Request For Feedback On Dark Dramedy

[KentB]

Hi Guys,

Hope everyone is doing well. I know the listing expires tomorrow but I was wondering if anyone might have any ideas for this:

https://www.taxi.com/members/RvZfAQiQSI ... r-mischief

Thanks so much


Lots of DARK HUMOR/SOMBER DRAMEDY INSTRUMENTALS and/or INSTRUMENTAL CUES are needed by an International Music Library with lots of great placements in Film and TV.

This Company is searching high and low for a wide range of dark humor Instrumentals (or Cues) that could be found on a playlist with the following references (but not limited to):

"Slinky Slurp Monster" by Thomas VanOosting

"Dark Comedy Central" by Jim Ellis

IMPORTANT: This Library is NOT looking for standard Dramedy tracks, so please think outside the box with this request!

Please submit well-composed Dramedy Instrumentals (or Cues) with moody motifs and solid arrangements that convey an overall dark, gloomy, and somber tone and feel. This Library is interested in instrumentation that goes beyond the typical Dramedy pizzicato sound, so please feature instrumentation other than pizz strings as the focal point of your pieces. Imagine pieces that replace the strings with alternative instruments – like woodwinds, xylophone, piano, horns, etc – and give them that. Some strings are okay to include in your pieces as supplementing parts in you arrangements, but please do not use them as the principal focus of the piece.

We recommend crafting your pieces around a singular motif, and creating a sense of forward motion and interest by layering instrumentation in and out as they progress. Please be sure your production and any virtual sounds or samples you use are high-quality and not dated.

Your submissions should be roughly 90 Seconds long for Cues, and about 2 to 4 minutes long for Instrumentals, give or take. Non-faded, buttoned/stinger endings will work best. Do NOT copy the referenced music in any way, shape, or form. Use it only as a general guide for tempo, texture, tone, and overall vibe. Do not submit any material with unauthorized samples of other artists’ Songs, sounds, or any other form of media. Broadcast Quality is needed.

This company offers an EXCLUSIVE deal, so please be sure the Instrumentals or Cues you pitch for this opportunity are NOT already signed with any other Companies or Catalogs. Any sync fees will be split 50/50 with the Company. You'll get 100% of the Writer's share, and the Publisher will get 100% of the Publisher's share. You must own or control your Master and Copyright to submit. Please submit as many Instrumentals or Cues as you'd like, online or per CD. All submissions will be screened and critiqued by TAXI. Submissions must be received no later than 11:59 PM (PDT) on Thursday, August 25th, 2022. TAXI # S220825DM

TAXI # S220825DM[blur][/blur]

[cosmicdolphin]

I think you've hit the right mood and nailed that dark creepy but comedic feel well but sometimes I feel the execution is not quite there in the arrangement. A few thoughts:-

The last section is the best bit where the cue seems to get going more but I feel the intro is a bit disjointed. I think if you just got rid of that first section and started on 32s it would be a more compelling intro to the track.

It might help if you could double some of your instruments more, i.e. where you have a tuba playing on it's own, double/triple it with something in a higher register from the other orchestra sections to balance out the sound.

I feel like the cue is missing a bit of window dressing too , so bits of percussion, transitions like little cymbal swells that help bridge between the sections. That type of thing can make a big difference between something sounding more like a finished product than a good demo.

There's some good melodic stuff in there but I sometimes felt like the lead parts were a bit straight , almost like they'd been programmed more than played. Maybe you could add some triplet notes here and there for example at 32s you could start that lead line as a triplet by adding two notes before what is currently your first note.

Hope that helps

Mark

[KentB]

Hi Mark,

That helps tremendously! Thanks so much

Kent