Three best things I learned at the Rally

[michaelteak]

Thanks, Stick. I know what you say is true. I was reading through the forums a couple days before the rally and I was very impressed by how much help and support I saw. There were definitely some names that stood out as being particularly active and helpful, and yours was one of them. I hope to be able to do the same for other members some time!Michael

[jsaras]

Hi, All.1. Analyze and study songs within a genre, getting to know the genre inside and out and then write according to it's characteristics. Even if it sounds good to you, if it is not fitting the genre change it until it does.2. Keep melodies simple and repeat the lines, while keeping chord changes only as complex as necessary.3. When a song you've just written is your best work it becomes the minimum standard for your subsequent songs until a better one is finished.John Saras

[bmete]

HI,My first Road Rally.... Have they announced the dates yet for next year.... just like A1 sauce yeah it's that good!!1.. Patience & Persistence2. Submit it ( to the proper genre ) and forget about it3. Working that 5 year planTruly enjoyed meeting everybody, what a friendly group of great people..Michael... thanks for having such an incredible vision as Taxi..Bob

[gitarrero]

my first rally...what did I take home?1. I enjoyed and learned a lot from hanging out with forum folks. person-to-person meetings are still very important, though the interent makes the world a "global village". this was also an experience I made when I meet one of my publishers in hollywood while I was there. it's all about relationships.2. I did get the "confirmation"/belief that my "plan" about how I can possibly make a living in film/tv/mulitmedia really works. so I was able to come home with confidence in that part.I also get a better picture about where I stand musically and profesionally - and therefore have more confidence that I'm "ready to go".3. it's great to be part of the taxi community. taxi works. michael is a cool and hard working person I enjoyed to meet.cheers,martin

[stansongman]

I learned that1. TAXI is absolutely the real deal. As someone writing on Music Row full time, for me it's an excellent way to get my music into places beyond Nashville (even though it's an avenue for that as well)2. The bar is as high for TAXI as it is in the real world. If the music isn't spot-on and great, it's not going to make its way through the crowd. Getting a return means the song's not appropriate in some way, not that the screener is bad...3. target submissions very carefully, and make sure your production is right before you submit: - short intros - I heard so many 16 bar intros in the listening panels! 4 bars'll do it, 8 if you absolutely have to - Please don't bore us - get us to the chorus! And, make sure it's not cliche! Tell us something real, in a fresh way - Vocals - loud and proud. And, make sure they're great. Spend lots of time on them. If you're not a great vocalist, hire one to do your singing for you.It was a great hang, I met a lot of great folks, I can't say enough about how valuable the Road Rally is. I can't believe it took me 8 years to go to one!-s-

[chrisbee]

Hard to narrow it down to 3... Though I knew #1 already, I have to say it's never more true than at the rally:1 - network with those people at your level. You never know, in 5 years one or more of the true friends you develop may have become that infamous "friend in the business" everybody knows we need.2 - Be patient. This is connected to #1. Dave Walton wrote me and said it best "This year's rally is not about this year, it's about what will happen 3 years from now." That's a hard one to accept if you're 22. However, I turned 42 yesterday. I've found in the years between that investing 5 or 10 years into patiently building you dream is a worthwhile investment.3 - Carry Altoids. Bad a$$ coffee breffff ain't helpin' nobody!cb

[kg]

Off the top of my head?1. A-Rush + Starbucks = one massive headache2. I'm the only nut at the gym at 4 am 3. Pizza Hut tastes amazing at 8PM PSTOK, now that I'm done amusing myself, my learnings are more relevant to my personal experience, however...1. My gut instinct to target the proper industry person versus anyone you can get your CD to is just as important as targeting your audience (kind of a given, but clearly important)2. Dedication, drive and ability to run the marathon is what will win in the end3. Vocal fatigue can be easily fixed through a vowel change...some how I missed this before

[stick]

Aren't you always the only nut in the gym at 4 am?

[jmather]

Hello all! It was my first rally and this is my first post!!1. Michael Lloyd's words: "Concentrate more and do better."2. Must take yourself seriously for the industry to take you seriously.3. Michael Laskow is like a father figure for all us members, he really cares about our success!Thanks to all the music industry people who came to speak, you were VERY helpful! peace-Justin

[kg]

Quote:Aren't you always the only nut in the gym at 4 am? I'm beginning to think so LOL