A serious question about listings

[sammi3400]

Hi, I wanted to share my question / frustration .
I have had a few forwards and a few returns. When reading the listings we try to match them as we interpret them, with hopes that we're not wasting our time nor the screeners. Right?
The critiques are very helpful and I although sometimes I still feel that my songs were a great match, my bellyache is this:
Within the critique, the screeners give a VERY DETAILED description of what the listing is looking for. ......I'm dumbfounded.
Have any of you ever read your critique and said, "OH! THATS what they want!"
Does this seem a little backwards? I feel like I am being tricked.
Everyone on here wants success, right?
Would it make sense for the LISTING to give that much detail BEFORE we submit?
I would like to see Michael initiate some changes. TAXI clearly has this information and is not sharing it until after they return our songs. There is so much potential for success- information is key.
This issue just seems so obvious to me. I would like to spark some comments and thoughts, and I really feel that TAXI needs to address this. Not explain it, CHANGE it.
Aside from that I love TAXI and I am having a blast.
Thanks for listening.
Sammi

[davewalton]

You'll hear Michael Laskow say it and the screeners say it too... they don't have more information than we do. Mazz was there at Taxi not too long ago and did some "pretend screening". I did that as well several years ago. We screened just like the screeners do (it just didn't count). The screeners have the listing in front of them and that's what they refer to when screening. That's it! Now... what they do have perhaps is more insight into what someone is looking for when they say they need x, y or z because of their overall industry experience.

Another thing that screeners might have is familiarity with the listing clients just from being around and screening their material for various listings. Obviously I'm not a screener but I know a lot more about the listings regarding the guy looking for composers that provides "music for a popular daytime tv talk show". I'm one of those composers. The experience of writing for that and also having music on other shows gives me a lot of insight when I'm reading the other listings.

Reading the listings is an art that's for sure. It's been a while since someone threw up a listing and had the other forum members dissect and expand on it. Maybe now is a good time for that! How about picking a listing that you want to submit for and post it up. One time someone did that and Matto's insight into what that listing was looking for was a huge light-bulb moment for me. Hopefully it'll be that way for you too... the "aha" moment to see how others "read between the lines".

PS - Believe it or not... Taxi listings are really pretty informative comparatively. Outside of Taxi (directly with clients) it's usually way worse. My first "big" project started with this request... "Funky Country/Americana with a little bit of rock". Uh... what?

[onelight24]

Hello Sammi, I too have felt at times that the listings as given, were as clear as mud! After receiving the critiques from the particular screeners on items I've submitted to, I went on to feel: 'if I knew that that was the actual direction, I would have attempted to write in that direction'. Implying that the screener(s) actually gave me a particular song(s) from the 'a-la's artist, that would have been appropriate for the listing, & what that particular screener was basing his/her assessment on (sounding like). I found that to be rather misleading, to say the least! In my experience so far, I have found that the 'a-la's are rather loose guidelines, which can be helpful, if one's crystal ball is working properly! Interpretation is certainly key! Yet, as we all know, interpretation is left to the discretion of the beholder, as is the process of choosing what is forwarded or not, left to the discretion of the expert(s) that listen to our music

I have actually expressed this very point you are concerned about, with the head-screener on a couple of occasions, & I have yet to receive a response that helped me to fully comprehend! All is a learning experience I suppose!

As I have read here on this wonderful forum, interpreting the listings becomes a leant skill which also needs to be honed! I for one do not believe this to be appropriate, however, it is the nature of the beast, & we therefore must go with the flow! As I am fairly new to the milieu of production music, I have learnt an immense amount from the generous people here on this forum! Perhaps by sharing your concerns, you might incite others who have had success in interpreting listings, share their thoughts!

I however, share your concern!

Cheers,
Vincent!

[sammi3400]

Ok here it is. The listing:

S100902EL

MODERN ELECTRONIC/ORCHESTRAL INSTRUMENTALS wanted by an established Music Licensing company that provides content for major clients including Toyota, AOL, Google, Visa, Xbox, Adidas and more. Mid to Uptempos only - no ambient or chill-out tracks, please! High energy and an engaging blend of Electronica and Orchestral elements are needed. Performances/production must be top notch! Broadcast Quality is needed (great sounding home recordings are fine). Please submit one to three original Instrumentals online or per CD. All submissions will be screened and critiqued by TAXI and must be received no later than Thursday, September 2, 2010. TAXI #S100902EL

The Critique:

Thanks for submitting this track. It is unique stylistically but unfortunately doesn't really fit this listing. What this client is looking for is a blend of orchestral and electronica elements (to add pacing and excitement). Imagine a cue for a action / adventure score or the excitement in a movie trailer- that is what they are looking for here. You can search Apples trailer page or youtube for examples of movie trailers for action / adventure type movies to get a good idea of the kind of energy and overall production they are looking for here.


This is SO NOT RIGHT.

[fret17]

While on the subject...are the ala's the actual ala's???...if not preseeded with new artist?

[mazz]

Please post the piece that was returned, if you would be willing to. It's hard to interpret the critique without hearing the piece it is referring to.

[davewalton]

And maybe post a new listing too that you're thinking about writing/submitting for. It's fun and educational to get and hear insights to new listings. The input would help us all.

[davewalton]

Ok here it is. The listing:

S100902EL

MODERN ELECTRONIC/ORCHESTRAL INSTRUMENTALS wanted by an established Music Licensing company that provides content for major clients including Toyota, AOL, Google, Visa, Xbox, Adidas and more. Mid to Uptempos only - no ambient or chill-out tracks, please! High energy and an engaging blend of Electronica and Orchestral elements are needed. Performances/production must be top notch! Broadcast Quality is needed (great sounding home recordings are fine). Please submit one to three original Instrumentals online or per CD. All submissions will be screened and critiqued by TAXI and must be received no later than Thursday, September 2, 2010. TAXI #S100902EL

The Critique:

Thanks for submitting this track. It is unique stylistically but unfortunately doesn't really fit this listing. What this client is looking for is a blend of orchestral and electronica elements (to add pacing and excitement). Imagine a cue for a action / adventure score or the excitement in a movie trailer- that is what they are looking for here. You can search Apples trailer page or youtube for examples of movie trailers for action / adventure type movies to get a good idea of the kind of energy and overall production they are looking for here.


This is SO NOT RIGHT.

Definitely need to track in question... can't say anything without hearing that.

[sammi3400]

The piece didnt match the listing, because the listing described an ad type piece, and thats what I submitted. I'm not really having trouble deciphering the listings as they are written. However, the critique gave a different description of what they wanted. This is after the fact. If the listing had said "action movie trailer", I would have submitted an action movie piece.

I'm not trying to be a whiney jerk, I just want to point out that giving the actual description after the fact is very poor. The critique gave some great reference to what they are looking for, which was very different than the listing. If Taxi knows all this detail, why not share it before hand.

So you dont need to hear the piece, its a moot point. I know why it didnt match.
The misrepresentation costs us opportunity. That is the point.
I wish someone would acknowledge this problem . Look at the difference between the listing and the critique. It's baffling. It's much like trickery.

[crs7string]

Sammi,

As others have stated, please post your track.

This is a listing that shows up regularly. Last year I signed 10 tracks with this library when they had this listing. I had no more information than you did when I submitted and was forwarded and contacted.

I think we can help you sort this out.

Chuck