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Hey all,So I have a rookie question...I was lucky enough to have a friend invite me out to the rally as a guest. I am currently in the studio working on my first full length, formal project. I intended to join TAXI early next year when I have a finished product, and wasn't expecting to have this opportunity yet, which brings me to my head scratcher! This will be my first rally so I don't really know what to expect in any form, but I am curious to hear some thoughts whether I should bring any music with me at all, or just my (limited) charm?!? What I have are vocal reference mixes from the studio, pretty rough mix behind the vox, and I think the first impression is gold. On the other side, I am confident in the song writing/structures etc, and from what I have seen around here, is that carries weight. I guess the other piece to consider is that I am in this as an artist/performer, not looking to sell my music to a catalog, etc. So does that change your views on what I pack??Thanks ahead of time for ALL advice!! Looking forward to learning a lot out there and meeting some of you, I have been browsing around and doing some listening...there is WICKED talent on this site. Thanks again! Joe.e

If you don't have anything yet that makes a great impression, then don't bring it to hand out. You could play it for a mentor session to get feedback, but don't hand out your B game stuff to a potential connection. Give them your business card and ask if you can send them something when you have it done (hint, you have your business cards printed up, right?).My first Rally, I didn't bring any CDs. I wanted to soak up the information and learn about the business. After that first time, I had a much better idea of what I needed to do to get my act together, and what to bring next time. It's an individual thing, but the advice still stands: Bring your A game, and if you don't have it yet, take names and addresses for when you do. Relationships in this business are or equal or even more important than the music anyway.Have this trip be a relationship making trip.Just my 2cHope to meet you!Mazz

Good advice Mazz!I think I should travel extremely light due to my cheapy flight schedule hop-a-thon. No sense tempting fate at a baggage transfer carousel...

I'm diggin' that Mazz, thanks! That's been my gut feeling too, but thought I would be remiss if I didn't lean on people who have been down this road ahead of me. See ya out there! Joe.e

I'm bringing a guest to the road rally. It will be his first time. He was asking the same exact questions as you were: what to bring in terms of CD's, pitching items, etc. He is a very avid guitar player, and at first, wanted to rush on putting some quick guitar instrumentals together, but opted out of that idea. Instead, he's going to be a casual observer, take it all in, and ask lots of questions. I think he'll enjoy it more in that sense, and maybe give him a year to focus on what the pro's are looking for.

Oct 26, 2009, 7:42am, devin wrote:I think I should travel extremely light due to my cheapy flight schedule hop-a-thon. No sense tempting fate at a baggage transfer carousel...LOL! Yeah, pack light for those hop-a-thons. Though... I'm pretty certain I saw some people in the same clothes from day to day last year. Welcome to the forum, Joe.e! I also came to my first Rally in 2004 as a guest, and it rocked my world. TOTALLY. While I did have some tracks to share, a BIG part of what I got out of the Rally was the networking and people that I met. There will be a *very* high number of industry moguls and music talents per square foot at the Rally hotel! So, in addition to networking, I also like to write out a few questions or thoughts for myself-- i.e. who I might like to meet, what I'd like to learn. I also like to ask the question: if anything could happen at the Rally, what would I want it to be? What's the biggest thing I can dream of?? (And funny thing, one of my "big dreams" actually DID unfold as a result of one of these Rally events!) There will be so many things to discover at the Rally! Most of all-- have fun!! See you in a few days...Raags

I did exactly like Mazz suggests the first year. Went as an observer, had coffee with a couple mates from a couple songwriting forums... soaked it up. It was actually pretty overwhelming... educational.... inspirational.What I find so valuable about the Rally (other than the great networking) is... it seems to help me assess exactly where I am in my journey, and it seems to help me figure out what my next step should be. I value that clarity.

Yeah... I like Vikki's laid back approach much better! Soak it all up, and eat lots of pizza with the dots in the lobby.

Raags, I love your "..if anything could happen at the Rally, what would I want it to be?" approach! I had a similar thought that I would like to spell out exactly what I want to focus on and get out of the Rally this year. I've done the past few Rallys just soaking it all in and meeting people. Now I feel like I need to be more focused (In addition to meeting people, fun, etc.. !) See you all there!Rich

I'm curious about Sunday. If the hotel checkout time is late morning or early afternoon, and Rally activities are still going on, where do people keep their stuff (suitcases, etc.)? Do we carry our bags and stuff around with us during the day? Richard