taxi returns

[53mph]

Papa,Don't judge one library music company by anothers contracts.I used to use library music companies on a daily basis in my last job and I can tell you there were some companies that I would always use again and again such as Boosey and Hawks. Now as a musician I would die to belong to one of those big boys because I know that people respect their libraries and use them regularly where as other smaller, start-up companies tend to have a smaller success rate with their artists simply because people aren't that interested in using them. Why should they when there are already so many good ones out there?I joined one such agency about 3 years ago. It was an on-line only database that offered a searchable service to the clients. As an artists it cost nothing to join, I could submit as many tunes to them as I liked and even follow the progress of how many people screened my music.Now this company scored a couple of big placements such as TV adds (not for me though) but on the whole people who joined them never saw any money or action. In fact they have now decided to sell the company and it is currently sitting in limbo land. But at least I still have 100% copyright over my songs...right? :/As people keep saying on here 100% of $0 doesn't mean anything.Now if the library you belong to is making you money then you have nothing to worry about. In fact why are you moaning? You seem to be doing ok.Taxi is just another service to compliment the other things youre doing. I do feel that Taxi's acceptance bar is pretty high and based on a fomular that the client wants (which might not be breaking new musical ground) but they never sold themselves as anything else, and to reach that bar is my challenge.Also, a foward is no guarantee of a deal!...but at least youre in the running....if your music is good enough then you're in with a good chance...so what's the problem? That's how A&R works. You've got to be in it to win it (and other cliches )If you're not happy with Taxi's service I believe you can ask for a refund...now that can't be bad.

[davewalton]

Quote:My point was, I thought there were contradictions, by that I mean the taxi listing was asking for one thing (artists in the vein of Leftfield/underworld/DJTiesto) and the returned critique suggested I should have written a much more commercial/traditional (verse/chorus/bridge) type song - where as those artists don't usually write a traditionally structured song, all in all I learned that the listings don't communicate to me exactly what taxi requires for a forward. (could have said a more commercial version of these bands)I think Matto mentioned that if you posted the listing, the critique, and the music you submitted, that you could maybe get some insight on this. This is still true. I've learned a lot from these kinds of posts. Reading between the lines of the Taxi listings is kind of an art, a skill that can be more or less mastered but only through experience, trial and error. There is great value in being able to interpret the listings. Recently I had a Taxi forward and placement which added me to a small group of composers for Harpo Productions (Oprah Winfrey). The first assignment asked for "...funky, Country/Americana maybe with a little bit of Rock." That was pretty much the extent of the information. Complaining that they didn't give enough info wasn't an option. Doing my best to meet their needs, however vague, is the only option. Doing your best to understand the listings and clarifying issues through this forum will pay off in ways that you can't see right now.Quote:I get the feeling the majority of taxi's listings require much more commercial songs than i write, therefore my outburst was also the realization that I'm not as well suited to Taxi as I'd hoped, which was a huge disappointment. (they should do a really cheap 1 month membership to see if the individual concerned likes it) Taxi does mention a refund policy so you can "try" Taxi for a period of time. If you look at the listings, they reflect the industry needs, lots of Country, Pop, etc. But still there are plenty of opportunities for film/tv instrumentals, electronica, etc. Here are two tracks I did that were forwarded recently for a listing. Just listen to the first 30 seconds of each track if you want but you'll notice that these aren't your average "commercial" verse/chorus tracks. There really are good opportunities for music that is "out there".www.DaveWaltonMusic.com/MyMusic/MentalB ... p3Honestly, I wouldn't be at all discouraged with three little returns. There are always going to be critiques that will puzzle you. My experience is that 95% of the critiques have been helpful and detailed enough to help me be a better musician. Maybe you just got your 5% of puzzling critiques right up front. Quote:Guilty for allowing that bogus photo on my website? I suppose I'm the one that gets it when they kick my door down yes!The photo on the website definitely sends the wrong message. I originally went to listen to the music but after seeing the "studio" I never made it any further. I'm getting a much different sense of who you are as a person from this particular post and I mean that in a complimentary way. I hope you stay around the forum, regardless of your decision about Taxi. If you choose to ride out your membership, I'd encourage you to submit to listings that really appeal to you and to keep an open mind and emotionally detatched from the critiques. It's like golf. Hit it in the sand trap and it's a stupid game. Get it in the hole and it's the greatest game ever invented. Dave