New composer library deal
Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2011 7:51 am
Hi,
This is a Taxi-related, Taxi-inspired deal as opposed to a direct deal from a forward but nonetheless... it never would have happened without being part of Taxi and the Taxi family. In a nutshell, this is a composing deal with a high-end music library, a deal to write music (CD projects) for that library as their needs arise. It is what we all strive for... upfront pay for each project which means that the library has an investment and needs to recoup that investment... by placing that music into film/television.
I want to point out too that I also strive to have a nice balance of relationships with various music libraries... exclusive, non-exclusive, pay-up-front, non-pay-upfront... they all serve a purpose and fill a segment of the market. This is an "addition to" other things that I do and have done... all have given me tremendous opportunities and experience. I value the opportunities and relationships with all of them equally.
So how did I get this particular one? Well... first I submitted one track of music to Taxi. When the screener returned it, I threw a fit, posted a big rant on the Taxi forum and made a YouTube video trashing everyone and everything in sight. The library/company saw that and contacted me saying "WOW! You must be really talented... otherwise someone would have killed you by now! Attached is a contract."
OK... maybe it didn't happen that way.
Here's how it did happen...
I was introduced though another Taxi member
I contacted them after that introduction and asked for a meeting (a rare luxury for me... a face-to-face meeting)
They liked my crime drama music
The asked me to identify "holes" in their crime drama collection and pitch them some ideas (homework!!!)
I spent a week doing that research... listening, identifying what was "missing", talking with other composers for advice
I pitched several ideas including "edgy/experimental crime drama music"
They asked for a demo of what I meant by "edgy/experimental crime drama music"... I sent three
They liked what I did and asked me to contact them
I contacted them and waited almost two weeks with no reply
I sent a friendly reminder and got confirmation of my acceptance into their library as a composer and details for my first project
First project is a CD of "edgy/experimental crime drama music" (almost total musical freedom from a creative standpoint... for me at least)
Here's one of the tracks that I did for the demo...
http://www.DaveWaltonMusic.com/MyMusic/ ... Demo02.mp3
Anyway... it's another example of the "5-year plan" philosophy and thinking. Slow and steady wins the race (unless you're Jeff Greenleaf in which case you just take off running and never look back! ).
A cool Taxi-related, Taxi-inspired deal to add to other Taxi deals. Taxi simply rocks (if you're patient enough).
Thanks Taxi!
Dave
This is a Taxi-related, Taxi-inspired deal as opposed to a direct deal from a forward but nonetheless... it never would have happened without being part of Taxi and the Taxi family. In a nutshell, this is a composing deal with a high-end music library, a deal to write music (CD projects) for that library as their needs arise. It is what we all strive for... upfront pay for each project which means that the library has an investment and needs to recoup that investment... by placing that music into film/television.
I want to point out too that I also strive to have a nice balance of relationships with various music libraries... exclusive, non-exclusive, pay-up-front, non-pay-upfront... they all serve a purpose and fill a segment of the market. This is an "addition to" other things that I do and have done... all have given me tremendous opportunities and experience. I value the opportunities and relationships with all of them equally.So how did I get this particular one? Well... first I submitted one track of music to Taxi. When the screener returned it, I threw a fit, posted a big rant on the Taxi forum and made a YouTube video trashing everyone and everything in sight. The library/company saw that and contacted me saying "WOW! You must be really talented... otherwise someone would have killed you by now! Attached is a contract."
OK... maybe it didn't happen that way.
Here's how it did happen...
I was introduced though another Taxi member
I contacted them after that introduction and asked for a meeting (a rare luxury for me... a face-to-face meeting)
They liked my crime drama music
The asked me to identify "holes" in their crime drama collection and pitch them some ideas (homework!!!)
I spent a week doing that research... listening, identifying what was "missing", talking with other composers for advice
I pitched several ideas including "edgy/experimental crime drama music"
They asked for a demo of what I meant by "edgy/experimental crime drama music"... I sent three
They liked what I did and asked me to contact them
I contacted them and waited almost two weeks with no reply
I sent a friendly reminder and got confirmation of my acceptance into their library as a composer and details for my first project
First project is a CD of "edgy/experimental crime drama music" (almost total musical freedom from a creative standpoint... for me at least)
Here's one of the tracks that I did for the demo...
http://www.DaveWaltonMusic.com/MyMusic/ ... Demo02.mp3
Anyway... it's another example of the "5-year plan" philosophy and thinking. Slow and steady wins the race (unless you're Jeff Greenleaf in which case you just take off running and never look back!
). A cool Taxi-related, Taxi-inspired deal to add to other Taxi deals. Taxi simply rocks (if you're patient enough).
Thanks Taxi!
Dave
