TAXI.com

My Profile:
http://www.taxi.com/kevinlint

The Listing:
AMERICANA/ROOTS ROCK/ALT-COUNTRY ARTISTS/BANDS a la Dave Alvin, The Del-Lords, The Bottle Rockets, Ryan Adams, etc. are wanted by an Independent label with a well-established artist roster. Songs must be stellar - as they say on their web site, "all killer - no filler!". They are looking for heart and soul - the real deal only. You must have a great work ethic and your songwriting, vocal and instrumental demo presentation must be top-notch! Please submit two to three songs online or per CD, include lyrics, photo and bio. All submissions will be screened and critiqued by TAXI and must be received no later than Wednesday, December 2, 2009. TAXI #S091202AM

My Submissions:
Set In Stone
Braided Lies
People Like Me

The Review:


Message for Screener #256:
First off, thank you for the kind words. I'm writing here to share a few thoughts I have on this return specifically. In my opinion, I submitted three songs that are on target, highly quality and clearly demonstrate my skills as an artist. The three songs I submitted come off my self released album/demo Story Problems.

The album cost me $15,000 produce and was done so through well experienced studio musicians, engineers & producer. The album however, only contains 9 of my 8 billion songs. Your feedback (songs need more work) seems to assume I can just go around spending more money to rewrite/reproduce these songs. Problem is, reproducing is not an option for me. I'm broke. I'm broke because I've spent all my money on this "career". I feel like I just need somebody to give me a chance...a REAL chance....

Fact is, those songs are 3 and 4 years old now...and I've got a million songs waiting to be produced and probably provide answers to your feedback. If a label was really interested in me, wouldn't I have a chance to really show what I can do? Just because my producer cut a song short or these songs lack a definite bridge, etc.. doesn't seem like GOOD criteria for rejection as a legitimate candidate for presentation. If my songs clearly demonstrate my abilities, isn't this worth presenting?...and had I recorded these songs on my crappy 4 track but had all the elements you say these songs lack, the presentation quality probably wouldn't be good enough. Or not? Fact is, I worked my ass off for 2 years to raise the money to produce a high quality album...and the lack of a bridge or some other element to a song isn't really a representation of my "lack of skills" or abilities...but more of the decisions of those I worked with. So I'm really feel trapped here...

All I want is for somebody to hear my music and be willing to meet with me and see what I have to offer. I feel like if a label representative met with me, they would see how serious I am, my breadth of skills and more importantly really SEE/HEAR the material I have that I feel dwarfs anything that I could ever have the resources to present them in the way TAXI screens them! See what I mean? I feel like I've done my home work, demonstrated my skills and that I'm somebody worth giving a shot to. I don't want to wait this entire year, have my Taxi subscription renewal to be up again, go spend years getting my ducks in a row (I already did this!) only to come back and get this same feedback. I'll be a hundred years old by the time 1 label rep ACTUALLY listens to my tunes. I'm a failthful, skilled taxi member and I feel like I'm submitting work that is presentable and thus should be presented....but I don't know...maybe I've gone crazy...

Anyhow, if you read this...thanks for taking the time...

-K

Hi Kevin, its unfortunate about not being forwarded! Your songs are quite good; well produced, polished with some great vocals! I would suggest, humbly, you not allow this one return to through you off from your passion! Its a tough thing not to get discouraged, yet keep doing the thing you love! For what its worth, I believe it will come together when its time, for it to come together! That's the process!


Good Luck to You!

Cheers,
Vincent!

Thanks onelight24...

My main frustration is that I had a Taxi membership 4-3 years ago and I never got forwarded...not once. I didn't get very good quality ratings but got great song ratings. Based off of that feedback, I made a major financial investment which took me 2 years to save up (and another year to pay off) to start a project with well respected professionals who have big label names to their credits. I also spent time playing live, writing with others, working with various producers, etc...even working on other's projects...and I returned here to Taxi 3 years later much wiser and well equipped and armed with material I know is strong enough to be forwarded (I've already got one forward)...fact is...this listing really get's under my skin because I'm paying money over and over and over again and no publishers or label reps are ACTUALLY hearing my music (just TAXI screeners)! ...although I understand the whole engine...I still find this really frustrating.

I feel like if my music is presentable (which is my argument), then it should be presented, especially when the material is all on target, the songs are strong and well produced. This review states that TAXI doesn't want to make a "bad first impression" with presenting my material to a label...which I can understand...but I don't have the finances to revisit the material. Why not call me and ask me if I want to take that chance? I'm paying taxi money to review my music and hopefully forward it to REAL people who I can have a REAL conversation with. I feel like my tunes are every bit as good as the next guy and it's unfair for somebody like myself to be so committed, having taken such great lengths and care to not even get a fighting chance. I think to myself, what am I paying all this money for then??? You know what I'm saying????

Kevin, I'm a huge fan of all of the artists mentioned as "alas" for this listing & now Im a fan of yours also. Your songs are terrific & at least 50% of the songs on the latest releases from the ala artists aren't as good as these songs of yours that I just listened to. Don't pay any attention to this return and whatever you do, don't allow it to discourage you . . . it's based on the opinion of one person who should have forwarded you, you clearly deserved the shot there will be others so don't sweat it (I know that's easier said than done!)
maybe this will make you feel better
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoTUXBbaFjE

billg1,

Wow, that was an amazing compliment!!! You're encouragement and link cheered me up!

kvnlnt

Man, do I hear what you are saying here! Work your butt off to get your songwriting chops up, get the recordings done in a pro environment, only to have the songs stopped by the Taxi gauntlet and never actually heard by the people that are in need of the music. I've been a member of Taxi for 5 years ( 98, 99 and 07,08, 09). I have had quite a few forwards but no contacts from anyone! I know my music is commercially viable yet I get absolutely no where with Taxi. IMHO, save your Taxi money and spend it making contacts directly with publishers, labels, and music supervisors. You'll still get shot down a lot but at least you get heard by the people looking for the music! That's the important thing to me. Getting heard by the people looking, not someone who decides if your music is good enough to even be heard by them!

I recently renewed but after my last few critiques, being for contradicting and off the mark, I decided I am going to ask for a refund and put the money to better use, to work on building relationships and contact with THE actually music companies. The funny thing is, stuff that has gotten turned down by taxi has been picked up by the same company listing the need for music on another web site. One of them was MTV. They licensed 11 songs from me that Taxi turned down. You know why? Because the party looking for the music heard it. Not some one in the middle. That's my take on this service! Best of luck to ya!

www.reverbnation.com/troycastellano

Troy,

I just checked out your material on reverbnation...great stuff man. Seriously, great songs, etc...and reading your accolades....looks like you have the magic touch. You're right, face to face or personal contacts are the only way to go. How did you go about making those contacts BTW? Are you getting names/addresses out of Musicians Atlas, etc??? I'm wondering if I just didn't push that avenue far enough. I feel like I've tried everything. A while back I spent 2 months straight just calling radio promoters, publishers, labels, etc..I even did my own radio campaign sending out 400 albums to radio stations and even did a press release through a guy who sent my material on to 30 some odd publications. I even enlisted the help of 3 family members...it was like I had a damn marketing firm for 8 weeks. All was almost completely f' pointless. Literally. But I did get on TV, had a few radio interviews, even got to be a feature artist on American Airlines during the holiday season last year for a said audience of 3.5 million peeps...but nothing ever pays off...I've never had a legitimate discussion with a single label or publisher EVER. I just keep been pushing the envelope as much as time and money will allow...Nobody can say that I'm lying around waiting for a hand out. For one thing, I take on side work to make the money to spend on my music career! It's like I have 3 f'n jobs! My day job and a side job to pay for my music job! Seems like my money is going down the toilet. At one point I figured I was doing everything wrong with my promotions and even payed $1400 to an publicist (Big Noise Entertainment)...but that proved to be worthless...they were nice enough to take my calls and shoot the stuff...but they never contacted me once nor gave me a single legitimate "update" of what my money was doing. I'm really pissed about how that turned out. I've also had memberships to several other TAXI'ish sites (such as Hitt Music Group, don't get me started here)...all have been complete crap. I renewed my membership here at TAXI because they seem to be legit and I've followed their materials, newsletters and forums for the past 5 years...so I'm trying to exercise a little faith...whatever reamins...however, at this point...I'm just getting downright f'n annoyed. Doesn't matter who I contact, it seems like I can never get passed the front door. Interesting enough, I do have a handful of personal contacts who are seriously legit (platinum artists even!!!) but I don't feel comfortable saying, hey, can I ruin our relationship by forcing you to make a contact for me...and I don't want to be some name dropping putz on here just to get some attention...I feel like, here's my tunes, be objective...but I don't feel like objectivity is really taking place here. f' me!!!!...Ok I feel better...

Hey Troy, whoops, guess I wasn't signed in...the "Guest" above was me....-Kevin

I also wonder about the reasons for returns....


You might consider investing in a decent home studio setup... that can lower the cost of doing demo's.

Hi Kevin,
I listened to your 3 songs and read the returned message from the screener.
I really understand your despair!!!
But take the message in: "You are close"
That could mean that you are there depending on who is listening.
You are writing brilliant lyrics and you have a wonderful rusty voice.
Keep on doing this with your heart and keep believing in you.

Ken