whadda think of taxi.com

[ruebarb]

I've got a friend who's heard some of my songs (over on nowhereradio.com -


http://www.nowhereradio.com/artists/...d=1274&alid=-1

anyways, he's saying I should try to get publishing/representation and try to sell some of them.. - and he suggested taxi.com - (he won't do it cause he's quirky folk, but I guess my stuff is just mainstream enough to work...LOL) - *(hell, I'm not even registered any yet with ASCAP) - but I don't know if paying for taxi.com's service is the way to do it or if they have any proven results..

questions/comments? Anyone ever used Taxi.com or are they like vanity poetry?

RB

[Buffalo Bob]

If you do a search on Taxi you will find the answer. Save your money.

[Mountainmirrors]

Never invest your money for any company who claims to want to help you!!!
Musician's dreams can make them the most vulnerable victims to bull***t artists in the industry.
These people know it (not specifically Taxi- there's a hundred of 'em) and have no problem filling your head with false hopes so you'll fill their pockets.

[mr blue]

I was naive enough to take the taxi
plunge awhile back, and all I can
say is: never again.
I'm not saying they haven't helped
certain individuals, but they're
few & far between. Taxi gives you
critiques and instruction that for
the most part seem logical, but
they string you along by making
you think you're always "almost
there".
I think it depends on the mood
of whoever happens to be
listening to your music on a
given day. I got a ctitique back
from them once that said "this is
great & that's great, but if you
change such and such, you
might have a hit song," so I
changed exactly what they
suggested, resubmitted the song,
then got back a completely
different criique from a completely
different dude, telling me I
needed to change yet more
aspects of the song.
They can run you in circles until
you're old and broke.
Besides that, you've never really
heard of any artists (with a couple
of exceptions) whose career
Taxi had a hand in launching.
They always drag out the same
tired-ass testimonials in their
ads. If Taxi was so great, those
ads would be changing all the time.
Sorry to rant, but like the other
guy said, save your money.

[Jonathan El-Biz]

>If you do a search on Taxi you will find the answer. Save your >money.

I did a search, but all I could find where taxi review and promo pages. Oh, and this:

http://www.iaeste.at/~akarpfen/taxi/experience.html

Have you got any links?

> I was naive enough to take the taxi
>plunge awhile back, and all I can
>say is: never again.
>I'm not saying they haven't helped
>certain individuals, but they're
>few & far between. Taxi gives you
>critiques and instruction that for
>the most part seem logical, but
>they string you along by making
>you think you're always "almost
>there".

So they >never< forwarded your material?

What genre/style do you create in? Do you have samples online we can hear?

Thanks.

[Mountainmirrors]

Don't trust any of them.
I went with a popular Taxi-style label shopper who said they would give my money back if they didn't have me a record deal in 9 months.
Mind you, they even called me, feeding me a line of bull.
Once they got my money, I couldn't even get an email answered.
Two years later, after more than 30 ignored emails I had to create a page called "*** Ripped Me Off!!" and emailed them with a link, saying if my money wasn't delivered by the weekend, the page would be submitted to search engines. They sent me 4 emails instantly, yelling to take the page down immediately.
I got my check the next day.
Scams...lots of scams.
You've just got to make some serious noise and if you're good, they will sniff you out. They will find you if there's money to be made.
Read "Confessions of a Record Producer". It's a jungle out there.

[Jonathan El-Biz]

>Don't trust any of them.
>I went with a popular Taxi-style label shopper who said they >would give my money back if they didn't have me a record deal >in 9 months.

Right there is the tip off of sketchiness....

>Two years later, after more than 30 ignored emails I had to >create a page called "*** Ripped Me Off!!" and emailed them >with a link, saying if my money wasn't delivered by the >weekend, the page would be submitted to search engines. They >sent me 4 emails instantly, yelling to take the page down >immediately.

Who was it? We'd like to know, and doesn't sound like they deserve to be hidden. If anything, we need to hear about them here, more than anywhere.

>I got my check the next day.
>Scams...lots of scams.
>You've just got to make some serious noise and if you're good, >they will sniff you out.

Sure, that works if you are a conventional 'band' trying to achieve 'conventional' success, and have a great live sound.

I'm just looking for distribution and product placement, rather than recording advances and production deals. I'm not even hoping to recoup my investment - music is just a time and money hole, as far as I'm concerned :> Compared to my other expenses, (studio gear, lawyers, promo vinyl, etc) $300/year is almost nothing, unless you get nothing in return.

>They will find you if there's money to be >made.
>Read "Confessions of a Record Producer". It's a jungle out there.

Yes, I got my copy two days ago. What a nasty business :> I'm glad I don't want to be a rock star :>

Again, do you have samples of your music online? No offense, but your words here will carry a whole load more weight if you back them up with some kick ass tunes to show you know what you are doing :>

Time to put >my< money where my mouth is :>

http://www.groovetronica.com/audio/hotterthanthesun.mp3


Thanks.

[Buffalo Bob]

It has absolutely nothing to do with the style of music. TAXI is an equal-opportunity ripoff. As for the search, do a search on this site and you will find more info. For starters, here's one:
http://homerecording.com/bbs/showthr...highlight=TAXI

[Mountainmirrors]

err...there's other posts to advertise our music. This post is about Taxi. The general concensus is to stay away.
I liked your tune, by the way. Sort of Radiohead-meets-Sade. You're off to a good start.

[Jonathan El-Biz]

>err...there's other posts to advertise our music. This post is >about Taxi. The general concensus is to stay away.
>I liked your tune, by the way. Sort of Radiohead-meets-Sade. >You're off to a good start.
>

Thanks mountain.

I wasn't looking for a critique or anything, just thought it would help the discussion to show >what< I was trying to shop.
Otherwise, if talking about music is like dancing about architecture, then we're just talking about people talking about dancing about architecture :>

[David Hooper]

Originally posted by Mountainmirrors
Never invest your money for any company who claims to want to help you!!!
Musician's dreams can make them the most vulnerable victims to bull***t artists in the industry.

So what do you do when you need label help?

Taxi does what they say they're going to do. Whether or not they're a good deal for you is another story though...and I can't tell you the answer to that one.

This link has more info on my opinion.

--
$100,000/year in the Music Business (Without a Record Label)

Only $19 from www.musicbizbooks.com/ and Kathode Ray Music!

[Buffalo Bob]

I'll take two bottles of that Magical Elixer, professor. You are sure it cures "every ailment known to man"?



Mark Rube

[stonepiano]

I love the fact that you can talk back to these snakes in the grass.

No offense Hooper. I'm sure you know lots of good info about "what it takes to make it" but you obviously have something to sell. Don't blame you for getting the word out however you can but it's kinda like we can talk back to the ridiculous infomercials we see at 3 AM. Take that Fruit Dehydrator!

Stone

[Mountainmirrors]

"So what do you do when you need label help?"
Screw the labels. More often than not, a label deal is the death of a creative musician's true art- and a bogus interception to all of the money they should make.

-DIY is the wave. Get on it or get out of the way.-

The info we need is all out there. Don't need to pay someone to tell us where to go (and not go there for us).

I agree with you guys. And remember. Spam is a no-no.

[Buffalo Bob]

WANT SUCCESS IN THE MUSIC BUSINESS? JOIN NOW FOR ONLY $69.99 PER MONTH! OUR PREMIUM PACKAGE INCLUDES:

1 FREE song critique
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JOIN NOW! LIMITED OFFER!


Buffalo Bob Starmaker Machine
P.O. Box 1156
Bumfark Kentucky

[jcmm]

Originally posted by Buffalo Bob
WANT SUCCESS IN THE MUSIC BUSINESS? JOIN NOW FOR ONLY $69.99 PER MONTH! OUR PREMIUM PACKAGE INCLUDES:

1 FREE song critique
(by our expert staff of unpublished writers)

1 complimentary Rock Star guitar pick

1 copy of "How To Make It Big In Music Without Really Trying"

1 risque photo of my girlfriend Sally.


JOIN NOW! LIMITED OFFER!


Buffalo Bob Starmaker Machine
P.O. Box 1156
Bumfark Kentucky

Hey Bob...............

Do you take Visa???????

[Buffalo Bob]

Visa, Mastercard, Paypal.....

AND....if you join right now, I'll throw in the wonderful music business primer:

"How To Make A Fortune Swindling Unsuspecting Songwriters Through Internet Scams" by I. Kenneth Cheatham


Buffalo Bob Starmaker Machine
In A Van Down By The River
Cincinnatti, Ohio.

[mikeh]

Man, now I'm bummed - Sally told me I was the only one with a photo of her.

[Buffalo Bob]

She tells everybody that. You got the one with the prosthetic device in it?

[David Hooper]

It's sad that you guys are so skeptical. There are people who work to help bands be successful, you know...

[TheRealWaldo]

Yep, but few that don't make money off those they don't.

W.

[Buffalo Bob]

"It's sad that you guys are so skeptical. There are people who work to help bands be successful, you know..."

It's sad that you keep pitching your pathetic racket on these boards. Most of the folks here record for the sheer love of recording, not to become "successful" in the music business.

"So what do you do when you need label help?"

You hire a music business attorney, and you consult with your performing rights group. You do not call a hustler.



Argus Hamilton
Author of
"How To Hustle Dreams To Kids In Missouri For Fun And Profit"
In A Van Down By The River

[David Hooper]

Originally posted by TheRealWaldo
Yep, but few that don't make money off those they don't.

The bills have to be paid, Waldo. You don't see me telling you to give your music away, do you?

[David Hooper]

Originally posted by Buffalo Bob
It's sad that you keep pitching your pathetic racket on these boards. Most of the folks here record for the sheer love of recording, not to become "successful" in the music business.

I'm the real deal. If you don't believe me, do a search on the Web, read my book, or come visit me during my conference, the Nashville New Music Conference (2NMC).

I don't have any problem with those who want to play and record music without making money or selling records. I think that's great. For those that do want to make money though, I'm here to help you.

[TheRealWaldo]

David, I know who you are, I've seen you around for a very long time, and I've read about the lawsuits launched against you.

I'm sorry, but I'm not into taking your word for anything.

'The bills have to be paid', sure, but pay those bills with money you've earned for a job well done. Don't pay those bills with money taken from those whos dreams you've done nothing to further.

W.