JPF Home Page Forums General Messages General Message Forum Do you want a free song review from Kara DioGuardi?

Kara DioGuardi reviews songs on Taxi Ustream live. You don't have to be a Taxi member to participate.

Deadline Monday the 16th.

Read the how, what, where and when, here:

http://forums.taxi.com/topic29071.html

Sounds interesting, Magne. I'll certainly have a shot.

Thanks for posting the link.

Donna

Thanks Magne - I'm in.

Sounds interesting but "Randomly selected" probably means hundreds and hundreds of songs to randomly select from.however, one never knows

I am sending this out to all JPF members. Just got off the phone with Laskow at TAXI. It's all real. I'll also be creating a post here about it Magne, so thanks for bringing it up, but I am going to create a new site wide post and then link back to your post for comments. Is that cool with you? You beat me to the scoop. = )

Brian

Thanks Magne. I really liked Kara's feedback on Idol as she seemed to give a more intellectual or serious critique with a little more depth than the others. She always seemed very balanced in her deliberations and I liked her perspective.

I went to the site to take a look and they have some really interesting educational videos that you can click on and watch. I'm watching one now with Michael Laskow and one of his new screeners who are discussing film and tv music. Alot of great pointers!!!!

Thanks again Magne!!!

Best,
Lynn

Yes, they will pluck songs at Random from however many are submitted.. I am guessing 1-3K songs... so that's pretty good odds and exposure.

Brian

Yes, we're working on a JPF ONLY chat in the future with the TAXI Founder and the author of 2 great books that cover songwriting and also the Film/TV business. You guys are ahead of the game. Go enter today!

Brian

Now I'm watching the interview with Ralph Murphy. This is good stuff!!!! Micheal Laskow seems like a really neat guy and very knowledgeable.

Absolutely Brian, I have nothing to gain nor loose. Just wanted to spread the word. Kara DioGuardi is cool, and ML's Taxi Ustreams are amazingly educational! Free to watch for everyone..

Magne:

Thanks for considering your fellow JPF'rs in this opportunity. I have the utmost respect for Kara and I wish those of you who do submit the very best. I hope you or Brian will let us know the eventual outcome. Please convey my regrets.

Dave

Magne,

I had to create 2 site wide posts and had to get them approved by Michael Laskow so I couldn't link them back to this one as it didn't include the same info or have the same subject. I was on the phone with him and found your post when I came on to create one for the bulletin we sent out to everyone. So I apologize I couldn't just link to your post, but you definitely beat me to posting about it first and that was with Laskow sending me a personal note about sharing it with our folks 30 minutes earlier. Did you get the scoop from the TAXI email or somewhere else?

Thanks again for sharing it. We don't usually see large numbers of responses from the newsletter since most of those folks aren't registered here and all the info was in the post in the first place. We're hoping the JPF turnout is good as Laskow has offered to do a special JPF only broadcast but I am worried about turn out since we have had such bad luck with the mentor critique turn out.

To Dave: You can enter something, but even if you don't or can't, you can watch along with the rest of us. There will be a chat room connected to it so we can all chat while it is going on. That's one way I hope to figure out if it's worth doing a JPF only chat and lesson from Laskow and his educator on songwriting and the Film/TV business and how to succeed writing for that market. It would be a great thing, but we need a minimum of 200 people to show up to do it and I'm concerned about numbers right now with the lack of interest in the Mentor Critique program.

Magne, I posted the other one on the musician board so as not to interfere with this one. Thanks again for sharing the great opportunity. Had Laskow not contacted me about it (he was really checking to see how I was doing health wise first and foremost) I wouldn't have known to tell everyone else, so thanks.

I really hope all of you will check out what they are doing. Since I can't travel, I am thinking of having weekly JPF video chats with guests of all sorts including mentors and industry folks, artists and writers who are JPF members who have also had success at all levels including non-famous folks who make a real full time living in the music industry. I think it could be wonderful. We could start lining up chapter meetings to be involved as well so folks could see other groups around the country etc. We could interview entire chapters on what works in their market and my dream is to start doing virtual live showcases from different cities where I host from home but we watch live performances in different cities around the country. They would be virtual JPF Roadtrip Showcases.

So join us and help jump start our very own JPF video chats. We may raise the funds to install video chatrooms on the site for live critique sessions, co-writing, seminars etc.

Brian

Well, after sending off nine songs last night, I received that TAXI invitation in an email. Think I might zap 'em a few more tracks, as there seems to be no limit on how many one can send.

I'll definitely be listening to the show on Monday night (though it'll be at some ungodly hour over here ).

Donna

Donna,

There's no limit and I have no inside info on this, but my gut tells me I wouldn't abuse the number... you've probably sent your best already right?

Brian

Actually, that thought had crossed my mind, Brian. Yes, I selected from among what I consider my best. Still four more I could send. That would be the cut-off point.

Donna

Well, here's the logic... if they randomly pick, you're actually increasing the odds they don't choose your best. So you may have your weakest submission chosen which might get a less positive review and result in zero interest from someone, whereas if they chose your best effort (or at least one of your very best) they might be impressed and something good might happen...

What is someone enters thousands of submissions? Do you think that would be fair? I have a gut feeling they'll protect all the others from abusers such as that... I think that would be fair and reasonable. What he cut off between abuse and okay would be I have no idea (in fact, I wish I had asked that question). Perhaps they'll put all the names in a hat from each person who entered something and then if your name is drawn they will again randomly draw from your entries... otherwise someone could unfairly enter a ridiculous number and abuse the program likely resulting in them not allowing this type of open entry program again... but I could be totally wrong, so you have to go with your gut feeling. I sure hope they don't allow abuse of the entry process. We allow unlimited entries and have only had 2 people abuse it in all the years we've done the awards. One person entered over 250 CD's of music last time and once before someone entered app. 175. In one case the music was so terrible that none of it got past initial screening anyway and they wasted the money on all those CD's. In the other case, the person had talent, but the CD's we so similar in nature (not going to share the genre, but it was a repetitive one) and so screeners got weary no matter how hard they all tried to get through it all. So i got to the point where we had to go with less screener feedback and choose based on less feedback than we normally use and due to that, we chose what the person later got upset about because he claimed those were among the weakest material he sent. Maybe they were.. they didn't make it much further (and the person, as you can imagine was a major pain in the butt and was the reason we no longer tell people how they did in earlier rounds because of his abuse). But the reason we don't put a limit is because occassionally we're GLAD people enter a lot of entries. A particular artist sent a rather large quantity but in the end had a large number of CD's get very far in multiple categories. In one, they received multiple nominations in the same album category even after all the rounds of screening with thousands of judges involved. They were projects with many different co-artists and co-composers and all were top notch. We even expanded into some new genres due to the depth of quality they brought to the process. So in their case, though the number was much smaller than the 2 super abusers, everyone benefited from the large number of entries. So we don't like to set a limit.

But this is such a limited process where probably only a handfull of songs will get played and I strongly doubt more than 1 from any 1 entrant will get played, it seems better to send your very best stuff and unless all your material is equally good, I'd skip the weaker material if for no other reason than to avoid having it chosen over my better stuff.

But again, I have no inside info on their process, so perhaps your strategy will work better. I hope at least one of our JPF members get chosen out of the many likely entries they will receive.

Brian

I'm a Taxi member and frequently visit the Forums at Taxi, which I think is a great resource to learn from. So, the link I provided is also where I read it. I did not consult Michael nor anyone else beforehand, just thought it was appropriate linking, as it was a free opportunity and non-Taxi members also were allowed.

I'm sure with a capacity like Kara on the show, the competition for slots will be absolutely fierce, like it always is in the music business, when professionals are involved!

I'm looking forward to JPF episodes, as well as JPF video chats and interviews as well!! Very exciting, and a wonderful initiative, Brian!

I take your point exactly, Brian, which is why I made a point of selecting only what I felt were my best pieces. There are four more that fit that category, which I may or may not send. In any case, I'd be perfectly happy with any one of my submissions being selected for discussion. I doubt very much it will happen, but hey, what the heck.

Donna

Being on dialup I guess this is just another chance I'll have to pass on,at least the listening on line. I have places where they can listen to songs on line but they can't download.Oh well, good luck to the rest of you.

Hey,

I emailed a link to one song in today. I thought you could send only one, but I guess not. In any case, one is good enough for me.

Kevin

Kevin, it's a pity the limit isn't one. Probably be several hundred fewer to have to sort through. Anyway, I'll stick with the nine I sent yesterday. Even if nothing comes of it, it gave me the opportunity to go through my SoundClick songs and add or adjust details I'd forgotten about. So it was a good exercise.

Question: Did you give extra contact details (over and above your email address, which would be seen anyway)?

Donna

Donna,

I included my phone number and my skype address. I want it be easy for that platinum plus record producer to get a hold of me!

Kevin

P.S. Of course, I am not that available on skype!

I've been in songwriting hibernation but saw this great opportunity and sent in five of my best. It would be great if one JPF member gets a selection played.

Thanks for the link.

Back to my den for another couple of months of sleep.

Rick

Thanks Magne. I've been hearing about this from all directions. I took it as a sign so, I'm in! Looking forward to Monday.

Ricki

Wish it started alittle later I'll be missing some due to work.

I would love to know you're soon getting out of the outhouse and getting indoor plumbing!

When in doubt I think the old submission logic would apply to this or anything. If you were mailing in a CD you'd put three songs on it.
Or at least two, if your good, then even if someone isn't feeling your first song there is a much better chance they will check out that second one. So two could be perfect!

Things like this are very good and nice for everybody because regardless of the outcome it makes us DO instead of talk. It also brings us all closer.
Thanks Brian & Mags too for bringing it too our attention. Now if we can find about fifty more this month, we'll be doing alot of "doing" and we'll be really REALLY close LOL

And we can all get together and eat PIZZA at Mikes!

I could not submit. Each time I tried the e-mail would not send??

Sooo Sad.

Douglas

Douglas make sure you don't type dotcom as they have it but rather put .com and it should go. I think the way they have it will confuse people. Hope this helps.

Lynn

Thanks Lynn. I will try that now.

Douglas

Rooting for you all, hoping to hear one from you guys on the show! Good luck

Yes, good luck all!

(I've just taped a note to my computer to remind me to stay awake until 1am tonight. Would sure hate to miss the show. )

Donna

Ha ha. I do hope you are kidding. I do have indoor plumbing but high speed internet is not something I can get seeing I live on a farm far removed from access.

GET THIS!

It was a very interesting program...and though there were only a few songs chosen for a critique, they DID draw three random names from the viewing audience to win an autographed copy of Kara's new book: "A Helluva High Note"....

...and guess who won one???

MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

Inspiration has been in short supply for me these days, so hopefully Kara's pearly words will do the trick to turn that around. Just very cool to hear her say my name (even though it was BethFromBoston!)...

Good seeing other JPF'ers there ....

STAY TUNED....

Beth

It was you!!! I thought so but was not sure. Con-grads and how did you like it?

Douglas

Thanks much Doug! I thought she was very thoughtful and articulate and savvy all at the same time. I was definitely going to get her book anyway, so now I'm looking forward to getting my autographed one!

It was frustrating with the minute delay in the chat -- I was trying to type THANK YOU, and my real name, etc. -- but still, I'm very grateful!

Besides, I practically have an "IN" now, lol.

As a total aside, I wonder if TAXI and/or Kara might wade thru some of the other submitted songs. Could be a goldmine in there somewhere....

Cheers!
Beth