a while ago, since he posts a lyric or two a day.

[cjdenecia]

hey there.I'm an american singer/songwriter with no significant history living in the UK.and that's all I got for ya right now. hope that's enough.

[geo]

Nov 18, 2008, 5:34pm, cjdenecia wrote:hey there.I'm an american singer/songwriter with no significant history living in the UK.and that's all I got for ya right now. hope that's enough.Hi there..... what do we call you? Normally an introduction is accompanied by an exchange of names.... welcome aboard....I'm GeoPeace