Dramatic Instrumentals

[crs7string]

I just got an email for a forward on:http://www.taximusic.com/song.php?song_ ... tream=1The listing:A NY-based Music Publisher/Library (with studios also in Nashville and Los Angeles) needs great and very current-sounding DRAMATIC INSTRUMENTALS for placement as underscore for network TV programs such as “Desperate Housewives” and “House”. Instrumentation that sustains a low level of tension, such as vibraphone-led arrangements, is preferred. Sixty seconds to 3 minutes is the recommended length for this pitch. They’ve placed music in shows on HBO, ABC, NBC, FX, the Discovery Channel, the Sundance Film Channel, and the Learning Channel, as well as in films produced by Focus Features, Red House Pictures, and USA Films, among others. They asked us to be extra selective when screening for this project. This company offers a standard publishing contract, where they assume the publishing rights to the track and the composer keeps the writer’s share of the income/royalties. License fees are split with the composer on a per project basis. Broadcast quality needed [excellent home recordings are OK]. Please submit one to three songs online or per CD. All submissions will be screened on a YES/NO BASIS ONLY - NO CRITIQUES FROM TAXI. For ground submissions, please enclose a S.A.S.E. if you would like a response. As always, we will notify everyone via e-mail, whether your submissions have been Forwarded or Returned. Submissions must be received no later than 4:00 PM, Pacific Standard Time (California time), Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2007. TAXI # D071218DRSort of an early Christmas present Chuck

[mazz]

Congrats Chuck!! Cool piece!The new one I composed for the listing was returned but the one from the catalog I decided to submit at the last minute made it! You never know!http://www.taximusic.com/song.php?song_ ... =trueMerry Early Christmas!!!!!Mazz

[daniel481]

Alas, mine was not forwarded...bummer!

[crs7string]

Mazz and Daniel,I actually submitted three for this listing, two returns, one forward. Ironically, the other two had vibes as the lead instrument.(as specified in the listing) This track was marimba. (I apparently have developed a very good sense of reading "thru" the listing.) I also thought I was going out on a limb with the guitar part. Go figure.If this leads to any contact from the library I'll have two "vibraphone-led arrangements" ready to go. Congrats on your forward Mazz. This may be the start of breaking the "you're forwarded, I'm not" and vice versa syndrome. daniel, Could you post your return? I think hearing what got thru is helpful, but so is what was returned. I think both perspectives help develop the "reading the listing" skill. Chuck

[bmete]

Way To Go Chuck!Enjoyed the Track!Bob

[jamkern]

--whine alert!!!-- (with cheese!)I had two returns... Thought I might get through with these- they've both had national airplay (I know that doesn't make them more appropraite for a listing- it's just that I've heard them both on two different tension scenes on two different shows..) http://www.taximusic.com:8888/j/jamkern ... 3uCongrats and good luck with forwards guys--great work!!!I'll keep writing and pluggin- one of these days I'll get through the screeners! PS-- copy and paste--sorry!!

[twilsbach]

Hey Chuck, Congrats on the forward. Hope it gets placed soon.I think you had an interpretation of "sustained low level of tension" that nailed what they were looking for more than some of the others, (specifically mine ).I didn't get a forward for Massive House

[squids]

Good job, Chuck!! Hope you get placed before Christmas to make it that much more special.

[jude3]

Quote:Congrats Chuck!! Cool piece!The new one I composed for the listing was returned but the one from the catalog I decided to submit at the last minute made it! You never know!http://www.taximusic.com/song.php?song_ ... =trueMerry Early Christmas!!!!!MazzThats rifgt. You never knowBut this one kinda makes me mad.there is no reason why some of the people here got returned for that stuffI listened to House and House wives episodes for hours and hours and went through great trouble to get those episodes.the rejections here are clearly as good as the forwards.DId taxi screen these?I see many people post about deals they got through going direct to the companies with music that taxi returned. I wonder how often that happens. If it happens alot as I see it does, that means taxi is not really doing thier job.

[hummingbird]

Quote:Quote:Congrats Chuck!! Cool piece!The new one I composed for the listing was returned but the one from the catalog I decided to submit at the last minute made it! You never know!http://www.taximusic.com/song.php?song_ ... =trueMerry Early Christmas!!!!!MazzThats rifgt. You never knowBut this one kinda makes me mad.there is no reason why some of the people here got returned for that stuffI listened to House and House wives episodes for hours and hours and went through great trouble to get those episodes.the rejections here are clearly as good as the forwards.DId taxi screen these?I see many people post about deals they got through going direct to the companies with music that taxi returned. I wonder how often that happens. If it happens alot as I see it does, that means taxi is not really doing thier job. I'm not going to argue about who should have been forwarded/returned, given a free lunch , etc., not do I want to highjack Chuck's/Mazz's congratulatory Forward thread (and Kudos to you, Chuck & Mazz!). But here's my two cents.I think the key here is to read the listing closely - it says "They asked us to be extra selective when screening for this project." That means Taxi has no leeway in screening, that they will forward only the best composed & produced instrumentals for this opportunity. It's mega high bar. Anything that sounds less than 100% authentic live instruments (nothing that sounds midi/virtual instruments) playing extremely well-composed underscore music mixed & mastered to broadcast quality wouldn't get forwarded for this listing. ~H