Why am I a Composer?: Free Stuff


AFX Industrial (film scores)

Why getting your score for free may not be the best solution!

If you are a creative person like me, then you'll have probably done all sorts of stuff without the expectation of payment. Like being in a band with your buddies. Making an experimental film for fun or even inventing some life changing gadget just for the hell of it. We've all been involved with projects that never quite got off the ground. There's something great about working on creative projects that have no time constraints or budget concerns, and a lot of us wouldn't be where we are without that experience.

Making The Break

In the end though just making the break from an amateur to a professional can often mean leaving some of those ideals behind. If you are reading this then you may be a professional film-maker and ready to move on to the next level. It's a hard fact, but eventually this will mean that you have to consider paying for the music on your film ...

A lot of people will offer to give you some music for free. On the face of it, that sounds great who
doesn't like getting something for free?

But there are downsides to free music ...

1. Payment - If you don't offer pay and they don't expect payment, this already puts any professional
relationship on shaky ground. If someone is doing something for free, it's unlikely that it'll be their full-time job - your film will have to come second to the things that pay their rent!

2. Contract - No contract means no commitment. This can be fatal as it means the composer can walk away from your film any time they like, taking you right back to square one. At some point you will have a deadline to meet, maybe for a festival or a screening. Why wait until the deadline and pay more for 'library music' that won't really enhance your film? You'll spend less by budgeting for an original score right at the start of your project.

3. Bust-ups - No matter how reliable your composer may seem, with no contract and no financial commitment to tie them in any disagreement could mean that you are left with no music. Working with a professional composer will reduce the likelihood of freindship-ending rows.

So when you work with a professional composing team there will be no question that you'll get what you want, when you want it, for the price you want to pay.

- David.