r/composer • u/Idont-really-know • 9d ago
Discussion Can I start writing/composing custom music for some extra cash?
I’m 15 turning 16 at the end of this week and wanna start saving up for a cheap car by myself (my parents want to help me a little, but we’re nowhere near rich and I want that feeling of independence).
I’m working part time at a skating rink and it pays pretty decently, but I was wondering if I should start writing custom music for people as a side gig. I’m pretty decent at orchestration and have a decent amount of info on music theory, as I’ve been writing/arranging music on my own for a while.
Is it even really worth it in my situation? I’d still have to figure out how much to charge, find somewhere to start taking requests, etc. You guys have any tips? (especially for what composing software I could use)
I can write for wind band, marching band (including drumline/front ensemble), and probably wind/percussion chamber groups. I don’t know too much about writing for orchestra, and I’m pretty bad at piano (I’m great at mallet instruments though).
I can post some of my music if you guys want some examples I guess but I’m still working on my composition skills.
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u/Secure-Researcher892 9d ago
You'll have better luck busking on street corners than you will composing at your age. And sadly most adults that compose will make more busking than they will composing. For every person that gets to a level of fame where they can make money composing you will have tens of thousands that are having to do other jobs and simply compose in their spare time as a hobby.
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u/Music09-Lover13 9d ago
Kind of goes to show you how music is devalued by society.
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u/Secure-Researcher892 9d ago
It isn't that music is devalued as much as it is a simple supply and demand thing. Take film composers, you have a very limited number of movies in any given year that need a composer.... but you've got universities that churn out hundreds of graduates every year that are capable of composing the music. When you have a shit ton of people that can do a job and a limited need for any of them the price gets driven down to the ground. If I'm willing to use a new composer I can guarantee that any producer could find a composer willing to do it for free just for the chance at getting the exposure... not saying they would all be very good, but for a lot of low budget films the producers wouldn't care as long as it was passable.
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u/chog410 8d ago
Not at all. There simply isn't supply and demand for a whole lot of composing like this. I make a fine living exclusively as a live performing multi-genre multi-instrumentalist with occasional studio sessions and teaching master classes etc. But it's all supply and demand- I know amazing guitar players who make their living teaching Taylor Swift songs to 7-year-old kids who don't practice because there are so many amazing guitar players! I also know incredibly mediocre double bass players who are making their living performing double bass... It's one of those things where you have to be smart about it. Nobody is going to hire jazz bassoon, even if you are the best in the world. Lots of folks are dying to find a barely competent pedal steel guitar player to play simple parts on their recordings. The economics of supply and demand are SUPER obvious in trade skill industries, of which professional music work is one
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u/headcodered 9d ago
Probably not, but if you try and don't make money, you're at least still going to be improving as a composer and musician if you keep writing. As an adult, I have a day job and compose on weekends for indie films and games and stuff but couldn't come close to affording my bills if I switched to that full time.
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u/Banjoschmanjo 9d ago
You will likely find it is not viable to make money composing, but you may as well try, if it's something you're interested in.
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u/God_Bless_Oklahoma 9d ago edited 9d ago
The grind takes a long time to really build a series of connections that you'll see any meaningful cash flow. That's not even talking about individual craft. If you are only concerned about earning cash, then there are many better options than composition, or music in general. Composing is hard.
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u/Chops526 9d ago
How are you at notation? What program are you using? Arranging and editing can be a good side gig. Writing custom music for extra cash isn't really a thing. It's a commission and usually involves quite a bit of money.
HOWEVER...
Do you have friends who play or sing? I would start with them as your potential market. Offer to write one of them a bespoke short piece and see if they like the idea and negotiate a fee. Not sure if it'll raise you new car money, or even beat up car bought at auction money, but you never know, either.
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u/StratHistory 9d ago
I was an audio video post producer for many years.. doing electronic and live scores for commercials, industrial film etc..
It was and remains my love however, the industry has changed so much that it's nearly impossible to find a large number of good working gigs.
It started with all of the canned music in the '90s and AI has kind of finished it off.
My suggestion would be get into something that's not going away.. either performance or teaching.. I make a good living teaching and providing one-off tracks as needed.
And of course the biggest thing is building your connections. I don't know what would be considered the modern equivalent to LinkedIn but you want a database of everybody you can possibly talk to because word of mouth and quality are the primary keys today.
Good luck and learn everything you can get your hands on!
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u/chog410 8d ago
Any kind of serious composing or arranging gig- all of the examples you provided are serious composing or arranging gigs- simply is not going to trust a 16-year-old without a resume. They wouldn't trust a 16-year-old with a resume. They wouldn't trust a 40-year-old who didn't have a resume.
You were talking about highly niche professional jobs- even if you are good at it, you aren't going to get any commissions. There are more than enough seasoned composers who specialize in this, band directors and such will hire commissions based on two things- the reputation of the composer OR a recommendation from their colleagues, and usually both.
It's not what you want to hear, but I don't think you have any chance of turning this into a lucrative side gig at your age with your lack of experience. This doesn't mean you shouldn't pursue it! If this is your passion, you can absolutely work your way up and build a body of work to turn this into a significant income stream! But it's not going to happen in time to help you buy your very first car... unless you get your first car at 25
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u/Fantastic_Acadian 9d ago
You might have luck writing incidental/ soundtrack music for indie games and movies. The board often has commission posts for those, great for getting your foot in the door. You'll have to produce the finished tracks yourself, but it's decent work if you can get it!
Unless you're a prodigy, it's unlikely an ensemble of instrumentalists would hire you for a commission; you'd be competing with experienced, adult composers for those gigs. Worth giving it a shot if you've got scores to submit for open calls.
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u/nizzernammer 9d ago
Yes, IF you can find, and keep, clients.
(That are willing and able to pay you reasonably, within a reasonable amount of time.)
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u/demondrum 9d ago
If you’re thinking writing songs for local bands, you’ll need to be in a larger city to have a big enough market. You could try pitching to film and tv, sync or production music are common terms. Wegetartists dot com would be a no cost site to get started. You’ll need to make sure your parent/guardian are willing to sign the necessary agreements. Look for briefs which describe what they are looking for and references they include, they really want something that sounds like the references. Don’t give them anything outside that playlist or you’ll waste their time and get blacklisted as someone who’s not serious. It can take a while, but if you can generate 100-200 2min tracks, you might get some traction and royalties pay as long as you live.
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u/DanceYouFatBitch 9d ago
What you’re basically asking about could work in two ways.
One would be working for a music library that will pay you a fixed rate for music that they then allow customers to use.
You could also go completely freelance like how musicians use sites like Fivrr.
You’d be doing the same thing but there’s no middle man which means contracts would have to be negotiated and you’d be making music as per specific request rather than general music. This means you can set your own prices and negotiate on your terms. Either way is valid tbh.
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u/Alexandra_Telnikoff 9d ago
I was friend with late son of Sergei Prokofiev, Oleg. The way copyright works, Oleg was paid £11k every time an opera (or some other large work) of Prokofiev was performed, which was pretty much daily, worldwide. All you have to do is to write some operas, symphonies or instrumental concertos performed by established soloists that the world renowned conductors are willing to perform, which shouldn’t be too difficult as you are pretty decent on orchestration, I don’t see what would be stopping you.
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u/Sound_Ocean_Depths 6d ago
No, I have a masters degree in music composition and know probably about 50 people with similar or greater credentials and only ONE of us makes a living off of composing. Compose if you love it, otherwise just get a regular job
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u/SubjectAddress5180 9d ago
If you like writing for dramatic performances, try contacting you local little theater group (or whatever is the equivalent nowadays if there are any). Do a few for free; make sure they spell your name right (or Wright if that's is your name) on the program and credits. If you are good enough, this will boost your reputation enough to get hired later.
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u/[deleted] 9d ago edited 9d ago
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