This is a list we have compiled from talking to various experienced composers who have worked in 'sound-to-picture' for many years. Let us know if you can think of any more, and we will update the list...

1) When compiling a showreel, use Vimeo as it is more professional. Make sure you have some moving pictures that you have composed to and be clear if something is a demo or a real job. You can also back this up with compositions on Soundcloud (or similar)

2) If contacting Music production companies - don’t just send one email with no follow up. It’s always good to call companies and find out what they are looking for. Try and develop a relationship with people.

3) If possible go and work for the kind of company you want to get work from eg advertising agency or production company. It may mean not starting in music straight away, but it will give you a good customer base to start with.

4) Do some market research before you start sending examples of your work around. Try and find out who you need to send you work to and what kind of thing they are looking for and what format they want to see it on.

5) Always link to as many people as you can in Linked In - it will help your research into your customers as well as being able to see what companies everyone is looking at.

6) There are hundreds of other composers out there all trying to get work - what is your unique angle/what will get you remembered? Did you do a great piece of work? did you send something unsusual in the mail? did you make a funny making of video for one of your tracks - try and stand out. Marketing yourself should take at least 50% of your time...

7) Try and get as many face to face meetings with people as you can - it’s difficult to strike up any kind of relationship on email.

8 ) A lot of work is based on who you know - so, if you have the chance to socialise with people in the media, this could help a lot. It will always be more difficult for you to start out if you live in the Outer Hebrides rather than a major City like London or Manchester.

9) Keep practising your craft - even if it means doing low paid music for student films, or low-end TV work - the more you practise the faster you get. You will always build up a catalogue of material, which you can re-cycle for other paid work. Also - it’s worth saying that you are busy and working on interesting projects, remixing or recording etc.

We just launched a new blog - we'll post this and composer interviews on there - Masterclass Blog

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Music for TV masterclass / Lemez&Fridel

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