Taxi is “the largest A&R company in the world”.  Says so on their website.  Last November (2011),  I was in Los Angeles at their Rally: it’s Taxi’s free annual conference for members to meet and learn from each other and biggies in the music biz.  I stepped away from that weekend like Keanu Reeves rising from his black leather Recaro after mainlining the Encyclopaedia Britannica in an e-learning session.

There were lectures, workshops, break-out sessions, Q&A’s, mentoring sessions, showcases, open mics, jams, panel discussions, book signings, and industry reps with toys and equipment.  There were more voices and keys sounding throughout the hotel than at Studio 54’s valet parking after last call during the 70’s.

Hundreds of musical topics: why make a demo, what film music supervisors look for, essential elements in a hit song, and how to stay up ‘till 6am singing tunes around the hotel lobby piano.  And there were mentors.  Not avatars or auto-responders but real flesh and blood experienced music people, who would listen to your song, look you straight in the eye and say “this is really awful, have you considered taxidermy?”

The music-industry folks I met work their tails off.  They are walking libraries with a heightened sense of what song fits where.  And they are looking for THE song.  A friendship, connection or chance encounter may give you their ear, but that’s all.  The song is the only currency of value.

I met dozens of other songwriters.  From beginners to those who wore the yellow dots of the inner circle.   Three in particular struck a chord with me.

Paul Cufflin – (shared a table during a mentor lunch) Einstein-esque ringlets atop an endearing English accent.   Turns out he does more than toss Monty Python lines back and forth: toured Europe with his band, adopted the name Bo Molasses, and has signed his songs to over 50 licensing deals in film/TV/commercials.  His weirdest musical gig was playing a castle.  My favorite – I Do Believe My Time Is Coming.

Paul Otten – (met at the refreshment station in the lobby) Tall, dark, and hands-out-the-tunes.  A lot.  I tried to recruit him for my volleyball team, but he keeps his fingers in reserve for the many instruments he plays.  Paul too has signed several film/TV/commercial deals, and was recently a featured artist for Taxi.  His weirdest musical gig was being the half time show at a rather large US college basketball game.  My favorite – You Give Me Love.

Helen Austin -  (Ok, I didn’t actually meet Helen in LA, but we were both there, and I kept hearing her name).  I was intrigued.  By all reports, she had what “they” were looking for.  Her music is “quirky”, “spunky”and “fresh”, not a new soap – though perhaps perfect for a soap commercial…hence her recent deal with Nivea.  And as it turns out, she lives on my little island in Canada.  Her weirdest musical gig was playing at a garden nursery stocked with pollen’y plants that caused her to punctuate her lyrics with sniffles and sneezes.    My favorite – Take Me Away (#4).

So, here’s the nut I took home – and no, it wasn’t that red-wine sipping Australian in the kilt.  Know who you write for: the shower, the country music star, or the ending credits of House.   Expect to work your tail off to have a swing at bat, and keep your expectations low,  it’s a jungle out there.  My piece of the jungle.