Is Dispatch worth the extra cost?

[DennisPMusic]

Hi
I'm considering buying the extra Dispatch membership, but would like to hear from people who uses it and give me their feedback on the service, is it worth the price?

I'm composing instrumentals in different styles and get some of my pitches forwarded.

I generally thinks it should be a part of the main service, because it's expensive enough.

Let me hear your thoughts

[cosmicdolphin]

There is talk of rolling all into one service so it may be worth hanging fire until until it's announced. Guess the RR would be the time to introduce something new ?

[DennisPMusic]

Yes, I have also read that, but it's over a year ago since it was mentioned the first time.

[Paulie]

Initially was supposed to be for fast turnaround requests from libraries, rush jobs basically, due in a few days or a week versus the several weeks that most listings have as deadlines. That aspect of Dispatch seemed to decrease several years ago. I submitted to dozens of Dispatch listings and had many forwards, but zero contacts. My thought is that libraries that need stuff in a hurry might sometimes be too impatient to wait for forwards and may find music elsewhere to meet their deadlines. When I returned to Taxi earlier this year I did not feel the need to also pay for Dispatch.

[funsongs]

It may also be prudent to pay attention to when they announce the date of the increase in the membership fee;
to see what is, and what is NOT, included in that. There could be some surprises.
HTH.

[Telefunkin]

One thing you could do to find out whether it works for you is to wait until you're in the last month or so of your membership year, then pitch in for the remaining time. As you only pay pro-rata for what's left of the year those last couple of months are fairly inexpensive. Alternatively, you could wait until a Dispatch listing comes up that you really like the look of (because you can see them all even if you can't submit), then pay for the rest of the year from that point and you'll get instant access to submit.

You never know how it will go though, depending on what library requests come in, whether they are classed as Dispatch, and whether they suit you. I must say that I've been mystified as to why some listings are classed as Dispatch, especially when in some cases they don't attract enough submissions, so the listing is repeated as a normal listing. To me that makes a mockery of the whole thing, and I'd feel miffed if I'd paid the extra only to find I didn't need to.

One additional claim I've heard is that Dispatch listings are more likely to lead to a library getting back to you after a forward. I have no idea whether that really is the case, and suspect there's no way to ever find out, but its worth keeping in mind. Other than that, they're just listings and the 'service' (your terminology) is no different.

YMMV with all of this though, and no two periods (months, years) are ever the same, but at least Dispatch will bring you more submission opportunities.

[Casey H]

Everyone's experience and results are different. I had Dispatch quite a few years back and more of my forwards resulted in contacts. But then as my own stable of libraries grew, I stopped using it. Then I signed up for it a few months back, since the fee is prorated by where you are in your regular membership year and I was fairly late in my year. So far, all the listings were for instrumental cues (I do mainly vocals).

Since you write instrumentals, I might give it a shot for a while. If you want (as someone mentioned), you can wait till you are, let's say, 1/2 way through your regular membership year. Then it will only cost $75 and 6 months is probably a reasonable trial period to see.

Good luck!
Casey

[jdstamper]

I do mostly instrumentals. I've been using Dispatch a long time, and it's been worth it for me.

If you're getting some forwards now, then you should get more forwards by using Dispatch. More forwards increases the odds of getting deals and placements.

This is a tough business. I think Dispatch is just one more little advantage.

Good luck! Jim

[DennisPMusic]

HI

Thank you all for your inputs. It seems that you have had different experiences with Dispatch.
I think I will join it because there are two listings right now that suit me. I will reconsider when my subscription is near the end.

[Rolf]

I do only instrumentals, so for me, it's worth the money.