Hired! Music in Visual Media

Upcoming composers and artists have inquired frequently about what they can do to stand out and get a leg up on landing a job for music in visual media. Here are 11 quick tips based on my experience in the music industry so far:

1) Have a reel of your music to visual media. If you haven't worked on a project yet, score to your favorite show or a scene from a movie you enjoy- create a portfolio to better develop and find your sound. Often times I receive audio clips but it is not paired with the visual media it was created for. This makes it hard to fully comprehend the true embodiment of what the music was trying to accomplish. Having a private YouTube playlist or Vimeo reel with highlights of visual media to your music is preferred. Easy to watch, easy to stream, easy to share.

2) Befriend upcoming or established Directors and Producers. They are all around- film schools, independent, etc. Offer your services. Stay in touch with them. Follow up with them. Send them stuff you make. Be willing to take work at a reduced cost to get in the door and build your resume.

3) Start small, dream big. Many docs, short films, animated, podcasts, etc. need to be scored. Use IMDB as a resource to get in touch with the director/producers and reach out and offer your services. If you get a no, that’s OK- you got a response and established a connection. That no might turn into a yes on the next project. Stay in touch, follow up.

4) Continue to create even if you don't have a project. Composers are some of the nicest people you will ever meet and believe in mentor-ship. Ask to shadow established composers or their teams, they will be receptive and bring you into the studio for a day or longer. This is an amazing opportunity to see if this lifestyle is a fit for you. Long hours, windowless rooms, constant feedback of not nailing a scene (as music is so subjective). It is a difficult profession.

5) Be realistic with your compensation. Major composers make anywhere from 100K-1M+ per film. So if you are just starting in shorts or docs you could possibly only make 5K or less and still not retain publishing (work for hire). Does the opportunity outweigh the compensation? We all need to start somewhere. 

6) Build your socials and library. Your work is important, but getting people in the seats / eyes on the screen are the end mission from major/independent studios. Artists are becoming composers and they get that opportunity from the allure and seats they fill. Of course, talent matters as well, but if it is between someone on the same skill level but they have a bigger presence, the director/producers/studio executive will push for the bigger name. Build your brand to get gigs.

7) Collaborate across multiple genres. Horror, Thriller, Action, Drama, Romance, Animation. Find your passion and your niche. Some composers get stereotyped into a genre yes, but on the positive they are excelling and getting gigs in one type of genre- if you fall in that situation, embrace it!

8) Have fun with it all. Don't be afraid to fail or get rejected. Reach out. Make sure to release all of your work with a score or soundtrack album when you do a project. No matter how small- it showcases your work, and there are a ton of distribution platforms to allow you to do so. Collaborate with the Studios marketing, publicity department. See how your music can be of service and integrated in the campaign more (played at the red carpet premiere, used in Instagram/YouTube ads/trailers, etc.)

9) Have an agent that specializes is visual media opportunities. Major agencies (CAA, WME, ICM, UTA) all have composer/cross over departments that represent composers. They have their ear to the ground on projects in the film/tv/visual media world and help negotiate your rate for projects. Other firms include Kraft-Engel Management, First Artists Management, the Gorfaine/Schwartz Agency, Air-Edel, and Evolution Music Partners.

10) Have a team in mind. You can't do it all! Look into orchestrators, music editors, assistants, engineers. When the time comes, you want to have all boxes checked so that it is easy to execute, deliver, and get hired again.

11) Make sure you are registered with a PRO such as ASCAP, BMI, or SESAC.