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Forum Newbies... a few thoughts+FAQs

Posted: Tue Dec 15, 2009 6:27 pm
by hummingbird
Hi folks, I've noticed we seem to be getting a fair number of new forum members (and some new Taxi members). I was new here once and didn't know the ropes, and some very kind people accepted me into the group and let me know how things work.

So, newbies, here are some thoughts:

** after you join, please introduce yourself (General Hangout), tell us a little about you... don't be afraid to join in the discussions!

** don't be afraid to ask questions, we were all newbies once. If you can't figure out how to add your photo, or change your signature, or create a shortcut to your music on taxi.com, just ask.

** it's nice if you do a search for your topic before you post (buttons above, that say home-help-search-), as many things have been covered before (not that we mind repeating ourselves but some excellent advice has already been posted on a variety of topics).

** on posting songs for feedback - naturally, you'd like us to listen to your music and tell you how you are doing... but give us one or two specific songs, not everything on your page... and pay it forward by going to Peer to Peer or Lyric Lovers and listening to several songs / reading several lyrics by posted by others, and leaving your feedback on what they've been up to. If you aren't getting feedback on the stuff you post, this is why. (Also, be patient. It might take 2 or 3 days for people to get to your post.) Please don't use this board simply to post your songs and not participate or reciprocate. This is a community and every community needs both give and take. And this forum is here to foster and encourage folks - no matter what stage of the game they're in.

** there is a BSP forum (blatant self promotion), if you just want folks to listen to your music & not give feedback, post there, this is also where you can announce your gigs & CD releases & stuff like that.

** take a moment to read through the forum and try to post your thread in the right section so it doesn't get lost, cause we do want to join in the discussion you've begun! Please also do not double post. Avoid posting entire messages or thread titles in ALL CAPS. It gets hard to read. Don't worry - every single post has an equal chance of being read, no matter where it's posted.

** try not to highjack a thread... so if, for example, someone posted in Success Stories about a deal they just got... don't ask a question on that thread about music publishers. Start your own thread, in general hangout, for example.

** you don't have to be a member of Taxi to be on this forum. There are Taxi members, former Taxi members, maybe-gonna-be Taxi members, and maybe a few never-will-join members. However, this is Taxi's forum, and while we all welcome debate and discussion about all things music and all things Taxi... it should be remembered that this forum is here because Taxi supports our networking with each other. We've all invested a considerable amount in what we are doing. So err on the side of respect when discussing the merits of the organization that maintains this board and in whom many of us trust.

** there are moderators here, but they prefer free discussion, as long as folks are respectful of each other. There are going to be disagreements from time to time...try to be polite, or at the very least civil, and resist responding to those who antagonize you.

** do not spam! It's ok to mention your studio or your band or your company's songwriting-related product, book or recording equipment - especially in the context of a conversation. But please don't join this community merely to advertise or solicit business. That's not what it's here for. It's here for actual discussion. If you have no intention of taking part in discussions, the people that *are* regulars will know and your message will fall on deaf ears anyway.

** if you didn't sign up using your real name, please put your real name & a link to your music in your signature. If you want to conduct productive communication and present yourself as a professional, using your real name when you post would be a good step in that direction. (Go to 'user control panel', click on 'profile', click on 'signature' add in your signature line, avatar, etc)

** yes, we are friendly. If you stick around a while you'll find that we're extremely helpful to, and supportive of, each other. Join in, post some reviews, add a dash of respect to whatever you post, and you'll quickly become part of the community. OTOH, if your first post is negative towards Taxi, or you're just here to flame, or give other folks a hard time, the welcome mat will disappear.

The main reason we are here is to support and encourage each other, share information and share feedback, and watch each other grow & improve in craft. We sympathize with each other when music is rejected, and celebrate when it is accepted... and leap for joy when someone lands a deal through determination & hard work!

Welcome to the family! :)

warmly,
Hummin'bird 8-)

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PS - there are many good articles on the taxi.com site, if you need to know more about the music industry & how songwriters make their money, it's a good place to start --
http://www.taxi.com/faq/index.html
_____________________

EDIT - some FAQ:

Q: How often do the Taxi listings come out?

A: Twice a month, on the 1st & 15th, if you get them via email.
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Q: How do I link to my taxi music page?

A: What name did you use when you signed up for your music account? Let's assume it was "myname"... E.G.
http://www.taxi.com/myname

If you signed up as "my name" with a space inbetween, then it would be http://www.taxi.com/my_name
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Q: How do I link to a song on my taxi music page?

A: Nobody knows anymore. I just give my page link and say the name of the song :-/
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Q: How do I get my avatar on my posts?

A: You have to upload a jpg to your webserver, and then go into your profile and give the link to the image in "Avatar URL". It would probably look something like this (NOTE: replace the "*" with "." for a proper web address):
http://www*yourservername*com/~yourusername/yourpixname*jpg
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Q: How does Taxi screen music? How do I know the screeners are qualified?

A: Read these threads, they are informative:
Taxi Land - Dave - Part I
http://taxi.proboards27.com/index.cgi?b ... 1185818579

Taxi Land - Dave - Part 2
http://taxi.proboards27.com/index.cgi?b ... 1186789715

Taxi Land - Dave - Part 3
http://taxi.proboards27.com/index.cgi?b ... 1188921401

Taxi Land - Screener Queries - Horace
http://taxi.proboards27.com/index.cgi?b ... 1185748342
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Q: When will my submission be screened?

A: Your submission will be screened AFTER the submission deadline. There is no way to know WHEN it will be screened. After all submissions are reviewed, the results are sent out by email (if you submitted on-line) or by snail mail (if you mailed it in/dropped it off).
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Q: I uploaded a new mp3 after I submitted my song - which version will be screened?

A: The screeners listen to whatever is on-line when they go to review your song. Once the submission deadline has passed, there is no way of knowing when your piece(s) will be screened. If you update the mp3 after the submission deadline, then you run the risk of not knowing which version was screened.
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Q: How do I upload a new mp3 for a song already on my page?

A: Sign in, go to 'My Music' & find the song on your song list and click on EDIT.
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Q: How do I submit a photo/bio with my song(s)?

A: When submitting, scroll down to the bottom of your song list & you will find your photo & bio there (assuming you've uploaded a photo to your page & completed the bio)
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If there are other common questions you'd like listed here, please PM me & let me know.

Re: Forum Newbies... a few thoughts+FAQs

Posted: Tue Dec 15, 2009 7:16 pm
by ullali
My dear Vikki!
You are SUCH a fantastic help and inspiration for all newbees and this Forum. THANK YOU for reposting this one. I hope it will stay on the top, as it was in the old Forum, as I know it was a great help for me to read it!
Bless you! :P

About Avatars - Here is another way:
If you have a MySpace site (may work on other sites too?)
1) When you are ON your public profile
2) Right clik on your picture
3) Look under preferences
4) Mark & Copy (Crtl+C) the URL you see there (it is longer than you see! Should start with http and end with .jpg)
5) Paste (Crtl+V) the URL into your TAXI Forum Profile Avatar and make it 90x90 so we can see you! 8-)
6) Update/Modify profile.

I had problems linking to "an external site" in my avatar, (it kept dissapearing), but this worked for me. Good luck. :D

Re: Forum Newbies... a few thoughts+FAQs

Posted: Wed Dec 16, 2009 4:59 am
by feaker66
vbird

You are just so organized it's scarry.

Thanks for posting this.

I still can't get my avatar to work. Ulla has a great tip, but I use photobucket,
and that does not transfer the pic. (it did in the old forum)

Paul

Re: Forum Newbies... a few thoughts+FAQs

Posted: Wed Dec 16, 2009 11:37 am
by ullali
Paul...I THINK you can use the same method, (as I described) on Photobucket, when you right click on the picture you want to use, in stead of just copying the direct link below the picture (they are not totally identical!). Worth a try...if you didn't already?

Also....I agree: Vikky IS "scarry" :o :lol: ...AND AWESOME! :D
So many helpful people in this Forum!

Re: Forum Newbies... a few thoughts+FAQs

Posted: Wed Dec 16, 2009 3:56 pm
by Casey H
Hi
Just a note regarding posting songs in peer-to-peer for review. It really helps if lyrics are readily accessible. If you post a link to a myspace page, it's best to post the lyrics directly in the post or provide a better link. Myspace's lyrics feature is awful.
If you recently posted a song for review and only provided a myspace link, you might want to make it easier to see the lyrics. Other hosting sites like soundclick handle this much better. If you provide a link to your taxi page, I'm pretty sure the lyrics aren't viewable by others so post them...

Overall, directly pasting lyrics into your post makes things the easiest for reviewers. Some like to use the "quote" feature to insert comments on the words.

I'm posting this in peer-to-peer as well.

:) Casey

Re: Forum Newbies... a few thoughts+FAQs

Posted: Wed Dec 16, 2009 4:29 pm
by jeffrey
great post -- THX

Re: Forum Newbies... a few thoughts+FAQs

Posted: Wed Dec 16, 2009 4:32 pm
by feaker66
Oh, nothing :)

Re: Forum Newbies... a few thoughts+FAQs

Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2010 3:42 am
by orest
Really nice thread!

Re: Forum Newbies... a few thoughts+FAQs

Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2010 8:58 pm
by Bad Monkey
Thanks Vicky for helping out us forum virgins. I'm new to the forum but I can see that this is quickly becoming my new obsession. Before taxi it was almost impossible to get even friends to listen to that demo . More than likely they misplaced it or worse nod their head with approval when you know they forgot to listen , aaaargh! nice to have fellow writers to bounce ideas off as there is a differance between knowing great players and knowing great writers who you can talk shop with.Still trying to learn the taxi site , but I will post a couple of tunes on peer to peer and introduce myself very soon.This is my first post but it won't be my last.Thanks again and thanks taxi for giving me a reason to write.... : :D

Re: Forum Newbies... a few thoughts+FAQs

Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2010 1:21 pm
by jfraizer
Thanks for the thread. I have been reading quite a bit of this forum since I joined recently to try and soak up as much information as possible. Seems to be a nice, helpful group here as well as talented.