Top Ten Myths about being A Film Composer: #2-"My Music Is My Brand- 'nuff said".

What Is A Brand?

If I were to ask you this question would you have an answer? If I asked you to describe your brand could you tell me? Do you even know why it is important? We all use search to vett and verify everyone we met. If you see a strong consistent online presence chances are they have spent time thinking about their brand which translates into higher credibility and possible employment.
So how do you begin to build your brand?

Let me ask you a few questions:

• What are your "Core Values"?
• How do you support (pillars) your core values?
• What is your "promise" (mission statement) to your customers/audience?
• Where do you want to go? (aspirations)
• If you asked someone to articulate who you are what would they say? (Brand Characteristics)
• How do you work? Who to you work with? (Culture)
• Describe your professional "personality".
• Can you identify where your best opportunities are? Can you describe your image?

If you were to hire a branding company to help you sell your services these are some of the questions they would ask. They wouldn't be able to even start without knowing this crucial information. 

Your music is a commodity.

To be successful in marketing yourself you must start think of what you do as being a "product" that is bought and sold. Yeah , Yeah....I know this sounds hardcore. It doesn't have much to do with making music. Or does it?

Believe it or not, I still get uncomfortable when talking about my music and my career...even after all these years. I have found, through painful trial and error, that when I think of my music as if it were an inanimate object I am much more at ease and less self conscious. I remind myself that I am expressing my brand not myself. I can then focus on the other person and be confident. Never forget- it's all about connecting with who you are talking to.

What does that mean to you?

Think of your music as your "brand"-which is to say that "you" are different than your brand.

The questions above describe the basics of branding  a company, product or individual so that the reader or potential buyer can determine quickly (10 sec. or less) if you have given them sufficient reason to engage them in what you are offering. Doing this effectively requires you to be able to articulate your message (promise or mission statement) succinctly without hesitation. Rehearse your elevator pitch! It will give you a big boost of confidence. 

Why branding?

In recent times there has been much emphasis on "branding". You might think "branding" is cool graphics, great trailer style music, attention grabbing etc. Ever ask yourself how they come up with that stuff? (a great video describing what a brand is).

That being said: branding is about creating a shared experience that denotes quality, service and value that the user carries with them. To express these ideas to a listener, reader or employer you must be clear about the meaning of the message you are delivering. Here is an analogy:  to be a successful orchestrator one has to learn how to write in "in the language of the orchestra ".  Getting to the heart of who you are, what you stand for will make your sales process more effective.

What does this have to do with making music?

The more you work, the more chance you have to make music.

'nuff said.

Top Ten Myths of about being a Film Composer #4- "I'm going to be rich!!!

What drives you?

Do you want to make a lot of money?

Do you want to be famous?

Do you crave attention?

What drives you to do what  you do?

Even though I have had my share of success I really don't think about any of that. I chose to be a musician because I couldn't imagine myself doing anything else! Some one once said of me: "You didn't choose music, music chose you". My motivation wasn't derived by anything in the material world. I was obsessed by the process of making music...that was where I wanted to be. Consequently I did everything I could to put myself in situations where I could satisfy that desire. I practiced, I studied incessantly, I listened to music constantly all the while thinking that if I was the best I could be...then that was all I could expect of myself (Thanks Mom!). I kept my standards high...focusing on making the rewards of my journey intrinsic and unaffected by the outside world.

There are no guarantees in life, or in art.

Call it ignorance or naivety...the beauty of being young is that your lack of experience is actually a benefit rather than a detriment. It's easier to take risks simply because you don't know any better!

At 18 I joined a quartet (2 were my high school counselors) that worked a lot doing weddings, parties etc. The third member was a jr. high school band leader. He was one of the most bitter, disillusioned people I had ever met. How did that happen? He didn't have the courage to fail. Rather than risk being rejected or failing he chose to take the "safe" way out. In the process he gave himself a lifetime sentence of self doubt. Poor guy. It just ate him up. At that moment I knew that I would rather fall flat on my face than not know if I was good enough to make a go at being a professional musician. I applied to Cal State Northridge and promptly left the small town I lived in. I figured: "Better to fail spectacularly than to never try".

In my early twenties I was terrified by the prospect of having to make a living in music in the big city. It was my first time away from home. I had no idea how to get a job. I was uncomfortable in social settings. I had no concept of business. I asked my mentor early on one day: "how do I get a job". I was desperately trying to figure it out. His response:

STAY HOME AND GET GOOD!- people will find out about you.

That made absolutely no sense to me at all. Gee thanks!

Even so, I had no reason to doubt him so I accepted his comment and went about my business. I decided to work as hard as I could to be the best I could be and let the chips fall where they may. Soon enough, people started to pay attention and opportunities arose...strictly because of my obsession with being the best I could be. In hindsight I understand the wisdom of his remark. all too well.

It would be easy for me to say that if you followed this advice you'll find success in the music business...that all your dreams will come true. Truth is: no one knows. There is too much that is out of your control.

Success all depends on your definition

Success can be defined in many ways. Looking back at my 43 years as a professional musician, and 53 years as a pianist I can honestly say I am rich beyond words. I have been fortunate enough to know and work with more creative geniuses than I can name. .

Will you be rich and famous? I have no idea. But,

I do know this. 

The first step towards success is to know who you are and why you want to do what you do. For anyone else to be able to understand you, you have to understand this in yourself at a very deep level. AND, be able to articulate it to others.

If you listen to your heart and stay true to what it is telling you it matters not whether you are filthy rich or a pauper. It matters not whether you have fame or live in obscurity. No matter how much money you have, you can't buy peace of mind or a happy heart.

Life happens from the inside out....not by looking outside for validation, self-worth or satisfaction.

So...whatever it is you are dreaming of, just go for it. There is no shame in failing...only in not trying!

TOP TEN MYTHS ABOUT BEING A FILM COMPOSER- #9

9. “ All I have to do is write wonderful music and I will be a success”

I think it would safe to say that if you are reading this you have a passion for music. More than likely I wouldn’t be surprised if you spent large amounts of time pursuing your passion. Some might describe it as an addiction, a compulsion, or worse. They are most likely correct in their assumption. Not to worry- to achieve your goals all of these attributes are needed and more.

You might be prone to sitting at the piano, composing or improvising-- envisioning your music being heard in a darkened room with hundreds of people sitting in rapt attention. There is nothing wrong with that either.

Undoubtedly there are some of you who have a healthy ego and believe that your musical skills are well suited to the task. You’ve studied Mozart, Beethoven, Mahler, Strauss, Ravel, Debussy, Stravinsky and more. You’ve also are fanatic about the latest scores from James Horner, John Williams, James Newton Howard etc etc.

You’ve also done your homework regarding popular music. You understand pop, rock, rap, rave, electronica. I imagine you are a programming whiz...highly adept at making samples and sequences rock.

All of what I’ve described above are pre-requisites for a career in film music.

But, and this is a big but, most of this really doesn’t matter to a film director.

Did you hear me? …it doesn’t matter.

They may appreciate your expertise but at the end of the day all they will truly care about is whether or not you can deliver a score that will help their movie be successful.

Directors, in my experience, are single-minded people.

From the moment they begin a project they are, and have to be, consumed with their movie. Directors not only have to answer to studios, investors etc.,hey constantly have to manage everyone who is involved in the process. Can you imagine being asked questions from everyone you see 24/7? I can’t imagine being in that position…it has to be exhausting.

Why is all of this relevant to the statement above?

Music is only one part of the process of making movies. In a sense you are part of a hierarchy that includes, actors, production designers, cinematographers, writers, producers, lighting designers, costumers, editors, dubbing mixers, adr engineers, gaffers, best boys, etc.

Important points to remember:

Understand your place

Be prepared (know the story, the cut, each character, their back story if possible)

Listen-

Learn how to communicate effectively (more on that in subsequent posts)

Above all- don’t waste your director’s time. Time is their most important asset.

Being talented enough to be able to write wonderful music is a given. It may even get you a meeting.

Being talented will only take you so far.

Acknowledgement and understanding of what I’ve said above will be needed if you want to create a career as a film composer.

Coming next: #8- "I'm the composer- I'll write what I think is best"