Different Rates for Overseas Members?

[drebro]

I've come close to joining TAXI a few times now, but there is one main thing holding me back:I feel overseas members are a bit hard done by, as we have no incentive in the form of the Road Rally to join, and this is major. It seems a lot of TAXI's promotion about the perks of being a member revolve around the excellent resources and opportunities that come with the free Road Rally access, etc.But in New Zealand we do not have such access . I guess it is the same for rural dwellers in the states...mmmm...but at $300 USD and then $5 USD a pop, the entry level just seems a bit high when I don't get all the perks of US residents.Maybe...you could give overseas members the option of being charged a higher rate to to upload songs for consideration (say $10USD), and a lower joining fee($150 USD), and have a condition that in the event one does attend the rally, then it is user pays ($150 USD, to prevent scamming).That way, I get to upload songs I think are suitable, without the pressure of making it a full time job to recoup my costs , and TAXI still gets a payout .What do you think TAXI?

[drebro]

Although I guess this might mess-up your "Free Road Rally" campaign? mmmmm.

[leemusic]

Hi Drebo,I'm an overseas Taxi member, I live in the UK, so its exactly the same flight time for me as it is for you, almost 12 hours ! I'm also not a songwriter or singer, so I dont have any songs or music to pitch.I'm in music management actually ! and I have attended the Rally for the past 6 years, this one coming up will be my 7th, and I'm telling you I wouldnt miss it for the world.The Taxi Road Rally is one of the most valuable industry networking tools to hit the globe on a yearly basis, its also the best motivational kick up the butt you could ask for, and thats whichever corner of the music business you might occupy or wish to be in.Whenever I sign up a new artist, joining Taxi is one condition that I impose on them and it works ! after all if my artists cant be bothered to make a small yearly investment in themselves, then why would I make a big one in them ?As far as Taxi getting a payout goes, well so they should, and more power to them for doing so ! if they were not successful at what they do, then they would hardly be any use to thier paying members would they ?Taxi is a business and a service provider, like any other, they are in business to do a good job and make money like all others.I dont know how much money they make and I dont care, but what I do know is that they do a great professional and expert job, and provide a service second to none in the music business.The Road Rally is just the icing on the cake, you should try it, and see just how sweet it is !!However, I do see that your payment ratio suggestion is quite a good idea, whether it would work for Taxi or not I dont know, but knowing how helpful and open they are to each phone query they get, I'm sure it would be worth giving them a call and asking.Erika

[davewalton]

Quote:...but at $300 USD and then $5 USD a pop, the entry level just seems a bit high when I don't get all the perks of US residents.Gitarrero on the forum here lives in Switzerland and has probably close to a half-dozen deals in less than a year. He doesn't sound like he's missing out on too much... Airfare from New Zealand to Los Angeles is probably around $1500-$2000. Even if they gave away a free membership and free submissions and you applied that "savings" to your airfare, you'd still have to lay out a nice chunk of change to fly to LA - well over $1000. Would you really be making the Rally this year if you had saved $150 on your membership fee when airfare is $1700?

[leemusic]

I suppose that we are quite lucky in the UK that we can get cheap airfares to LA, around $750, but even so, the Taxi membership is still well worth the investment, even if its just to get the valuable critiques from submissions positive or negative, and get the chance to put right what may not be !Taxi is worth every penny, theres no other better way to learn how to deal with your own personal project into the music business in the most professional way possible.Erika

[liamkelly]

Quote:I've come close to joining TAXI a few times now, but there is one main thing holding me back:I feel overseas members are a bit hard done by, as we have no incentive in the form of the Road Rally to join, and this is major. It seems a lot of TAXI's promotion about the perks of being a member revolve around the excellent resources and opportunities that come with the free Road Rally access, etc.But in New Zealand we do not have such access . I guess it is the same for rural dwellers in the states...mmmm...but at $300 USD and then $5 USD a pop, the entry level just seems a bit high when I don't get all the perks of US residents.Maybe...you could give overseas members the option of being charged a higher rate to to upload songs for consideration (say $10USD), and a lower joining fee($150 USD), and have a condition that in the event one does attend the rally, then it is user pays ($150 USD, to prevent scamming).That way, I get to upload songs I think are suitable, without the pressure of making it a full time job to recoup my costs , and TAXI still gets a payout .What do you think TAXI?Hey DrebroI think I see where you're coming from in that it may be perceived that non-US residents have a harder time enjoying all Taxi benefits as opposed to US residents because, as you point out, the expense of travel to the US makes it harder for us to evaluate the 'return on investment' (as it were) of the Rally.However, for me personally, the Rally didn't really form any part of my calculating whether or not Taxi was a worthwhile investment. It costs some money to join (and in real terms, only 'some') but on the other hand there is a real chance that your music will end up on the desk of dealmakers if it meets all listing criteria. Whatever the size of that dealmaker may be - may be a small library, may be a major label. I've never really had an opportunity in music that has been so clearly defined for me. Maybe different for you.I lived in South Africa for the first 6 months of my Taxi membership, and Spain for the nine months thereafter and neither residence has precluded me from any TAxi benefit except the cost of the flight to the Rally. But, as I said, that wasn't really a factor for me.I'm a bit concerned that the main thing holding back your joining Taxi is the feeling that overseas members are hard done by because of geography. We're not really. There's truck-loads more to Taxi than the Rally. Best to youLiam

[matto]

Drebro,I understand your argument, but I don't think Taxi would be likely to adopt this kind of "a la carte" membership approach.Because, if they gave overseas members a discount, wouldn't they have to do the same for US members who don't want to/can't attend the Rally? How about for those from far flung regions of the US, like Alaska or Puerto Rico? And what about potential members from really poor countries, shouldn't they be entitled to an extra discount?Once you start down this road, it becomes difficult to know where to draw the line.Also, you probably don't know this, but one of Taxi's main former competitors went out of business in no small part because of too many a la carte membership options. It becomes a great deal more complicated and staff intensive and your business income is ultimately less predictable if you offer this kind of stuff.So I think you'll see Taxi stick to its (almost) one-size-fits-all membership approach.Finally, you correctly decribe the Road Rally as a "perk". When Taxi originally opened its doors, there was no Road Rally, but the membership dues were the same. The Rally was added a few years later as a bonus. The same is true for the subscription to Recording, and more recently, the free online hosting service. All these were added membership perks, without there being a corresponding increase in the membership dues. Taxi should certainly be applauded for adding more and more value to our membership, but I don't think you can ask for a discount if you decide not to take advantage of one of the perks.If you go to the movies and your local theater offers a free popcorn with every ticket purchase, you wouldn't demand 2 bucks off your ticket if you don't like popcorn...or would you?matto

[lboogie77]

Quote:Drebro,If you go to the movies and your local theater offers a free popcorn with every ticket purchase, you wouldn't demand 2 bucks off your ticket if you don't like popcorn...or would you?mattoMaybe off topic, I just wanna know what movie theater matto goes to and gets popcorn for 2 bucks???