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GMC Forum _ CHILL OUT _ First Job As A Composer
Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Dec 11 2011, 02:15 AM
Hey guys! I found this article which is about Video Games Scoring but I think that it's idea is cool to be applied to everybody that wants to work composing music.
The name of the article is http://www.leonwillett.com/leonwillett.com/Blog/Entries/2009/5/9_How_to_Get_Your_First_Job_Composing_for_Video_Games.html
and this is the main idea:
"The focus here is not just getting hired on a project no matter what. The focus here is on getting hired on a really great project that's right for you."
What do you think?
Posted by: AdamB Dec 11 2011, 05:52 AM
The companies can't consider you for a contract if you don't send them a show reel. Make that show reel as accessible as possible (youtube is a good place as everyone knows it and it's easily loaded up in any browser inside of 10 seconds) and make it as mind-bending-ly awesome as possible.
In games, likelyhood is you won't get hired out for a job on a blockbuster title first time out, but that doesn't mean you can't send them a CV and what not anyway and see how far you can push your luck. If you send about a reasonable CV and reel, some smaller studio will eventually pick up your contract if you've got the skills and in time you can work your way up to bigger and better things. One of the most important things once you get hired in games though, not matter for what role you are working, is to work on a title that gets shipped. Once someone has been a commercial success with a game you've worked on, you'll be much less of a risk to other employers to hire.
In the past, games I have worked on have hired sound-designers/composers because people already working in the studio knew the person as a friend out-side of the workplace. So knowing someone in the industry is also a help. When is that not true? heh.
Posted by: Todd Simpson Dec 11 2011, 06:20 AM
Some really great advice here. And also good point about knowing somebody. The importance of networking can't be overstated. I've done scoring work on some short films and a couple of features but these have been very, very low budget affairs where I'm mostly happy to be doing the work 
Scoring is something I'm really digging now that I'm in to it. I hope to pull a video game score next. Here's to a bright 2012!
In games, likelyhood is you won't get hired out for a job on a blockbuster title first time out, but that doesn't mean you can't send them a CV and what not anyway and see how far you can push your luck. If you send about a reasonable CV and reel, some smaller studio will eventually pick up your contract if you've got the skills and in time you can work your way up to bigger and better things. One of the most important things once you get hired in games though, not matter for what role you are working, is to work on a title that gets shipped. Once someone has been a commercial success with a game you've worked on, you'll be much less of a risk to other employers to hire.
In the past, games I have worked on have hired sound-designers/composers because people already working in the studio knew the person as a friend out-side of the workplace. So knowing someone in the industry is also a help. When is that not true? heh.
Great article! Thanks for sharing!
The name of the article is http://www.leonwillett.com/leonwillett.com/Blog/Entries/2009/5/9_How_to_Get_Your_First_Job_Composing_for_Video_Games.html
and this is the main idea:
"The focus here is not just getting hired on a project no matter what. The focus here is on getting hired on a really great project that's right for you."
What do you think?
Posted by: Daniel Realpe Dec 11 2011, 07:17 PM
this is great man, thanks for sharing! I would actually love to work in something like that, I think I could do a pretty good job
Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Dec 11 2011, 08:10 PM
In games, likelyhood is you won't get hired out for a job on a blockbuster title first time out, but that doesn't mean you can't send them a CV and what not anyway and see how far you can push your luck. If you send about a reasonable CV and reel, some smaller studio will eventually pick up your contract if you've got the skills and in time you can work your way up to bigger and better things. One of the most important things once you get hired in games though, not matter for what role you are working, is to work on a title that gets shipped. Once someone has been a commercial success with a game you've worked on, you'll be much less of a risk to other employers to hire.
In the past, games I have worked on have hired sound-designers/composers because people already working in the studio knew the person as a friend out-side of the workplace. So knowing someone in the industry is also a help. When is that not true? heh.
Great post man! You seem to have some good experience on this area... what have you done? In which games have you worked and what was your job?
Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Dec 11 2011, 10:54 PM
These are some great business advices that are applicable to various areas. Definitely advice worth of gold!
Very interesting topic btw!
Posted by: AdamB Dec 12 2011, 01:04 PM
Well I'd rather not post specifics on a public forum as it's not very professional, but I'll PM you some details of things I've done.
Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Dec 12 2011, 03:37 PM
Ok friend! No problem. Thanks!
Posted by: Sinisa Cekic Dec 12 2011, 05:14 PM
Excellent article,thanks for sharing this one ! Who knows, maybe one day will go into that area !!
Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Dec 13 2011, 07:22 AM
! Who knows, maybe one day will go into that area !!Sure man! I would like to hear Sinisa's soundtracks!
Posted by: Ben Higgins Dec 13 2011, 04:13 PM
This is a very cool article. It makes total sense about focusing all your energy into the path that you truly want to take, instead of spreading it thin in a 'I'll do anything' kind of way
Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Dec 13 2011, 04:30 PM
Exactly! It's great concept.
Posted by: Alex Feather Dec 16 2011, 05:27 AM
Great article!!!! I knows few people who is composing music for movies it's a great job to have and if you are passionate about it it's a very rewarding carrer! I've heard about this website www.taxi.com that you can submit your music to the industries and possibly get some work and placements! Check it out!!!
Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Dec 16 2011, 06:11 PM
Very cool indeed, the more I read about it, the more I'm interested in this too. Unfortunately, I don't have any experience regarding that, but I would sure like to try to make some sound effects for a game, sounds like an interesting job. Some games from my childhood had awesome melodies and effects!
Posted by: Alex Feather Dec 18 2011, 08:50 AM
Yeah to write music for games would be amazing!!!
Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Dec 18 2011, 04:27 PM
It seems to a great site. Thanks for the link!
Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Dec 19 2011, 01:30 PM
Composing soundtrack for a game can be very demanding, but very rewarding. i.e. Tony Hawks and NFS are one of the games that push original tracks. So, songs are very highlighted in those games. For some other games, it's more like a cinematic music, more orchestration based. Both are great, I like to hear both in games.
If you guys remember San Andreas, man.. When you go into a car, the radio starts. So I was recently listening to these radio stations, and to think of it that entire team of people was in charge of creating these complete programs, with some legendary songs too i.e. "Free Bird". Here's an example of how one of these radio stations sounded like. I know it's not like a real one, but listen to how professional it sounds ( and these are programs that last more then hour, and there is several different stations in game)
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