Some help de-coding a Return if possible please

[mrowberry]

Hi Everyone,

I wonder if anyone would be kind enough to help me decode a coupl of returns I got today, I'm usually ok with working out where I wen't wrong on others but I'm strugglng a bit here.

The listing was :-

110617CH

CHILDRENS SONGWRITER/PRODUCERS a la Laurie Berkner, Music for Aardvarks, Rebecca Frezza and Big Truck, etc., needed by a very successful Film/TV Music Publisher launching a new music catalogue that will ONLY be available to top-tier Music Libraries. This publisher gets thousands of Major Network placements every year and has already signed over 100 TAXI members! ORIGINAL SONGS ONLY, NO COVERS, NO Public Domain songs. Compositions must have clever, catchy melodies and fresh lyrics with a fun, original approach to the theme. NOTE: This publisher needs songwriter/producers who can write AND record top quality material on demand, delivering broadcast quality tracks QUICKLY! Be sure your submissions demonstrate first rate songwriting ability, as well as excellent arranging, recording, performance, and production skills that are competitive in this genre. This listing is run ONLY through TAXI and is an exclusive deal Ð you keep 100% of the writer's share. All submissions need to be Broadcast Quality (excellent home recordings are fine). Please submit two to three songs and/or instrumentals online or per CD (include lyrics, if applicable.) All submissions will be screened on a YES/NO BASIS ONLY - NO CRITIQUES FROM TAXI - and must be received no later than Friday, June 17, 2011. TAXI #Y110617CH

The tracks were 'Body Boogie' and 'Lets Bake' found on my taxi page, don't laugh when listening to them haha

Right the returns were, for Body Boogie :-

Retro feel, 40's arrangement ideas are engaging.. no real surprises here.. soft vocal timbre. The only box ticked was OTHER.

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Let's Bake was :-

Driving track.. no real surprises in the lyric, melody, however.. good band, lead vocal. OTHER Ticked.

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Do I take that to be, the tracks are all good but I need to re-write the lyrics with more surprises??? At first I thought the retro 'swing' feel wasn't on target but then it says that is engaging. They seemed happy with the performances and production quality which I am happy about.

Any thoughts appeciated.

Martin

[Eric Bolvin]

That is a lame return there. He doesn't really tell you what the problem is. I've had forwards where they just describe the music, but never a return.
Lame.

Eb

[Kelil]

I agree with Eric. The tracks were great and spot on. Twas a lame return indeed.

[Len911]

Martin, after listening to your tunes and the listed ala's, I would say yours are more Broadway/WestEnd friendly, and the ala's are very basic, beginning reader type songs.
I don't think you need any more surprises, maybe less, what's engaging for a child, especially young ones I am sure is much different than an adult. Your songs are much more engaging to me, an adult, than the ala's which to me were hideously boring.
I suppose if I had to "engage" some children, I would play your songs first and hope that was engaging enough, as I don't think my nerves could stand listening to the ala's over and over,lol!!

[Len911]

Martin, after listening to your tunes and the listed ala's, I would say yours are more Broadway/WestEnd friendly, and the ala's are very basic, beginning reader type songs.
I don't think you need any more surprises, maybe less, what's engaging for a child, especially young ones I am sure is much different than an adult. Your songs are much more engaging to me, an adult, than the ala's which to me were hideously boring.
I suppose if I had to "engage" some children, I would play your songs first and hope that was engaging enough, as I don't think my nerves could stand listening to the ala's over and over,lol!!

[mrowberry]

Hi Guys,

Thanks so much for the replies and advice.

I think the one good thing is I can keep the tracks and resubmit them for future listings and nothing appears to be drastically wrong.

I do have one BIG question though which I've noticed, not sure if anyone in this section of the boards can help...

I understood Taxi to say that screeners specialising in the particular Genre required listen to your music, I noticed that on this childrens listing, my screener number was exactly the same as someone who critiqued another one of my songs in the Contemporary R&B Section?????

Can anyway explain that and If I'm right, I guess it's possibe they specialise in Childrens and contemporary R&B???? Lol

Thanks,

Martin

[Eric Bolvin]

I think some screeners do specialize. You must have met the wild card. What screener# ?

Eb

[Kelil]

some of them it seems specialize in listening to music with cotton in their ears as well. ( just joking ).

[mrowberry]

Lol @ Above!

Screener no #27

The bizarre thing is, screener number 27 wrote some really good in depth advice on the R & B one,

Then was as vague as ever on this one. I can take the return, but you at least expect to get a hint as to what wen't wrong when paying sub

Happy with Taxi so far though and enjoying the experience!

[Kelil]

Lol @ Above!

Screener no #27

The bizarre thing is, screener number 27 wrote some really good in depth advice on the R & B one,

Then was as vague as ever on this one. I can take the return, but you at least expect to get a hint as to what wen't wrong when paying sub

Happy with Taxi so far though and enjoying the experience!

if they were vague about it. then that ( at least to me ) sounds like they were on the fence with regards to forwarding it and hadnt a good reason not too so they had to come up with SOMETHING to say. and they knitpick at the smallest detail of the song.

screeners, ya cant live with them, ya cant live without them lol