My first post... just wanted to say hello.

[gio]

Hey everyone.
I am a 30 year old instrumentalist, born in Brooklyn, NY, and grew up in Staten Island, NY.
I've been a Taxi member for just about a year. I joined the forums last year (mainly to perform searches), have learned a lot, and have been inspired by many of you. Early on, I became very impressed (and honestly a bit intimidated) by the quality of music I've heard on here. So after lurking and absorbing for quite a while, I finally decided that I want to get involved, become an active forum member, and exchange opinions/experiences with you guys.

Although I aspire to be strong in various styles one day, I recently realized I need a little more focus. So I aim to build a library of Hip Hop and Hard Rock instrumentals- and obviously hope to get some forwards/deals eventually. (Also, my wife is a singer/songwriter, so we've worked on a few songs together.)

I started my membership off pretty well with two forwards within my first few weeks. Then I had only received two more forwards over the rest of the year. It was a heck of a dry spell, but I have pretty thick skin and I'm feeling pretty positive about my second year.

My other goals for this year are to create my own website, attend the rally in November, and of course, get better at making music.

Anyway, thanks for the read.

[Cruciform]

Hi Gio,

Yeh, you need to develop a thick skin and better to do it here with others who want to see you succeed then just getting rejections from libraries etc with no constructive feedback.

I think as musos we have a special danger of becoming too 'precious' about our own music, so I'm just chucking it out there, warts and all, on this forum in order to get better. I don't know if Taxi will be the major source of my successes, maybe it will, but I intend to use the process to get a heckava lot better at what I do!

Anyway, nice to meet you and all the best.

[thokus]

Welcome ... Hope to hear some of the good stuff from you ... Have fun and good luck.. Make a Million .
Tom

[cardell]

Welcome.

Stuart

[gio]

Rob- Nice to meet you too. ..and I hear ya. For what it's worth, I can easily hear your stuff in movies and video games. Awesome sounds, and cool videos too...

Tom- Thanks for the encouragement. By the way, you have the psychedelic thing down pat.

Stuart- Thanks, bud.

Thanks for the warm welcome guys...

[mojobone]

Welcome to the forum, Gio!

[ottlukk]

Personally, I have a real thin skin, and think that the people on the forum who question my artistic brilliance are cretins . . .
At any rate, welcome to thee forums.
Ott

[stevecollom]

Welcome mate.

3 words that have helped me

Write-submit-forget.

Steve

[ernstinen]

Personally, I have a real thin skin, and think that the people on the forum who question my artistic brilliance are cretins . . .
At any rate, welcome to thee forums.
Ott

HaHa! Ott, you're priceless!

And welcome, Gio! Man, I tell ya, when I first went to the National Academy of Songwriters workshops in Hollywood (led by the infamous Pete Luboff), I had REAL thin skin! But I sure learned a lot after sticking with it, as you and others who learn from this forum etc. will. I think the best thing I learned from the NAS was "If you hear an opinion once or twice, take it with a grain of salt; if you hear the same opinions over and over, rethink what you're doing and make changes!" That's a real important distinction.

Also, if you try a style that just is not "natural" for you, you'll find out pretty fast and it will lead you in the right artistic direction for your personal talent. For instance, when I "TRIED" to write "silly love songs," even with collaborators, the results got worse and worse. But I quickly learned what styles I did best and what styles I sucked at!

Good luck at your endeavors, Gio!

Ern

[gio]

Mojo- Thanks! I got a kick out of "Shot the TV"...

Ott- HAHA!.. cretins..... that's classic.

Steve- Yup, definitely 3 words to live by around here... Nice laid back vibes, btw...

Ern- Thanks man. You're right. When I signed up, I kind of felt like I had an identity crisis. I think I tried to do too much at once, but I think I have more focus now. It definitely is a process that takes time and patience, among other things.

Pleasure to meet you, fellas...