[randy]

From what I've read, TAXI does not get paid by the labels or film companies. They do not participate in any dealings whatsoever between you and your prospective label/film co., nor do they recieve any commissions from your deal. They rack in the money with annual dues.

You might also add that each submission sent to the perspective label/TV company/etc will cost the artist $15. (I believe it's $15, but may be $5 or $10, I forget). Take that into consideration, and you will be spending closer to $400-$600 a year, depending on how many submissions you send in. That isn't a bad fee if you ask me. We spent $1,000 on a similar talent agency back in '00, yes, for one year. They were a little different. They shopped our music, we did nothing. In return, we were offered a few deals, but nothing really that made us want to quit our day job as a factory worker.

Don't we all want to work in factories for the rest of our lives? Sure...

I think you spent most of the time on the article addressing the most appropriate question "is it right for you?" TAXI is right for many artists, it's just that they need to read the listings very carefully. If your song doesn't fit what they want, you're wasting your time AND money. I just finished reading the latest TAXI listing, emailed to me today, and I found 2 maybe 3 listings (out of a few hundred) that would fit us. READ EVERYTHING IN THE LISTING! If they want a heavy touring band, and your band practices twice a month and plays 4 shows a month, you're wasting your time AND money. If they stress they want a young band with energy and a good look, and you're youngest member is 32, has to sit and smoke a cigarette every other song, and has recently developed a beer gut, you're wasting your time AND money. I can't stress enough the importance of submitting your songs to the appropriate listing.

Also, TAXI gives critiques on nearly every submission you send in, so that could be very helpful.

We are wanting to join TAXI eventually, but we're planning on writing more material, and record a VERY strong 3 song ep. That way, we're not wasting our......you guessed it......... time AND money!

Great article Brandon.