Who do we believe?

[flyingtadpole]

You got writer's block at the moment too Steve? Me, I'm after revenge on the world right now so what trips me up in my desire to punish everyone? THIS piece of truth: Oct 22, 2008, 11:36pm, sgs4u wrote:...We Noobies are writing songs to get cut by other people. So those songs need to be as good or better than all the professional writers... that are already signed to publishing contracts, THAT ARE ALREADY PITCHING SONGS to the same opportunities you're pitching to. Do you have any idea how stiff the competition is for the 10 to 20 songs a year (from writers not in the aritist's circle) that will get cut and released to pop radio? With country radio, there might be only 5 outside writers that get tunes on the radio in a given year. If you don't know what the available number of opportunities to get a cut, on a HIT CD on the radio, actually are, ask yourselves why not. It looks like that's the ballgame you guys signed up for. If you research only those opportunities, within those exact parameters, then you will see even more clearly your high bar. And you'll stop kidding yourselves that any of your songs are that good yet. The sooner you get to work, the better your odds. Sigh. It would be sooo much easier to live in denial. Sigh. Thank you for the [R] reality check. Back to the old self-improvement...

[Casey H]

Hi WilliamI agree that those of us who have been on the forum a long time sometimes lose patience when new folks come on with questions or concerns that we’ve talked about before. Guilty as charged…. But it’s also largely affected by how those new folks present themselves with those questions or concerns. The majority of the time if someone comes on here without mud-slinging, cursing, guns-a-blazing, etc. they get very respectful responses from everyone. (Not saying you did that)… If you go back to when many of us first met on your “Screeners paid NOT to forward music?” thread, you’ll see how it started with respectful replies addressing your statement that screeners were paid to not forward music. It got a little less pleasant when a number of us felt like we weren’t getting across (or you weren’t accepting) how it worked (whether one likes that or not). It was obvious that you learned a lot from the replies here on how to better target your music to listings. You were getting a lot of help here. So when the discussion seemed to turn back to how taxi should change, it was easy to lose patience. Not ragging on you, just explaining… Sometimes it frustrates me because if I defend or explain taxi, I’m a “mole” or non-open to discussing any taxi weaknesses, etc. All I can say is I try to stick up for them when the complaint or comment doesn’t (IMO!) mesh with logic or how things work within the industry. If someone says they should forward songs that don’t come close to what the industry wants, I’ll disagree strongly... If someone presents an excellent country song that got 8’s’, 9’s and/or 10’s but wasn’t forwarded even though it was on target, I’m less inclined to agree with taxi because (1) I’m not sure and (2) it’s not my genre. Some of those decisions do bother me but again I lack expertise there. I also advise folks to pitch those songs outside of taxi as well to see how the songs are received. If someone posts a song where the reviewer told them it sounded distorted and I don’t hear that I tell them to contact taxi because it really could be an error. Many times I’ve posted that folks should contact robin at taxi because something doesn’t seem right about their review and return.I don’t get into analyzing their mode of operation very much because they have a model that is working both for them and many artists. As you’ll always hear, it’s not for everyone. No one should keep banging their head against a wall if, for whatever reason whether it’s taxi’s model or their ability to change their music or both. A lot of people here don’t know this. I hadn’t been a taxi member the past few years though I’ve been on this board supporting them because I believe in what they do. I wasn’t a member because I didn’t have the right material to submit and wasn’t writing enough new songs. I could have stayed on and kept submitting songs that don’t sound like the a la’s, getting returns, and getting frustrated with them. But I recognized that the issue was me and not taxi. I am happy to say that I recently rejoined… I did that because I am writing more material again, think the road rally alone is worth it, and see increased music library demand for 60’s style songs-- I have a bunch of those so being an old fart has advantages.I ramble… and it’s feeding time at the zoo here… lunch…Cheers Casey

[hummingbird]

Excellent post, Steve. Among other things, you said what I was trying to say about focus, only tons better.[We don't disagree that much -- just enough to keep it interesting ]

[squids]

I agree. I don't believe there's a tougher genre to write for than country music. It's a very tight lil racket there, only so much you're allowed to say but you've still gotta come up with good imagery (that isn't cliche), a good storyline (same), etc. Very tough.That's why I don't do it. Essentially while I like some of the music in that field, it doesn't speak ta me like it does to others. Best to let them get to it rather than spendin' energy I could use in a genre I'm betta at. Writin' commerical country lyrics is a gift. Same as writin' for the ala's. I say, let 'em carry on and I'll be happy to watch quietly from the sidelines, lazybones that I am.

[jchitty]

Oct 23, 2008, 10:15am, squids wrote:I agree. I don't believe there's a tougher genre to write for than country music. It's a very tight lil racket there, only so much you're allowed to say but you've still gotta come up with good imagery (that isn't cliche), a good storyline (same), etc. Very tough.That's why I don't do it. Essentially while I like some of the music in that field, it doesn't speak ta me like it does to others. Best to let them get to it rather than spendin' energy I could use in a genre I'm betta at. Writin' commerical country lyrics is a gift. Same as writin' for the ala's. I say, let 'em carry on and I'll be happy to watch quietly from the sidelines, lazybones that I am. Yep, Jimi's right. Good post, Squiddy...one thing about country, you gotta LOVE it to write it. You have to live and breath it. I know that sounds self righteous, and I don't mean it to sound that way, but I am literally obsessed with every new trend, keeping current, etc. And it's hard for me because I'm older, and I tend to wanna write more traditional country, and modern country is just all the rage right now. You just have to love what you do 'coz it's very lonely sometimes writing country music. Some people don't respect the genre or care for it. And that's okay, each to his own. I love the fact that quite a few new members are country songwriters now, because honestly, before that, I felt like country songwriters weren't that well represented on the forum. I have tremendous respect for Claire as far as country songwriting goes...here is a woman who's been writing for thirteen years (I think) and hangs in there...and she's getting great results now. This is because her songs are great, and she's worked hard on her craft. That's fortitude...I've only been doing this for only three years...hope I can hang in there that long. And yeah, Matt H., Old Crow Medicine Show rocks...they came to Birmingham about two years ago, and they brought the house down.

[jchitty]

Oct 23, 2008, 1:24pm, claire wrote:I have tremendous respect for Claire as far as country songwriting goes...here is a woman who's been writing for thirteen years (I think) and hangs in there...and she's getting great results now. This is because her songs are great, and she's worked hard on her craft. That's fortitude...I've only been doing this for only three years...hope I can hang in there that long. Awwww shucks, m'am...blush. I figure I'm still doing this after all these years (which isn't really all that many, when you hear guys talk about writing for 25 years, etc.) because I have a very tenuous grasp on reality and don't know when to quit. Other than eating cat food, I've followed the lead of my friend, Jason Blume, and have hung in there and studied and learned and busted my butt to get better, and there are days when it feels like that still hasn't happened - and there are days when I listen to the finished song and am amazed.Trust me, it's not lonely writing country music in this town!(thanks, Chits, that was very nice of you)ClaireWell, I meant it. I'm glad you're here 'coz you dispense good information for those not living in Nashville (and inspiring, tenacious stories) which help us here. I have one of Jason Blume's books (need to get more)....his Six Steps to Songwriting Success is one of the best.

[cameron]

Oct 22, 2008, 11:36pm, sgs4u wrote:So whichever member is believing Taxi's standards are too high, or that screeners are missing really good stuff, is avoiding what they need to learn. Some people need to learn that the hard way, by pointing their fingers at distractions that pull their focus away from the job they're actually trying to do. And if Taxi's standards are so high that it seems impossible to clear the high bar opportunities, any member is free to go off and figure how to sell a million copies of that song themselves, or find an artist to do it for them. Damn, it's scary to see what I started with a little whining!! I'll be the first to admit I was feeling sorry for myself that day and probably should have kept my mouth shut. Anyway, I finally got my first forward so I'm over it. Today I'm feeling that sometimes the inconsistencies work against you and sometimes they work for you. I got nines almost across the board this time on the same demo that got 6-8 last week. Personally, I understand why Taxi's standards are so high. I said that in my original post. I was complaining about the inconsistency in critiques when you're trying to use them to improve your songwriting. I do think we should all got out and find opportunities outside of Taxi. Taxi is just one tool and their connections in the industry may not be the same as someone else. The best product ever invented will get nowhere if nobody knows about it, and the same is true of songs,so get out and beat the bushes whenever and wherever you can! Cam

[cameron]

Oct 23, 2008, 4:05pm, wta wrote: jchitty, I just got that J.Blume Six Steps to... Vikki recommended it and man she was RIGHT, brilliant book with tons of info. I was amazed at how big and thick it is and really well laid out... '-) wtaMy girlfriend bought me that book last year for my birthday, and she couldn't have picked a better one. That's what ultimately led to me being on Taxi. She probably secretly regrets it now, but I am so very grateful to her (and she is so damn kind and supportive!!). I ended up leaving the book in a hotel somewhere this summer, but I bought Jason's new book, which deals more with the biz side of songwriting, directly from him at the BMI workshop in Nashville a couple of months ago and he was kind enough to sign it for me The second book is a great continuation of the first when you get to the point when you're ready to find a publisher and start signing contracts. I'm not there yet, but getting some insight into how the business works is invaluable.And yes Chits, I have that same respect for Claire from her insightful posts here, and I hope I get the pleasure of meeting her someday.Cam

[jchitty]

Oct 23, 2008, 4:05pm, wta wrote: jchitty, I just got that J.Blume Six Steps to... Vikki recommended it and man she was RIGHT, brilliant book with tons of info. I was amazed at how big and thick it is and really well laid out... '-) wtaIt is a great book, William...it's packed with lots of good info.

[jchitty]

Oct 23, 2008, 7:32pm, cameron wrote:Oct 23, 2008, 4:05pm, wta wrote: jchitty, I just got that J.Blume Six Steps to... Vikki recommended it and man she was RIGHT, brilliant book with tons of info. I was amazed at how big and thick it is and really well laid out... '-) wtaMy girlfriend bought me that book last year for my birthday, and she couldn't have picked a better one. That's what ultimately led to me being on Taxi. She probably secretly regrets it now, but I am so very grateful to her (and she is so damn kind and supportive!!). I ended up leaving the book in a hotel somewhere this summer, but I bought Jason's new book, which deals more with the biz side of songwriting, directly from him at the BMI workshop in Nashville a couple of months ago and he was kind enough to sign it for me The second book is a great continuation of the first when you get to the point when you're ready to find a publisher and start signing contracts. I'm not there yet, but getting some insight into how the business works is invaluable.And yes Chits, I have that same respect for Claire from her insightful posts here, and I hope I get the pleasure of meeting her someday.Cam Well, I got some respect for you too, Bubba. Congrats once again on the George Strait forward!