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Hey Taxi Peeps,

I'm a failure at posting regularly in the forums, but I wanted to share a story that I believe I could NEVER have shared five years ago heading into my first real Rally.

Yesterday morning a client sent me an email asking if I could compose and upload a cue for him no later than Thursday night. (btw- This NEVER would have happened five years ago because I had close to ZERO industry contacts).


Now comes the Taxi training, insight, and education.

I went through several steps in my mind:

1. Do I have the time to devote to this project and finish it in time?
2. Do I even understand WHAT the client is asking me for?
3. Do I have the particular skill set this client needs to achieve what he wants?

First, I wouldn't even BE in this situation unless I had been a Taxi member for months/years.
Second, the answers to all of the questions was a resounding YES because I'd been a member of Taxi and understand what he was asking for.

I'm glad to say that I finished, uploaded the cue, and responded and created stems for my client all within a day.

I've also learned a lot about being a professional from Taxi. How and WHAT to ask a client. What to do and what NOT to do. And most importantly, I had the confidence to say "yes" and then complete what I said I would, earlier than expected, and meeting or exceeding expectations.

Thanks Taxi! This community has done many amazing far-reaching things for me and my career.

I still feel like a newbie many times, but I also feel quite confident in telling people that I'm a PROFESSIONAL and I write music of FILM and TELEVISION. And I really believe it.

Thanks, Taxi!

p.s. This was also one of those paying gigs, that even if the music DOESN'T get used, I'll still get paid.

That's awesome!!

This is great to hear for an actual newbie like myself! (I say actual because I've been hearing your name and praise since I started TAXI)

Thanks for sharing your story, it's always nice to be reminded what is in store for those who stick it out - I'll be heading to my first Rally this year!

Hi Steven

I'm glad you shared your story. I've only been a Taxi member for about 10 months, but being a member has opened my mind to a whole I never knew existed. I've only had a couple of forwards so far, but it's good to know with some persistence you can get work in this industry. I look forward to opportunities in the future, Thanks again for sharing.

Great report, Steven.

Mark,

Awesome! The Rally is about the BEST thing ever.
And it took me going to 3 or 4 to really start feeling super comfortable and getting to KNOW people.

I know have a group of lifelong friends and collaborators!
If I were to point to the MOST valuable thing Taxi offers, it would probably be those relationships that are formed.

Thought I don't spend much time in the forums these days, the forums are also where I met my first and longest collaborator, Pedro Costa.

Now I collaborate with a ton of really great people. And it was very organic and slow process. Much like life.
We get out what we put in.
It definitely requires time and effort.

I'm a husband, father of three, full-time teacher, AND musician.
I make time each week to write at least ONE new song. During the summers when I'm off, I write more (like the original post - - I'm not as able to do that during the school year).

@Cowsemail - Keep doing the work! I had VERY few forwards in my first years. I used the info I got (and custom critiques) to really evaluate what I was doing right or wrong. Plus, even songs that were rejected found homes later in life.

Hey Steven
Thanks for the words of encouragement. I did attend the Road Rally last year and was debating if I would go back this year. I'll keep grinding.

It definitely sounds like you've got a lot on your plate!

I've heard nothing but great things about the Rally, so I am definitely very excited. It's not hard to believe about the relationships either; the TAXI community is so generous and positive and filled with wonderful people.

Thanks again for sharing!