Presenting Yourself as a Professional to Achieve Success

[SLERMZBEATZ]

hey can some one that has been successful with taxi message me.. i have some questions i'd like answered.

[bjarnyg]

not showing the interwiever in this clip is not very professional when she doesn't talk to the camera.

and advising songwriters to narrow their genres is narrowminded and misleading (probably she's not able to write in more than one genre herself:-). artist should be more spesific, but songwriters can be, yeah just that, versatile, IF they have the talent for it.

[JAEWILLZTV]

Great Advice Thanx for Everything Nancy

[12thDecember]

People don't know how to spell "azalea"? LOL. Who knew. Most people misspell poinsettia.

Almost every gardener plants azaleas if the climate allows :)

[Dayyaneetta]

@12thDecember A lot people, also, misspell "mispell." :D haha true story (:

[howsziz]

YOU should NEVER PAY Others to do what YOU Can and Should be doing for Yourself. Make a VERY Simple DEMO then TAKE it to NASHVILLE. Call and Meet with Major label A&R people And learn The TRUTH concerning your song writing or performing ability.(A&R People WILL meet with you ) AVOID the UNKNOWN Labels at ALL COST.Just Remember, when it COST YOU MONEY to have someone Listen and "evaluate' your Work ,You are dealing with the WRONG People.

[kharrelson22]

Do you think anyone and everyone can just take off to Nashville with a "simple" demo? And then get major record reps to meet with them? Look at it this way: "Hi, I'm John Doe from NC, I have a demo I recorded in my basement on my computer. I'm here to meet with the A&R rep from Columbia-Nashville."

Point is: When dealing with major labels, you have to have SOLICITED material (unless you just get "discovered").If you send off unsolicited material to a major label it will be discarded.

[howsziz]

Kharrelson22 said"Do you think anyone and everyone can just take off to Nashville with a "simple" demo?" My Reply,"NO,, ONLY those who have Enough TALENT and DRIVE should DARE do so. And a FEW who have those Qualities DO SO and MAKE IT. I do Not mean to sound cruel but Most "unrealistic wannabe's DREAM of becoming FAMOUS and become EASY TARGETS for these STAR MAKING SHYSTERS.And when someone like Me Tries to WARN THEM they get HIGHLY PISSED . :-(

[kharrelson22]

are you suggesting people who just can't pick up and leave their wife and child behind have no talent? I've been in the music business for 10 years, shared the stage with grammy winners and had my songs on several compilation CDs not to mention my own releases.what is it exactly that you do?i'm not "highly pissed", I just don't think you should discourage anyone from investing in their career, there is no one thing that works for everybody, or else we'd all be rock stars

[howsziz]

kharrelson22 said "are you suggesting people who just can't pick up and leave their wife and child behind have no talent? " My Reply

"If you are truly that confident in Your ability ,MOVE To Nashville take your Family with You." You can get a DAY JOBS there Until you are "discovered". THATS How its Done "TRUST ME" :-)

[howsziz]

kharrelson22 Said "I've been in the music business for 10 years," ( 10 whole years :-) )

"shared the stage with grammy winners " ( Why Were you NOT "discovered" THEN By one of them ? )"had my songs on several compilation CDs" ( Biggest SCAM going today, You as well as 11 other Suckers Wasted GOOD Money to Impress A few Family and Friends ) " not to mention my own releases" ( Do You have very many of those left over for sale? )

[howsziz]

Kharrelson22 said > "what is it exactly that you do" ( I do EXACTLY the OPPOSITE of what YOU Think You should do ,and it has Afforded Me a VERY Comfortable life in The Music Business ) " I just don't think you should discourage anyone from investing in their career," (I NEVER have and NEVER Will where there is GENUINE TALENT )

[howsziz]

Kharrelson22 said>" "there is no one thing that works for everybody, ( I Agree its not JUST ONE Thing It's a Combination of TWO Things. and EVERYBODY that "makes it" has at Least ONE of the two. The First one is TALENT. The Second one is LUCK . It usually takes Both. But The SCAMMERS are Hoping YOU and MILLIONS Like You will put your TRUST in THEM and The SECOND one>LUCK and not Look to closely at Number ONE >TALENT. GOOD LUCK and May GOD BLESS YOU also with GREAT TALENT

[kharrelson22]

Yes. I guess the music business has afforded you a good life which allows you lots of time to sit in front of a computer and get pissy and use all caps a lot. Since you have such a good areer in the business, Where can I listen to some of your work, or who have you worked with. U sound like a guy who spent money on such a program and his work wasn't good enuff to spark interest, so now he thinks its a scam.

[howsziz]

You'd Shit Your pants if you knew you bitter bastard. :-)

[kharrelson22]

I think this comment says it all. And I'm supposed to be the bitter one. If I'd shit my pants, why don't you just prove it. And by the way: the compilation CDs I've been featured on, I didn't pay to be featured. What gave you that idea? Is that something you've done? Save a little dignity and stop making an ass of yourself.

[daworldisyours]

good answer brother

i hope I'm able to find someone

altho my search is in canada tho.yep not much of a game here

[tangerine831]

Jessica. I'm not attaking you. I replied to your post in the time honored tradition of internet message boards with my sincere congrats. I assume you would spend a moment to help a stupid jerk make a professional package. If so, you'd do more than this Vid did. I'm neither angry nor bitter. TAXI members tout the honest critique of their songs as a valuable part of the service and should understand the critique of one vid. I'm not anti-TAXI. I am considering joining it, after all.

[daworldisyours]

"I replied to your post in the time honored tradition of internet message boards with my sincere congrats".LOL

[sssuperhectic]

Tangerine831.... I look at it this way. You want an HONEST glimpse into the biz, to hear what they "really" talk about and "how" they talk about it....that's it right there. You don't get more honest and real than that. I believe this video does have something to offer - although maybe not to you... which of course would then be your loss.

[tangerine831]

I guess if this vid was entitled "Don't Be a Stupid Jerk" I wouldn't have had such a visceral reaction to it. But it wasn't. For the life of me, though, I can't imagine anybody appreciating most of the content of this thing unless they KNEW they were a stupid jerk and sincerely sought repentance. How to achieve that remains a mystery, however. Thanks for your thoughts. I think I understand.

[JessicaJohnsonDotNet]

She's right. I had my press kit pulled at a demo session once for the sole reason being that it was the "most professional package there"...and that's coming from the radio dj's that pulled it.

[tangerine831]

Good for you. I hope you've given some practical help to somebody else who could use it and are not just smugly thankful you aren't a stupid jerk who is incapable of writing a succinct email. People watch these vids hoping for some tidbit of practical advice. Five seconds of self-evident piss-poor info followed by smug insults ain't it. We're simply given a glimpse into the minds of professionals who, in their pre-vid power-lunch and in this conversation, have nothing to offer. Pitiful.

[JessicaJohnsonDotNet]

I am thankful...I wouldn't say smugly. Anyhow, what the hell are you attacking me for. Damn. You sound so bitter and angry, which is your right I suppose, but don't direct it towards an innocent bystander.

And yes, good for me.

[ChristopherRobin7]

Scratch the S in thing below...not very professional!

[ChristopherRobin7]

The one most important things I learned about being a professional was to never discuss business while drinking!As a songwriter and versatile career musician,making a good living,I would have found other adjectives to replace Stupid Pill,jerk,and idiot to relay my message.Plus DON"T film yourself after a night of drinking Sake to promote a business and educate young hopefuls!Glad I never had to sign up for Taxi if this is what they see as Professional!

[ZigWing]

My comment below should say "willing to bet" not, "willing to be" By the way, I want some of what you had for dinner.

[ZigWing]

A carefully crafted advertisment - very nice. Smart business people know how to do things right. I'd be willing to be both Nancy and Michael are extremely "versatile." :-) P.S.  I can't afford Taxi's membership.

[billyjcoombs]

Forget about making it at all.

Just concentrate on your own music and don't worry about it. They'll come and get you if you write a hit.

And buy a lotto ticket. Better odds!

[xicodude]

Absolutely correct. Write and produce a hit and the will either come and get you or just plain rip you off.

[JessicaJohnsonDotNet]

LOL

[timlanders]

How this person with a limited resume thinks she knows what the 'industry' wants is ludicrous. Versatility is key for songwriters who are not necessarily artists and want to place songs. It's also key for anyone wanting to do TV or film scoring. Granted, an artist seeking a record deal should define their style but that is practically academic these days. Partially due to people like this who give no credit to the listening public.

[ctrlaltde]

Great advice. 100% true. Thank you for this video I really enjoy these. - Jami

[BDyckns]

You think Mick jagger isn't a businessman?

[RockinMorroccan]

Jagger is absolutely a businessman - he even went to the London School of Economics and negotiated the first million dollar contract that the Stones got in the mid 60's.

[tangerine831]

How to be a professional? Ummm...don't be a jerk or an idiot. Got it. Maybe that's the boss's job. As someone who has teetered on the edge of joining TAXI for a while now, I guess I was hoping for something a little more...well...constructive. Frankly, this makes me want to spare the 'bosses' from having to deal with one more person like me. Eh...maybe it was the sake.

[chirocker]

I could not agree more. And Taxi is not about music for art's sake, it's about music for commerce's sake. Your'r right, maybe it was the sake.

[SabrinaMessenger]

If TAXI wants musicians to be "professionals", then maybe they should speak of us as professionals rather than insulting people by repeatedly calling them "idiots." I found this part of the video offensive, and it just gives me confirmation I'm better of as an Indie/Amateur with my soul and dignity intact than selling my soul to the "suits" who want to put and keep you in a creative straightjacket. No wonder the music business is in the sad state it's in...

[unwoman]

It's a shame for those of us who truly are versatile that that's a bad word. But it's good to understand how making claims of unbelievable versatility can come off as desperation.

[vegasbuzzvideo]

I found this by way of the Taxi Newsletter which I posted to my various sites including Vegas Buzz Video and Music Buzz. Nancy's message is right-on, and doesn't just apply to music. Many other types of business people can learn from this as well. Thank you, and would have loved to have been a fly on the wall during the sushi-sake thing.

[locash]

nice work Michael on getting a tripod :)

[sdjinsp]

I like Nancy and her helpful message! (Her hair is cute!) Thanks for such good advise. I try to be very professional when it comes to most things. I'm learning to accept rejections better! Even then it is important to be professional so one doesn't burn his bridges. Thanks Michael and Nancy

[hiphopcrisis]

Good points. I've always felt the same about musicians like that. Lol

So, whats the bet way to get your song noticed other than mass Emailing?

Over and Out!!!

C.R.I.$.I.$.™

(Artist/Producer/CEO-Diamond Chain Unltd.)

myspace dot com forward slash zero six crisis zero six (Use numbers instead of the word zero)

[Anabrese]

So true, it is a business after all - artists starting out often are inexperienced and young and the quicker they can become like a young business professional, the better.