Open Letter to Michael - Thank You!
Posted: Mon May 29, 2017 5:41 pm
Michael,
After recently receiving my renewal notice, I thought it’d be a good time to let you know where I’m at and how I’ve progressed since joining TAXI in 2011. It’s hard to believe I’ve been working on this for 6 years! Although if I’m honest, the first couple years I barely made an effort. I was still learning how to be a single father, and made a major career change in 2010. I wanted to be more involved doing music professionally, but I didn’t have the capacity.
In 2014, after moving across the country, making another career change and having a relationship go sideways, I finally settled into a solid music work routine and I got smarter about my approach to this business. In 2014 I had zero placements. In 2015 I had my fist placement and ended the year earning $77 in royalties. When 2016 had finished, I had over 20 placements and total earnings of $1386. As of May 2017, I’ve earned around $2400. I’m still a ways off from doing this full-time, but it finally feels like that goal is within reach.
When I joined TAXI, I signed up for 2 years. I decided I was in this for the long haul. Every 2 years I don’t even question whether I’m renewing. I just do it. Like many other members, I wish I had started sooner.
I think the opportunities TAXI offers to connect with new music libraries, publishers and direct placements in TV and film is super valuable in my quest to expand my pipeline and find the best fit I can for me and my music. Before I joined TAXI, I think I was dubious as to how well those would play out. Most of my connections with libraries, and the vast majority of my placements can be traced directly to those opportunities. As valuable as those are, to me they aren’t even the best thing about TAXI. Prior to becoming a member, I figured the opportunities were what made TAXI valuable. I learned pretty quickly that there is way more to it.
The TAXI community is second to none and has been an incredible resource in learning the business, getting input on projects and staying encouraged. I never would have guessed that before joining. I’ve made a ton of really good friends through the forums, the Facebook groups and attending the Road Rally.
The Road Rally has been covered by many members, but I’ll add my two cents by saying the Road Rally weekend has become my favorite weekend of the year. I love the opportunity to learn more and to connect with like-minded people. That weekend is worth it’s weight in gold and in inspiration.
One area I don’t think gets talked about enough regarding TAXI’s value is in education. I have learned a lot about this business and I don’t think it would have happened, or at least not as quickly and efficiently, as it did without TAXI. Granted, much of what I’ve learned through TAXI was through unpaid services like the forums and TAXI TV. But I think there’s something about being bought in to the whole thing that has helped me connect, learn and stay motivated.
I’ll leave you with a success story, which includes a couple of TAXI alumni. Last year, I cowrote a blues rock vocal song with Dean Taylor and Marc Blackwell, called Desire. The song was signed to a popular music library who ended up getting the instrumental version used in Sacred Steel Bikes on Discovery and most recently, the vocal version was used in a promo for Sun Records on CMT! We are all super excited about it and we would have ever connected had it not been for TAXI.
Looking forward to November!! And in the meantime, writing and submitting as much music as I can! Thanks for all you do!!
Ron
After recently receiving my renewal notice, I thought it’d be a good time to let you know where I’m at and how I’ve progressed since joining TAXI in 2011. It’s hard to believe I’ve been working on this for 6 years! Although if I’m honest, the first couple years I barely made an effort. I was still learning how to be a single father, and made a major career change in 2010. I wanted to be more involved doing music professionally, but I didn’t have the capacity.
In 2014, after moving across the country, making another career change and having a relationship go sideways, I finally settled into a solid music work routine and I got smarter about my approach to this business. In 2014 I had zero placements. In 2015 I had my fist placement and ended the year earning $77 in royalties. When 2016 had finished, I had over 20 placements and total earnings of $1386. As of May 2017, I’ve earned around $2400. I’m still a ways off from doing this full-time, but it finally feels like that goal is within reach.
When I joined TAXI, I signed up for 2 years. I decided I was in this for the long haul. Every 2 years I don’t even question whether I’m renewing. I just do it. Like many other members, I wish I had started sooner.
I think the opportunities TAXI offers to connect with new music libraries, publishers and direct placements in TV and film is super valuable in my quest to expand my pipeline and find the best fit I can for me and my music. Before I joined TAXI, I think I was dubious as to how well those would play out. Most of my connections with libraries, and the vast majority of my placements can be traced directly to those opportunities. As valuable as those are, to me they aren’t even the best thing about TAXI. Prior to becoming a member, I figured the opportunities were what made TAXI valuable. I learned pretty quickly that there is way more to it.
The TAXI community is second to none and has been an incredible resource in learning the business, getting input on projects and staying encouraged. I never would have guessed that before joining. I’ve made a ton of really good friends through the forums, the Facebook groups and attending the Road Rally.
The Road Rally has been covered by many members, but I’ll add my two cents by saying the Road Rally weekend has become my favorite weekend of the year. I love the opportunity to learn more and to connect with like-minded people. That weekend is worth it’s weight in gold and in inspiration.
One area I don’t think gets talked about enough regarding TAXI’s value is in education. I have learned a lot about this business and I don’t think it would have happened, or at least not as quickly and efficiently, as it did without TAXI. Granted, much of what I’ve learned through TAXI was through unpaid services like the forums and TAXI TV. But I think there’s something about being bought in to the whole thing that has helped me connect, learn and stay motivated.
I’ll leave you with a success story, which includes a couple of TAXI alumni. Last year, I cowrote a blues rock vocal song with Dean Taylor and Marc Blackwell, called Desire. The song was signed to a popular music library who ended up getting the instrumental version used in Sacred Steel Bikes on Discovery and most recently, the vocal version was used in a promo for Sun Records on CMT! We are all super excited about it and we would have ever connected had it not been for TAXI.
Looking forward to November!! And in the meantime, writing and submitting as much music as I can! Thanks for all you do!!
Ron