New member contemplating first pitch

[DrMitch]

Hey all;

I'm excited to be here. I had a nice, long talk with Michael on Tuesday and one thing he advised was to bounce possible pitches off of you good folks prior to pushing the button, for objectivity and learning. The listing I'm looking at is this:

MALE, ACOUSTIC-BASED SINGER/SONGWRITERS are needed by the Owner of a huge Independent Record Label that's working hard to expand their roster. They're looking for introspective Artists in the stylistic wheelhouse of Nick Drake, Elliot Smith, Townes Van Zandt, Bert Jansch, etc. They want Artists with a melancholy and moody sound, with songs that tug at listeners' heartstrings. Your lyrics, songwriting, and musicianship need to be at the highest level for this label, so please send your best. Touring/performance experience, and image are also important, so please include a photo and bio. Well-recorded demos are okay, but studio recordings are recommended. Please submit two to three Songs online or per CD, include lyrics, photo, and bio. All submissions will be screened on a Yes/No basis - No full critiques. Submissions must be received no later than Wednesday, May 14, 2014.

Please take a listen to "The Loss", "Forever Comes to an End" and "The Bones" at my Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/mitchdavidcartermusic Those are the ones I have in mind for the pitch. Those first two are Garage Band demos; "The Bones" is studio work. I have zero touring experience and about 2 1/2 years performance, with the first two yrs being as keyboard player and songwriter, not the vocalist. I think the songs might be a good fit but is the lack to touring time a deal breaker?

Thank you.

[nick.moxsom]

Mitch, welcome, man.

I hate to see a newbie post and no-one respond. It's always tricky when someone asks advice on three different songs all at once. I realise you're pitching all three to the one listing, but somehow people don't have time to listen to them all AND comment. So in future, if you ask specifics about one particular song. you'll likely get a bigger response.

Wish this was my wheelhouse and that I could give you a more informed opinion. Suffice to say that, since this is an artist pitch, you seem to have all the chops. The songs are genuine, organic, and full of atmosphere, with well-crafted lyrics and a good voice. What's not to like?

Whether these songs hit the target is beyond my ken, I'm afraid, but I have no doubts you'll be seeing some success pretty soon.

Sorry I don't have more.
Nick

[DrMitch]

Thanks, Nick. Good advice on one song at a time and I appreciate the kind words otherwise. Perhaps you can clarify something else for me; on a pitch, is it $5 per pitch? Or $5 per song? Thanks for being the first to make me feel welcome here on the forums!

[HectorRContreras]

Hello dear Mitch,

A warm Welcome to the TAXI Forum.
How cool is that that you exchanged a Conversation with Michael Laskow himself !
That is a very good start indeed !

Ok; I am going to listen to "The Bones" only, for now, and give you my Impression.
http://soundcloud.com/mitchdavidcarterm ... ones-final

The Listing is a tall order, they know exactly what they want, and what they want is a high bar indeed.
Endearing that you are honest about your lack of touring experience. This is a Plus.

I would think that they want, ... a Troubadour !

Oh I see, this is Introspective, Melancholic, Moody, ... a Man and his Guitar, your Rendition being Explicit and Authentic, while the Music slowly and gently moves toward his developing Phrases.
Love at 2.04 when another Singer comes along. He/She could do a little bit more there !
Ah splendid Violin at 3.04 yes, a very Sensitive Musical idea.
The Lady Singer comes back at 3.36 and again she could do much more.

Yes, it is very Peaceful. And be proud of your Voice, it is a superb Male Voice. Good news : you are a Troubadour.

Nice Instruments after that, toward the end.

Ok; so that is it.

Love the Lady Singer, but either she does not sing at all, or she would sing much more. This is my Impression.
I know, a delicate choice to make because ... of the Listing.

[HectorRContreras]

Dear Mitch,

I love : "Forever Comes To An End"

The Sound is excellent.

[nick.moxsom]

$5 per song, bud.

Nick

[HectorRContreras]

Woah, dear Mitch,

"The Loss" is quite extraordinary indeed.

Ok; this is official, you are now part of the lovely Club of the Troubadours at the TAXI Forum.

Welcome to the lovely Club of the Troubadours at TAXI. There are 6 Members now :
- Mitch David
- John Lewitt
- Rob Carroll
- Brian McNulty
- Steve J Curtis
- Graham McRea (Little Red Church)

You will get to know them, as you go along.

Beside that, I think that your chances are high. Please submit all three Tracks for the Listing.

Here, especially for you :

A TROUBADOUR

A TROUBADOUR.jpg (103.39 KiB) Viewed 1993 times

[Russell Landwehr]

Heya, Mitch, welcome to the forums... love the "dr/ MD initials" thingie... cool

You are shooting for a pretty high-bar listing there. The listing says "Touring/performance experience, and image are also important, so please include a photo and bio."
It's a Label looking for someone established that they can bump to the next level.

So they are looking for an established act. How you doin' on that?

Personally I dig the stuff you got there. You have some excellent "universal lyrics" which are VERY important for Library and Direct to Supervisor pitches. I really think you'd have a good shot at those kind of listings.

I look forward to to seeing you around the forums more.

Russell

[DrMitch]

Thanks, Russell. I most certainly am NOT an established act! I wrote my first song about 2 1/2 years ago and have written somewhere around 120 since, so I've got a decent catalog but no...not an established act. [In fact, I can't believe how difficult I'm finding it to put together a band to support the EP material and a few new tunes.] Anyway...yeah. There is always that miracle carrot out there...the thought that someone might like one's material so much, it will outweigh the other considerations...like being an established, experienced act.

[johnlewitt]

Doctor,

I picked The Bones to listen to.

I love that first line, 'Take off all your clothes' and the fact that you make me wait 6 seconds before the next line. It leaves a world of possibility in my imagination and I want to hear what comes next.

The listings that are run by the record companies seem to be the hardest to get forwards for (that's my humble opinion). Beyond having great songs you really do need all the other things they ask for in order to get a forward. I would save my $5 and forward this for TV & Film listings as you will get some bites there.

And welcome to the forum.

John