looking for some help...

[davidvignola]

Hi everyone,I am a new member of Taxi and I am glad I finally joined....LOLOne thing I keep reading more and more about is how most artists do not know what "category" their music fits into or they can't accurately describe their “sound”And after reading countless music marketing books, online forums, etc....I realize how important that really is when trying to market your band/music. I think we describe our music pretty accurately but I wanted to get some “expert” opinions here…..LOLIf you would take a moment to listen to our music on our myspace pagewww.myspace.com/visionct and tell me if you think this is accurate. I use these two tag line quite often.“If AC/DC & Joan Jett were to have a baby and allow Van Halen and Pat Benatar to baby sit often, the result would be VISION”orVISION’s sound is a cross between AC/DC and Pat BenatarThese are the two “tag” lines I use when marketing our band. Do you feel it’s accurate or do you have any suggestions on how to better describe our music?I really appreciate everyone’s help.Thank youDave

[anne]

NAUGATUCK????Holy cow. I thought my husband was the only Naugie native I knew... I'm listening to the tracks now. I hear more plenty of Joan Jett. That isn't because of the female vox either - its the style of the guitar, drums etc - I see where you get the ac/dc but not the VH & Benetar in your description. Maybe a shorter description more focused on the ac/dc - joan jett? Good tracks, though. I wouldn't consider my input "expert" by any means. There is a book by Dan Kemple, who explains the hazards of using descriptions such as yours in marketing materials. It may be worth looking up - its Networking for modern music business by Dan Kemple, and I think there are excerpts from this on taxi's site. Not saying its bad to do - I just remember that the book mentioned this type of teaser is a little frowned upon in some circles. HTHSay hi to CT for me ; )

[davidvignola]

Hi Anne,thanks for giving a listen. OK, so you feel the Joan Jett / AC/DC is fairly accurate description, then I guess I was in the ball park.I hear ya, that there may be some negative things said when you compare yourself to a Major artist. I can see that but using a major artist that almost every person on the planet knows, gives a prospective fan an idea of your style before they listen and if that person say" "hey I like Ac/DC" then they might give us a listen.anyway, thank you for your time and good luck to you as well.Dave

[anne]

I can see that but using a major artist that almost every person on the planet knows, gives a prospective fan an idea of your style before they listen and if that person say" "hey I like Ac/DC" then they might give us a listen.I agree completely with you about this point. I will try to find Dan's book later today to see what his comment was in case it is helpful to you. I like your straight up songs; good luck!!

[davidvignola]

Hi Anne,Thank you again. yes, please look up that book, I tried to google it but came up empty. I am always looking to read now books on the subject of music marketing etc..I am glad you like our music and thank you for taking the time to give us a listen. You are the only one thus far that has been will to listen and give me their opinion on weather I have a frailly accurate description of our music.Dave

[381]

Dave , I took a listen to a few of the tracks and definitely pickup the Joan Jett Vibe... (Maybe even the Runaways if you want to go back that far) It's fun stuff I do agree with Anne about identifying yourself in the comparison to another, and on the other hand I get your point as well, particularly if you are trying to book a show/tour the people writing the check my appreciate the "If AC/DC & Joan Jett were to have a baby and allow Van Halen and Pat Benatar to baby sit often, the result would be VISION" tag line." (Very clever by the way) That way if they are a Jazz club they could scratch you off the list. Possibly try to relate to a genre or time period in the evolution of rock. I wish you success and look forward to hearing some of your tunes put up in this group.Craig

[davidvignola]

Hi Craig,Thank you for the feedback. Yea, the only reason I used the AC/DC/Joan Jett thing is because when trying to book shows or promote an original band to indie radio stations, magazines, clubs etc...they always ask the same questions first......"what kind of music do you play"? and I hate to say "hard rock or classic rock" it's to general and I always had a hard time communicating to people what VISION was all about. So, I finally said "people have compared our sound to AC/DC and Joan Jett" and then they went "OH OK" I get it now. So, thus far it's worked but I do hear you and I will try to be careful not to over use it. I will be posting some final mixes from the new CD soon. The my space stuff are more rough mixes right now but good enough for my space purposes.Thank you again for your feedbackDave

[davidvignola]

Hey Anne,Were you able to locate that book?anyone else want to offer up some advice to my original post?Thanks in advanceDave

[wignelson]

Jun 4, 2009, 1:46am, davidvignola wrote:Hey Anne,Were you able to locate that book?anyone else want to offer up some advice to my original post?Thanks in advanceDaveSince you asked, Dave, I will give you the (very) little advice that may be useful as far as your TAXI membership and the listings you may submit to.On your myspace page you can describe your band and their sound by comparing you to other bands and their sound.However, when you submit to TAXI, you don't have the ear of a screener beyond the song he or she will listen to.They may ask for a picture or a bio, but I don't remember any actual dialogue section where you could describe your intentions or who you think you sound like.I may be wrong, but I think they don't have the time to read that stuff.I think the way it works is the other way around. They tell you what kind of sound they are looking for and if it is Joan Jett or AC/DC, then you submit to them.Kind of a waiting game of sorts. HTH,Wig

[davidvignola]

Hey wing,thank for the advice and I totally agree with you and it's exactly how I approach submitting my music. If the listing seems likes it's looking for a AC/DC & Joan Jett type of a vibe then I will submit something. Thats not to say that the listing has to be that specefic. Basically if it's looking for a hard rock / classic rock type of song, our music will more than likely fit. On a coupe of occasions the screener said in his critque that my song was right on as far as the type of song they were looking for (even though it got returend for other reasons). One screener even said that we had an AC/DC / G&R type of style. So, I think I have a pretty good handle on our style but my origianl post was just asking some other members to confirm my thinking....LOL