I have decided the best way to give back is this thread

[Cat Herder]

Yes, Casey 1,000% right. The contract is KING. In larger libraries you may not have this option, but in some smaller boutique libraries you may have (I said "may" have) the ability to have this clause included.

We actually altered our contract to include this option for our writers. Some statement in writing is always preferable to a spoken word. Remember, if you "absolutely must" have it outside the contract, you must have it inside the contract, or you need to walk away from one option or the other.

What you "have" to do is not an easy decision, if it is, rethink it before you leap.

[davedwards]

Thanks Casey, Cat Herder, Matto, and all the other folks who are willing to share the benefits of your experience to help others reach their dreams. Best wishes to all for a very happy and successful new year.

Dave Edwards

[Cat Herder]

I will be on TAXI TV Monday, January 10th. I hope it survives me.

[Hookjaw Brown]

Looking forward to seeing you. Could you describe how you come up with 60 descriptors for a piece of music! It would be nice to actually see these, since it would make communications easier.

I see library entries such as:
Slow-Tempo, Blues, Bluesy, Slow-Hand, Country, Rock, Electric, Guitar, Southern, Lazy, Groovy, Guitar, Solo, Building, Down Home, Road, Rural, Memphis, Tennessee, Mississippi, StLouis, Mellow, Chill, Instrumental, Electric, Blues.

Definitions are somewhat like waving hands to get a point across.

[Cat Herder]

Hook,

What I was refering to is spreadsheet columns. Column 1 is the file name, 2 is the title as it will be registered, the list goes on from things like tempo, Genre, Sub Genre, CD Title. on to things like PRO, and CAE#, Publisher, etc. The search words are in a Description column and can vary base on what the writer selects. It contains words that you have mentioned, and other descriptors like a la names (Coldplay, Iron Maiden, Beatles, Pink Floyd). Typical (suggested) keywords are listed in our documentation. Here is an example: (a bit sloppy but I had to copy and paste, no time to type all this)

Delicate Elegant Pensive Tearful
Determined Emotional Percussive Tense
Dirty Haunting Playful Terror
Distorted Heartfelt Political Thoughtful
Disturbing Heavy Pompous Tribal
DJ Scratching Hectic Positive Triumphant
Down Home Heroic Powerful Uplifting
Acoustic Dramatic Hi-Energy Psychedelic Urgent
Aggressive Dreamy Hopeful Pulsing Vengeful
Ambient Driving Humorous Quirky Vibrant
Ancient Edgy Hypnotic Reflective Warm
Angry Eerie Intense Relaxed Weepy
Anticipation Electronic Intricate Repetitive Whimsical
Anxious Emotional Intrigue Retro Wistful
Atmospheric Energetic Introspective Rhythmic Yearning
Ballad Epic Jazzy Romantic Zany
Beautiful Erotic Jerky Rootsy
Big Ethereal Joyful Sad
Bluesy Ethnic Laid Back Scary
Bold Evil Light Sensual
Bouncy Exotic Live Sentimental
Bright Fast Love Serene
Brooding Fear Majestic Sexy
Building Feel Good Meditative Silly
Calm Festive Melancholy Sinister
Campy Flowing Mellow Slapstick
Carefree Folksy Melodic Smooth
Careful Forceful Military Soaring
Caring Fun Moody Soft
Cartoon Funky Mournful Solemn
Cautious Funny Mysterious Soothing
Celestial Futuristic Mystical Sophisticated
Chaotic Gentle Nice Soulful
Cheerful Gorgeous Nostalgic Southern
Childlike Groovy Oldies Spacey
Confident Grungy Olympic Sparse
Confused Happy Ominous Sultry
Cool Hard Pastoral Surreal
Cute Hardcore Patriotic Suspenseful
Dangerous Eerie Peaceful Sweeping
Dark Electronic Pensive Tender

[teleblaster]

Sounds like you use the sheet to find music that matches search criteria by filtering based on one of more column filters? I'm putting a database together this year to do the same sort of tasks with my personal library. I've been kicking it around off and on 'in my spare time' for over a year and finally think I'm on to a schema and design that will work well for me.

When I started this business 3 years ago I never thought I'd have so many songs that I'd need a spreadsheet or db to find all my 'aggressive' or 'sad' tracks. Each of my 15-20 original works was like one of my kids. Now they're more like another drone in the 'Borg Collective' -- once they're in the db they've been assimilated.

Thanks for this thread 'herder. Can't wait to see the UStream on Monday

[Cat Herder]

Eric, actually the information is used in this way, as you suggested. The only difference is that our client libraries use Soundminer software for searches, so our spreadsheets are designed to comply with that software.

[Hookjaw Brown]

That is really cool list of descriptors!!!

Thanks

[Hookjaw Brown]

Good show! Listened to the songs at www.studio51music.com/taxitv and had some questions/comments.

You had mentioned 'button ends' and 3:00 compositions.

Arabian Daydream had a button end and was 2:15

Delta Card Blues had a fade out ending and was 1:27

Haunting love had gorgeous piano and strings. I could hear the fresh rosin on the bows. Fantastic sounds! It was not quite 3:00 @ 2:51.

Was Delta Card Blues an example of what you don't want? I know your time is limited but it was a very interesting conversation you had with Michael. I could have listened to more.

[cherbear]

Dear Cat,
Thanks so much for the show today - it was really informative. Also, I loved your presentation at the Road Rally - I walked out of there with a new goal. And I bought a new ukelele.
I'm gonna check out the Studio 51 site for the samples soon as I am done posting here. Thanks again.

Cher