TAXI.com

Hey Guys,

I was traveling for a while and meant to post this earlier - here is another post-rally-thought:
I was chatting with a bunch of other members at the really about possible ways to make the "giving your music to the industry pro"-process (especially after the panels) easier for members as well as for the pros.
From a member perspective, I felt that as one of the more shy folks, I usually ended up at the end of the line and sometimes out of time to actually give a CD to the Pro.
As for the industry pros, I felt sorry for the guys when they found themselves in mob-scene being buried by member CDs ...
So - I don't really have a complete solution to offer here, but one thought I had was to create a little orderly line (rather than a big half-circle of people) after the panels and maybe encourage the etiquette of not taking up too much "airtime" when handing your CD to the pros. Like: Give your CD to the guy/gal, say a couple (!) of words, let the next person do the same.
I know that in reality this might be impossible to do, but I am just curious what other peoples' thoughts are.
I really liked the idea of the drop boxes (or the plastic bags as they were) which sort of created a more "equal-opportunity" sensation for the guys that didn't make it to the front of the "line".
I should point out that overall I experienced most members to be very courteous and even supportive of each other in this process, so that's a big compliment to the TAXI culture!
Anyhow, again, just curious what your thoughts are.


Best,
Dirk

I think they should have a box for every panelist for immediately after the panel.

However, I don't know how many panelists would actually have room to pack 300 or 400 CDs in jewel cases with them when returning home. 50, maybe.

From what several A & R mentors at the luncheon said, echoed by a couple of speakers whose talks I attended,
CDs are a drag for them, except for those few that will try to get through a bunch of CDs in their cars during a long commute home from the office. Thye'll take them to be polite, but in all cases, it is a physical drag to carry and manage a big pile of CDs. (Just think of all the piles of free CDs laying around outside the main Rally Room.) At least a couple said that getting them a business card (or preferably sending them an email) with a link to pages where your songs (TAXI or other hosted site), can be streamed and/or downloaded , is far more manageable.

Happy New Year to all,

A random thought or two before I go trim a tree in the back yard -- it's Sunday afterall

Even if the panelists and industry pros had boxes for members to drop music in, the mobs would still happen. Members want to connect with the industry folks. Some can get a little too pushy about it, but most panelists understand that will happen going in. Even if we HAD the boxes, SOME people will still hand them a CD, thinking that it might increase their chances of getting heard.

We mostly DO have boxes for panelists after their panels. We know they can't carry all those CDs. The boxes come back to our office after the Rally. Some of the panelists ask us to filter for them before forwarding the music to them, some don't.

Generally speaking, but not always, the more senior executives don't hand out business cards/email addys and ask for people to send them music. They can't afford to have dozens of people engaging them in near daily online conversations via email or spreading their email addys around. The folks who DO give out cards and emails are often (but not always) people who provide services themselves. They are happy to engage in email back ad forth because they know they will pick up some new clients in the process.

Generally speaking, even the big shot panelists who migh ask us to "insulate" them (prior to coming to the Rally), get caught up in the vibe of the Rally and enjoy meeting the members and hearing what they have. I've had people ask us to hurry them off the stage, but then after they finish their panel they totally engage the members. Sometimes they stick around for HOURS and chat with them in the bar and in hallways.

Each year we find that there is no ONE way to handle the member/panelist encounters and transfer of music. I'm very proud of my staff for beig able to read each situation on the fly and and try their hardest to make sure both sides of the equation are happy.

Off to my trees,
Michael

Hello Michael,
Thanks for the info on the panelist and industry pros.We should all put ourselves in the panelists place and realize that they are just folks doing their jobs and they have good days and bad like all of us.This was my first road rally and I had a blast.I came home wishing I could attend another before next November. I didn't get a chance to meet you this time but I was impressed that even at midnight you were still walking around the lobby with your shirt tail out ( You looked exhausted ) meeting every taxi member that would approach you . This said alot to me about you and about Taxi.Consider me sold! Hopefully I will be able to meet you at the next rally and say hello.Now that I know what to expect I will be much more prepared.Thanks Again.