OK I'm bummed 0 fer 3 on Access hollywood type cue

[llama]

Hey y'all. I just found my 3 were returned for the access Hollywood listing. I've had many rejections of course and have grown somewhat thick skin but this one really I don't get. I listened to the cues used on the show. I figured ok, fast paced, lots of perc stuff going on, but not too out front since it sits behind the announcer talking about celebrity news. Oh and there were no screener comments, just the music box ticked... I'm having a severe WTF moment. But I'd appreciate any pointers here. Thanks everyone.

Derek

http://www.reverbnation.com/tunepak/3334183

PS Just noticed that I included my Latin Exercise dance piece too...that was also rejected...

[musicalweather]

Hi Derek,

IMO, you've got some excellent work here. One Minute Wonder and Entertain Me totally sound like something you'd hear on Access Hollywood: very high energy, very positive, lots of stuff going on. You've really got the electronica sound nailed. Jam it Up I don't think was quite as exciting as the first two; maybe the repeating organ motif wasn't quite as dynamic as what they were looking for.

I realize this doesn't help you much. It would be interesting to hear the tracks that got forwarded for this listing (I'm also one of the people who got a return on this listing....)

[mazz]

Derek,

I think these pieces sound cool. I think there are a few things that I would suggest for next time a pitch like this comes along. Part of this comes from having gotten this gig and also the benefit of hearing some examples that they sent out:

1. I think you can simplify even more for something like this. Think more repetitive dance type tracks. You know, the stuff that sounds boring to us composers!

2. The production could be more up front and hard hitting. The stuff they are looking for needs to be more "produced" sounding, more like modern dance/pop/techno stuff.

Those two things are what stand out as differences to me in general from your stuff and what they might want for a pitch like this, not just this specific one.

I know how those rejections sting, believe me, I'm still kicking myself over the "glitchy" submission/return!! All we can do is hang in there and fight another day!

Cheers!

Mazz

[llama]

Hey Charlotte. Thanks for listening, both to the tracks and my whining . Another day will come for them. BTW I really liked your stuff. Very nice. Your stuff will also find a home, just not this one. Keep it going!!!
Hey Mazz. Thanks for the listen and the comments. I see what you're saying. It is amazing what a difference 24 hrs can make. In that time I got an reply from a big library I was chasing after to send stuff and then an email from one of the libraries you and I write for that indicates a sh*t load of work coming up in the near to mid future. So it went from "I suck" to "what a wonderful world" in less then 24 hrs. These tracks will find homes no doubt.
Thanks both of ya for your support. It's makes this place so cool!!!! Have a great weekend!!!

Derek.

BTW Mazz. Congrats on getting the gig and thanks for sharing your tracks as examples in the other thread.

[musicalweather]

Hi Derek and Mazz,

I'm responding to Mazz's comments... I guess the important thing is that Derek understands them, but I'm still a little bit puzzled. You write that Derek's tracks need to be more produced and more like dance type tracks. They sound very produced to me; I guess I'm not understanding what that means. The first two tracks especially seem quite up front and hard hitting.

The key terms in the listing seem to be "urgent entertainment news," "fast tempo Electronica," and music that "can create the extra punch and energy needed to keep these fast-paced show moving." It seems to me that One Minute Wonder and Entertain Me really hit these marks. I'm not getting from the listing that they needed dance-like music. But then again, I don't have enough experience to know the difference between what they say and what they're really looking for.

By the way, in terms of my own submission, I certainly understand what "more produced" means and my track definitely needs that.

Thanks for the comments, Mazz and Derek.

[mazz]

I guess what I mean is that the production has to have that extra sheen on it so that it jumps out of the speakers with lots of punch. Another way to say it is it sounds "mastered", even though I hesitate to use that term too loosely.

Most of this style of music, even that produced for libraries, has to have a production that matches the genre. This goes above and beyond the composing. It's the clothes that you dress your piece in and is inextricably linked with the music. Learning to discern production style is as important as recognizing the difference between a major and minor chord.


Hope this helps

Mazz

[thekman]

Hey Derek-
You had to have barely missed this one because your tracks are excellent. I'm with you on the comment thing, I was 0 for 3 too on this one with the music box checked. I was going for the rock style cue, but hearing yours got me all jazzed up about electronics again.

The first thing I thought of was that the synths were mid-rangy and loud. Of course I'm on my laptop w/o the best speakers, but they really seemed loud. It may have been a factor in the critique process.

Other then that, awesome job!
Cheers

[llama]

Hey Derek-
You had to have barely missed this one because your tracks are excellent. I'm with you on the comment thing, I was 0 for 3 too on this one with the music box checked. I was going for the rock style cue, but hearing yours got me all jazzed up about electronics again.

The first thing I thought of was that the synths were mid-rangy and loud. Of course I'm on my laptop w/o the best speakers, but they really seemed loud. It may have been a factor in the critique process.

Other then that, awesome job!
Cheers

Hey Kyle. Thanks for the listen and kind words. At least we can commiserate . I'll have to go back and give another listen regarding synth loudness...

Derek

[jdstamper]

Hi Derek,

I soooo feel your pain. I went 0 for 2 on this one (tracks named "Busted" and "Power Strut"). Like you, I studied the cues for several programs, did my homework, and was still sent packing. LOL, win some and lose some. But I know what you mean, some Returns sting more so than others, when you really believe you're so on target. But I think our tracks will find another home.

Jim

[llama]

Thanks Jim. Yep....it is a strange thing with Taxi. The ones I think are for sure a shoe in tend not to be while the outsiders seem to get in....Oh well like you say...if not this time then another.....

Derek

BTW. Listened to some of your tracks....Some very impressive things you have there.