Earlier this week, I got an email from the owner of a very active boutique music library with tons of high-end trailer, promo, and commercial credits, asking if I'd be interested in doing some work for them. This is the kind of library that has a handful of in-house composers and uses very few freelancers. They have a small, but unique and highly active, catalog.
We followed up with a phone call, and it turns out that they're scouting new talent for both freelance and possibly a new full-time position. I can't say that I got the gig, or that there's even a gig to get, yet, but after a very nice conversation, he invited me to come meet the crew at their studio.
Anyhow, the point of this is not to brag (okay, maybe a little
), but that, whatever becomes of this, getting the call definitely took a huge stroke of luck (the owner came across my Soundcloud and wasn't sure exactly how), but it also took preparation and presenting myself in a professional manner.I have a website. It's not a great website, it's not a comprehensive website, but it looks professional. It has a simple bio (he called it "mysterious, but in a good way"), a list of credits, a few music samples, and a contact form. That's it. The first thing he mentioned on the phone, after the music, was my "cool" website.
I have music on my Soundcloud. It's not highly-curated (it's a large portion of my output, in fact), but there's a playlist of strong tracks at the top (my bread-and-butter stuff: riff rock). This is what caught their attention. My strongest material was right up front, easily accessible (this might be a Soundcloud Pro feature; I forget).
I don't know everything, or even very much, about the music business, and I'll fully acknowledge that this is dumb, stupid luck. But being prepared sure helped. You can have great music, but if nobody can find it, or if you present yourself like a flake (or not at all), you're not going to get the call.
Anyhow, I just wanted to pass this along. Treat your music like a business. Keep writing, keep improving your craft. Make sure you present the best possible face to the world, because you never know when somebody might be watching.
-nick
