TAXI.com

As I'm sitting here checking emails while glomming off someone's free wireless service, they have a 1960's radio (Sirius) channel playing; and in the last hour, at least 6 songs by various artists have come over the sound system that I KNOW for a fact were co-writes by Holland/DOZIER/Holland.Holy Moley! We are in for such a treat, having him as our keynote speaker at the Rally. (If you are NOT making the effort to get there, I have to ask...why NOT??? It will change your life. Start saving up for next year NOW. Do it. You will never regret it. But sitting in the safety of your living room, arguing about the cost will not do anything other than leave you sitting in your living room.)Believe it or not, this will be the third time I've been to an event like this where he was the featured guest/speaker; and I can attest to the fact that it is an experience I highly recommend.Can hardly wait.3 weeks and 3 days...wooHOO!

Dear Ted:While I can certainly understand your enthusiasm for the Rally, I must respond to one point: When I chose not to go to the Rally, money wasn't a concern. I'm happy to have more in my pocket, of course. But I made the choice because it was a good one for me both personally and professionally.Please don't make broad assumptions. I'm sure others are reaching similar conclusions as I am. And should they choose not to go for financial reasons, I'm not clear why that's of concern. I've known plenty of people here who've had to have help to get there or chose to stay home in order to feed the bulldog. There's nothing to be ashamed of there; eating is far more important than music.

You can say you understand the Rally Squids, but you haven't been to one. Personally, I feel like Ted does. Totally 100% stoked. Ted and I both wish YOU were coming too. Sure Ted's broad assumptions are a bit like mine, and yours too sometimes. Everybody screws up, but it's Ok to screw up. But Ted's not screwing up by writing what he wrote. It's genuine. It's kinda human. Bottling up what many of us feel, ain't gonna happen. Ted likes to show emotion, and so do many others like you and I. This is a forum for Taxi members, many of whom are really excited about going to the Rally, in a few weeks. Why you wanna rain on that parade? And why the heck are you putting eating, the Rally and shame in the same sentence?

Gee, Steve, I jes can feel all your enthusiasm leaking all over the place. How wonderful! Let me remind you again that folks last year made it to the Rally with help from other forum members. Others probably aren't so fortunate. Why rain on THEIR parade? I will stand my ground on eating and the fact that while the Rally is probably the bomb (as you pointed out though, how would I know? So I won't make assumptions!), it's not necessarily practical for everyone. Also, I only said I understood Ted's enthusiasm, not that I understood the Rally itself. For heaven's sake, you don't have to go to the Rally to understand and feel enthusiasm for something. A lil OTT there.

One of the most marvelous parts of the Rally is to meet in person all the great folks you've been networking with on the forum... and I totally get that some folks can't go (especially in this economic climate) for various reasons (and I remember very well how it felt when I couldn't go)... but I still want to get excited about seeing my friends again after a year. But those of us who are there will also miss those who can't make it, and we can't help wishing that they could

Oct 13, 2008, 9:13pm, squids wrote:Gee, Steve, I jes can feel all your enthusiasm leaking all over the place. How wonderful! Let me remind you again that folks last year made it to the Rally with help from other forum members. Others probably aren't so fortunate. Why rain on THEIR parade? I will stand my ground on eating and the fact that while the Rally is probably the bomb (as you pointed out though, how would I know? So I won't make assumptions!), it's not necessarily practical for everyone. Also, I only said I understood Ted's enthusiasm, not that I understood the Rally itself. For heaven's sake, you don't have to go to the Rally to understand and feel enthusiasm for something. A lil OTT there. Squiddy, I have to agree here. I am happy people are going to the Rally, but I think we should respect each other's circumstances. When I attended the Nashville seminar (yes, it was much smaller but still a cool gathering) I didn't come on and say things like "well, why aren't you attending or making the effort?" I didn't implore people to save the money for it as I know we're in hard economic times. Plus, I have real health problem I'm still attending to....those who know me personally realize that I've been battling a health concern for several years now, and it's still hard for me to travel long distances. The Nashville seminar was much easier for me...I could make that short three hour drive. While I know some of you are disappointed that you won't get to meet Squids, please have some understanding for people's choices. And I for one don't feel sad or cheated that I can't go to the Rally. I am happy everywhere and anywhere. Creativity and even contacts aren't limited to Rallies. I throughly enjoyed Nashville and meeting folks, and it would be cool to meet them in L. A. as well, but it's just not in the cards right now.I hope we don't go through this whole dot, non-dot thing again either. It's silly to me. For those of you who are jazzed about the Rally, more power to ya...but please respect those who can't attend.

The rally is great but people shouldn't feel bad if they can't go or chose not to go for whatever reasons. It's a personal decision. I found hanging out with other forum-ites , one of the best parts last year (not that the rest wasn't excellent), but this year I'm also interested in more of the panels.One area (of many) where it is very helpful IMHO is for people who are struggling to figure out what makes screener's tick and what real industry folks look for when they play a track. I see so many people come in here as new forum-ites and have concerns there. That doesn't mean the rally is the only way to learn that but it's one very solid way.Everyone has all the information about it or can read things here, ask questions, etc... I highly recommend the rally but I don't want it to seem like folks should feel bad if they don't attend.And Squids, I'm disappointed I won't meet you in person but at least I have those memorable moments talking to you on your 900 number... Casey

Gosh, I didn't realise there was resentment that some folk won't be attending the rally!I'm not sitting here five and a half thousand miles away thinking: "I could go, but I won't". It's just not possible at this moment in time.I'm sure everyone will have a great time, and I look forward to hearing the reports here on the forum.Please don't think that all those who aren't going just can't be bothered.

Oct 14, 2008, 4:38am, davekershaw wrote:Gosh, I didn't realise there was resentment that some folk won't be attending the rally!I'm not sitting here five and a half thousand miles away thinking: "I could go, but I won't". It's just not possible at this moment in time.I'm sure everyone will have a great time, and I look forward to hearing the reports here on the forum.Please don't think that all those who aren't going just can't be bothered. It happens every year. It's beyond silly.

This will be my first Rally and I really wasnt going to go, but my wife so one of the newsletters and said that this is a good idea for you to go. So we know how the circumstances of everyone is I cant really afford to go but then again I can not afford not to go. So it is really up to you to go and thats it period. Looking fowrard to seeing a whole bunch of you out there.