TAXI.com

It's hard to believe this time last week I was hanging out in the hotel lobby catching up with old friends and making new ones! What a great Rally this year! Of course, I think all of them have been great but this one felt a bit even more special. I'm in the middle of printing down some alt mixes for a client, and since I'm having to do them in real time (for the time being), I have a few moments to type up some of my most memorable moments from the Rally. These are in no particular order (or are they???)

1) Getting to see my dear, dear, dear friend Lydia Ashton on stage during the member's success panel. Got choked up during that one...

2) Having a chance to watch Kevin Kiner score part of an episode of CSI: Miami and then chat with him afterwards

3) Realizing on Thursday afternoon that I forgot my business cards at home

4) Having some real in-depth conversations with a few different friends that I've made over the past 3 years

5) Making some new friends and re-connecting with some old ones

6) Having a great one-on-one mentor session

7) Not getting enough sleep

8) Having one of my tracks played during a listening panel for the first time and trying to decipher if the comments on my track during that panel were good or bad

9) Hanging out with Vince in the lobby talking about orchestration and arranging

10) Thinking I saw one of my favorite composers, Bear McCreary, walking through the lobby, going up to him and introducing myself only to discover that he was most definitely NOT Bear McCreary, though he really did resemble him.

I'm sure there were plenty of other moments but I'm still playing "catch up" from being gone so that'll have to do for now! There were several new faces that I got to meet and I'd try and list them all here but I'm sure I'd end up forgetting someone, so I'll just say it was great getting to meet all the new friends as well as the old ones. And for the ones I didn't get to meet, there's always next year! Can't wait to go back!!!

- Big Blue

Barry,

That may not have been Bear McCreary, but one of his assistants came by and hung out with us Sat. night.

Amanda, his girlfriend and one of the waitstaff in the lounge, asked me what we were doing in LA and I told her we were a bunch of composers and songwriters. She told me her boyfriend was a composer too and I suggested Andy come by and hang and he did!!!

He has a very cool gig for a very recent Berklee grad and a great guy to boot.

( he was also a " cheap date", he only ordered a bowl of soup for dinner)

A visit to a scoring session of one of Bear's shows may show up on my calendar next November.

I may want to get prepared to sell tickets. ( and I may need to be prepared to buy Andy a steak)


Chuck

Barry,
It was good to see you at the Rally; I dug your track during the listening session. I had one played as well, and I agree- it's not always easy to decipher what the feedback means. Great guitar tone!

Good luck, and talk to you soon!

John Cimino
(one of the Two Johns)

It really WAS a pretty amazing weekend, Triple B, made all the better by getting to spend some time with you again. And it's a GOOD thing I wasn't sitting with you during Lydia's interview, as I was already blubbering. Together, we would have swept our seats away in the tide.

Ted

I, too, had major leaky eyes during Lydia's talk. I'm so proud of her courage, and of this sweet community that so graciously embraces everyone through their challenges and successes. Taxi is a very special place.

,
Suz

@Chuck... I'd buy a ticket for that and/or buy Andy a steak too

@John... Thanks John! Good seeing you too!

@Ted... One of the "other moments" that I left out of my list was getting to watch you perform at the Open Mic. I told you this after your finished but I say it again... Watching you perform on the stage that night, it was obvious to me that you were doing what you were born to be doing. I hope that you continue to get opportunities to do more of that in the future my friend!

@Suz... TAXI is a very special place indeed

Nice to have met you man. Love your stuff.

Barry, it was an honor to play for you. You are the coolest.

Ted's a terrific performer! He lights up an audience with such ease. So glad I caught "Ted Fox, Live at the Elizabeth and Neil Playhouse", two nights. You rocked' it, Ted!

Casey

Don't want to hijack, here, but Thanks, Casey!!! It means the world to me that y'all would interrupt your Rally's to listen to me screech.