is taxi a joke

[gunter]

Quote:...aeehm.. I'm not from the US, maybe that's why I don't know who Elliot Park is - can you help me? Taxi member Elliot Park...

[gitarrero]

ahhh the #1 Hit guy - well, but taxi didn't do anything else as I described above.

[hummingbird]

Well, here we are 4 days later and dp hasn't even come back to read what we've had to say about his/her poll. Dp, where are you?

[horacejesse]

Gitarerro,Lining up 20 appointments for him in Nashville qualifies as "nothing else?"

[dp]

im here this question was not ment to anger just asking for an honest respond from member thats wat smart people do if you were offened foregive me ............................

[dp]

just concerned about the the site and system I read quite a few of the response and some understood my general concerns and fears. others have been spitefully and filled with rage once agin if I offended anyone I truly apologize and ask if you would please understand my concerns. for those who have been where I have and responed thankyou for you support , honesty and advice. and sorry for the posting mre than once some site are set up differently so sorrry for those i offended with the post.I was once told the only dumb question is the question never asked!!!, but for some here maybe you should be dumb? and hummingbird from your oicture you seem to be wise where you ever in your 20's loking for direction? theres is no need for hostilty sorry I made you mad......

[hummingbird]

Quote:There's a big debate among songwriters as to whether Taxi is one of the vehicles you should use for marketing your music. I say, research Taxi as thoroughly as you would any opportunity. Sign up to get their listings (it's free) so you can see what kind of opportunities there might be for your broadcast quality music or potential hit songs. When you join Taxi don't forget you are joining a group of over 10,000 songwriters, many of whom are working professionally and have had music placed successfully through Taxi. They have their own production equipment (and know how to use it) or have paid for good demos, and they have honed their skills over many years. Any music you submit has to fall in the top few submissions in quality in order to be forwarded. They can get anywhere from 400 to 3,000 submissions for one listing. I've personally met screeners (they've got credits that blow my mind), and I've personally met & collaborated with Taxi members who are making a living writing music, placing music through Taxi. It's certainly not a joke for them. Taxi is not for everyone. If your music is good, you likely still won't get forwards. Only the most excellent, exceptional music gets forwarded. That's why the music industry uses Taxi - to screen out everything but the very very best commercially viable music that is exactly what the listee has requested. And you may think that isn't fair and isn't right, but that's what Taxi does. I told Michael Laskow that I thought it was great that he is open to having these kinds of discussions on this public board. Public debates on the merits of his business, for everyone to see. Hummin'bird I fail to see anything in my answer that is anything but politely honest about my experience with Taxi. This is the advice that I give to anyone who is contemplating joining Taxi. No one can really make the decision but you. However, I do think that the headline to this thread could be considered inflammatory, so I wouldn't be surprised that you got a negative reaction. You could have phrased your question better. Other folks have asked "is Taxi worth it" and "should I join Taxi" or "does Taxi work for you".I did ask where you were - and that's just because I post on 5 or 6 songwriting boards and there are, unfortunately, trolls and spammers who come in, write something upsetting, and then sit back and watch. So I apologize if I jumped the gun on that.I suggest perhaps reading Jason Blume's "6 Steps to Songwriting Success" - he talks a lot about the creative process of songwriting and the demands the industry makes on the artists & songwriters & the realities of the industry. I think it's a good idea to either post songs here for feedback or get Jason or John Braheny to look at one or two of your best songs... just to see if you are in the ballpark in terms of having commercially viable music. It's $20 or $25 to get a song reviewed by a pro... and gives you a sense where you are.I do personally know folks who are making money from music they placed through Taxi.... but I also know that it didn't happen within 6 months or a year.... it took several years. I think it took Jason Blume 12 years to 'make it' as a songwriter. So joining Taxi, if you do join, is just one way that you should explore the possibilities of "taking your music to the next level"all the best,Hummin'bird

[dagg]

I have no doubt in TAXI as fair business (and especially Mr. Laskow), but reality is:- in those 10 years no int'l star writer or singer emerged because of TAXI help.- no TAXI member had hit song in the international top 20 (major chart, not country)- because of the above, it must be no music exec. relies much on TAXIso odds are extremely low, be it because of the lack of member talent, TAXI business model or talented people avoid such services. Something stinks anyway. It looks like you would have more chance if offering some industry executive free lawnmoving That doesn't mean members here are not nice community, they are. But doin' music business here is questionable.People are raving about music requires patience and years of effort. Well, we have only one life and time is most precious commodity. Too expensive for experimenting in music business without concrete chances/odds.

[davewalton]

Quote:- in those 10 years no int'l star writer or singer emerged because of TAXI help.- no TAXI member had hit song in the international top 20 (major chart, not country)- because of the above, it must be no music exec. relies much on TAXIOK, so you're making the point that success has to be in the form of being an International star/songwriter (not just US) and Top 20 songs have to be in the "International Top 20" (not just the "weak" US market) and on top of that, Country doesn't count. Anything else? PS - You didn't mention it specifically but I'm guessing that film/television placements aren't even on the radar as far as counting for success.

[hummingbird]

I suggest you read Jason Blume's "Inside Songwriting" for a real clear picture of just how difficult it is to get a song on a big artists' album. And, even if all the stars line up and they do record it... maybe the album isn't released. Or maybe it is released, and starts climbing the charts... and they pull the plug. Jason tells all the stories and he's as honest as he can be about how the industry works. Your assumption that no music exec (read: A&R) relies on Taxi is flawed. Given that one big stars' album has, say, 15 songs on it and, assuming they don't write their own material.... that means that there are only 15 choices they can make out of the 1,200 songs they have chosen to put on hold for the album (a few of which may be Taxi forwards). Given this information, it is not surprising that a community of 10,000 songwriters only has a couple of members who have had songs recorded by big stars. However, there are members who are making a living from music. Isn't that the point?cheersHummin'bird