I’m going to show you an “outside-of-the-box” place where you can meet the filmmakers you need to build relationships with as a composer.
But first, a quick background story…
When I started teaching about film music, students would approach me, frustrated:
“I KNOW I can compose, but I just don’t have the opportunities!!!”
So I’d ask them what they’d been doing to find opportunities.
And that’s where they’d stumble.
“Uhh…I mean…I’ve sent a few emails…and I’ve searched online for film networking events nearby…but there aren’t any!”
You see, sometimes it can feel like you’re doing loads to further your career…
…but when you actually stop and think about it, maybe you’re not.
We spend so much time working on the craft, that we forget about the business.
In a previous post, I told you about how working at a movie rental store opened opportunities for me.
Well, that’s the kind of “outside-of-the-box” thinking that can help you find projects – where are the movie-related places that you might find projects?
With that, here’s a step-by-step process:
First, don’t expect to find many local results when you search for “film networking events” online. Instead, ask yourself: where do filmmakers/people interested in film hang out in my town?
Then go there!
I mean physically go, and see what’s there.
Some ideas to get you started:
- Equipment rental stores
- Local independent cinemas
- “Geek”, “nerd”, or “tech” stores
Then, talk with the people there. Find out about them. Don’t be afraid of being honest. Tell them why you’re there, what you’re doing. Ask if they can recommend any other places you should check out.
You can even leave them a business card.
When I worked at Blockbusters I was lucky enough to be a composer in a movie-environment, but if I hadn’t been, I would have loved to have been able to recommend someone!
Remember: the people that work in these places are often filmmakers themselves or they’re involved in the local filmmaking scene in some way.
There’s only two steps there:
- Find local spots that filmmakers hang out in
- Go and introduce yourself and see what else is on!
Two small steps, but two giant leaps when it comes to getting involved in your local filmmaking scene.
I could keep writing all day with other ideas for you, but I know you already have a lot to read, so I’ll leave it there for now!
So go ahead and see what kinds of cool places you can find in your local area.
And after you do, let me know in the comments what you find!