how would I know?

[jonnybutter]

I've had more disappointing returns than this, but I am baffled at how I could have known from reading this listing that my song 'Wet Nose', on my taxi page, would not work for this listing. I mean, I trust the screener when they say that it won't work; I just don't know how I could have known. Screener's comments were: "There's not enough interplay between the strings and the piano. Too sparse to be effective for this project."

This is too much of a crap shoot for me.

SOLO PIANO INSTRUMENTAL CUES with String Accompaniment are needed by a Production Music Library with lots of great Film and TV placements and distribution through a larger publisher. They're looking for solid Instrumental Cues that are well-performed from start to finish. Your submissions can run the gamut of emotions, but you'd be wise to stick to one emotion per submission. Also, please be sure to avoid compositions and musicianship that's overly complicated, so it wouldn't distract from the dialog in the scenes it's placed in. Keep your submissions subtle, subdued, and refined. It's important that your submissions sound like real, talented, believable musicians. Any material that sounds stiff, synthetic, or MIDI-driven won't work for this pitch. Your submissions should be at least 1 minute in length. Non-faded, natural endings will work best. Broadcast Quality is needed (great sounding home recordings are fine). This company offers an EXCLUSIVE 50/50 deal, so please be sure the Cues you submit for this pitch are NOT already signed with any other Libraries or Catalogs. You'll get 100% of the Writer's share, and the Publisher will get 100% of the Publisher's share. You must own or control your Master and Copyright. Please submit one to three Cues online or per CD. All submissions will be screened on a Yes/No basis - No full critiques. Submissions must be received no later than 11:59PM (PDT), on Wednesday, September 16, 2015. TAXI #Y150916SP

[Casey H]

I don't understand what the screener was saying either because the listing said "SOLO PIANO INSTRUMENTAL CUES with String Accompaniment" which implies prominent piano melody with string lines in the background.

There may be other issues about the mix that warrant a return-- not my field of expertise at all, but that screener comment to itself confuses me. I'm assuming that was the only feedback, given it was a Y/N listing.

EDIT: There are examples of forwards posted so you can compare.

Hang in there.

Best,
Casey

[Paulie]

My piece was not authentic sounding enough, i agree with that. One of my comments said that my piece was too pensive. The listing said "you'd be wise to stick to one emotion per submission"... it didn't say avoid being pensive.

Hang in there, every listing and return is a learning opportunity. The bar is high at Taxi, especially with regard to strings. The listing was quite clear about that.

Yours is a beautiful piece nonetheless. I could stand to hear more strings. The second statement of the melody has a single sustained note, then the B section has more of a string pad unison with the piano instead of an actual accompaniment. I think if you provided some more movement in the strings to generate some gentle counterpoint you might have had a forward. Definitely a keeper piece for future listings.

My mantra: "Write, Submit, Remix, Repeat."

[Paulie]

One more thing... I always try to find forwards in the same category of any returns I receive. Here's a beautiful piece from Loren that was forwarded for this listing.

https://soundcloud.com/ldigiorgi/the-letter-cue-draft-1

[jonnybutter]

thanks you guys. Yes, that was the only comment. I had two returns on this, but thought one complaint was enough, and that this song was slightly stronger.

Of course I will listen to the songs that were forwarded. As I say, I'm sure the screener is right, that my track was not right for the listing, but I don't see how we could know beforehand what works and what doesn't. I assume it will be clear when I listen to Loren's and the others.

[jonnybutter]

OK, now I have listened to a few forwards, and I can see that what they were looking for was more on the new age side of things, and/or more ostinato-type stuff, rather than a linear type thing (which my song cited here was). Would have been nice to know that, or to hear an 'a la'.

The most important clue in the listing, I see now, was the one about music not getting in the way of dialog. That implies inconspicuousness, ostinato, etc. FINE

[daveydad]

Hmm, tough one. I'm guessing they wanted a little more strings throughout? I had two forwards and one return. I thought the return was just as good as the forwards. Music is soooooo subjective!

[jonnybutter]

Hey David

I think the problem with mine was that it was a little rubato. It had a pulse, but that pulse paused, breathed, etc. , And mine was more beginning-middle-end oriented, so that makes it sound a little more foreground - not really what the doctor ordered I guess. Also yours was strings and piano the whole time.

Anyway, good for you brother.

[daveydad]

Yeah, the description "solo" piano with strings had me a little confused.... so I went with my gut feeling.

[Paulie]

Same here. SO many times the listing interpretation makes or breaks our submittals.