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  • What's going on here? Who are you people?

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    Quoted from a famous film, of course..

    Since the profiles of the forum members basically do not provide any information, it would be nice to have an inventory here...

    So, who are you people?
    Who works purely as professional composer - for a living I mean? Who does only 'hobby'? What do write for? Film, theatre, internet, library, albums, bands, etc.

    Who's music do you like? (Besides your own... [[;)]] ) Are there any interests that you have that may interfere your 'duties' as a composer? (such as a regulr paid job, or to many hobbies to have a decent amount of time for composing)

    What do you put on your fries? Ketchup? Mayonase? ... [8-)]

    So... who are you?
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    last edited
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    @weslldeckers said:

    Quoted from a famous film, of course..
    So... who are you?


    Sorry - no Close Encounters available at this time. Brea ing up - c n' se m to co t ct br eki g up. shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh . out.
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    well, I don't really fit into any category at the moment, I would probably consider myself a student but I just got an offer to score my first film(yes for money) so I guess I'm pro now @.@

    I'm working on 3 cds at the moment for resume purposes: 1 is a fan work based on the video game "Final Fantasy XI," one is contemporary christian/praise and worship, and the last is a dance cd, for my own enjoyment.

    I listen to just about everything musicwise, just no Country or R&B. Classical and film scores are my first loves though. Hard Rock/ Alternative Rock/ Grunge would be my next favorite genres. I tend to blend elements from those into my dance music.

    I work full time for Bellsouth as a contractor, I do network/PC support for the yet unreleased technologies(6M DSL mainly) This is very nice for grabbing the monies needed to get new gear, but unfortunatly takes a lot away from composing time.

    I use ketchup on my fries, unless they're from mcdonalds. Putting anything on those would be sacrelige [[:|]]
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    Well I've got nothing better to do at the moment, so I'll post my life story here:

    I've generally arsed around with keyboards and read Sound On Sound magazine since the age of 11. Played in local bands etc. and wrote my own music but was largely self-taught and never got around to taking any grades - sorry! Then, having worked as a bank clerk, (yawn [8-)] ) somehow landed a job in music copyright at my local ITV station - returning music cue sheets full of Patrick Wilson's library work! And it wasn't long before producers came knocking with the all too familiar "haven't got any money, but I really need some music for this" pitch.

    A failed franchise bid made me redundant at in 1993 and I took the opportunity to go to music college where I got into jazz in a big way and played with the big band - some good times there [H] . I fortunately continued to get calls from tv producers and have now notched up around 200 commissions, including a handful of sizable network jobs and some library work, mostly through EMI. I revel in variety, from Oasis soundalikes to orchestral mock-ups - but though I love to work with session musicians, I haven't yet had the budget for a full orchestra (I'd probably sh!t myself though and come running to you guys for all sorts advice :wink[:)].

    The recent merger of the ITV regions has reduced my client base quite considerably and, though I'm still picking up some decent writing work, I've been extending my skills into video production as well as building a catalogue of music to sell online and direct to broadcasters - I'm not sure I have the enthusiasm or energy to pitch to new producers anymore [:(] .

    I've been stitched up on numerous occasions, but I feel very fortunate nonetheless and always look forward to the next royalty cheque! My lack of 'proper' classical training can make me a little nervous in the company of some of the 'Gods' around here, but being a 'Jack of all trades' isn't such a bad thing and I can usually rely on my ears to get me out of trouble [[;)]] .

    My family is the only thing which interferes with my composing, but I don't mean that in a bad way! It's one of the joys of working from home. In fact, I can drop another name here because I met AndyB at pre-natal classes in Bournemouth nearly seven years ago (remember trying to push the doll's head through the doughnut?) and we haven't really spoken since - Sounds like life is pretty good for you Andy? Do get in touch if you can drag yourself away from your latest masterpiece [:D].

    Good grief, that's quite enough for now. I'll take my chips with Salad Cream - mayonnaise doesn't quite do it for me!

    Colin
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    Hey Colin,

    Great to hear from you. You must have one hell of a memory to have worked out that I'm the same guy - mind you I don't suppose there are too many composers working from Bournemouth [:D] . I'm really pleased you're doing so well with work.

    What did you have in the end? We had a girl - Amber and also have a 4 year old son - Adam. PM me, it would be good to talk.

    Andy.
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    G
    I use VSL for radio and tv commercials, video soundtracks, and program introductions for a museum. One day I just started doing it along with my regular job, and now it's what I do.
    Natural History staples are all through the library! Fast repetitions, portamento strings, timpani, horns. Subjects for music range from the flooding of the Yangtze River valley (tam, gong, harp, low strings) to sea monsters (legato strings and cymbal swells) to dinosaurs (different every time.) Next will be a video about a hominid excavation.
    The great thing is I'm getting faster at producing ads, so I'm not thinking too hard about writing music anymore. The only time I can't use VSL is when the subject matter is terribly non-western and I have to resort to skinny AKAI libraries.

    Greg
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    It's interesting to read your backgrounds... I've had the desire to write music for years, but the best thing I did at the kids music school (being 10, maybe) was repeat A3, D4, A3, D4, A3, D4, A3, D4, and then all over again with A and E, and then A and F, and then back to E and D... for some 10 minutes or so. In my head there were great things to be heard, but for the audience this minimalism was a great boring challenge!

    Besides, after 8 years of piano lessons, I still was at the same level as in the second year... But things changed when I started fooling around on the computer, and finally I was able to really write... to work out the things I was imagining.
    Soon I was playing and recording separate layers with an analog module as a faster way to make music. I was pretty frustrated by the horrible sounds of the soundblaster soundcard.

    Now, some 3 years after I really wrote my first composition (not some abandoned 'theme') I'm using VSL and GigaStudio... [:P] Wow! I'm veryveryvery happy with the sounds which are now possible.
    So far, I've been composing as an outlet for my creativity. I'm an artist and constantly need to do something... whether it's painting, drawing, designing, composing...
    Currently I'm working on two scores for short films, before I'm starting on a third concept album.
    Since I have a fulltime job as an editor/cameraman/tv programmaker, I have a steady income, but making a living out of composing and painting certainly would be nice... My fulltime job eats too much of my sparetime, but I'm working on it.

    My fav music is film music, especially that of the late Mr. Jerry Goldsmith (Patton, Papillon, The Omen). Also raw classics like the works of Stravinsky, Bartok, Schoenberg, Varèse, Prokoviev...
    Actually, I can listen and appreciate many form of music, from early jazz to disco, from folk music to the latest house.

    Ketchup is what I put on my fries. [[;)]]

    Signing of... bye!
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    I'm am idiot with a normal amount of money but who ca't spend it wisely [i.e. I have the VSL Solo Strings but no cash for rent].

    I'm a 1st year Computer Applications student in Dublin, Ireland.

    I take ketchup because mayonaisse makes me vom.

    *VOM!*
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    I was raised on rock and roll, I've played drums since I was 12, guitar since I was 16. My favorite bands used to be AC/DC, the Runaways, KISS, etc. Then about two years ago, I got bored of it. Coincidentally, I started listening to KUSC (local independent classical station) and slowly but surely I got more and more interested in Classical music.

    I then decided that I would try to learn how to compose. I went a little nuts and bought a Sonica System and Opus 1 and have been plugging away ever since. I've been thinking of taking classes, but I don't have the time or patience. Besides I just finished Rimksy Korsakov's "Principles of Orchestration" and now I know everything!

    That last sentence was a tad sarcastic by the way. Though I am glad that I now know not to place the bassoon on a higher register than the piccolo flute. I was wondering why that sounded like a dog farting.

    -BW
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    Recently became pro, and have composed music for two games so far. Contracted for another two. Started out doing music for student shorts and the like. Got pro so late into my studies (philosophy BA and communications major) that i'm practicing the fine art of balancing studies with career. Very tough.

    Only one year to go [:)]