In 1900 it was not clearly apparent how composers could best profit from motion pictures
In 1927 it was not clearly apparent how composers could best pro...
From my perspective, most journeys (including careers) start on paths that are fairly wide. This can be a good thing because there are so many fresh things to ...
I have been involved in over 10,000 composer deals. And there are some basic concepts behind them all which I would like to share.
I believe the current A...
Before reaching out to strangers by phone or email or messaging, first ask yourself:
1. Am I asking them to give ME something (time, advice, a meeting, a li...
Composers and musicians know the incredible value of practice. And for Media Composers gaining experience is their form of practice. Experience is the key to ...
I was once the Head of Music at a low budget film studio making a deal for a shitty film, on a crappy budget with a minor composer. He and his lawyer tried to ...
Would be interested in how members of this Forum would define their:
short term goals (defined here as 1-2 years);
midterm goals (defined here as 3-10 y...
When discussing the world of media music composing, the expression, “There’s a reason they call it ‘SHOW BUSINESS’” is often used.
Sometimes the emphasis is ...
Whenever anyone asks for advice on whether to consider scoring a feature film or not, I tend to think the question is primarily directed to those with experienc...
I am trying to better understand the new world of streaming as it relates to AFM musicians. Informed comments would be most appreciated. Are the following cor...
The pragmatist in me listens to people stating what they want and why they want it and usually keep waiting and waiting for the second part of their statement w...
Just learned this: In 1915, William Wrigley mailed a complimentary four-stick package of gum to every household in the United States that owned a telephone.
...
There are SO many great reasons to compose for film, tv and games. However, expecting external validation in the forms of gratitude, acknowledgment, praise, th...
Over the years composers have shared with me their bold and wild quests to obtain a seemingly impossible dream. Sometimes there are composers who have never sc...
CHEER ON OUR HEROESÂ DURING INTERNATIONAL COMPOSER BRAVERY WEEK... YOUR SUCCESS DEPENDS ON IT.
Breathing is inhaling and exhaling. You die without bo...
It’s here!
Your chance to make one bold, proactive, comfort zone-pushing action to help propel your career forward. Think of what you have avoided, procrast...
We are all humans. So we are all a goulash of struggles and challenges and fears and situations. A first step in addressing them is acknowledging their existe...
Growing up I suffered from both a speech impediment and telephonophobia, a fear of speaking on the telephone (especially if I were the one placing the call).
...
This is one of my favorite expressions in deal making. What is your interpretation of it? How could it come into play as a useful reminder as a media composer...
From the perspective of someone who has been involved in thousands of film, tv and game deals at all levels I can attest that there is no general “formula” to d...
Having a realistic sense of where you are on the path towards your goals can be extremely helpful in calibrating expectations. I frequently ask my clients to n...
While the phrase, “Don’t quit your day job” is often used as an insult meant to inform someone that they are horrible at what ever they are trying to do, and sh...
It’s 2019. If you are trying to establish yourself as an artist (and composers are artists), a strong social media presence is pretty much becoming a must. W...
A media composer is running a business. And a media composer rarely does it all alone. Building their business can involve lots of teammates including:
Ag...
I have been asked for my two cents on the impact on content created for streaming services on composers. It is confusing, complex and hard to predict. But I w...
I thought it might be interesting to conduct an experiment of looking at old problems through the filter of asking new questions. Hopefully, this approach can b...
This week I had a extremely frustrating moment on something I had been pursuing and passionately wanting fall apart. I definitely said Shit, Fuck and Damn... A...
I once represented an extremely talented young composer. (Out of respect for him I am not using his name and PLEASE don’t speculate here about who it might be....
In another post Kevin Mathie raises a question about doing quality projects over a quantity of them and how that impacts traction and a sense of success.
IF...
On another thread Sid De La Cruz asked a great question about at what level do agents consider working with up-and-coming composers. Here is my best attempt at ...
The phrase “WORKING FOR FREE” is discussed here a lot. And it is defined differently by different people.
Each individual gets to define what “working f...
A few months ago I was blessed to have a director ask me to lunch so he could pick my brain about developing film musicals. We hit it off right away. We share...
Perceiving other people in a horrible light can be extremely limiting and self-destructive. Calling people harsh and highly charged names can be a real pitfall...
The desire to keep one’s head low and dodging engagement as a means to avoid looking foolish is completely understandable.
And completely counterproductive t...
Every single person on this Forum has their own unique Perspective.
Share it.
MY CHALLENGE TO YOU
Stop sitting on the sidelines here (and probably in o...
Realizing that so many of my favorite films are comedies.
And that many of those comedies are scored by my favorite composers.
For examples, see the comme...
Very few of us will ever take out a formal advertisement about ourselves or our work, but we are all constantly engaged in publicly presenting our brand whether...
Most media composers are looking to gain access to a long-term career filled with financial stability, artistic expression, satisfying collaborations and reward...
There are certain types of deals, such as scoring short films, where the variables of financial considerations between the “good” ones and the “bad” ones are so...
Many words have many different meanings. And different people have differing associations to those words and their definitions.
Today the word “Hustle” was u...
In a different thread an interesting conversation started about people’s attitudes towards the word “hustle”.
Would love to hear your thoughts on the notion ...
Someone turning 50 asked how hard it would be to launch a new career as a composer at that juncture of life.
The answer:
IT WOULD BE DAMN HARD
But not ...
34 years ago Danny Elfman was only a lad recording his first orchestral score, PEE-WEE’S BIG ADVENTURE.
Last night he joined Sandy Cameron on stage for his f...
For a while, in cities around the world, silent movies created a wealth of new opportunities for local composers, arrangers and musicians to create and perform ...
For all of you who is having a hard time with anything in your life today, I hope what I’m about to tell you gives you a bit of hope and determination to move f...
Since the 1890’s the music industry was either through monetizing live performance or through. selling phonographs.
Record sales triggered mechanical royalti...
Richard Kraft is the co-owner of Kraft-Engel Management, one of the world’s leading agencies specializing in representing film, theatre, television and video game composers, songwriters and music supervisors.
