Networking Tips

[@ZachHeyde]

Thanks for the mention Anne - and amazing insight in here for composers, grateful for your consistent candor and generosity in our community.

[@MarcShake]

Subscribed, becase Anna Catherine Durn said so. :)

[@martijnvanbeek4387]

I most certainly concur! Thank you Anne for all of your oprechte / sincere and clear videos! Each and every time there's so much benefits to reap from them. I had a thought about your networking video: what if you compare aspiring composers getting to enlarge their network to a piece of music? You don't go about head banging from the beginning: no, you start out with a nice piece of musical intro, something intricate maybe, before you too obviously make known what you're heading for. Repeat some things that need some emphasis here and there but don't give away all of you before you reach your musical apotheosis. Something the like. Get the comparison?

[@martijnvanbeek4387]

@@MarcShake 🤣

[@steph1918]

@@martijnvanbeek4387 Absolutely, Maarten.

[@pedro.camacho]

Really loved this part "so we can all be awkward together" beautiful!

[@edwardserfontein4126]

Thank you Anna-Catherine. 😅

[@AnneKathrinDernComposer]

😆😆😆

[@nicksaya]

@@AnneKathrinDernComposerThank You Anne.

[@craigwilliamdayton]

🤣😅🤣

[@composeraleparis]

Few composers give to beginers useful tips without hiding a part of the argument. Thanks , thks, thks -

[@Tanoti]

This was really useful and inspiring. I'm uncomfortable at live networking events, I would happily be in the corner but I'm learning to put myself out there. Thank you!

[@jondellar]

Anne-Kathrin, I hope you won't mind my saying you're an absolute gem to us all. Although I'm just a hobby composer, I find your groundedness, pragmatism and honesty so very encouraging 🙂

[@francescomeniciFM]

Thank You Anne-Kathrin! For your words, for your generosity, for your clarity, and for your incredible work as a composer 🤗

[@arekbogaj]

Networking is my biggest struggle. I worked for a long time as an exclusive composer at a local company producing mobile games, but I made the mistake of not connecting with people in the industry and not developing my social media presence. It was very comfortable sitting in my little cave :) Thanks for sharing Your experience. These are valuable insights. I’ll be looking out for more content from You. Greetings from Poland.

[@jloiben12]

I greatly appreciate your commentary in the honesty section. One thing I would add is, even if you are legitimately able to do everything, you shouldn’t be asking to do everything. Besides the fact that it sounds needy and is off putting to a lot of people, there is absolutely no way you are genuinely interested in doing all that. Just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should. As someone who has done hiring for non-music roles, if I hear someone say they are good with whatever job tasks we ask of them, that’s a red flag. There should be things that you are interested in doing. There should be things you want to do. If you say you are good with anything that to me is an indication that you aren’t actually interested in the role. You just want a job. And, to be very clear, there is nothing inherently wrong with that in and of itself. Just if someone is genuinely interested in the specific opportunity, they will have an edge in the hiring process

[@kerymichael1849]

Great video! Great common sense reminders. It’s much appreciated. Being a composer is not just about composing, which for most of us is the fun part. Gotta develop basic business and networking skills, which is not the fun part for introverts like many of us are.

[@alvarorodriguezfilmmusic]

Great video! Cold messaging can certainly work as long as you're genuinely aware of who you are, who you're messaging, and the context. However, the golden rule is: don’t cold message up, but across.

[@juliuspepmusic]

I like that; cold message across 👌 Great advice.

[@AnneKathrinDernComposer]

That's a great way to put it - message your peers to grow together, not just people further up the ladder to be used as a stepping stone.

[@bramvanrens91]

As an introvert I needed to hear this! I was at Gamescom this year (as a visitor), my battery was pretty much drained even though I didn't really socialize much.

[@jfs5983]

Love to see tips on networking. People usually downplay its importance or they push too hard with it. Thanks for the great content.

[@clenbullard]

Good points. I think back on my audition at The Bluebird and how a little research revealed the owner’s pet peeves greased that success. Know thy quarry. I’m having a blast with this new machine and sample libraries. I can finally practice and apply some of your lessons as I adapt my processes to the new toy box sketching new pieces and re orchestrating some older ones. Big fun and a marvelous way to keep my mind away from current events. As Zappa said, music is the only religion that actually delivers. As always, very grateful for the kindness of your tutoring on your channel. You are an excellent maestro. Cheers.

[@paoloagostini1407]

Thank You Anne. Your videos are always inspiring. Big hug

[@gregoryivesdolbyatmosmusic]

Hah I love the extrovert comment! I used to be so shy when I was younger. I never really went to events. I just liked to listen to people and just see what they are up to. I never felt that those things were productive with any agenda. I just subscribed for fun and enjoy your comments.

[@yanizle]

Thank you girl Always love when your videos pop up in my feed. I almost always watch them again.

[@EDPZMusic]

My Internet presence is definitely the thing I'm focusing on right now. Mainly because it's easier to fix that than it is to fix my introversion 🙃

[@vigh4696]

Very mindful tips, a lot of things and fears I constantly worry about especially because I am trying to move out of my city. Thanks for making this video! Love your videos always but this is specifically one I am gonna save and rewatch! And hey, loving the 'woodwalkers' daily drop so far, all the best!

[@MichaelBaugh]

Introverts unite ✊

[@danawilkinson4362]

Thank you for gift of who you are Beautiful Lady Deepest Love, Prayers & Blessings

[@AdrianEarnshawMusic]

Great content and I can relate to the mis-spelling of names. The amount of times I get turned into a piece of plumbing, not hard to spell my name 😆

[@emanuel_soundtrack]

network is a direct consequence of good friends or high value to offer

[@gregoryivesdolbyatmosmusic]

Totally agree with the idea of being found idea and relationships that you take time to be patient. I remember being at Sony with my friend Kim who works at Sony Pictures in the 90's and she took me over to visit with a music editor and he loved my work and other things came out of that lunch and dialogue edit gig I was helping on. You are right, you never know how it all works out. The journey is the fun part for me.

[@samuelevona]

I'm an amoeba in terms of networking, so this video is very much appreciated

[@KrystofDreamJourney]

Perfect video ! Bottom lines in every single word… Great job Anne-Kathrin ! BTW : Love your music and production, honesty and „no BS” approach to teaching. The recent „Woodwalkers” sessions are great material for a live session 😊 Best from Disney ❤

[@ChrisLjung]

Really enjoyed this one, you've got to play the long-term game and build genuine connections!

[@gregoryivesdolbyatmosmusic]

Indeed. I got into the biz WAY before email existed. I have met people at a park and was helping with something unrelated for months and then they find out what I did either composing, arranging, or my trumpet work. Then they tell me that they were a producer or director, which I did not know that about them at all. They then ask me to send them something or come over for a meet. There is always someone with a faster better gun in this Wild West of music. In those days just running into someone at the Union Hall off Vine Street I got hired to do one of my first film score session as a trumpet player. Right place I guess, but it came form someone who knew I could do it even if I thought I was not sure. I always was prompt like 30 min ahead or more to the studio lot to be ready to warm up. Also people liked to have me on the gig and liked me as a person. I am now just working in my studio doing a lot of things producing. In the old days rehearsal bands for players was the thing to get known. Assistant work was a good thing, but other ways were out there for me. That's my comment!

[@nIIe]

Whats wrong with "hey bro.. whats up"? I like it.😂😂😂

[@fabbro.chillout]

I love your videos! Thank you so much for sharing your experiences.

[@AnthonyMillerComposer]

Thanks for the tips Anne!

[@DinkoKulenoviccomposer]

Very helpful, thank you! 🙏♥️

[@WizardOfArc]

Thank you Anne, for the advice.

[@almur88]

I would be very interested, please, rain all PR stuff on us, great soundtrack to immerse oneself in. and please some more footage behind the scenes in the studio, anything, chats, discussing workflow whatever, I would watch hours on end, never getting tired.

[@शिव_सागर]

Thank you so much, Madam! Really professional advise. 👌💛🙏

[@Alexisoustabassidis]

Thanks a lot for your precious advices ! I Just discovered your Channel, it helps me a lot on so many things ! :)

[@joachimkuipers8002]

Du bist so wunderbar, klar and fun to read. Thanks, Joachim Berlin

[@Gabinferra]

Good advices here. Thanks Anne!

[@Alexs_Music_Comps]

So wertvoll, thank you

[@FLH3official]

I read the comments and I think, how so many of us are introverts! 😀

[@nazarhadidian]

How small tips in communication changes someone prospective about us, very thankful bringing it all. 🙏

[@joseluisrevelo]

Such valuable info. Thank you!

[@YT2024Hayward]

👍

[@jarkkoriihimäkimusic]

Very valid points, again🙏 Thank you!

[@PeterArndell]

♥

[@wsimpson53]

Super helpful! As always, thank you!!!

[@michaelbishop.]

“‘above all you have to be patient “…playing this at 1.5 speed I may have blushed. Is it an age/life experience thing that prevents some applicants from possessing what used to be called common sense?

[@AnneKathrinDernComposer]

Ha, nothing wrong with being efficient about time. I think some of this has to do with cultures being different (since applications and communication used to be more local and standardized) but also with the fact that everyone in hiring positions didn't grow up with the internet, and therefore learned "letter" and "application" etiquette. I don't think it's taught as much anymore among the next generation and social media is so much more normalized. So maybe one day it will be normal and the old way will be outdated.

[@johntimmerman1515]

Thanks for the great tips!

[@Sound-Lord]

Thanks.

[@uncle-ed]

My first (well-)paid gig in the mid 5 figures was obtained through cold e-mailing. Remember folks: there's no one size fits all when it comes to selling your services.

[@KrystofDreamJourney]

25:14 Pure Gold !!!!

[@keigoakaitokei_itochan-nel995]

Hey Anne, I've ever wondered about this.. I mean like I have a question in my mind "Is it hard for a film composer to write for an Aria accompaniment?" Since I'm really into Arias (especially the modern ones I found)

[@tylerpedraja6049]

Anne, how long do you think the selections in your demo reel should be? A bunch of short excerpts, or a couple longer pieces?

[@rafaeltorresbatista]

Thank you!

[@DanieleNasuti]

nooo, now that you said it they will be careful to do everything in the checklist and you can't evaluate people anymore by that trick! :D (by the way I heard some Woodwalkers tracks.. Mountain Top was my favorite, it has something different, special) I hope it's yours and not by an additional composer..😁 (I know it's yours, good job!)

[@jasonsheppard-v5k]

Hi all fellow Introverts, Am I one? Yes! Just posting a comment here is like pulling teeth. 😁

[@jasonsheppard-v5k]

And in no way am I trying to promote myself here on her site, sincerely she inspired me a lot to give this whole Hi world thing a try. And I think it is cool how she has helped a lot of people.

[@nicolasacchelli564]

Ciao Anne Kathrin, I'm a composer with a degree in classical composition and composition for applied music, but my musical origins come from the electric world (my instrument is the electric guitar, which i'm proud of). I'm a follower and a fan of yours, I like everything you do and I like how you present concepts...of any kind; but I absolutely disagree when you say that the degree doesn't count for anything, in fact the music (orchestral, electronic, contemporary ecc.) of composers who haven't "studied" (in a conservatory or other school) is different from the music produced by a more "structured" composer...it's a bit more naive, so to speak. In fact composers who haven't studied get help from orchestrators...as it happens😊

[@AnneKathrinDernComposer]

How education influences the music itself is subjective. I sure am glad that I have my education because it makes me more capable and flexible in a lot of areas. What I meant in the video is that filmmakers and others in hiring positions don't usually ask nor care. And it doesn't influence pay either. The people who hire only want to know that we can do the job, they generally don't care how or where we got our skills.

[@carljacobs1287]

@@AnneKathrinDernComposer I have an electronics engineering degree. In 30 years of engineering I have been asked to show that degree exactly once - and that for a job that ended up being a terrible fit and lasted only a couple of months. I agree that the reputation you create for yourself will eventually make your education irrelevant.

[@Ohleysmokes]

Because you went to school xyz(USC)...

[@FernandoMackert]

Will you marry me?

[@midnightchef8323]

You released your songs and got $3 each. Stop playing on rigged online, it's a waste of time.

[@AnneKathrinDernComposer]

What does this even mean?