WHATSSSSSSSS UPPPPPPPPPPP EVERYONEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!
JR Locklayer CEO of ExtremeTraxx here. I don't even know where to start!
It's the first time I've ever posted on the fierceboards since it first came out (after the pro-x boards shut down). So kudos to "Kingston" (wish I knew how to tag) for making these boards to replace it! Sometimes I think they can do some harm, but from what I gather, you (Kingston) and the rest of the admin do one HECK of a job maintaining it! I have some music producer friends that were having trouble with someone slandering their personal life and marriage on the boards over a year ago at 2-3am. Literally one message was sent to Kingston and it was down in minutes... It's good to see that such a powerful tool in the cheer world is so well monitored from slander.
Pink's music...
The gym owner who is also a dear friend, Misty Hodges, one of the most respected women in cheerleading today, contacted me and was very professional in letting me know that it was not the traditional style that they were use to and would like the mix adjusted. They are getting their songs and thoughts together and will be notifying me with what needs to be done. I do, in fact, feel sad that they do not like their mix. As their producer since 2003 and as the gym that gave me my jump start in cheer music, there's been many times they have LOVED what I've given them; hands down... But sadly there have been just as many times as they've disliked my work as well... But every -Tyme- I make it a point to make them happy by the end of the process (as I try to do with every program). As far as the team goes, no matter how indifferent they feel about it, I will make their final product amazing for them. As a professional, I will do whatever it takes to make any team happy with the product I give them...
As far as the fans on the fierceboards are concerned...
No matter if you love, hate, dislike, like the work I do, I respect everything that is said by **each and every single one of you**. For those of you who are fans of Extreme Traxx (theoneandonly, ztaprincess, blunchin, etc... Sorry if I missed any; just naming the ones in the passed few comments) I thank you from the bottom of my heart for being respectful and supportive of what you say about the mixes, even when you don't *prefer* them. Many people that support my work, I don't know if I'll ever meet. There are clients I've been working with for over a decade that I've NEVER met. And in all honesty, I wish I could reach out to each and every one of you personally and treat you to dinner. It makes me feel comforted that some of the same people I do music for -or- that have followed my work since day 1, are still supporting me through thick and thin. I thank you so very much.
To the ones that don't support or who simply dislike my work, I understand your stand point, no matter how severe or critical. I appreciate you just as much. Your criticism let's me know that I still have leaps and bounds to go before I capturing your hearts and support; "try again J.R." if you will lol... But I promise I will continue to try until I do. Supporters/nonsupporters, fans/non-fans... You all make this industry what it is and continue to make it grow.
Not everyone will like the work I do. In every sense of the word, some may even hate it. I truly work as hard as I can to satisfy the program I'm working with as a priority. Then afterwards, I cross my fingers and hope fans like it as well (which obviously doesn't always pan out how I'd like it to). With teams that give me "Open Reign", I try and mix in accordance to what 'everyone' may like in order to give fans something they'll love. However I **rarely** get the opportunity to *take a mix* and run with it... Again, I take whatever the gym requests and wants and do my best to make gold of it. It either works in my favor with fans... or it doesn't. But with people expressing their opinions on the boards, at least I know what fans are looking for... And for certain I appreciate "non-fans and non supporters" just as much in expressing their critical opinions, just as much as I do as those who support Extreme Traxx. Everyone of you are awesome in every sense of the word. I would have it no other way than to continue trying to capture your support.
If I had to *personally* touch on ANY one thing that's been said here, it would be **he has also lost the ability to choose decent songs for parts of the routine**. Again, everything you've said, I am completely humbled by and I take it with a grain of salt. I'm saddened that you feel this way, as I will continue to reach hard and do my best to make you believe otherwise... I'd say about 99% of my clientele choose their songs for every section. I can think of maybe 8 routines that I choose the songs for. ALL of my worlds routines for the most part (which I'm sure are the mixes that are heard, versus my youth 1-4 mixes) are routines that choose their own songs. GT, Woodlands, Spirit, Cheer Athletics, Stingray Amber, you name it... Each one of them have preferred songs that they want. Overused or not, **what they request is what they want. And what they want is what they are paying for**. I am in no position to reply to them when they say "well the team really wants this and so do I" with the comment "I don't want to use that in your mix because it's over done and I simply don't agree"... Whether fans love or hate a mix, my priority is to run my business the way it should be ran. And that's making a program happy by giving them what they want. I will never say "that's a terrible idea and I won't do it" to a team. However if clients later find that they are using a song that no longer fits, they always have the option of changing it or asking me "well what do you think JR". At that point, I tell them what is necessary as changes are included in their fee...
Hopefully I've been as professional as possibly writing up here. I'm not use to addressing fans on the fierceboards. I usually get facebook messages or emails. And hopefully, I've given some degree of insight that gives fans and non-fans alike an open mind into how operate. Good luck to every for the rest of the season!!! I wish you all the best!
Thomas "JR" Locklayer
AKA DJ Rizz :)
