Dear Roy,

I’m a composer and songwriter. What must I do to get a gig with a major motion picture?
Guillermo, San Jose 

Guillermo,
First, if you know anyone already in the business who has placed their songs or compositions in a motion picture, contact them and ask them to introduce you to their publisher. If not, then start researching music publishers. If you have sheet music or you are near a sheet music store or library, search for music, which has been in movies. In fact, look up music you like and music that resembles the style of the music you write and find out who the music publisher is for those compositions. Find more than one publisher. It will be on the sheet music or compilation book or score. It can also be on the recording. You want the music publisher not the recording studio or record company. Sometimes the Publisher is also the record company. But many times they are not the same. 

Once you have found five or more publishing companies, start contacting them. See if they will listen to your music. Tell them what you want to do in the movie music composition area. Do not begin with how much money, percentage or profits you desire. Just be simple and tell them that you are a composer and would like them to listen to some of your work and that you are interested in placing your music in a movie and or composing original music for movies, T.V. and commercials. 

Now, let’s be honest, here. There are thousands of composers who want their material in movies or T.V. You are one of thousands. So, you are going to have to do a lot of hard work besides writing music to make it in the business. You are going to have to do what I have suggested in the two paragraphs above this one. AND you are going to have to do MORE. Get a Tuesday addition of the Hollywood Reporter. In it will be a list of movies and T.V. shows that are in the pre-production and production stage. Call, write or email these companies and tell them you would like them to consider you as a composer for songs and scores. DO NOT TALK MONEY. Just tell them you are eager to show them your work. Then, listen carefully to what they say you must do. Next, get in touch with every school, college, university or gorilla filmmaker in your area. Offer them your work for little or no pay. They won’t have any money, anyway. Just get one of them to give you a shot. If you can land a small, short independent movie, you will get exposure and may just get some opportunities that you would never ever have gotten without the experience. Also, call commercial houses and try and land a commercial, even if it’s a local cable cheapie commercial. This will give you experience, credit and exposure.

If you feel you cannot do the above, then, try it your way. Good luck.

Roy        (TOP)

Copyright September 1, 2004 Roy Ayers Baxter, Jr. All rights reserved. Any reproduction of any kind is strictly prohibited without the permission of the copyright owner.

-----Original Message-----

Sent: Thursday, July 07, 2005 3:24 PM
To: roy@nohoartsdistrict.com 
Subject: An unconventional city 

Hey there Roy, 

I am a really good singer and actress, and am interested in working....not being among a zillion young hard bodies... I am in my thirties, but I reallydon't think of that as a death sentence at all.  

Might you suggest a few cities that have a livable community where you canmake a decent living as a Singer, or Actor or Voice Over Artist orpreferably all three? Or do you believe it's only possible in NYC or LA?

 Susan 

Dear Susan, 

Right off the bat I would definitely consider San Francisco, Seattle, Chicago, Boston, New Orleans and Nashville. 

Depending on what kind of music you want to sing - jazz, rock, grunge, folk, country, opera or religious - all of the above have their advantages. And they all have had other singers who started in their city and found eventually international success. So, they have a solid track record. 

You can also take an unconventional approach by traveling to another country. I have traveled around the world, and everywhere I go they love American and English music. In Singapore I dined at a restaurant that had an American singer. Last year in Moscow I played a bit of craps in a Casino that featured a live band that sang American rock and roll. Last night I was the featured entertainer at a private party of some of the most influential business men and women in Karachi, Pakistan. When I sang Roger and Hammerstein’s OH WHAT A BEAUTIFUL MORNING and Bob Dylan’s THE TIMES ARE A CHANGING they smiled and joined in singing. They knew the words by memory. And when I sang Jacque Brel’s FANNET and Lesley Brickus and Anthony Newley’s WHO CAN I TURN TO they paused in silence and talked about America and what it means to them. All of them are Pakistanis. 

If you want to sing for a living, there are many ways to do it. If you want to be rich and famous that’s a different story.

Good luck,

Roy         (TOP)

Copyright 2005 Roy Ayers Baxter, Jr.  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Reproduction of any kind is strictly prohibited without the written permission of the copyright owner.