Composing : Composing Triangle: Money, Relationships & Creative Reward by Navid Lancaster

Money, Relationships, and Creative Reward don't intersect. At least not yet.

I disagree David, sometimes these things can work out.

Navid, this is so true! I was talking to my mentee (a sound designer but the method of getting work is the same) about this the other day, it's a great principle to maintain throughout your career. Personally I've worked this way for years. I'm actually on a difficult project at the moment where it started off with two of the points of the triangle being in place, and gradually the creative freedom point has been sawn off, leaving my triangle looking decidedly prong-y... It's way more complicated when the triangle disintegrates during a project. This time I've carried on working on it, but it's been such a headache I'm not sure I'd do it again, and in future I'll definitely be checking my triangle more thoroughly when it comes to this director!

A great watch - highly recommended.

Here is a reality check from my last two weeks - on the relationship of the triangle. Be very careful of about people - especially your first timers - who have good intentions but don't have a total open communication with you.

1. Two weeks ago I agreed to score with a filmmaker who never worked with a composer before. She was competing for a grant and I had some free time so I was scoring with the possibility of getting the follow on film. The night of the first day of the project, when we are 'discussing' what to do about the first cue, a small family health emergency occurred and my wife came in to talk during the cue conversation. Emergency was worked out. I continued through about 40% of the cues the next morning. Then I got an email from the filmmaker saying she wanted to give me time to spend with my family and removed me from the crew (then an hour later unfriended me on Facebook).

2. Last month I was contacted by a senior member of the non-profit I volunteer for to do a promotional video for the property they own (I am also a videographer). Project was on a deadline and got held up for 2 weeks because of a family death of one of the participants. The project lead decided I would not be able to complete everything on time and so he added a 'director' (musician friend of mine) without talking to me first. The director took over the editing and decided to use his own music. I had already written about 1/3 of the music by that point. Finally the director sent me as videographer a list of things to shoot but told me he would not be on site (a 2 hour drive from my house). I called the project lead and stepped off.

Both things emphasize for me an important part of relationships also emphasized in the video - trust. Trust of my talent, trust of my professionalism, but also trust in carrying out commitments and obligations. In both the above cases they thought they were both doing the right thing but never did a reality check.

Really helpful Joel (though sorry you've had such bad luck lately across your recent posts, both those most recent situations sound very stressful). Trust is definitely an important component of our work relationships. I would add to that that relationships also need to include being valued. Both those directors sound like they didn't value your skills and experience very highly. When that happens, it's almost impossible to repair the relationship.

By valued I don't mean we need constant ego boosts and to be continuously told how great we are, but if a director doesn't respect your time, skillset, the time consuming nature of composition work, and your experience, you're in trouble.

Thanks for sharing!

Actually I think he makes it sound complicated. It's a lot easier if you add qualifiers - Good money, people you really get on with and projects that you love - that feed your soul. It's all about feeding really - feed your mouth, feed your soul. feed yout emotional world. Then the 2/3 triangle becomes musch easier. And the trick is to be honest with yourself....do I really love this project, does it excite me or do I only think it will be cool? Is this really good money enough to get me through the next few months or is it just a decent fee? You get the idea.

Joel Irwin Very good points. I would like to focus on what you said in example 1.

I think you dodged a bullet there with that one.

David Alan Kleve It's going to soon enough. In my experience that triangle hits home really fast especially when you are aggressively marketing yourself to attract new people.

Arhynn Descy Understood.

Oh the stories I have... they are plentiful!

I had a musician friend who had similar points.

1)Had to like the music,

2) Had to like the gig

3) Had to like the $.

Truth is - you rarely can have all three.... Same for film composing. But we are always trying to improve our situation.

The question is: Is it easier to get all thee - if you are full time? (and hungrier) Or easier if you are part - time?

Mark Connelly Wilson I think you can get all three, constantly, if you are in the top tier of Composers.