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The Portfolio Composer episodes
- Ep 69-Victoria Bond on How Essential Business is for Composers
A major force in 21st century concert music, Victoria Bond leads
a dual career as composer and conductor. Her compositions have beenpraised by the New York Times as "powerful, stylistically variedand technically demanding," and her conducting has been called“impassioned” by the Wall Street Journal and “full of energy andfervor” by the New York Times.Give the Composer on Fire podcast a Rating and
Review!Composer and conductor Victoria Bond how important it is to
understand the business of music.Topics discussed in this episode:
- The arts as a viable career
- The epiphany that you can make a living writing music
- Choosing to be a composer
- Learning to be an entrepreneur
- Being organized
- Being efficient with the use of time
- Having projects in the pipeline
- Bouncing between projects
- Don't go into overtime
- Being on time
- Not wasting musician's time
- Communicating to the orchestra through the conductor
- Need to understand the business of music
- Igor Stravinsky
- The importance of websites
- Being in touch with your inner animal
Website:
- www.victoriabond.com
Recommended Listening:
- Igor
Stravinsky, Rite of Spring- Wolfgang
Amadeus Mozart, The Marriage of Figaro- J.S. Bach,
The 6 Unaccompanied Cello Suites Complete- Giuseppe
Verdi, FalstaffRecommended Reading:
- James Joyce,
UlyssesThis post contains affiliate links.
46 min - Ep 68 Whitney George on Why You Need Your Own Ensemble
Whitney George is a composer and conductor who specializes in
the use of mixed media to blur the distinctions between concertperformance, installation art, and theater. Utilizing a widevariety of material including literary texts, silent film, stockfootage, and visual arts, George's compositions are characterizedby an immersive theatricality that thrives on collaboration in allphases of the creative process with an affinity for the macabre,the fantastic, and the bizarre.Give the Composer on Fire podcast a Rating and
Review!Composer and ensemble leader Whitney George discusses what it
takes to start an ensemble and why you should, too.Topics discussed in this episode:
- Macabre & fantastical
- Edgar Allan Poe
- Building an audience within a niche
- Collaboration
- Having a strong narrative
- Considering the strengths of the venue
- Starting an ensemble
- Having your music performed
- The tedium of starting an ensemble
- Becoming a 501(c)3
- Having a business checking account
- Having a CPA
- Writing & communication
- Being organized
- A business in a business
- Good book keeping & budgeting
- Correspondence
- Having a business partner
- Spending time on your business
Website:
- www.whitneygeorge.com
Recommended Listening:
- Steve Reich,
"Music for 18 Musicians"Recommended Reading:
- Haruki
Murakami, "The Wind-up Bird Chronicle: A Novel"- Joris-Karl
Huysmans, "Against Nature: A Rebours"This post contains affiliate links.
44 min - Ep 67 Michael J. Evans on Being Relevant and Socially Active
Michael J. Evans is an American composer based in Washington, D.C. He has recorded with the wonderful pianist Karolin Rojahn, as well as the Kiev Philharmonic, Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra, and the Moravian Philharmonic. He recently recorded his anti-concerto for Bassoon with the winner of the 66th Prague Spring International Music Competition, Jan Hudeček. His works are currently released on the Navona label of PARMA Recordings.
Give the Composer on Fire podcast a Rating and Review!
Composer Michael J. Evans discusses being relevant to your audience and socially active as a composer.
Topics discussed in this episode:
- Being relevant
- Giving meaning to symbols
- Having an effect on the world
- The anti-concerto
- Grief & depression
- The artist's role in society
- Helping the audience understand new music
- Free music and the race to the bottom
- Post-capitalist society
- The challenge of building an audience
- Music is time consuming & expensive
- The need for business classes
- Don't assume people are interested in your stuff
- Find your niche
Website:
- www.michaeljevans.net
Recommended Listening:
- Henry Cowell, The Banshee
Recommended Reading:
- Leonard Shlain, Art & Physics: Parallel Visions in Space, Time, and Light
- Julia Cameron, The Artist's Way
- Rosamund Stone Zander and Benjamin Zander, The Art of Possibility: Transforming Professional and Personal Life
This post contains affiliate links.
45 min - Ep 66-Seth Godin on Creating Value Through Connections
Seth Godin is the author of 18 books that have been bestsellers around the world and have been translated into more than 35 languages. He writes about the post-industrial revolution, the way ideas spread, marketing, quitting, leadership and most of all, changing everything. In addition to his writing and speaking, Seth founded both Yoyodyne and Squidoo. His blog is one of the most popular in the world.
This is an unusual episode. Instead of the traditional interview this is a re-broadcast of a seminar delivered by Seth Godin to the students of Juilliard in early 2016. When I heard the audio of this seminar I was completely floored. There is an incredible amount of value here with lessons that are timely and relevant. I reached out to Seth and he graciously gave permission for me to share this seminar with the Composer on Fire audience. You can find the original recording on Vimeo. Special thank you to Seth Godin for helping musicians think about their craft, what it means in today's world, and for allowing me to share your amazing work. Thank you, also, to Juilliard for inviting Seth and creating the opportunity for Seth to influence the lives and careers of musicians.
Give the Composer on Fire podcast a Rating and Review!
Best-selling author and marketing expert Seth Godin shares how value is made in today's economy and how musicians can take advantage of it.
Topics in this episode:
- The shortage of highly competent musicians is over
- Role of technology as an artist
- Grammy awards
- Scarcity
- The hard part used to create value
- Connections
- Trust and attention, connections, now create value
- Playing it as written
- What school is for
- Solve interesting problems and lead
- Who will miss you if you're gone
- Connect with people where they are and then change them
Website:
- www.sethgodin.com
Recommended Books by Seth Godin:
- Linchpin
- Tribes
- The Dip
- Purple Cow
- What To Do When It's Your Turn
This post contains affiliate links.
1 hr 12 min - Ep 65-Dan Hulsman from Video Game Music Academy
Dan Hulsman is a music teacher, marketer, and creator of VideoGameMusicAcademy.com - a website dedicated to helping new and aspiring game music composers with their craft and career. Dan has worked in sales and marketing in Boston for 6 years, and has acted as a consultant for over 300 companies to help them build online marketing strategies, attract more prospects, and convert them into paying customers. Now, he uses these skills to help composers build their careers.
Give the Composer on Fire podcast a Rating and Review!
Marketing expert and creator of Video Game Music Academy discusses how to hustle, the freelance economy, and job security as a composer.
Topics discussed in this episode:
- Video Game Music Academy
- Core concepts of marketing:
- Networking
- Understanding your target client
- Build a marketing strategy
- Selling your services
- Job security & freelancing
- The freelance economy
- The end of jobs
- Video game industry
- Breaking into the industry
- Game jams
- Twitter
- Building your composing studio
- Using your strengths
- Common mistakes:
- Knowing where to spend your time online
- Making a compelling Call to Action
- Providing value to those seeking music
- Not writing good melodies
Website:
- www.videogamemusicacademy.com
- Composition Quest Log www.vgmacademy.com/quest
Recommended Listening:
- John Mayer, In Your Atmosphere
Recommended Reading:
- Timothy Ferriss, The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9–5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich
This post contains affiliate links.
58 min - Ep 64-Jessica Meyer on Making it Happen
With playing that is “fierce and lyrical” and works that are “other-worldly” (The Strad) and “evocative” (NY Times), Jessica Meyer is a versatile composer and violist whose passionate musicianship radiates accessibility, generosity, and emotional clarity. Upcoming commissions include works for cellist Amanda Gookin of the Public String Quartet, the Nautilus Brass Quintet, pianist Molly Morkoski, and soprano Melissa Wimbish for her Carnegie Hall debut.
Give the Composer on Fire podcast a Rating and Review!
In this episode composer Jessica Meyer shares how she's built a vibrant composing career in just a few short years and how you can too!
Topics discussed in this episode:
- Presenting yourself on a website
- Entrepreneurial skill sets
- Referring people
- Talking about yourself in a succinct way
- The Twitter pitch
- Sending good emails
- Branding
- Building a career quickly
- You get what you put in
- Making it happen
- Being able to ask for help
- Seth Jarvis, 13 Things Crucial For Your Success
- Life balance
Website:
- www.jessicameyermusic.com
Recommended Listening:
- Igor Stravinsky, The Rite of Spring
Recommended Reading:
- Chase Jarvis' Blog
- Steven Pressfield, The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles
44 min - Ep 63-Shannon Curtis on House Concerts & Community Building
Shannon Curtis is an independent songwriter, performer, and author, based in LA. Curtis’s groundbreaking use of house concert touring takes her on extensive nationwide tours, and she’s become a popular speaker at music conferences. Curtis's how-to book on house concerts debuted at #1 on Amazon’s Music Business Best Sellers list, and has been featured in national publications like Huffington Post and American Songwriter Magazine.
Give the Composer on Fire podcast a Rating and Review!
Singer and songwriter Shannon Curtis has made a living performing her music touring house concerts across the nation and she teaches us how in this interview!
Topics discussed in this episode:
- No Booker, No Bouncer, No Bartender
- Connecting with your audience
- 1,000 True Fans by Kevin Kelly
- House concert model
- Trust
- Supporting yourself financially
- Salons
- Financing the first tour
- Building an audience as community
- Crowdfunding
- Bringing value to the community
Website:
- www.shannoncurtis.net
Recommended Listening:
- The Dears, Degeneration Street
Recommended Reading:
- Shannon Curtis, No Booker, No Bouncer, No Bartender: How I Made $25K on a 2-Month House Concert Tour (And How You Can Too)
- Elizabeth Gilbert, Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear
52 min - Ep 62-Jon Mattox on Music Licensing
Jon Mattox is a composer who lives and works in Los Angeles. His music has been featured in movie trailers, television shows, films, games, and advertising. His career started behind the drum set performing, recording, and touring with a variety of artists in bands. After building his own recording studio, his composing became the center of his work.
Give the Composer on Fire podcast a Rating and Review!
Composer Jon Mattox discusses music licensing and why composers should focus on solving the music director's problems.
Topics discussed in this episode:
- Having a studio
- Mixing & Engineering
- Music Licensing
- Finding a licensing company
- Co-publishing
- Registering a publishing company with a PRO
- Location
- Solving the music director's problems
- Ego
Website
- www.jonmattox.com
Recommended Listening:
- Brian Eno, Apollo: Atmospheres and Soundtracks
Recommended Reading:
- Eric C. Sheninger, Digital Leadership: Changing Paradigms for Changing Times
This post contains affiliate links.
55 min - Ep 61-Alex Shapiro Pt 2 on Being in Control of Your Career
Alex Shapiro aligns notes with the hope that at least a few of them will sound good next to each other. Her persistence at this, as well as arts advocacy volunteerism, wildlife photography, & the shameless instigation of insufferable puns on Facebook, has led to a happy life. Her genre-defying acoustic & electroacoustic works are performed and broadcast daily, & can be found on over twenty commercial releases from record labels worldwide.
Give the Composer on Fire podcast a Rating and Review!
In Part 2 of this two-part interview Alex Shapiro discusses how and why composers should be in control of their careers.
Listen to Part 1 of this interview here.
Topics discussed in this episode:
- Abundance and scarcity mindsets
- What you focus on grows
- Taking risks
- Creating your opportunities
- Being in control of your career
- Competition amongst composers
- Money
- Seth Godin and his blog
- Kevin Kelly and his blog
- Kevin Kelly's 1,000 True Fans
- Amateur vs Pro
- Mindset on charging for art
- Getting paid
- Pricing ourselves
- Forming consoritums
- Different ways to offer ourselves for commissions
- Building a database & list
- One thing you can do today
Website:
- www.alexshapiro.org
Recommended Listening:
- Imogen Heap, Ellipse
- Radiohead
Recommended Reading:
- William Strunk, Jr., & E. B. White, The Elements of Style, Fourth Edition
This post contains affiliate links.
59 min - Ep 60-Alex Shapiro Pt 1 on Self Publishing and Consortiums
Alex Shapiro aligns notes with the hope that at least a few of them will sound good next to each other. Her persistence at this, as well as arts advocacy volunteerism, wildlife photography, & the shameless instigation of insufferable puns on Facebook, has led to a happy life. Her genre-defying acoustic & electroacoustic works are performed and broadcast daily, & can be found on over twenty commercial releases from record labels worldwide.
Give the Composer on Fire podcast a Rating and Review!
In Part 1 of this two-part interview Alex Shapiro shares her thoughts on self publishing and consortiums.
Topics discussed in this episode:
- The Composer's Manifesto
- Self publishing
- Building a distribution model
- Time committed to the business
- Outsourcing
- Brian Balmages
- Building a deep catalog
- Music education
- Consortium model for commissions
- Composers and Schools in Concert (CSIC)
- Adding "Showing Up" to the steps to being self-published
- Self-discipline and social media
- Austin Kleon's books
- Websites and videos
- It's not about you
- Being the most interesting person in the room
- Success
TO BE CONTINUED IN EP 61!!!
Website:
- www.alexshapiro.org
Recommended Listening:
- Imogen Heap, Ellipse
- Radiohead
Recommended Reading:
- William Strunk, Jr., & E. B. White, The Elements of Style, Fourth Edition
This post contains affiliate links.
55 min
About The Portfolio Composer
From the publisher's feed
Mastering the business of composition through mindset, marketing, and business skills.