TAXI.com

I rarely vent in forums like this. So please forgive the momentary lapse. Just need to get it off my chest. (And I'll probably regret it immediately afterward!)

I submitted "Haunted Dreams" for the recent "scary" listing. It was returned, with the Music box checked. I have to say I'm perplexed and frustrated at this point. I listened to the pieces that got forwarded, and attempting to be as objective and humble as possible under the circumstances, I think my piece is every bit as good as those. So I wonder, what was the problem with the music? I just don't get it.

Up until recently, a high percentage of my submissions were forwarded. But with 10 returns in a row, it seems that something has gone wrong. I just don't know what it is.

Anyway, here's the piece I submitted:

Haunted Dreams
www.richardemmet.com/Haunted_Dreams.mp3

Hi Richard,

You posted this in P2P recently, right? I thought it was great then, I still do. I don't think there's anything really setting this apart from some of the forwards. I was quite bemused that some other pieces I did like this were returned also, but that a not-very-scary industrial track of mine got forwarded.

Hi Richard,

That is really a bummer getting ten returns in a row, but I've listened to your music and I don't believe your losing your touch. Your tracks are always beautifully produced and of very highest musical quality. I admire the clarity and fidelity you achieve in your productions.

I don't know how exactly the screening process works at Taxi, for example, if they have a certain limit to the number of tracks that can be forwarded, and I don't belong to Dispatch so I don't know the specifics for this particular listing, but I do think much of the screening process is highly subjective and it could just be that the screener thought your track was very good, but preferred other ones musically. In your case it might be worth spending the $20 to get individual feedback from a screener. If you can get the same screener, that would be even better.

I think we can all share in your frustration. I haven't gotten ten returns in a row, but I certainly know the feeling of listening to forwarded material when I've gotten a return and trying to figure out what the screener liked in those tracks over mine.

Hope your luck changes in the very near future and that you can get some satisfactory answers.

Vince

Hey Richard, I didn't get a chance to hear your piece until now, and wow!, what a cool and scary track. The only thing that comes to mind is that maybe it's not "musical" enough. It's more "sound design" than musical. I had two pieces forwarded on this and the distinction - at least in my mind - appears to be that they were more "typical" scoring (chord progressions and melodies). That's the only thing I can think of that may have resulted in a return.

Don't get discouraged, it was a great piece. Until recently, I went a year and half without a forward. S*** happens.

Thanks Rob, Vince, and Steve. We all know that rejection hurts for awhile, then we move on. This is the field we've chosen.

I know there's been a lot of discussion about the checkbox approach to critiques, and I have mentioned in the past that adding a line for a 1-sentence/phrase statement by the reviewer would go a long way toward removing the mystery of returns. E.g, "too many sfx elements" or "too slow and lacks intensity" or "audio quality not up to par". Just a couple of descriptive words would help us understand where we went wrong.

In any case, I sent "Haunted Dreams" to one of the libraries I belong to (Taxi generated) that specializes in trailer music. I asked if they'd like to have it and the immediate response was "Definitely." So life goes on.

Richard

That takes care of that!

Cheers,

Vince

Hey Richard, congrats on getting the piece picked up and making the best of the situation! I just listened and it sounded great to my ears. Also sparked the thought in my brain. After listening to your cue, I realized my tracks were similar in style and thought I need to submit them to libraries that specialize in trailers. Don't know if I would have thought of that had you not posted this thread. Now, I just need to find some libraries that specialize in trailer music!!! Heck, might pitch my war drum tracks too!

-Big Blue

How do you listen to/access the songs that HAVE been Forwarded? I need to do something different, joined Taxi about 5-6 months ago, so far 0 for 33. Maybe I'd see how close or far away my stuff is from the stuff that actually gets through the gatekeeper. Therefore, I could see how close or far I am, and even if there is a chance I could ever bridge the gap or give up before more $$ is lost.

bluzmannn wrote:How do you listen to/access the songs that HAVE been Forwarded? I need to do something different, joined Taxi about 5-6 months ago, so far 0 for 33. Maybe I'd see how close or far away my stuff is from the stuff that actually gets through the gatekeeper. Therefore, I could see how close or far I am, and even if there is a chance I could ever bridge the gap or give up before more $$ is lost.

Bluzmannn - The first thread listed on the Forum is called "Forwards." You'll find postings there by people who've had their pieces forwarded, usually with links to the pieces.

The other thing you can - and should - do is to post your music in the "Peer to Peer" thread, along with the listing text so people know the context of your piece. You're likely to get some intelligent and honest feedback and suggestions. It's an invaluable resource.

Good luck!

Richard

Richard, I agree somewhat with Steve. As I was listening I thought maybe it would work better as stems, because of the timing of some of the sfx and it would be easier to edit the timing to go with the scenes better. As it is in the whole, it seemed like a specific piece written for a specific scene.
I've not heard any audio problems or or composition problems with your work.