Cold-calling Music Libraries or Music Supervisors

[joshcolemanmusic]

Hi all,

I'm a Taxi fan but also wonder if there are ways to contact libraries and supervisors independently. I'm sure they're completely swamped which is why they rely on Taxi. But I'd like to have more irons in the fire. Does anyone have any recommendations on this topic, and if so, which libraries accept unsolicited material?

Thanks in advance

[Casey H]

Hi Josh
Taxi rules don't permit us to mention specific libary names on the forum. You probably should edit your post to remove the name you mentioned.

That being said, Taxi themselves always says they are the SECOND best way in the world to get signed. You should be proactive, do research, and make as many contacts as you can. Build relationships with other composers, network, etc. The Taxi road rally is a great place to network and build relationships with your peers... Not saying that from a "people hand you library names" perspective but building mutual trust is a key element in getting folks to share information.

Best of luck,
Casey

[joshcolemanmusic]

Thanks Casey, that's helpful. And thanks for letting me know about deleting the name of the library which I just did...

[eeoo]

Hey Josh - I see you're in SF, do you know about the Taxi hang that's being planned for June in Berkeley? PM me for details if you want.

eo

[jaredlutes]

Didn't I hear Michael or somebody say once that music libraries and supervisors dislike check-up calls from members after a forward, and that it can hurt your chances of being placed? I was so excited after my very first forward that I tracked down the company and sent them a long, gushy, introductory email. Probably not a good idea. I never got a response. Duh.

What I've learned from the guys here is to write, submit, forget, and repeat. Stick to that formula for a few years, and WHEN your stuff becomes great, the supervisors will find YOU !

[DesireInspires]

I regularly contact libraries directly. I can help you out.

[CHuckmott]

I'm one for doing both, submitting to Taxi and contacting libraries, can't comment on cold calling but many are responsive to e-mails. Then again, many are not . I would say the libraries and supervisors that have Taxi screen do so for a reason.....so they are more likely to reach for the taxi pile first.

[joshcolemanmusic]

Thanks to everyone who's responded so far. I really appreciate it!

[mazz]

It's a relationship business. It's also a reputation business. After I got my first Taxi deal and started getting some broadcast placements, doors were easier to open. If you can generate placements, then you can generate placements for them too and that means making money which is why they are in business (well one of the reasons anyway, an important one!)

Since Taxi has already fostered a lot of relationships with libraries and supervisors and those clients trust them to send them pre-screened music, if you get introduced via Taxi you come along with a nice "letter of recommendation" so to speak. Cold calling is tougher because you don't have that intro and without something to set you apart from the other 50 composers that e-mailed them that day then why should they pay attention to you?

Of course, all of these people need music, but there's an endless supply of that out there! What they REALLY need is great music composed by people that are easy to work with and deliver what and when they are requested to. That right there culls out a huge chunk of the supply chain!

Just my 2c.

Mazz

[joshcolemanmusic]

Hi Mazz
That makes sense. Thanks for that!
Josh