My Critique Of Taxi

[allfoundout]

I'm not attacking... just simply stating...yes it only 5 per song... so to do the maximum... of 3 is 15. There for to do two posting a month with 3 songs going to both thats 30 dollars a month. a custom critique is 20$ a song... so for me too do my 5 songs that im useing on taxi for the moment alone would be $100... then to do my goal of 2 post a month 3 songs each... is 360... then my 299 fee for the year im paying $759 just for this year... is that bad... YES & NO... it all depends on what I'm getting from it... For me now its hard to say... i have yet to see anything but i have only had this for a month... IF I DIDN'T think it was going to be good for me, then i wouldn't of wasted my time. At the same time...I'm not some person who has the funds to just simple spend on the things others can...so when you say YOU..." Yes, I invest $200 a year (the renewal fee) in Taxi + submission fees. I also have web sites & internet access ($1000/yr), a custom built audio DAW + software ($4000 plus so far and I'm adding all the time), an ongoing musical education (2,000 plus per year (I guess I probably spent in excess of $30,000 on vocal training)), professional memberships ($200+ a year), and many other costs of doing "Is something i CAN'T spend my money on...LIKE I SAID DON'T GET ME WRONG... MUSIC IS MY PASSION... THATS WHY I AM PAYING FOR THIS SERVICE... but for us average people 300 dollars alone is a lot of money... exp. when your just an average person like me at my age. BUT THE SIMPLE TRUTH... is your not just spending 300 dollars... its at least double that to truly do what this service is made for... and thats OK... I understand I am going to have to pay my dues... hints why you have spent 30,000 over a period of time on just vocal training...It takes money to be in this biz... it takes being good... and a lot of luck to be successful... THAT THE TRUTH...I have NO DOUBT this service is worth the money... HINTS WHY I'm doing it... I have spent my share of cash to get to where i am... and at the same time no matter how much money Im spending i will always be expecting the best results... THATS WHY IM SPENDING IT... ALL I EVER HEAR ON THESE FORUMS is TAXI IS A 10++++++ well its not, at least not for me, not yet...nothing will ever be that absolute. IT STILL TAKES WORK ON THE PERSON SIDE... you can benefit from taxi and they can help you and guide you... BUT there will always be room for improvement on BOTH sides... and for the customer to get what there looking for they are going to have to pay... for me... this year is crucial... i want to see the benefit... because I'm looking for a carrier and don't have 5 to 10 years to invest... cuz if i don't have a turn around where i can support my self on this then me spending this every year for ten years is not worth it... if i see results to the point a feel like its worth another year then i will do so... i have had this for a month and thats OK for me to say... I want this just as much as any other person... i have worked my butt off the last four years putting every penny i had into buying equipment, recording at the BEST places possible... getting CD's out there... getting my music on the best sites... including i tunes... working with indie labels and even at one point be labeled one of the top 10 band under the age of 20 in the dfw area...so i know what it takes not only to be good but to get your self out there... but now being 22 i have to start looking at a life... and be realistic with my choices...I am being realistic with my self and realize it come to a point this may just always be a dream and i hobby, cuz there comes a point when i need to support my self to the best of my ability and if music is not it then i need to invest else where. DOES that mean stop doing music... I will always do this... BUT it means stop spending the money in places that isn't going to benefit where i NEED to be benefited. Thats just the way I look at it... no one else has too... My music is for me... and for me i think that should be enough. I would love to have the funds to do what i chose but i don't... So i have to make sacrifices every time i spend my money....AND EVEN THEN i know being good is not enough...it has and always will be about having a lot of luck and even knowing someone time to time....there is so much GOOD AND GREAT MUSIC... that we as people may never hear... maybe even some of the best... thats just how it is... but my music is for me... and i am now to the point that if i don't ever make it past this point... will be good enough for me... other wise I'm just doing it for the wrong reasons... so this service is part of me reaching out to further my self... to try to do what i love for a living... but we all wont get that chance... we all wont be heard... and thats ok... at least for me... Just like anyone else... this is all part of the puzzle... and don't forget just like you I'm paying for this service knowing that... I have faith that this service can help you improve and even help you become successful... THATS WHY I'm doing this... I just look at the whole picture... I have to weight everything... NOT EVERYONE looks at this service in the same way... and its ok for some one to speak how they feel about it... This service cost money just like anything else... you have to sit be realistic with your self and then decide what your looking for and if its worth it... ITS A RISK... just like anything else you put your money into. THATS A FACT...Its not a negative... thats just truth... i never spoke anything negative about this except me spending money... I DON'T LIKE SPENDING MONEY... I don't like spending $3 dollars gallon at the gas pump... WHO DOES? BUT I DO ANYWAY... cuz i know thats the only way im getting anywhere...thats the truth...so again... don't get me wrong... but not every one is going to have the same success as anyone else on taxi... for me as of now can't say if this has been a successful investment yet... simple cuz i have not had the time as others... but even if i where to have some success and people where to ask me what i think... i would tell them exactly what there gonna get and what they are going to pay for... they will be guided as in how to improve there music... chances to summit there music on postings... and passed along if it is what there looking for... and so on... BUT there is never a garentee with in any of this... it still takes the person doing there part and being simple good enough to make it any farther then that. So this may not be for everyone.... but thats for them to deiced.. there is plenty for them to read about and find out to make that decision.

[hummingbird]

Allfoundout, I don't have very much money either. In fact, my first 2 years of Taxi membership were paid for by a co-writer and friend. Without his help, I wouldn't have gotten to my first Rally. I'm self-employed and my income for many years was less than the poverty line while I worked on building my studio and growing my skills and getting the tools. My point is, I don't spend money unwisely, and as far as I am concerned, for ME, my investment in Taxi has been the best investment I could have made for my musical career, bar none. The proof is in the pudding - I just got an email today, a music publisher wants to sign 3 more songs, as a direct result of a Taxi forward last March that created a relationship. And because my music makes the grade. And it makes the grade because Taxi pushed and pulled me, kicking and screaming, into the reality of the commercial music industry... and made me work my ass off. and I paid them to do it H

[allfoundout]

Well to that i say congrats... and i can only hope that i can have the same success... I will always be open to opportunities that will benefit me... thats why like you i am using taxi... but i have learned to take them as they come.. and i hope when my year is up i can say wow... "This was definitely worth it" even if i have had to work at it. AND i assume that if i have seen the same results as many as you guys have had that i will continue this service. I guess for me I'm just a one step at a time kind of person. but for now i wait and see... Even i have learned over this one month... that TAXI is a journey... but mine as of now cant be rated... for it would be unfair for me and for the service as well. but please... feel free to give me your advise and critique... i may not always agree but i am always open to learn and to take it in as i grow...feel free to listen to my music tell me what you think... it would be nice to hear from a person who will speak there mind!!!

[davewalton]

Quote:Allfoundout, I don't have very much money either. Not true... you should see her spend the cash at Starbucks!

[bwrenhewmach]

Hi allfoundoutI went to your site and listened to you music. My honest opinion is you better stay in your music career. Your stuff is very good,love, vocals, music, arrangement and recording it is very close to radio quality. If a big top notch production company would get ahold of your work it would be played on the radio and do well. Do what you have to do to hang in there. Take care Mild Bill

[tedsingingfox]

Quote:The proof is in the pudding - I just got an email today, a music publisher wants to sign 3 more songs, as a direct result of a Taxi forward last March that created a relationship.Miss Vikky, If you didn't hear my scream of excitement when I first read this, I'll be stunned. Congrats, honey. That's fantastic news. I am so proud of you.Ted

[allfoundout]

thanks bwrenhemach... and to H.... and to everyoneI like this place... i like how people keep it real... Its nice to see and makes me feel better about what im trying to do with in "TAXI".. people speak there mind....encourage one another...Its just nice to see real people doing this too... and getting something out of it. So yeah there you go...Thanks to H for listening.... or "reading & responding" I'm a Passionate person.... so when i get going i keep going. I get what your saying about it being a long term investment... and i hope its something that benefits me as much as it has you.congrats again..NOW PEACE!

[okwithgrey]

@Mild Bill great post! I agree with you totally! I'm new to TAXI, haven't had a forward as yet (admittedly I have been submitting to the 'artist' listings so I know the bar is high ) but the critique has been very positive and very helpful I know there are a few things that I need to work on before my songs get to that next level and I feel the feedback is really helping me to do that. I knew before joining taxi that my songs were solid but I believed they needed something else and I felt I needed a professional opinon on what that next step may be and with TAXI i feel like I am getting that I wasn't expecting forwards right away what I did want was some constructive criticism and that's exactly what i have gotten. TAXI have confirmed to me that I do have talent and that thankfully I'm not like some tragic wannabe Idol who really has no clue they are terrible I know that it could be a long process and that it might end up costing some money but then music is my life it's what I get the biggest kick out of so why not spend the money on it! I'll admit you do have the doubts at times: "can I really get to that next level?!" but you realise that you just have to give it your best, keep working hard, keep taking on board what the screeners say never give up and I am sure eventually it will pay off for me. I also believe like hummingbird said you have to be in it for the long haul. Good posts all round guys Cheers,Tony

[anne]

The honesty and guidance has alone been worth the price of joining for me!