Danger's of composing for money.

[Chuck Lucy Finale]

I have never composed with the intent to please other's ears, so I'm curious of those who do. Do you ever feel that your music has suffered because you are trying to please an audience? Perhaps it won't affect you if your music tends toward the mean.

[Chris Alpiar]

Pleasing an audience or composing to make money? Those are two different things. Music and art, by definition, must have an audience, otherwise it is truly narcissistic masturbation. The idea of creating art is to share an intangible idea, share beauty, share your mind, with at least someone else. You need an audience, even if its your children, or your bookreading club, or anyone at all. Now creating commercial music vs. music of truth of your mind and soul, now that is a different story. I am trying to stay working as a professional full time composer, and that means that I have to do a lot of writing and creating that isn't a reflection of my own truth - and that hurts me. So I try and always incorporate SOMEthing in the music that is true to who I am, but it doesnt always happen. And yes, when I write commercially, trying to please the client often makes my music suffer. So I try and balance it with making time for me to write what I want to, what is fun for me, and what speaks truth about my mind and soul ;-)

[J Renzetti]

It's only a danger when no one wants to hire you The money make the music sound so much richer.

JR

[Sean McGee]

I think that, yes, without question the music can suffer on occasions, but I write music to suit the subject matter (in my case film) and therefore it becomes an integral part of the whole visual experience. If my audience needs to feel sorrow or romance or fear, it's my job to give them that emotion however I can.
I have to admit, I often incorporate little musical jokes in my tracks to see if the directors pick up on them............in 10 yrs of doing this nobody has yet!!!lol
I never truly feel compromised, just lucky to be able to do what I love ;)

[Jamie Kowalski]

I have scored for film, television, documentaries, etc. There were a couple of projects I enjoyed, but for the most part, it was completely draining for me. I understand needing a thick skin for this kind of work, but it really came down to my not getting much artistic satisfaction out of what I was doing. The worst part is that it left me not wanting to write anything for myself.

After decades of thinking that composing was my dream job, I realized that what makes composing a dream for me is cancelled out by the money aspect. I recently decided to stop seeking composition work, and have even rejected a few offers. In the end, my music is more important to me than any additional money it might bring. And since I make a fairly good wage otherwise, the most satisfying application of my muse requires my writing in solitude.

Of course this is only my personal experience. Many take on composing as a vocation and enjoy it.

[Ray Kemp]

I would think the biggest danger is composing for nothing or nobody. I leave the door open here regularly so my wife can't avoid the noise.

[Ray Kemp]

Who knows what the future will bring but.........part time composing may be the "norm" even for money.

[Neil Bruce]

I know exactly what you mean Jamie! Been there myself, although now I compose stuff that I like and suits my still, I seem to be getting more interest. I put it down to authenticity, basically the work I am creating for me has more passion than some of the other stuff I have done just for cash.

Fantastically interesting topic!

[Jan Civil]

I make music, cause I want to hear something. I have preferences, a filter, it's mine, it's what I have. I expect there might be some people that share some aspects with me, so, yes sharing, very good. "someone who would like something along the lines of what I am trying to do, maybe they'll like it as much as I, if I do a good job', maybe.

Not something in the front of my mind I don't think.

[eric petersen]

A film and TV composer I met told me an interesting thing, He said we as composers are a member of the crew, A cog in the wheel.
It's not our movie or TV show so we must do as the producers, directors and music super's need us to do.
You can make it artistic and should aspire to that but at the end of the day we're like a plummer fixing a pipe.
If we're good we get hired again and we make more money.
The art side shouldn't suffer if we remember that we were hired to fill a need.
Then we go home and compose our own personal songs.

[Anne Goodwin]

Well, I have composed with the intent to please other's ears but admittedly under the circumstances of also pleasing my own. I've never composed for money but you know what, for at least a day and a half I wouldn't mind finding out how it feels. I imagine it must be quite terrifying actually but perhaps a hell of a lot less boring than delivering newspapers and with the added status of actually having a job directly in the music industry to boot. Quit complaining; you could be humming tunes while picking up the garbage! :)

[Ray Kemp]

"The art side shouldn't suffer if we remember that we were hired to fill a need.
Then we go home and compose our own personal songs"

Well, Ennio Morricone did both but I have to say, I like the stuff he was hired to do.

[Jonathan Adamich]

Well since it is now my profession, I do kind of require it