| -- End Ad Box ---> | | | | as a music artist. Go to their meetings and |
| Licensing you music into films is a great extra income | | | | get-togethers. When I went to my first Indie Club |
| stream for you as an independent artist. But, as with | | | | meeting, I was one of two music artists in the room. |
| any other aspect of the music business, you have to | | | | The cries of We need you! were not just the |
| go through the learning curve and networking process. | | | | voices in my head (this time). That room full of |
| My experience with film licensing, just like everything | | | | independent filmmakers was looking for good music |
| else, revolves around whom you know. | | | | that they could license and still stay within their budget. |
| Your first (or tenth) licensing deal probably won’t | | | | I scored my first licensing deal within an hour. Two |
| be the next Hollywood blockbuster, but that’s | | | | songs in the same film, one I’d already written, |
| ok. There are a zillion independent films that need and | | | | the other to be written specifically for the movie. My |
| want your music. No, you won’t be immediately | | | | tactic was simple. Ask them about their latest project. |
| rich and famous from having a song in an indie film, but | | | | They’ll be happy to tell you about it, I assure |
| you will probably get paid, and you’ll get some | | | | you. They’ll ask what you do. Tell them, but |
| good exposure. Remember, a good ling music career | | | | don’t exaggerate. I explained that I had not yet |
| is not built on one big hit. It’s built on a series of | | | | written for films, but just came to see where I fit in. |
| small projects and successes building to bigger ones, | | | | This particular filmmaker then explained to me that he |
| and, of course, multiple streams of income. | | | | couldn’t find a particular song for this one scene |
| With that in mind, independent films are a great place | | | | he was working on. I told him I’d be happy to |
| to start. So where do you begin? Well, listing sites like | | | | custom write it for him. And there it was. I was being |
| Versus Media, Film Music Network, and Taxi are a | | | | paid up front to write a song. How much? I received |
| good place to start, but it’s hard to rely on a | | | | $100 for the new song, $50 for the previously written |
| steady income from people you’ve never met. | | | | and recorded one. Like I said, you won’t get rich |
| Also, something I’ve learned recently from a | | | | off of these. But hey, $50 to let him use a song that |
| couple of music supervisors, is that follow up on your | | | | I’d paid for long ago is free money to me. |
| package is not required, nor particularly appreciated. So | | | | For the new song, the director arranged for recording |
| you really are relying on your package and your music | | | | time at the local recording arts school where his sound |
| being picked out of the pile. However, the listing | | | | editor was studying. This was fortuitous, and not |
| services will give you access to projects you may not | | | | necessarily normal. Most other project I have to record |
| have known about otherwise. They are, therefore, a | | | | myself. Because I kept the copyright for the song |
| good investment. | | | | (which you should always try to do), I was able to |
| An even better way to hook into independent films is | | | | release the new song on one of my future CDs, which |
| to go out and meet film people. As musicians we tend | | | | put more money in my pocket. There’s that |
| to get stuck in our own little world. Hanging out with | | | | multiple streams of income again. And, as a topper, I |
| musicians, going to music workshops and events, etc. | | | | was able to perform at the premier and sell more CDs |
| You must take your product to the people who need it | | | | there as well. I got all that just for showing up to a |
| instead of waiting for them to come to you. | | | | meeting and talking to people. I made a few other |
| A great place to start is Indie Club. This is a worldwide | | | | deals at that meeting too. |
| organization of independent filmmakers, actors, crew, | | | | So the moral of the story is to just go where |
| and everyone else. Find your local chapter through the | | | | filmmakers are and talk to them. Besides Indie Club, |
| website. It’s free to join. Where I am, San | | | | I’m sure there are other film clubs and |
| Francisco, we have the country’s largest | | | | organizations in your area. Find them and make |
| chapter. Join their discussion list and introduce yourself | | | | yourself a part of them. |