Screeners' Thoughts

[Lipskimusic]

Dear All,

I was wondering whether it would be possible for the screeners to create a summary document listing common mistakes they see all the time when reviewing submissions + some advice as to how they would suggest to overcome these mistakes. I think this would be equally helpful for both the screeners and us Newbies It would also help us to better understand how the screeners (!) interpret and approach a listing when reviewing submissions!

I am aware that Michael on a regular basis is hosting shows that cover these common mistakes.

Just a thought. I would of course be happy to help crowd funding this if necessary.

Cheers,
Matt

[RobPeters]

+ 1 here!

[Markzilla]

What a fantastic idea! I'm in.

[Casey H]

**A LOT** of this is covered on Taxi TV and at the annual Road Rally. Not saying more can't be done but I hope those are seeking the advice are taking advantage of all that Taxi already offers.

Edit: I just realized that Matt mentioned Taxi TV in his OP. But I want to leave this comment up for anyone who needs more help getting forwards and is not taking advantage of all that is there.

Best,
Casey

[RobPeters]

There is so much info here and the YouTube channel to the point where it is pretty overwhelming to know what to search for when you're new and don't know anything. It'll calm down but I have to say I've already bought three books and have watched a number of the videos and I've just recently been able to start searching the forums. One problem I have that showed immediately was my ability to understand the listings and the details of a genre. But I'm just starting.

[admin]

As always, Casey is right. The info is out there, and even if I were to create a document that listed the most common mistakes again, a year from now, somebody else would probably suggest it.

The single most common mistake (by FAR) is: Sending music that isn't what the listing asked for.

While it's art and science to interpret needs, TAXI goes into much more detail and spends a huge amount of time looking for examples/references than the entire rest of the industry - probably combined

A typical brief from a supervisor might read like: "Need retro circus music... at least 47 seconds. Can't fade - need hard end. Authentic, not slick."

Another mistake is: Songs with lyrics that overly personal and amateurish.

Another mistake: Melodies aren't catchy.

Another common mistake: The music sounds dated because 1) the song idea is old fashioned, 2) the melody is dated to another era, 3) the song form or construction isn't one of the common forms like VCVCBC, and 4) the song sounds like it could have been a hit in whatever time period you fell in love with music. For the most part, the industry needs music that sounds current. Yes, the are exceptions, but the odds are by far in favor of currency, not legacy.

TAXI's job is to help you become competitive. Use the feedback on the forum (Peer to Peer), watch TAXI TV, read the newsletter, and go to the Road Rally. Do those things for a few years, and your life will change... at least your music

best,
Michael

[admin]

In golf terms, you just started playing and taking lessons, so it's going to take time and effort before you can win a local tournament or play the Tour. But thousands of people before you have done it, so you know it can be done. Just don't give up, no matter how hard it hurts. If you do that, you'll join the ranks of successful members.

ML

[hummingbird]

Good posts Casey and Michael.

The subject matter, 'what are the common mistakes' is a vast one, for sure. It would help too if we knew exactly what you need help with.

I'd say one mistake I see is that newer members aren't using the forum as much as they could. I learned so much here. Go to Peer to Peer. See where someone's posted about a return. Read the listing, listen to the track, read the comments. Or, see where someone has asked for feedback, listen to the track, read the listing, see the comments. Post up your own too - before submitting is a good idea, so we can help you figure out if the track is ready or is on target. Afterwards, with your return details, is good too, we'll help you figure out why and offer sympathy because we all get Rs too.

Another common mistake I see over and over, is pitching music through TAXI without any idea of how the commercial music industry works. If you don't know what a PRO is, what a Synch fee is, or how royalty collection works in terms of songwriting and publishing... it's like going out to drive a taxi when you've never been in the city before. You might end up where you want to go, but it will take you a long time to get there.

You could pick one topic, and search for it here (or ask in general hangout for help finding info on it), or go to youtube and look at TAXI TV videos which cover a variety of subjects relating to songwriting, instrumental writing, production, etc.

I wrote this blog a while ago.. it seems me that it relates to this post but it might not hehe
http://theshysinger-songwriter.blogspot ... ssful.html

Lastly Matt, there's nothing wrong with your suggestion! I understand you want to figure things out. I do too, and I've been doing this since oh.. 2006.. still learning. Still get excited when I get a forward. lol Got questions, ask away, this community is great and we all try to help each other.

Cheers
Hummingbird

[Len911]

If the question was, "what are the most frequent mistakes made by taxi members who frequent the forum, and/or whom have had their piece peer-to-peered before submitting, is a more specific question and one that might be more appropriate if it could be answered. If the majority of members don't watch taxi tv, or participate in the forums, or read the newsletters, etc., and only read the listings and submitted, the statistics would hardly change, and it would be preaching to the choir.

The frequent mistakes mentioned are hardly peccadilloes, they are major flaws.

[Casey H]

Hey Matt et al
Just to add to what Vikki said, there is never anything wrong with asking for help and information.

I think everything is a learning process that takes TIME and practice. Keep at it, keep doing, keep growing better.

Off the top of my head, from being a long time member and attending many Road Rallies, some of my thoughts on the biggest mistakes which will repeat what's already been said. ("YOU" below is not YOU, personally)...

(1) Not reading the listing VERY carefully and targeting based on the detail provided. Taxi listings usually are narrow targeted and shotgunning a bunch of stuff that you HOPE will stick rarely works. New members will even send in tracks that are in totally different styles and genres from what listings asked for.

(2) Not doing TRULY objective A/B compares between your track(s) and the reference tracks in the listing. The reference tracks are guides for everything including melody, lyrics, arrangement, production style, etc. If a listing asks for contemporary songs a la certain artists about trains and you send in a great song about trains that sounds like a 70's band, it won't cut it.

(3) Poor, non-broadcast quality productions, especially for Film/TV uses. In Film/TV, production is so critical because they use your recordings "as is". This one of the toughest ones for new members if they just started home recording because it does take quite a bit of time (months, maybe years) to get really good at this. Production quality is also important in many non-Film/TV listings because even though it's about the SONG, you are competing with thousands of extremely well made demos.

(4) Having dated music. As a 62 year old, I struggle with this all the time, BTW. Sometimes a new member will be a kick ass musician but their musical taste and focus is 60s, 70s, 80s, etc. You HAVE to listen to contemporary music and learn all aspects of what's different about it than the music of decades gone by. If you refuse to listen to anything but classic rock (which I DO love BTW), you will limit yourself greatly. Collaboration can help here! I collab with younger, more modern music-oriented folks all the time to de-Beatle my songs.

(5) As Michael mentioned, for Film/TV, lyrics have to be universal, and this is a different mindset than writing for your own CD or other artists. "Universal" means avoid specific details that would conflict with Film/TV scenes such as names, places, etc. You can't sing about Sally who lived on 33rd St. in New York City, wore a blue sweater, and drove a red sports car. The focus is more on emotion, less on specific details. Yes, it is a fine line at times, no doubt. Robin's book on Film/TV songwriting is excellent on this.

(6) Back to the "dated" thing. The worst counter argument against a return or rejection is (for example) "But Foghat had a HUGE hit with that concept in 1981"... No one cares now. The one exception to a song being too "dated" is if it is truly authentic from top to bottom (music, lyrics, production) for a given era such as the 60's or 70's (or any era/decade!). Authentic "period pieces" are definitely used. Sometimes a scene in a show or movie takes place in 1966 and they want the music coming out of a jukebox or radio, played by a band in a scene, in the background, etc. so sound just like one from that time. I have a collection of authentic 60's songs (many with Taxi collaborators) in a great Taxi-friendly music library. The key is making your song consistent to an era. Either contemporary-ize it or go for a period piece but a mish-mosh rarely works.

I'll probably think of more and add to the list. Very helpful things you can start doing right away are:
(A) Post your songs in the P2P section of the forum for feedback before you submit.
(B) Attend the Road Rally! Tons of classes and presentations on how to get more forwards, what works for Film/TV, production, song critiques by pros, etc.
(C) Listen to tracks posted on this forum that were forwarded for specific listings.
(D) Books by Robin Frederick!! If you write cues, books by Dean Krippaehne!!
(E) Collaborate!

That's all for now. HTH!
Casey