Article:		The eSession Experience: Online Recording for All
Subject:		A few issues here
Date:		2008-01-04 17:29:18
From:		SteveJames
There are a few problems here, mainly the 15 major releases limit on the talent. While I for one don’t want just any wannbe listed I do feel that the best talent today is on indie releases and insisting on major credits limits my choices here. Why not have a panel of judges from both indie and major arenas pick players to add to the list? I know many of the players here and have worked with some in my studio and they are on tons of indie releases, which include players of great talent. So, why not give the talented indie players more work as well and make even more magic for everyone? The world of music will just get more homogenized if we don’t seek and promote new talent ‘and” older talent that just happen to be great but not on major releases. Some of the worlds best and most famous do not have tons of major releases and in some cases none. This is never truer than in the field of jazz or progressive rock. All in all this is a great thing you have here so please make is work for all of us.

Showing messages 1 through 2 of 2.

• A few issues here
  2008-01-05 14:13:01  gfantsaez [View]
  
  
  Steve,
  
  You misunderstand. You don't have to have 15 Major label credits to use or to be hired on eSession.
  
  Here's the deal. There are two tiers of members; 1) eTalent and 2) eMembers.
  
  eMembers can be anyone, regardless of talent. You can search for eMembers, hire them, pay them, EXACTLY like eTalent members.
  
  eTalent members are the ones with 15 credits and are considered professional musicians and engineers.
  
  We are definitely not trying to be elitist. We just want to offer what no other service offers which is access to top tier talent and a way to negotiate, pay and transfer files with them. You can do the same thing with eMembers - but as you might expect, hiring eTalent is probably going to cost you a little more.
  
  eTalent sessions are running between $150 and $400 a song whereas sessions with eMembers tend to run between $50 and $100 per song.
  
  Again, we're not trying to be elitist, we just want our clients to know that when they hire an eTalent member, they are going to get the work of a pro -
  
  I don't have 15 major credits either, but Spencer hired me as an eMember for this project to do the vocals. So I get that someone's credit is not a measure of their talent. But, for some, it can be a measure of their experience.
  
  It takes years of work to be a versatile session musician who can walk into a country session or rock jingle or jazz ensemble and play any style regardless who the client is. I don't know about you, but I sure am not that versatile. I am a pop vocalist and though I consider myself a professional singer and arranger, I am no session vocalist or musician....
  
  I agree that Indie talent is flourishing. We do accept Indie credits with major distribution to count for eTalent credits. Anyone can say they have an Indie label, as you know. We just want to make sure that first, our eTalent members are professionals and second, that they have artist/band credits that have some wow factor to bring more people to the site.
  
  I am happy to take you on a tour of the site and show you how it works. i think you will change your mind and understand.
  
  You can email me at gfs@eSession.com.
  
  Thanks for your note.
  
  Gina

• A few issues here
  2008-01-05 12:16:59  Spencer Critchley | [View]
  
  
  Really interesting point, thanks. I agree that since the industry has been shifting away from the "major release" model there's probably a need to find additional ways to filter top talent. I think even now esession is open to recommendations of players who may not fit the standard profile, but maybe that needs to be more of a focus. Could be an opportunity for some kind of open reputation management system. Maybe Gina (Fant-Saez, esession's founder) will have some thoughts on this...