why the Rally means a lot to me

[hummingbird]

just a few thoughts about the Rally... Although I joined Taxi in June 2004 I couldn't get the finances together to attend the Rally that year. I went to my first Rally in 2005 and basically preferred to be a wallflower, altho I managed to have coffee with Dave Walton and shake hands with Matt Hirt, and briefly meet Michael Laskow... and meet in person a collaborator I'd met on Just Plain Folks (my friend James Mitchell, who came as my guest). It was pretty daunting for me to travel all the way to the mega city of LA and be at a huge conference and meet people I didn't know... but that Rally proved to me how much I had grown from the shy & reclusive introvert I used to be. I stayed in Hollywood for several days after the Rally, and altho it was interesting to be there it was awful lonely cause everyone else had gone home. At the Rally, I had expected to be intimidated by the talented people around me and the terrific music they were making. I could see there was a very steep learning curve in front of me if I wanted to be successful at this... but I came home inspired. In 2006, I expanded my horizons a little more and met Mazz, Matt, Dave, James and a few more people. In every class I went to and in every line-up I was in, I pushed myself to talk to at least one person beside me, and get their card or CD. I also started to realize that my idea of pitching songs to artists was not going to fly. I wasn't writing commercial songs, I was writing songs that were an expression of my personal creativity and inspiration. Talking with Dave, Matt and Mazz & going to the different panels at the Rally.... I began to consider the idea that perhaps I could write music for film and television. I'd been playing with writing instrumentals with my midi keyboard and free plug-ins, but knew absolutely nothing about effective composition, Virtual Instruments, or producing broadcast quality. I figured it would likely take me at least 3 years to get to a decent level writing for film/tv but I could see the possibility that if I could acquire the skills, I could get the forwards and perhaps even the deals. I bought myself EWQLSO Silver for Christmas... but didn't have a computer to drive it. But I'd done a big graphic design project in December (even worked Christmas Day to get it done)... and guess what, it paid exactly what I needed to get the custom-built audio computer I'd been lusting for. I got the computer in February, installed Silver, wrote a little quirky circus instrumental, submitted it to a film/tv listing in February, got my first forward in March... and a month afterwards got an email from the music library & signed my first deal in June 07 (3 years after joining).In 2007, the Rally was even more amazing. I got to meet so many of my on-line friends, and get even more great advice in person. It was the first time I had the courage to perform at one of the open mics, too. Just before the Rally I'd bought the rest of the Silver bundle but I was still having trouble getting forwards even with the good sounds. I needed to learn more about how to work with VIs and I also needed to have more live tracks in what I was producing. I came home with a head filled with so much information... and slowly, over 2008, I added to my gear.... I had figured out, from the many conversions I had, the minimum I needed to produce my compositions effectively. For Christmas I got myself the Gold Bundle for a great deal since I already had the Silver Bundle. A few months later, I managed to get Stylus & all the expansion packs at a very reasonable price. A couple of months ago I finally was able to get Atmosphere. And I purchased Sony Vegas Studio to help with scoring to film. On top of that, the great critiques you all have given me on this forum have really helped me move from 'synthetic' to 'well-recorded' in my feedback. I've moved from having all returns, to occasionally getting a forward, to the place where I get roughly the same amount of forwards as returns (5Fs so far this month). That's what the Rally, and you, have given me.I was sitting here thinking today that it surely isn't necessary to go to the Rally every year... it's a huge expense for a little self-employed voice teacher who doesn't have holiday pay. I not only have to pay for the trip, but maintain everything back home while I'm gone, on with much less income. But every Rally has pushed me further in knowledge and made me more determined to grow my skills and my pitchable cataloque and get music signed. And meeting any fellow Dot who is able to make it the Rally is.... as the commercial says.... priceless. So I'll be there.Hummin'bird (PS - I'll describe my first meeting with Mr Laskow. I was walking across the main ballroom forecourt on the last day of my first Rally when Mr Laskow came towards me with several other people. I stopped and said, "Hello Michael, I just wanted to tell you what a great event this is and how much I appreciate all the work you've put into it." He thanked me and I started to carry on. Then he asked, "what's your name?" I lifted up my Rally tag and said, "Vikki Flawith." His face lit up and he said, "Oh! You're Hummingbird!!!" We chatted for a couple of more minutes. I'd only been a member for 16 months. I walked away, stunned that he'd known who I was.)

[tedsingingfox]

Miss 'Bird,You are SUCH a huge inspiration to me and SO many others of us here on these boards.Thank you, thank you, thank you for posting this.I will see you there.11 weeks, 3.5 days...but who's counting?

[stevebarden]

Hey Hummin'bird, that's a great story. Very inspiring. You always have motivating words to share.I'm looking forward to my first Rally (and it's in my own backyard!)Steve

[hazineju]

Aug 18, 2008, 12:04pm, hummingbird wrote: surely isn't necessary to go to the Rally every year... it's a huge expense.... But every Rally has pushed me further in knowledge and made me more determined to grow my skills and my pitchable cataloque and get music signed. hi hummingbird-- i really appreciate hearing your story, and for me it too was difficult to get the funds together for my fourth road rally. i spent a lot of time wondering if i should go this year, but your above quote is exactly why i'm glad i booked my ticket. i very much look forward to meeting you and the rest of the forum members who are coming. can't wait!-juliet

[tedsingingfox]

Aug 19, 2008, 2:22pm, hazineju wrote:Aug 18, 2008, 12:04pm, hummingbird wrote: surely isn't necessary to go to the Rally every year... it's a huge expense.... But every Rally has pushed me further in knowledge and made me more determined to grow my skills and my pitchable cataloque and get music signed. hi hummingbird-- i really appreciate hearing your story, and for me it too was difficult to get the funds together for my fourth road rally. i spent a lot of time wondering if i should go this year, but your above quote is exactly why i'm glad i booked my ticket. i very much look forward to meeting you and the rest of the forum members who are coming. can't wait!-julietwooHOO! This is great news, Juliet. Will look forward to meeting you, too.

[hummingbird]

Aug 19, 2008, 2:22pm, hazineju wrote:Aug 18, 2008, 12:04pm, hummingbird wrote: surely isn't necessary to go to the Rally every year... it's a huge expense.... But every Rally has pushed me further in knowledge and made me more determined to grow my skills and my pitchable cataloque and get music signed. hi hummingbird-- i really appreciate hearing your story, and for me it too was difficult to get the funds together for my fourth road rally. i spent a lot of time wondering if i should go this year, but your above quote is exactly why i'm glad i booked my ticket. i very much look forward to meeting you and the rest of the forum members who are coming. can't wait!-julietCool! Be great to meet you!!!

[allends]

Aug 18, 2008, 12:04pm, hummingbird wrote:Hummin'bird (PS - I'll describe my first meeting with Mr Laskow. I was walking across the main ballroom forecourt on the last day of my first Rally when Mr Laskow came towards me with several other people. I stopped and said, "Hello Michael, I just wanted to tell you what a great event this is and how much I appreciate all the work you've put into it." He thanked me and I started to carry on. Then he asked, "what's your name?" I lifted up my Rally tag and said, "Vikki Flawith." His face lit up and he said, "Oh! You're Hummingbird!!!" We chatted for a couple of more minutes. I'd only been a member for 16 months. I walked away, stunned that he'd known who I was.)Hi Vikki,I was really touched by this part of your story. All the other stuff you said hit home with me too. I have so many reasons not to go to the rally I could write a book, but today I shoved all those reasons aside and decided to go anyway! This one will be my first - Woo-hoo!!I'm looking forward to the friendship, knowledge and inspiration!Thanks,Allen

[hummingbird]

Aug 20, 2008, 5:30pm, allends wrote:Aug 18, 2008, 12:04pm, hummingbird wrote:Hummin'bird (PS - I'll describe my first meeting with Mr Laskow. I was walking across the main ballroom forecourt on the last day of my first Rally when Mr Laskow came towards me with several other people. I stopped and said, "Hello Michael, I just wanted to tell you what a great event this is and how much I appreciate all the work you've put into it." He thanked me and I started to carry on. Then he asked, "what's your name?" I lifted up my Rally tag and said, "Vikki Flawith." His face lit up and he said, "Oh! You're Hummingbird!!!" We chatted for a couple of more minutes. I'd only been a member for 16 months. I walked away, stunned that he'd known who I was.)Hi Vikki,I was really touched by this part of your story. All the other stuff you said hit home with me too. I have so many reasons not to go to the rally I could write a book, but today I shoved all those reasons aside and decided to go anyway! This one will be my first - Woo-hoo!!I'm looking forward to the friendship, knowledge and inspiration!Thanks,AllenGREAT!! It will be a pleasure to see you there!!And I want to say to all of you who are attending your first Rally -- please, don't be shy - if you see me, you come talk to me, okay? I'd love to meet you. And I'm sure I speak for any other forum member as well. Take the opportunity to meet us in person.(Let me add - I have a hearing impairment that makes it difficult to hear if someone is behind me, in particular. So if you want to speak to me, try to get in my visual range, so I can see you. If it's really noisy, I might have trouble hearing you, just make sure I can see your face.)

[cyndy]

Vikki,Awesome post... your insight is ALWAYS so helpful for us "new kids on the block!"One question... are we "new dots" supposed to bring our own dot to put on our nametag, or will an "experienced dot" be passing some out?Can hardly wait to meet you, Vikki !!!

[hummingbird]

Aug 24, 2008, 5:39pm, cyndy wrote:Vikki,Awesome post... your insight is ALWAYS so helpful for us "new kids on the block!"One question... are we "new dots" supposed to bring our own dot to put on our nametag, or will an "experienced dot" be passing some out?Can hardly wait to meet you, Vikki !!!Bring your own if you can... if you don't have any, I'm sure others will! Most of us bought packages of dots last year & have more than enough.