TAXI.com

Here is a classic example of how not to do things in this industry (or in the world, in general). I get an email today, sent to "undisclosed-recipients" with an mp3 attached. It was a mass email promotion, more like spam. It read:I'm seeking distribution and promotion for a new version of the xxxxxx xxxx novelty hit of the 60's [SONG NAME], recorded by disco diva XXX XXXXXX. Lyrics below, mp3 attached. Lyrics followed.Now, as I see it, you should NEVER mass mail a 3-4MB attachment to people. It's very rude to clog up people's email inboxes with unsolicited attachements. I had no idea who this person was, there was no other info other than his email address.I replied to his email, a bit nastily:I do not accept submissions as an entry on a list of "undisclosed recipients". This email is SPAM. SPAM-ing with an mp3 attachment is extremely rude, since these attachments are large and clog up people's inboxes. This is one of the worst ways possible to promote yourself. Do I know you?Also, I do not have anything to do with distribution or marketing of the nature you describe. If you have me on an email list, please remove me immediately. My NameHD MusicHe replied:Gladly --- ASSHOLE!!How to make friends and influence people!! CaseyP.S. Was I too hard on this guy?

Quote:P.S. Was I too hard on this guy?No and I imagine that he got harsher replies. Take some solice that his attitude and response will be his undoing (not that he'll ever get anywhere to un-do himself).

Hey, I think your response was more polite than his. It is one of the worst ways possible to promote himself, and, considering that you do have connections in the industry, not a good way to win friends and influence people.At LEAST it was a BCC - I DETEST people who decide to include me on their emails promoting something (or chain emails) where my address is given to 50 or 100 other people.Hummin'bird

I had another one recently...Mind you, with my HD business I talk to about 200 songwriters and performers. 99.9% of them are very professional and great to work with.One of the ways I work is I keep send out an email newsletter when I am looking for songs for a particular lead. I often will say I am looking for a song like [this or that] and that if think you have anything already on file with me that fits that description please let me know.. and if you are not sure or want to send in a new submission that's usually OK too. I have hundreds of songs on file and it helps a lot when an artist reminds me about a particular song.One guy, in response to my email, said I should just look through what he had already sent (some a few years ago). I replied back that I was very busy struggling to meet a tight deadline on this lead and didn't have time to go through every song. I nicely asked him to make some suggestions.Here is the email exchange:Him I have sent you at 20 to 30 songs over the past several years----so if you still have them on file and any fit one of the projects you working on,please get in touch!!Me: On Thu, 21 Sep 2006 14:54:49 -0400 "HD Music"<email addy> writes:> Hi [name]> I'm a bit too busy on these rush jobs to do that. Please go through > what you have (sent to me or not), read the descriptions carefully and > let me know if something fits.> > Thanks> [My name]> HD Music Him:NO-----You are not very professional if you don't keep records!! GoodLuck! NAME XXXXXMy final word:I'M NOT PROFESSIONAL ?? ??I am going through many hundreds of songs from about a hundred artists to fill this. I have every song you every sent me on file. They are poorly organized as presented to me, on multiple CDs, in some cases with no track titles or descriptions on the CD cases. If you don't care enough to go through your own songs, which have to be a lot less than what I have here, then you can pitch your songs elsewhere.If you would like, I will take you off my mailing list.So, am I just getting too testy these days? Or are there a lot of idiots out there? Or both? And I'm soooo lovable too.Casey

Quote:I had another one recently...Mind you, with my HD business I talk to about 200 songwriters and performers. 99.9% of them are very professional and great to work with.One of the ways I work is I keep send out an email newsletter when I am looking for songs for a particular lead. I often will say I am looking for a song like [this or that] and that if think you have anything already on file with me that fits that description please let me know.. and if you are not sure or want to send in a new submission that's usually OK too. I have hundreds of songs on file and it helps a lot when an artist reminds me about a particular song.One guy, in response to my email, said I should just look through what he had already sent (some a few years ago). I replied back that I was very busy struggling to meet a tight deadline on this lead and didn't have time to go through every song. I nicely asked him to make some suggestions.Here is the email exchange:Him I have sent you at 20 to 30 songs over the past several years----so if you still have them on file and any fit one of the projects you working on,please get in touch!!Me: On Thu, 21 Sep 2006 14:54:49 -0400 "HD Music"<email addy> writes:> Hi [name]> I'm a bit too busy on these rush jobs to do that. Please go through > what you have (sent to me or not), read the descriptions carefully and > let me know if something fits.> > Thanks> [My name]> HD Music Him:NO-----You are not very professional if you don't keep records!! GoodLuck! NAME XXXXXMy final word:I'M NOT PROFESSIONAL ?? ??I am going through many hundreds of songs from about a hundred artists to fill this. I have every song you every sent me on file. They are poorly organized as presented to me, on multiple CDs, in some cases with no track titles or descriptions on the CD cases. If you don't care enough to go through your own songs, which have to be a lot less than what I have here, then you can pitch your songs elsewhere.If you would like, I will take you off my mailing list.So, am I just getting too testy these days? Or are there a lot of idiots out there? Or both? And I'm soooo lovable too.CaseyHey Casey-I don't think this dude's initial email was out of line (nor was your response to it), but he certainly had a door-closing attitude in his second reply.Given that you are offering opportunities to him, it seems he should be willing to do whatever legwork is necessary if he wants to play ball. If he's not happy with your approach, then let him go; I would've forgone your second reply altogether and just dropped him...it's not worth getting mired in the argumentative negativity where there should be willing cooperation.On the flip-side, maintaining a very organized way of archiving & searching songs by genre & artist will likely increase your chances of placing something, particularly if a tight deadline looms...but you're probably already doing that. Andre

Quote:Quote:I had another one recently...Mind you, with my HD business I talk to about 200 songwriters and performers. 99.9% of them are very professional and great to work with.One of the ways I work is I keep send out an email newsletter when I am looking for songs for a particular lead. I often will say I am looking for a song like [this or that] and that if think you have anything already on file with me that fits that description please let me know.. and if you are not sure or want to send in a new submission that's usually OK too. I have hundreds of songs on file and it helps a lot when an artist reminds me about a particular song.One guy, in response to my email, said I should just look through what he had already sent (some a few years ago). I replied back that I was very busy struggling to meet a tight deadline on this lead and didn't have time to go through every song. I nicely asked him to make some suggestions.Here is the email exchange:Him I have sent you at 20 to 30 songs over the past several years----so if you still have them on file and any fit one of the projects you working on,please get in touch!!Me: On Thu, 21 Sep 2006 14:54:49 -0400 "HD Music"<email addy> writes:> Hi [name]> I'm a bit too busy on these rush jobs to do that. Please go through > what you have (sent to me or not), read the descriptions carefully and > let me know if something fits.> > Thanks> [My name]> HD Music Him:NO-----You are not very professional if you don't keep records!! GoodLuck! NAME XXXXXMy final word:I'M NOT PROFESSIONAL ?? ??I am going through many hundreds of songs from about a hundred artists to fill this. I have every song you every sent me on file. They are poorly organized as presented to me, on multiple CDs, in some cases with no track titles or descriptions on the CD cases. If you don't care enough to go through your own songs, which have to be a lot less than what I have here, then you can pitch your songs elsewhere.If you would like, I will take you off my mailing list.So, am I just getting too testy these days? Or are there a lot of idiots out there? Or both? And I'm soooo lovable too.CaseyHey Casey-I don't think this dude's initial email was out of line (nor was your response to it), but he certainly had a door-closing attitude in his second reply.Given that you are offering opportunities to him, it seems he should be willing to do whatever legwork is necessary if he wants to play ball. If he's not happy with your approach, then let him go; I would've forgone your second reply altogether and just dropped him...it's not worth getting mired in the argumentative negativity where there should be willing cooperation.On the flip-side, maintaining a very organized way of archiving & searching songs by genre & artist will likely increase your chances of placing something, particularly if a tight deadline looms...but you're probably already doing that. AndreAndreI agree that my last reply probably should have never been sent. It was his calling me "unprofessional" that pushed the wrong button. I take a lot of pride in what I do and how I treat other songwriters and artists. Regardless of the following, I shouldn't have let it get my dander up as much as it did:This particular artist had sent me many CDs, none with labels on the discs themselves, just a brand-name CD with a return address mailing sticker stuck on!. These were sent in either slim cases or envelopes with no track listing on whatever the CD was stored in. The track listings were on cover letters or lyric sheets, however. Publishers hate it when they pick up a CD and have no way of relating it to a case that says what is on it. A CD should always be sent in a case with a track listing and the label on the CD should relate it back to the case it came from. Now, his not knowing this is forgivable-- everyone has to learn the do's and don'ts of submissions. But, I guess the wrong word came at me at the wrong time.Andre- regarding your other suggestion: I am in the process of moving everything I have to iTunes with genres, categories, sub-categories, artist names, etc. I find iTunes software excellent for this type of work. When I am working on a lead, I move potential songs to a new playlist. Yes, that makes things easier. However, for a number of years now, artists have cheerfully replied to my emails, willingly suggesting songs... When they are not sure if a song was already sent to me, they ask if I have it. This is the first time ever I received such an attitude.OK, where did they hide my Prozac this time?? Casey

People get really emotional about their music. It's their problem if they can't be professional in business. So you don't get frustrated, maybe you can make sure everyone you work with understands your submission guidelines. Then if someone doesn't follow them, you don't use the submission, no argument necessary. Stay hopeful, Dreamer...Nomi

Hey. The songwriter who has sent you 20 or 30 songs over the years expecting you to remember them all and pull them out of your hat when an opportunity comes up needs to remember that he is part of the business of pitching music as well. You specifically state in your emails that 'if you have already submitted something that fits this listing, please let me know' and that, to me, implies that the *songwriter* should have their pitch list up-to-date and know what pieces they already have on file with you.I think you do a faily good job of letting people know your submission requirements, but I do agree with Nomi that perhaps you could go a little further. I'd suggest setting up a 'submission's' page on-line and include that URL in your 'looking for songs' emails, etc. You can state right in there that any submission not following the guidelines will be ignored.Frankly, I think most publishers would have thrown away that songwriter's Cds without even listening to them. They simply aren't interested in getting submissions from folks who can't be bothered to make it easy to categorize & store their music, and they aren't going to bother one minute with anyone who is less than professional in their approach. On the other hand... it does sound like you're not having a good day. I'd just ignore these people. Don't give them your energy, you don't need to defend yourself. Concentrate on the songwriters & musicians who treat you with respect and follow your guidelines, block out everyone else from your inbox as well as your mind. Go for a walk... find some time and space for serenity. It's vital for your creative self as well as your business self.warmlyVikki

Quote:Hey. The songwriter who has sent you 20 or 30 songs over the years expecting you to remember them all and pull them out of your hat when an opportunity comes up needs to remember that he is part of the business of pitching music as well. You specifically state in your emails that 'if you have already submitted something that fits this listing, please let me know' and that, to me, implies that the *songwriter* should have their pitch list up-to-date and know what pieces they already have on file with you.I think you do a fairly good job of letting people know your submission requirements, but I do agree with Nomi that perhaps you could go a little further. I'd suggest setting up a 'submission's' page on-line and include that URL in your 'looking for songs' emails, etc. You can state right in there that any submission not following the guidelines will be ignored.Frankly, I think most publishers would have thrown away that songwriter's Cds without even listening to them. They simply aren't interested in getting submissions from folks who can't be bothered to make it easy to categorize & store their music, and they aren't going to bother one minute with anyone who is less than professional in their approach. On the other hand... it does sound like you're not having a good day. I'd just ignore these people. Don't give them your energy, you don't need to defend yourself. Concentrate on the songwriters & musicians who treat you with respect and follow your guidelines, block out everyone else from your inbox as well as your mind. Go for a walk... find some time and space for serenity. It's vital for your creative self as well as your business self.warmlyVikkiHi VikkiYeah, a bad day would explain it, but these two incidents were weeks apart!!! Thanks for the suggestions.... I've got some things brewing including a forum just for HD... I can post things leads on a pubic URL, but I would still have to email people to remind them something new has come in. My leads are almost all quick turn-around-- a few days to a few weeks at most. I haven't decided yet if I want the lead descriptions out on a public URL. It's amazing the things that happen when you make something that public. For example, there are bogus tipsheets that steal leads like that, even when they are very "stale" and publish them. It's already happened to me.Running this biz teaches me a lot and gives me more empathy for TAXI and all the complaints they deal with, even after bending over backwards for people. This is especially true about the level of detail they provide in some of their listings. You can't give what you don't have and often not much is provided...I AM extra cranky the past few weeks because of a problem with our furnace at home (loooooong story - our oil furnace company screwed up big time, stunk up our house with an oil smell that has forced us to live out of hotels for a while. There is a settlement in process with the oil company's insurance folks.... "Send lawyers, guns, and money" Casey

Quote:I can post things leads on a pubic URLA PUBIC url?? OK Casey... exactly what kind of website are running over there!!??