Hello Taxi Forums - newbie here...

[NashvilleMike]

Hi everyone!

I'm a Taxi member since Jan 1 and have just started lurking on the forums and wanted to introduce myself. I'm also planning on making the journey to the left coast for the rally so hopefully I'll be able to put some faces with names after hanging on the forums!

So far my taxi experience is probably pretty typical for a newb - I've submitted about 15 songs or so with one forward but no calls. But I'm continuing to write/record/submit and I feel like I'm getting better at really reading and understanding the listings.

I think I'm a little unusual in the fact that I am a full-time music producer (no day job) and I've had some placements outside of taxi (don't know if I' allowed to list shows/other companies - i saw some of that stuff deleted on another thread) but I'd like to really put an emphasis on increasing the number and quality of relationships I have with music buyers.

So if any of you have any gear/Pro Tools/Logic questions, feel free to reach out!! I'll be happy to kick in some free advice, although you may get what you pay for..

Looking forward to meeting some new peeps!!

Michael Hughes
hartwellstudios.com

[Russell Landwehr]

Hi Michael. It's GREAT to see new faces here!

SO, you've had placements. I'll bet you'll be a great contributor to the Forums.

Share thoughts and experiences where you may. Target the listings and share your successes. AND...

What was your forward? Please to share your TAXI experience.

Welcome to the Forums.

Russell Landwehr

[NashvilleMike]

Hi Russell!

My forward was for my song "Start Again". It was for listing U150103PR

HOPEFUL, ANTHEMIC, PIANO-BASED CONTEMPORARY POP/ROCK SONGS with Male Vocals are needed by a NON-Exclusive Film/TV Music Company with a direct connection to the Executive Producer of a Primetime TV Drama on a Major Network. They need optimistic Mid-to-Up-Tempo Songs that could be found on the same playlist as acts like Matthew Puckett, The Fray, Gabe Dixon, etc., etc., etc. Please review the following songs to get in the general ballpark of the overall sound they need: “Everything I Want” by Matthew Puckett “Hold My Hand” by The Fray “On A Day Just Like Today” by Gabe Dixon Quoting the source: “These will be used as show closers, and based on what they’ve already used in the show songs should start somewhat stripped-down with piano being the primary focus. Songs should build to a big, anthemic chorus that leaves people with a feeling of hope. Lyrics should give the audience a feeling that ‘everything will be alright,’ so the more optimistic the better.” Give them songs that sound like a real artist/band, with a believable, emotional performance. Songs should be piano-driven, with a well-crafted song structure, memorable melodies, and attention-grabbing hooks. Your chorus will be important for this pitch, so be sure it lyrically and melodically delivers a hopeful vibe.

I think you can check it out at http://taxi.com/michaelhughes

Hope you dig it and thanks for saying hello!

[Paulie]

Welcome to the boards! I joined a couple of months after you did, it's a great place to hang out. Cool that your day job is in music, your experience will be welcome here.

[NashvilleMike]

Thanks Paulie!

Any forum advice for me now that you've been here a while? Where's the most helpful section of the board?

[Kolstad]

Hi there Michael!

Great to have you on the forums, you seem to know TV from the stage view!

Love the way you just listed "Fender Tele" in your gear section on the website, among the 20 mics, 15 other instruments ect. Says a great deal
I'm an overseas writer, and have done a few long distance cowrites in Nashville, and love to romanticize "guitar town", though (or maybe because) I've never visited.

On using the forum, I orientate by the link "View new posts" in the upper right corner. That way you can keep up, without having to go into every section.
Make sure to spend time in the "Success stories" section to see what types of music that gets forwarded.
Also try to take notes on what listings that gets repeated (similar types) on a yearly basis. That way you can always put things in the pipeline and be confident to find a listing for it when it's done.

[johncolumbo]

Welcome Michael!

Like Kolstad mentioned the "View Unread Posts" link in the upper right helps stay on top of all the recent posts (that's what I use too)... I find all kinds of gems that way.
Most of the time the peer to peer section is super helpful, but I end up missing out putting my own stuff up there because I haven't quite mastered the skill of submitting early to the listings yet... I always seem to be submitting the night of the deadline just because of my schedule. I'll get there.

[PaulBergren]

Welcome Mike! Great tunes on your Taxi page. Well done.

[NashvilleMike]

Hi Kolstad -

I guess Fender Tele is pretty vague, but that's a guitar that I tend to buy/sell/borrow a lot and I got tired of updating that page…. There's always SOME kind of tele laying around but as for the actual model - it varies. The idea of seeing patterns in repeated listings is a great one - thanks very much! I've already noticed (at least) 2 listings for a pizzicato string instrumental maybe for a coffee commercial? And I think I'll write a couple this weekend to fit that need if it reappears. Thank you! And you should come to Nashville sometime - it's an amazing place for music!

And hello JohnColumbo - I'll get on the peer to peer section this am & check it out, thanks! I love Brevard - I had a buddy that was a music major there in 92-93 there (trumpet) and I'd go see him and hang in Brevard regularly (I was in school at Clemson, so it was a short drive).

Thanks for the kind words, PaulBergren - I'm gonna jump on and listen to some of your stuff right now…

Hope everybody has a great day!

[johncolumbo]

Small world... sometimes I feel like Brevard is such an obscure place on the map, though I know better. Whenever I start to feel like things are getting a little too country for me I just visit Moog headquarters in Asheville not too far from home