I'm Doing Scoring Now

The language you use when talking about yourself is important.

If you have recently made a career transition into scoring from some other part of the music business (which many of us have), and you are hanging out with your industry colleagues, think carefully about how you are going to present this.

"I'm working on making the switch"
"I'm thinking of getting into scoring"
"I'm trying to get film scoring going"
"I'm an aspiring composer"

The image here is that you're still the person you were before switching, and you're not yet established, not yet successful. One day you hope to be, but it's not today.

Vs.

"I'm doing scoring now"
"I'm writing music for film and TV"
"I'm a professional composer"

Sounds more like you've ALREADY ACHIEVED the switch, and it's going great.

Note, both perspectives are "true".

You can be "doing scoring now" without necessarily having booked a job. You're open for business, right? You're writing professional-quality music, right? You've got a studio and you're capable of scoring, right? So where's the lie?

Would you buy a croissant from someone who called themselves an "aspiring baker"? If a bakery is opening up for business and has croissants for sale, does it only become a bakery when the croissants are eaten?

Consider which one of these two perspectives is more likely to get your friends to recommend you if they hear of a film opportunity.

This is in fact how I got my first professional scoring gig. I had let it be known that I was "doing film scoring now" and one of my musician friends was friends with a director who had to replace their composer at short notice. My friend felt confident recommending me because they had felt my own confidence about my career switch.

Whatever energy you put into your words will create the impression of you in people's minds. Think carefully about how to create the image of success, to the maximum extent possible without telling a lie. Both in your own mind and in the minds of people you speak to.

Say it with me:

"I'm doing scoring now"
"I'm a professional composer"