TAXI Transmitter July 2007 Passenger Profile: Scott W. Gerow, "Music Is Music No Matter What Genre You're In"

By Kenny Kerner

This month's Passenger Profile is on a TAXI member who has just about done it all. He is a composer, artist, engineer, and record producer. He loves all genres of music—from Classical to Rock to Country. He has more degrees than you can count and still sometimes puts in 70-80-hour work weeks. Here's his story:

You are seriously schooled in music with college degrees, post-grad fellowships, etc. How difficult was it to maintain your serious focus with homework, rehearsals, etc.?

Difficulty in maintaining focus has always been the easy part because I love what I do. That is sooo key to being successful... loving what you do. In this industry you have to put in way more time than in more conventional careers... at least to be successful you do. I can easily rack up 70 or 80 hours in one week. If I didn't love my work there's no way I could stay focused for that long, and even then it gets difficult sometimes.

As far as school, you have to train yourself as much as possible nowadays, because the competition is working that way. A very close professor of mine always said, "I want to train you guys as the Navy Seals of the music industry." That's so true! If you were going into battle you'd want the very best training available. So why go into the music industry without lots of weapons and training at your disposal?

Finally, I think you always have to maintain focus on your training. I never want to stop learning and think "well I know all there is to know" (which is never true anyway). In the music industry I see many successful people who have been thriving for a very long time and have a lot more experience than I do. However, their careers are beginning to slow down. On the other hand there are those that have been around for a very long time but are constantly searching for and learning new ideas and techniques. Their careers seem to be getting better all the time. The music industry is completely reinventing itself, both in business models and production methods. Those that are changing with (and leading) this reinvention are doing very well. Those that are desperately holding on to what used to be their bread and butter are not. I don't see all this change in the music industry as bad. I think it's very exciting!

You've written and engineered and produced everything from Classical to Jazz to Rock to Country. Do you have a favorite musical genre?

I love it all. That is why I decided to go into producing. When you're a producer (or composer) you have the freedom to work in so many different styles. When you're an artist, at least initially, you have to hone in on your sound and style. My studies also took me all over the world, so my influences tend to be a little more broad. The problem is knowing what you're good at, what you're not, and when to hand it off to someone else. I like to collaborate and co-write (which is the Nashville influence) because it gives me a chance to work in styles that I'm not the expert in while still maintaining a high level with someone who is. The bottom line, though, is that music is music no matter what genre you're in. You can play with someone who speaks a completely different language. Music is definitely universal.

What was your first professional achievement as a songwriter/composer?

When I was just starting out in school in Miami, I was asked to write a piece for a dance concert at New World School of the Arts. It was a Rock, electronic meets classical type of piece. Kind of vibey, film score-ish with pretty basic engineering and production. I remember I had to record a track, bounce it down... record another, bounce it down... using stereo components that I had rigged together. But I had such a great time with it and it received a pretty good response (once again mom in the front row) that I thought "wow this is something I could do on a daily basis." I also really enjoyed working with the other artists (choreographers, dancers, stage managers, etc.) to create a final master project. That's how it is on so many projects that I work on, especially the film and TV projects. A lot of really talented people working together to create a really great piece of art-who could ask for anything more fun?

How did you first hear about TAXI and why did you become a member with all of your successes?

I joined TAXI as another tool in my arsenal to refine my craft and expand my career. A very talented singer/songwriter and client of mine here in Nashville, Diona Devin, has been a TAXI member for a number of years now. She has had some success through TAXI and has recommended you for years. To be honest, though, I was always very skeptical. There are so many companies out there that take advantage of people's desperate yearnings to be in the music industry that I try to stay away from them. Sometimes they take advantage without even knowing they're doing it. One year Diona graciously invited me as a guest to a Road Rally and I was very impressed at the value the members got for their money. After returning home from the Rally, Diona began getting attention paid to songs that she and I had co-written and co-produced as well as other songs of hers. Other clients and colleagues of mine were also having some success and I thought, "man I'm missing out on something." So I decided to work hard, wait until I had a decent sized catalog and then work it like crazy once I joined.

How has TAXI helped you?

TAXI, so far, has been a very productive tool in my business. I do a lot of artist projects, demos and film/TV projects through other means that I've cultivated for the past few years, but TAXI has definitely expanded my business. It has allowed me to reach people on a national level that I could never have reached without spending huge amounts of money on plane tickets, hotels, etc. To date, I have more than half a dozen library/publishing deals and a management deal as well as some work for hire business. One unintended aspect of being a TAXI member is the clients I've gotten just through the new networking opportunities. Especially at the Road Rally. That new business alone pays for the membership fees.

Finally, I think Michael Laskow and TAXI share a lot of the same philosophies for the music industry that I do and that's another attractive aspect. They're pushing the film/TV side hard, they know that publishing is where it's at, they know that this is a time of change in the business and seem to be constantly searching for signs of were it's headed.

What are your plans for the future?

I'd like to continue growing in the areas that I'm working in already. I'm currently working on getting higher level clients in recording and film/TV companies. There are a number of artists I've produced that we're working on getting either record deals with or film/television contracts for. I would like to become more prolific in the cues and placements that I get in movies, videos, and TV shows. I am currently working with a number of dance companies scoring new works for them and I'm developing relationships with the film world to expand into scoring films as well. My wife and I are also working to support the expanding artistic community here in Nashville and have plans to sponsor/co-sponsor a music/dance/performance festival.

Well, Scott, we look forward to continuing that successful relationship between you and TAXI. And, of course. we'll be looking for you at the November Road Rally.