Members Contacting Listing Companies -- Ouch!
Moderators: admin, mdc, TAXIstaff
- jdstamper
- Serious Musician
- Posts: 1547
- Joined: Mon Nov 02, 2009 10:40 am
- Gender: Male
- Location: Indiana
- Contact:
Re: Members Contacting Listing Companies -- Ouch!
I agree with Dave all the way. Going dark is not appealing, I'm just saying I would do that rather than lose the good listings IMO. If this is such a big problem I suggest getting the word out to all Taxi members right away, and repeating the message often ... maybe add a line on the certificate to the affect of "don't call them, they'll call you" ... Jim
Jim Stamper
Production Music ... from Underscore to Overdrive
https://www.taxi.com/members/jimstamper
Production Music ... from Underscore to Overdrive
https://www.taxi.com/members/jimstamper
- brindabella
- Serious Musician
- Posts: 1760
- Joined: Fri Nov 17, 2006 1:41 pm
- Gender: Female
- Location: Miami, Florida
- Contact:
Re: Members Contacting Listing Companies -- Ouch!
I'm with Dave in that. I have to say I've never contacted any company that I've been forwarded to ( even when some of them take direct submissions). I might be wrong, but my position is that is they haven't is simply because they are not interested in my music. But I dont agree that we shouldnt be told where we are being forwarded to. Just an ex: I got a call from XYZ library two years after the fact. When they contacted me, they asked about any other piece i had. I sent them 2 more pieces, I have signed a contract with them for 3 pieces . They told me these pieces would be uploaded on their website as soon as they do their next scheduled upload. That was 4 months ago and they still are not on that website. Now, If I didnt know who they are, I would say that was a scam. I dont think that would be a good policy for Taxi to implement, you would be asking Taxi members to have the patience of Job. I can see that people could be pests and bother this person/s at this particular library, but every business that offer services has the risk of dealing with obnoxious people. Heck, I suffer that everyday at my job!
"The crucial thing in life is not to repeat oneself." Antonio Stradivari.
http://www.Reverbnation.com/laurasanz
http://www.Reverbnation.com/laurasanz
- wta
- Serious Musician
- Posts: 1141
- Joined: Mon Aug 03, 2009 10:19 am
- Contact:
Re: Members Contacting Listing Companies -- Ouch!
FWIW... my take is "Who the heck cares where their agent has forwarded there music?" Real world senerio but in a different department of the entertainment industry; it's NOT professional for an actor to be calling casting directors after their agent has submitted their headshot/resume for a call. PERIOD. That casting director get HUNDREDS of potential actors for a role and they will call who they want to use. PERIOD. Taxi is without question an agent for musicians (they don't take a % they take a fee but same senerio) and ALL a forward is, is a headshot/resume being sent for POTENTIAL gig. Agents send out hundreds of actor's breakdowns and if ANY agent found out an actor went around them to a casting agent they'd be DROPPED AND BLACKBALLED and that actor would be finished in that city. I was not only a professional actor in both NYC and LA but was also an agent with a TOP NYC agency so this is first hand experience. This policy needs to be CLEARLY defined before taxi will take on a new artist and the biggest difference between taxi and a NYC agent is you've got to prove you're a professional BEFORE an agent will take you on and with taxi... EVERYBODY who "WANTS" to be a pro musician will be signed and represented and in this lies catch 22 in this issue. A possible way around this would be to have two levels of artists, those who have proven they can be trusted with client contact info and those who are still being trained and evaluated for professionalism... Or maybe President Obama might have a better solution... LOL!!!! I'm shocked this hasn't been a major issue in the past.
Hang in there Michael, for what you do you've got the best boat in the water and the industry knows this and if someone is going to get in your face KNOWing FULL WELL WHAT TAXI DOES... then I'm with Dave, I sure wouldn't trust a business relationship with the guy, PERIOD.
wta
Hang in there Michael, for what you do you've got the best boat in the water and the industry knows this and if someone is going to get in your face KNOWing FULL WELL WHAT TAXI DOES... then I'm with Dave, I sure wouldn't trust a business relationship with the guy, PERIOD.
wta
Music is like oxygen, you can live without it but not for very long...
http://www.withcriminalintent.com
http://www.williamthomasanderson.com
http://www.withcriminalintent.com
http://www.williamthomasanderson.com
- remmet
- Serious Musician
- Posts: 1726
- Joined: Wed Aug 20, 2008 5:25 pm
- Gender: Male
- Location: Portland, OR
- Contact:
Re: Members Contacting Listing Companies -- Ouch!
It's unfortunate that even polite and professional contact has led to such destructive results. One idea might be to ask the listing company how they felt about receiving followup inquiries. It's very possible that not all companies feel the same way about this issue.
For the companies that don't want to be contacted, you could post that information in bold uppercase letters as part of the forward notification.
Or perhaps a company may prefer no contact for X number of months, but a short and polite inquiry (to the right person) may be acceptable thereafter.
If there's a way to communicate each company's preference as part of the forward notification, it might set things on a more positive path. And concurrently, if Taxi sent out a series of emails alerting members to the situation and asking for cooperation, I'd like to think this would take care of the problem. Once everyone is, or reasonably should be, aware of the rules, instituting consequences for breaking them might be appropriate and effective as well.
Richard
For the companies that don't want to be contacted, you could post that information in bold uppercase letters as part of the forward notification.
Or perhaps a company may prefer no contact for X number of months, but a short and polite inquiry (to the right person) may be acceptable thereafter.
If there's a way to communicate each company's preference as part of the forward notification, it might set things on a more positive path. And concurrently, if Taxi sent out a series of emails alerting members to the situation and asking for cooperation, I'd like to think this would take care of the problem. Once everyone is, or reasonably should be, aware of the rules, instituting consequences for breaking them might be appropriate and effective as well.
Richard
- hummingbird
- Total Pro
- Posts: 7189
- Joined: Tue Jun 15, 2004 11:50 am
- Location: Canada
- Contact:
Re: Members Contacting Listing Companies -- Ouch!
I agree. I think (as Mojo suggested) that an email should go out to the entire membership saying that this has been issue for certain clients & asking members to be aware that contacting companies after a forward has a negative effect. Obviously, one reason why a company is using TAXI is to avoid unsolicited submissions. They'll contact Forwarded writers if & when they wish to sign the track(s) or hear more.
I also agree (as suggested above) that the Certificate of Forwarding as well as the Forward email should say 'please wait to contacted'.
I very much value knowing who I've been forwarded to. I struggled long and hard for many years to achieve Forwards (and I'm still struggling to achieve Forwards). I like seeing where my music has been sent and I'm content to wait until I am contacted. My very first Forward was in Dec 2006, I was contacted in Dec 2007, and we signed the deal in March of 2008.
(PS - kinda reminds me of those job advertisments that say 'mail in your resume, NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE')
I also agree (as suggested above) that the Certificate of Forwarding as well as the Forward email should say 'please wait to contacted'.
I very much value knowing who I've been forwarded to. I struggled long and hard for many years to achieve Forwards (and I'm still struggling to achieve Forwards). I like seeing where my music has been sent and I'm content to wait until I am contacted. My very first Forward was in Dec 2006, I was contacted in Dec 2007, and we signed the deal in March of 2008.
(PS - kinda reminds me of those job advertisments that say 'mail in your resume, NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE')
"As we are creative beings, our lives become our works of art." (Julia Cameron)
Shy Singer-Songwriter Blog
Vikki Flawith Music Website
Shy Singer-Songwriter Blog
Vikki Flawith Music Website
- cardell
- Serious Musician
- Posts: 2815
- Joined: Sat Mar 10, 2007 11:43 pm
- Gender: Male
- Location: Melbourne, Australia
- Contact:
Re: Members Contacting Listing Companies -- Ouch!
Great idea Richard!remmet wrote:It's very possible that not all companies feel the same way about this issue.
For the companies that don't want to be contacted, you could post that information in bold uppercase letters as part of the forward notification.
If it's spelled out to members that their forward could be jeopardized if they contact the company directly...I believe that might be sufficient de-motivation.
Stuart
-
- Serious Musician
- Posts: 3019
- Joined: Thu May 29, 2008 9:55 am
- Gender: Male
- Location: Sweden
- Contact:
Re: Members Contacting Listing Companies -- Ouch!
Contacting the companies after a forward is not god either for the person who contacted them or for Taxi.
I think that's a great idea Richard!
And, I think you should inform all the new members about this great forum. Tell them about it, all the nice and helping people, all the information to get and so on. When I first joined Taxi it took me months to join this forum 'cause I didn't know anything about it. Reading randomize post didn't help so much either, but now after giving it time, it's a really really great place to be at!
I think that's a great idea Richard!
And, I think you should inform all the new members about this great forum. Tell them about it, all the nice and helping people, all the information to get and so on. When I first joined Taxi it took me months to join this forum 'cause I didn't know anything about it. Reading randomize post didn't help so much either, but now after giving it time, it's a really really great place to be at!
- remmet
- Serious Musician
- Posts: 1726
- Joined: Wed Aug 20, 2008 5:25 pm
- Gender: Male
- Location: Portland, OR
- Contact:
Re: Members Contacting Listing Companies -- Ouch!
Another benefit: It would be a clear demonstration to the listing companies that Taxi took their concerns seriously and was taking corrective action responsive to each company's particular needs.cardell wrote:Great idea Richard!remmet wrote:It's very possible that not all companies feel the same way about this issue.
For the companies that don't want to be contacted, you could post that information in bold uppercase letters as part of the forward notification.
If it's spelled out to members that their forward could be jeopardized if they contact the company directly...I believe that might be sufficient de-motivation.
Stuart
Richard
-
- Newbie
- Posts: 5
- Joined: Mon Jan 18, 2010 2:04 am
- Gender: Male
- Contact:
Re: Members Contacting Listing Companies -- Ouch!
i can understand the logic behind, as they want to show that they are passionate about the opportunity. obviously these people dont really think about the fact that the people who receive the emails would start to get a bit inconvenienced (not to even mention that its going to the wrong place).
- ibanez468guit
- Impressive
- Posts: 155
- Joined: Mon Dec 07, 2009 6:46 pm
- Location: The 'Chi'
- Contact:
Re: Members Contacting Listing Companies -- Ouch!
All I can say from my end is, wasn't me. As impatient as I've started to become lately, I have NEVER, EVER, in this 2+ years time, contacted a single music library, publisher, etc...about anything, at all (not even the ones I've been forwarded to). I've read the majority of the most important posts (to me anyway) on the forum ever since I joined back in 2007, and I remember reading about this particular situation some time ago. I've tried to play by all of the rules stated here, as best as I possibly could. So I definitely made a mental note about that one, when I first read about it. It simply stated: NO CONTACTING THE LIBRARIES. So, I took it to heart. I didn't, and I still haven't. On the other hand, not a single one has contacted me either.
Yeah, this kind of information does need to be circulated on a regular basis, it seems. There's new members poppin' up everyday, and membership here seems to be growing exponentially. I imagine this kind of important information gets missed a great deal. Obviously, there are some making contact with libraries, not aware that they could be doing themselves, and the rest of us a disservice. For those that are already aware, I guess this whole episode should be an important reminder of what can happen when we "go against the grain" so to speak. I understand there are times when it's necessary, and there are times when this seems like it's one of those times. But every time I might have thought about doin' it, I thought about what it could do to everyone else!
Yeah, this kind of information does need to be circulated on a regular basis, it seems. There's new members poppin' up everyday, and membership here seems to be growing exponentially. I imagine this kind of important information gets missed a great deal. Obviously, there are some making contact with libraries, not aware that they could be doing themselves, and the rest of us a disservice. For those that are already aware, I guess this whole episode should be an important reminder of what can happen when we "go against the grain" so to speak. I understand there are times when it's necessary, and there are times when this seems like it's one of those times. But every time I might have thought about doin' it, I thought about what it could do to everyone else!
One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain. - Bob Marley
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 37 guests