Action Metal Instrumental Cue - RETURN learnings.
Posted: Mon Feb 05, 2018 7:34 pm
I just had a return for one of those submissions where I was SURE I was going to get a forward. Not because it's awesome music or even great playing, but because I studied the listing, I listened to the reference tracks multiple times, I finessed the arrangement, the parts, the mix.. and probably way too much for an instrumental cue - but I was just so determined to improve my forward/return ratio for 2018 (2017 wasn't great!).
So I was pretty disappointed to get the return and after digesting the critique for a while I kind of understand why I didn't get a forward but it's still frustrating.
The reason I'm posting this here is two-fold,
1) its therapeutic!
2) hopefully someone else can learn the lesson that I keep needing to be re-taught "READ THE LISTING VERY CAREFULLY, EVERY LITTLE DETAIL, IF THEY SAY SOMETHING - THEY MEAN IT, AND IF YOU DON'T GO OUT OF YOUR WAY TO ADDRESS WHAT THEY HAVE SAID, THERE IS A RETURN COMING YOUR WAY!!!"
Here is the listing :
Y180130AM
ACTION METAL INSTRUMENTAL CUES are needed by a Brand New, Non-Exclusive Music Library being started by the CEO of another successful company. This company has asked TAXI to find them hundreds (probably thousands) of Instrumentals, Cues, and Songs over the next few months. It’s very unlikely that you’ve got music in this new catalog, so this is a killer opportunity to get in on the ground floor of a new catalog that will probably get a ton of placements! “Going To Hell” by The Pretty Reckless: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmtbg5b7_Aw “Psychosocial” by Slipknot: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5abamRO41fE “Walk” by Pantera: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkFqg5wAuFk Although the references above have vocals, this pitch is for instrumentals only! Please send them hard-driving, Up-Tempo Action Metal Instrumental Cues that are at least Two-Minutes long with a short (or no) intro, propulsive drums, hooky, repetitive, guitar riffs, and a bass part with the kind of attack that hits you in the chest. Stick with one central musical idea from beginning to end, while creating a sense of forward momentum by adding and subtracting instruments as your Cue progresses. Add dynamics by building it up, tearing it back down, building it back up again, and the going for the big finish! Non-Faded, Button/Stinger endings are strongly recommended. Send them great sounding, well-crafted Cues that are exciting enough that they would work well for Sports TV, Extreme Sports videos and high-energy Chase Scenes in big feature films. Please do NOT copy the referenced artists or their music in any way, shape, or form. Use them only as a general guide for tempo, texture, tone, and overall vibe. Broadcast quality is needed (great sounding home recordings are fine). This Company offers a NON-Exclusive 50/50 deal. You’ll get 50% of any applicable sync fees and 100% of the Writer’s share. The Publisher will get 50% of any sync fees and 100% of the Publisher’s share. You must own or control your Master and Composition to submit to this pitch. You’ll maintain full ownership of the original Copyright and Master Recording. Please send as many Instrumental Cues as you’d like, online or per CD. All submissions will be screened on a Yes/No basis – Short critiques only. Submissions must be received no later than 11:59PM (PST), on Tuesday, January 30th, 2018. TAXI #Y180130AM
Here is my track: https://soundcloud.com/glenn777johnson/instra-metal
And here is the critique: Reasons not forwarded : Music, Stylistically Off Target
"I really like what I heard but I am not hearing the repetitive riffs or you sticking with one musical idea the way this listing needed. The track is a bit too complex and for a song the prog metal changes are great but for a cue that kinda aren't that great. Keep up the very good writing Glenn."
The screener is completely correct! My cue isn't repetitive (I think all cues are a bit repetitive even if they follow an ABA format, I kind of went too far I think because mine is more like an ABC). Did I stick to one central musical idea? I thought I did, but I also wanted to make the cue interesting and give a potential music supervisor or editor some different textures to work with (over thinking probably!).
I guess my frustration is that I have had cues returned because they are too samey, or there isn't enough forward momentum. I have obviously overcompensated in this track by not making it samey enough.
Anyway, I'll keep trying. There are plenty more listings to write for, I just need to pay more attention to the brief!
So I was pretty disappointed to get the return and after digesting the critique for a while I kind of understand why I didn't get a forward but it's still frustrating.
The reason I'm posting this here is two-fold,
1) its therapeutic!
2) hopefully someone else can learn the lesson that I keep needing to be re-taught "READ THE LISTING VERY CAREFULLY, EVERY LITTLE DETAIL, IF THEY SAY SOMETHING - THEY MEAN IT, AND IF YOU DON'T GO OUT OF YOUR WAY TO ADDRESS WHAT THEY HAVE SAID, THERE IS A RETURN COMING YOUR WAY!!!"
Here is the listing :
Y180130AM
ACTION METAL INSTRUMENTAL CUES are needed by a Brand New, Non-Exclusive Music Library being started by the CEO of another successful company. This company has asked TAXI to find them hundreds (probably thousands) of Instrumentals, Cues, and Songs over the next few months. It’s very unlikely that you’ve got music in this new catalog, so this is a killer opportunity to get in on the ground floor of a new catalog that will probably get a ton of placements! “Going To Hell” by The Pretty Reckless: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmtbg5b7_Aw “Psychosocial” by Slipknot: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5abamRO41fE “Walk” by Pantera: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkFqg5wAuFk Although the references above have vocals, this pitch is for instrumentals only! Please send them hard-driving, Up-Tempo Action Metal Instrumental Cues that are at least Two-Minutes long with a short (or no) intro, propulsive drums, hooky, repetitive, guitar riffs, and a bass part with the kind of attack that hits you in the chest. Stick with one central musical idea from beginning to end, while creating a sense of forward momentum by adding and subtracting instruments as your Cue progresses. Add dynamics by building it up, tearing it back down, building it back up again, and the going for the big finish! Non-Faded, Button/Stinger endings are strongly recommended. Send them great sounding, well-crafted Cues that are exciting enough that they would work well for Sports TV, Extreme Sports videos and high-energy Chase Scenes in big feature films. Please do NOT copy the referenced artists or their music in any way, shape, or form. Use them only as a general guide for tempo, texture, tone, and overall vibe. Broadcast quality is needed (great sounding home recordings are fine). This Company offers a NON-Exclusive 50/50 deal. You’ll get 50% of any applicable sync fees and 100% of the Writer’s share. The Publisher will get 50% of any sync fees and 100% of the Publisher’s share. You must own or control your Master and Composition to submit to this pitch. You’ll maintain full ownership of the original Copyright and Master Recording. Please send as many Instrumental Cues as you’d like, online or per CD. All submissions will be screened on a Yes/No basis – Short critiques only. Submissions must be received no later than 11:59PM (PST), on Tuesday, January 30th, 2018. TAXI #Y180130AM
Here is my track: https://soundcloud.com/glenn777johnson/instra-metal
And here is the critique: Reasons not forwarded : Music, Stylistically Off Target
"I really like what I heard but I am not hearing the repetitive riffs or you sticking with one musical idea the way this listing needed. The track is a bit too complex and for a song the prog metal changes are great but for a cue that kinda aren't that great. Keep up the very good writing Glenn."
The screener is completely correct! My cue isn't repetitive (I think all cues are a bit repetitive even if they follow an ABA format, I kind of went too far I think because mine is more like an ABC). Did I stick to one central musical idea? I thought I did, but I also wanted to make the cue interesting and give a potential music supervisor or editor some different textures to work with (over thinking probably!).
I guess my frustration is that I have had cues returned because they are too samey, or there isn't enough forward momentum. I have obviously overcompensated in this track by not making it samey enough.
Anyway, I'll keep trying. There are plenty more listings to write for, I just need to pay more attention to the brief!
