Saturday 28 October 2017

Michael Tatzber - How To Hire a Music Composer

A composer is someone who writes music piece for theater, TV, radio, films and computer games and advertising (both off and online), or any other projects where the music is needed. Music can create a wonderful support and enhancement for your projects. However, in order to get the quality results you will have to hire a good composer. If you need original music for your next project here are some simple steps on how to find and select a quality composer.

Michael Tatzber
How To Hire a Music Composer
Experience:  Although music compositions require skill, the most important thing a composer needs is creativity and uniqueness. This is what will make your projects stand out from others. Even Hans Zimmer said that the technical advancements in music and engineering have made it possible that you can create a whole soundtrack on an iPad or your phone. Because the most crucial aspect of composition is the idea. Any composer will have a library of pieces that you can listen to and this is the best indicator if a particular composer is right for you.

Personality: Composers must be details oriented and have a strong work ethic and be quick writers. Especially the film scoring or TV show scoring is a very fluid situation, with cuts and sequences being constantly rearranged. So a composer has be adaptable, so in a sense this career is not a good fit for someone who is just a great artist, but also one who is able not to get too attached to his own work. And most importantly, just a love for the music is not enough. The composer must have a very strong passion for the projects and do whatever he can to tell the story in musical notes.

Choice:  Listen to samples of the compositions created by the composer. Producer and directors may be deciding to cut or rearrange scenes or the music editor may be deciding they want a song in one scene instead of score. Before hiring, listen to the audio sample of the music. Use reference tracks to show the composer, which direction you want to take on the project. And talk in as much detail as you can about the project, so the composer gets a feel for what you are looking for.

Michael Tatzber
Tips to Finding a Music Manager
Communication: Communication is one of the most important things when it comes to mixing different kinds of media, like in film, TV or gaming. A music composer has to completely understand your vision and what exactly what you want him to deliver. A bigger project will have many different music related task, so might have to hire people like a music editor, orchestrator, music supervisor, sound designer, etc. 

Reliability: Because TV shows, movies and games cost a lot of money they usually require strict deadlines. Therefore it is necessary that the music composer is reliable, on time and committed to his or her job. That means the composer has to be able to tailor the creative process and the execution to the time line given to him/her.

Total Cost:  Composers can be very expensive. Sometimes it is better to choose somebody who might not be a big name in business, but has the skill and passion to bring the project to the next level. He cost of the music composer has to always be seen in relation in what the composer brings to the table, how much more successful the project will be due to the work of the composer and how much name ID plays a role in your project. If you expect a huge return of investment, you might choose a famous composer.

Michael Tatzber is a musician, composer and sound engineer who has been involved in music for television and film, ad  jingles, song writing and electronic composition for around 30 years.


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