Return after Return...

[mfowler]

Bob, I started getting serious in January about composing... I've had some success on the TV/Film side with getting forwards, but I am also batting .000 in regards to song listings with vocals. After listening to my songs in the context of the screener critiques, I find the screeners are pretty accurate and helpful. I try to re-purpose some of my songs by having different versions... instrumental (usually a full and lite versions) and vocal, so I have more opportunities.You are not alone in your suffering!!! Marlin

[cameron]

Sept 11, 2009, 8:57pm, watksco wrote:Re-writing is a PITA (especially lyrics - ouch), but, as Jason Blume says (or someone like that) - "your song could be one re-wrtite away from perfection".HTHCheers,ScottYeah, but whose perfection? Every listener/screener has their own idea of what it is.I agree the "Lets go, Lets see, just what this world has got for we" line has got to go. It's grammatically incorrect, and sounds like forcing a rhyme. Not as obvious as "Roses are red, violets are purple, sugar is sweet, like maple surple"... but just about.Cam

[bobpepek]

Sept 12, 2009, 8:55am, mfowler wrote: After listening to my songs in the context of the screener critiques, I find the screeners are pretty accurate and helpful. Marlin I COMPLETELY agree that their critiques are accurate, helpful, and just. I respect the screeners opinions and know they come from YEARS upon YEARS of experience. But it becomes bothersome that I spent years recording the song(s), and spent a LOT of money in the studio perfecting these songs, that I cant (choose not to) turn around and change, because I've already put the money into mastering the tracks and duplicated the CD. I agree the song(s) would work better with their implemented ideas, however, I cant justify re-writing a song and/or recutting an album that I put a good deal of my money towards.I question if that one phrase of mine "Lets go, lets see, just what this world has got for we", was the only thing that tainted the song for the screener. Would I have been forwarded had it not been for that line... Pablo Picasso painted portraits of people in a two-dimensional view in which two eye balls are bulging out of the persons temple, yet he's world-reknown.

[matto]

Sept 14, 2009, 10:50am, bobpepek wrote:I question if that one phrase of mine "Lets go, lets see, just what this world has got for we", was the only thing that tainted the song for the screener. Would I have been forwarded had it not been for that line...Obviously I can't say if that line was the ONLY thing that kept the song from being forwarded (having listened to the song and considering the very high bar of the listing I doubt it), but I would agree that line would keep the song from being forwarded or cut. An established artist may get away with the occasional forced line in the songs they are writing themselves, but you won't if you're trying to get them to cut your song. That's just the way it is.As far as the dilemma of fixing songs that you have already spent a lot of money on...it's a mistake to spend money on something before the writing is polished, but if it makes you feel any better that's a mistake probably every single one of us has made. I certainly made it some 12 (or is it 13? ) years ago when I first joined Taxi. You may find as I did that the real value of the critiques is that they will help you write better songs in the future...FWIW I retired my first batch of songs (that I joined Taxi to pitch) in less than a half year since I realized they were just not gonna cut it... I had spent a good amount of money on them but thank god didn't make the mistake of pressing any CD's.Then again your music is better than mine was 12 years ago so hopefully you'll fare a bit better than I did back then... At the very least you can sell the CD's, and you should be able to get some of your music licensed to tv/film opportunities since the production values are really high...You'll also find that for film and tv, less scrutiny is placed on the lyrics (which in my humble opinion are your songs' Achilles Heel).HTH,matto

[mfowler]

Bob,I listened to your tunes... I will admit that I am not one to judge lyrics, but I find your songs very appealing. I think it can be difficult to have songs that could be so unique and personal to you be able to be cast to another artist. I know you have a lot invested, but I think if you tweaked them to better align with the listings, you would have success... If you have the masters and a project studio, you could do this yourself or you could post on collaboration forum and trade your vocal talent for some studio talent. Anyway, good stuff and good luck!! Marlin

[bobpepek]

I guess the disheartening part that I keep dwelling on now is that I'm hesitant on submitting that song "A Little More" to listings now because of that line, and its seemed to be the "best I got" in the batch of songs I have loaded. Apart from shelling out another LOAD of money in recording a whole new handful of songs, I feel like I have wasted material. I feel like the owner of a brand new Ferrari...... who lives in Antartica. I only have 5 of my songs uploaded and I dont like feeling that my "best player in the game", cant play. Quite the let down.

[wings]

Sept 15, 2009, 4:09am, bobpepek wrote: I feel like the owner of a brand new Ferrari...... who lives in Antartica. This is probably a good analogy, especially when it comes to Taxi. But it's not Taxi's fault. It's definitely a numbers game, but a game that allows you to tweak as you go. That way, you don't dump money all in one basket, but when you see it going in one direction - dump in the cash then!By the way, my ratio of success is about = 20 forwards: 1 deal, whicn means a lot of returns (and I mean a LOT).With this in mind, it might be best to spend the money to create "good home recordings" (as you read in many of the listings). Then, when you get the deal and they require a better master- go out and spend the cash on the Ferrari because you'll know that the Autobaun awaits.I guess my point is that creating 3 perfectly good songs might do it- but creating 300 songs with one catching someone's ear might be the way to go!All my best- I KNOW it stings.~wings~

[wings]

BTW, Bob - I'm flying out to Groton, New London, CT today, then back to Caldwell, NJ. ~wings~

[bobpepek]

Thank you Wings! I only wish I had an ear for production like my producer. My producer is amazing at what he does, and has a lot to show for himself! He's an engineer at Zing Studios in Westfield MA (Studio known for producing some of the best metal acts around.) Hes worked with All that Remains, A Day to Remember, etc... Both national acts. But the thing I love the most is that he's a Beatles Fanatic like myself. So hes always got a lot of good ideas that sound.... Beatlesque. We start the next album in a few weeks, and we're utilizing the Abbey Roads Refill on this album, I'm really excited. What are you doing in Groton, and how long are you going to be there?? I worked in that area for a couple years. I have a show around there this coming Sunday. I'm performing a benefit show in Norwich. http://www.landa615.com I will take your advice though. Maybe I should throw together a bunch of good quality scratch tracks with my producer and see about throwing them up on Taxi.Regards,Bob

[mfowler]

Bob.. I have to detach from my songs after I am done and have submitted them. I also set a threshold where I must finish up and move on. I later come back to the returns and see if I think I can rework them. If you want to submit a lot of songs, I would explore some kind of home project studio due to the cost of using a professional studio. You will be suprised at what you can do. Your ear will develop and you have a huge pool of talent on this forum that can offer you excellent advice. Marlin