Bitter Words about TAXI, So I've Heard...

[laserdog]

If you think you will get a deal straight away.... you don't know the biz...LASERDOG TAXI got me where I am today & am going to rejoin.

[weslong]

I just wanted to jump in and make another point. I think there is absolutely no time in an artists career when they can step aside and say 'Damn, I'm so good I don't need to make any improvements. I'm the best there will ever be.' The biz changes and you have to constantly hone skills, learn new ones, and keep up with what's going. Maybe some people tend to think 'If I just get just good enough, I can finally sit back on my laurels, churn out the same old stuff (think MC Hammer), and the dough will just keep rolling in.' Not a chance...so maybe that's one of the reasons people get their bubble burst once they join TAXI. They suddenly discover the bar just moved a few feet higher when they weren't looking or they think the bar has been rigged somehow in a conspiracy plotted only against them.I understand TAXI so I can't feel sorry for anyone gives up because they feel somehow their returns are too many or they've been wronged by the screeners. You've got be strong in this biz and all others and remember that one's success is driven only by being focused, having an iron will and possessing a relative degree of talent. I might be completely waste my time and money on this TAXI deal but it doesn't really bother me. If I don't truly have a place in this biz, I'm going to find that out soon enough. In the meantime, I'm just doing what I love to do- which is making music.Just my two cents...for what it's worth...

[ggalen]

philasonic and norm,Excellent observations.I am in Norm's position as an artistic expression songwriter. As a veteran of coffeehouses and clubs over the years, I am primarily a live performer and songwriter who uses recording technology to make really effective backing tracks to wonderfully showcase my songs and guitar playing ability for the audience enjoyment. Like Norm, I have realized I just don't enjoy crafting a "song to order" for someone else's commercial purpose. Nothing wrong with commercial. But I enjoy thrilling people one-on-one where I can see them enjoying my music. I especially like house concerts, even if they do tend to be quite small crowds and you don't typically earn all that much. But it's up close and personal and quite fulfilling.I am also a little bit suspicious of what royalties and fees will be in 5 years once I would finally get a big enough roster of a couple hundred placed library tracks. So I am waiting to see how the "digital revolution" in the music business works out, royalty and library-wise, in the next 24 months.Good, wise thoughts in this thread.

[chicagomusic]

Here is some food for thought.1. Not everyone is going to be happy with "Every" service that is provided for talent on the internet.2. Bad Press = Good Press to some degree depending on what the nature of the case may be.3. The Service or whatever might have not been for the person who submitted bad pressI called taxi the other day and spoke to a nice lady on the phone personally i am a promoter so i really dont have any need to have a paid membership and submit music since i dont own the songs, however i will tell my talent to register on taxi, i also know what genres they need the most and some other things. I will be dabbling around taxi for a bit and checking out diffrent talent.RespectfullyMatthew NalettNew Music PromoteChicago Music Promotions

[hummingbird]

Sept 27, 2008, 11:01am, chicagomusic wrote:Here is some food for thought.1. Not everyone is going to be happy with "Every" service that is provided for talent on the internet.2. Bad Press = Good Press to some degree depending on what the nature of the case may be.3. The Service or whatever might have not been for the person who submitted bad pressI called taxi the other day and spoke to a nice lady on the phone personally i am a promoter so i really dont have any need to have a paid membership and submit music since i dont own the songs, however i will tell my talent to register on taxi, i also know what genres they need the most and some other things. I will be dabbling around taxi for a bit and checking out diffrent talent.RespectfullyMatthew NalettNew Music PromoteChicago Music PromotionsWelcome aboard Matt, nice to meet you. Let us know if you have any questions. Tell your talent about the forum & explain it's a good place to come and ask about targetting listings and get feedback. Plus we'd like to meet them too

[fry112]

Just when I though most of my Critiques we near perfect I got my first taxi Asshole , But the thing is I call him a asshole because He was so Off . # 290 "Aaron you might want to invest in a pro engineer to do a final mix on your joints. Sometimes the producer is just to close to do an objective job"."Overall, you might want to focus on the mix aspect of your recordings. Most listing are only interested in Master quality. This has become the standard so pay more attention to this".OK I have 2 problems well this is my problem and most Will agree! I have one of the best engineers who has done some Major projects like Bone thugs in Harmony so I have a great engineer But here is also my problem How can someone say my stuff isn't master Quality when all you can upload on taxi is a dry sounding 192 mp3 File? no one sounds master quality and that is something that needs to be fixed. Now you can say my music sucks all day but don't say the mastering is bad when you can listen to master quality !!!So no I don't think its a scam but some people who work at taxi don't know what there doing ! but truthfully that most people in the buisness

[enigmaduo]

Here's what I know, folks....We joined TAXI 2 1/2 years ago and began submitting. We've recorded 2 CDs worth of original music in that time. After countless submissions to what we've felt were appropriate entries, we're now approximately $1500 (you can do the math: 3 years of entry and $5 per submission) poorer with NO forwards whatsoever. Oh, we've gotten plenty of reviews that said that our songs were in the right category and even more stellar comments about our music, but no forwards. We decided to try something different and did the solicitation ourselves. I'm proud to say that we now have 6 songs under contract with a Wisconsin based company. But this is the result of OUR labor with absolutely NO credit going to TAXI. I'm under the impression that nothing gets forwarded with TAXI (those who claim otherwise, I apologize, this is just now my opinion), though they've certainly had no problems whatsoever cashing my checks. We won't be renewing our membership and we most certainly will not be using their service for the remainder of our term. I'm considering this an inexpensive lesson.

[ggalen]

enigmaduo,When you said you do "original music", I think that's the mismatch right there.From what I gather about the Taxi buyer situation, your stuff has to sound pretty identical to the "alas" listed, as that is what the buyers who hired Taxi to screen, are looking for.As I said and agreed with Norm the Bowler, Taxi is not a great choice for artists wanting to be original. It's too difficult to break in with a new and original sound on typical Taxi listings. I gather this from my listening to others' experiences here.

[fry112]

I do agree the more original the sound the more likely you aren't going to get the job, I have had a lot of jobs go through but when they say they want a song that sounds like a artist then you find a song you have done that sounds like that artist !

[flood]

I am in no position whatsoever to speak to this , and I know it.But I will anyway.I see a common theme running through many of the "disgruntled" posts here.The common thread is this: "Somewhere in the music world exists a cabal of people who decide who will and who will NOT be successful. Those who we deem okay will make millions, have lunch at the nice restaurants and be allowed into the good country clubs."I don't buy it.I am maybe the least equipped on the forum to make such a statement, but there it is.I have a TON of experience in another career that nearly mimics this world of music. And let me tell you, the exact same things and thoughts and ideas are unstoppable there.For those who believe such things, it is probably a very good time to look closer at yourself and you songs and your production and your presentation, including your personality when you have an opportunity.Then look again.I am nowhere near good enough to get even a single forward on Taxi. Yet all my friends and family and acquaintances think my music ROCKS.None of them can write a check for my music that will pay my mortgage.I know what I am talking about from a different field, and I may regret writing this come morning, but it is the simple truth.Those who are either not good enough or refuse to improve themselves will levy all sorts of charges against the supposed perpetrators.Look deeper inside yourself.Taxi would LOVE to find the next brilliant songwriter or band or artist. Can you imagine the advertising they could do if they had the next Lennon in their pocket? They would make many MORE millions.It is in Taxi's interest to find brilliance. They have the connections, and if the next Lennon popped up, chances are he would have a much quicker road to success with Taxi than without.Chances are, though, you (and I) are not that person.Yet.Best wishes!Leon