Mentor Lunch

[ottlukk]

What is the proper way to present your music to the mentors? Do they want just a CD? Do they want the lyrics as well, wrapped like the Taxi burrito? Would you be better off exchanging business cards, and getting permission to e-mail to forward your song and lyrics once you're back home? Some of these mentors are song consultants. Is it appropriate to ask if they would be amenable to a critique session outside of the Taxi parameters, which you'd be willing to pay for at their professional rate? How long do the mentors stay at one table? Or, put another way, how long does one individual get to pitch something to them? Or are they required to take every CD offered? I realize some of this has already been addressed on other threads. I'd like to hear if someone did something that actually worked.Ott

[davewalton]

Nov 2, 2008, 6:03pm, ottlukk wrote:What is the proper way to present your music to the mentors? Do they want just a CD? Do they want the lyrics as well, wrapped like the Taxi burrito? Would you be better off exchanging business cards, and getting permission to e-mail to forward your song and lyrics once you're back home?They'll tell you when they arrive (usually). Some are just there to give advice, answer questions, etc... they're musicians like us maybe just a little further along. Some, who are always on the lookout for new music/talent are more open than others with their contact info. Some won't hand it out, some give out their cell phone numbers at the big listening sessions. Actually not too many do that but I've seen several do just that. Just relax, be yourself, and don't be afraid to ask.Quote:Some of these mentors are song consultants. Is it appropriate to ask if they would be amenable to a critique session outside of the Taxi parameters, which you'd be willing to pay for at their professional rate?Definitely. I believe that when the situation is right, politely asking for their time is part of the "relationship building" process that is so important in this business. Quote:How long do the mentors stay at one table? I think that during the lunches they get maybe 10 minutes or so. It's a good deal because you'll meed a wide variety of mentors. Mostly it's "informative" as opposed to the best place to get a deal. I did get a deal with a music library this year using a suggestion from a mentor at the 2004 Rally. You never know how it's going to work. Anyway, you're eating lunch with maybe nine other people, all who want a deal as much as you. If everyone acted on the "get a deal" impulse there would be a mass riot. The mentors pretty much drive the direction of the discussion unless you have a pushy table partner/mother-of-a-starlet sitting next to you (like I did one year) in which case the pushy mom will take over the whole conversation when each and every mentor arrives. BE YOURSELF... that's the most important thing. And if you see someone you want to talk to, definitely don't be shy. My only "Emily Post" general rule-of-thumb regarding conversations is the same regarding sex... "Just two people? Three's a crowd. Three or more people already there? Join the group!" Oh my... pre-Rally giddyness has taken over my normally sensible self.

[anne]

oh my ... oh my... Dave said the "s" word in mixed company....and with only 2 people, mind you!.... (said head thrown back, as my hand is swept across my forehead)I found that many people are shy to ask anything of the mentors, so have your questions ready to ask, keep them brief but worth asking, sit near the mentor's seat, and feel free to pipe up!Pat Pattison (don't know if he's a mentor this year) always says "so, does anyone have any questions" right off the bat, Joanne Ledesma introduces herself, others just introduce themselves when asked what they do, or just start with small talk. That's all I could tell you really as they are all different personalities. I do want to point out that I was never in doubt of who wanted CDs, who took them to be polite, and who did not want any - they were always pretty clear about that. I found these lunches to be a great source of information once people started talking.