I once asked a client to put together a reel to submit on an edgy comedy. I listened to what she assembled, which was perfectly fine, and asked her, “If you were the person listening to this amongst all the other submissions would you yell out, “STOP EVERYTHING! I JUST FOUND OUR COMPOSER!”
Short of that definitive reaction, I asked if she thought her demo would probably stand out and end up as one of the filmmakers’ Top Three Choices.
We both agreed that was unlikely.
The middle or the bottom of their enthusiasm stack wasn’t going to cut it.
They were going to end up with at least one of their Top Choices.
There was nothing wrong with the submission, but it was nothing special enough to generate any real enthusiasm and to distinguish itself into being a rousing contender.
People tend to get into committed relationships like hiring composers, investing in a business or getting married based on PASSION.
They narrow the vast field of possibilities down to the one that generates the most electricity and connection.
Billionaire and venture capitalist Chris Sacca, an early and large investor in Twitter, Uber, Instagram, and Kickstarter explained that when he is making a an investment decision it is either a “HELL YEAH” or it’s a “NO”.
The same applies to composer choices.
IS WHAT YOU PUTTING OUT THERE A “HELL YEAH”?
If not, it will probably end up being a “NO”.
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