How do I get involved in music copying/publishing?

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Permalink Reply by MArc-Alan Barnette on February 18, 2010 at 1:17am

Keith,

Any thing in the music business of any direction, way shape or form has gatekeepers, protocal and etticate. You would have to indentify who might be interested in your skills and figure out how to work your way in. Most formal musicians, (symphony people) would come out of colleges and other areas, spend years working their way up the ladder. Depending on your personality and ability to make friends and develop relationships, not to mention, your proficiency at whatever talent you have, you would advance or struggle.
Like anything, your first research would probably begin with the Internet. Find out where you are trying to go and see who the players are in that area, indeed,. where the areas of the country that cater to that would be. If you are thinkiing of Orchestra wise, New York. Boston, Chicago would all be candidates of where to start.
But what you will probably find out is that conductors are the ones who tell the orchestra what to play and they are usually governed by boards. and take years and years to learn, advance, and become known. There is nothing in music or business that you just decide "I want to get in on that". Plan on a lifetime of dedication, years of making no money at it and sweating your butt off. The question you ask is kind of like asking "How do I go and get Jack Nicholson's job and make a lot of money in the movies?" The same way you get to Carnegie Hall. Practice, practice, practice.

MAB

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Permalink Reply by Keith Stacey on February 18, 2010 at 1:00pm

I appreciate the advice. Actually, since college I've been paying my dues, mostly as a composer. I make a decent living as a musician and I know a lot of folks in music (I've been an active musician for over twenty years). What I'm really trying to figure out is how to break into copy work and publishing in a support type of position. Most of the copyists I know are based in Los Angeles, and I believe there is plenty of demand here. Sorry if I didn't articulate myself clearly.

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Permalink Reply by Bret Teegarden on February 18, 2010 at 3:59pm

Question is Keith, are you wanting to know who to contact to break into a segment of the industry or are you promoting your services as a copyist?

Now, if you are needing advice, which MAB clearly gave, the Ask A Pro forum is a great place for that. If on the other hand, you are selling your services, I will have to remove the post because it is not a discussion. This is to be fair to the guidelines of the forum.

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Permalink Reply by Keith Stacey on February 18, 2010 at 4:22pm

Sorry, I certainly didn't mean any disrespect. I'm not promoting my services. I'd like to know who to contact for that segment of the industry, and any advice on what a good copyist's reel consists of would be really helpful.

thanks

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Permalink Reply by Bret Teegarden on February 18, 2010 at 4:36pm

No disrespect was taken.

In your case, you might want to get in touch with the people who run the portion of print music that still exists like Lilinas and Lifeway. If you are wanting to do charts for sessions, you need to contact the many arrangers and producers here in town. I would start by looking on the credits of records that have strings and orchestras recorded to see who, first, were the arrangers and secondly, who the producers are. You will probably get more of an open door form arrangers but many of them do their own Finale and Sibelius work. Some of the really busy ones may appreciate a reliable contact where they can farm out some of their work to someone else.

It's just like every other discipline involving computers. The more powerful computers and software become the more people feel empowered to do things themselves. I would think the reason copyists gravitate to LA would be because of the sheer volume of film and TV work being done.

After you have contacted everyone, it becomes a waiting game.

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Permalink Reply by Keith Stacey on February 18, 2010 at 4:43pm

That's kind of what I figured. Indeed, the tools available make the process of charting a lot easier and cleaner than in the past. I know a few LA based composers that use the services of one copyist (he's got a pretty good racquet!).

Anyway, thanks very much for the advice. Something along the lines of "Lifeway" is definitely the type of thing I'm looking for.

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Permalink Reply by MArc-Alan Barnette on February 23, 2010 at 10:28am

Keith,

Something that is often overlooked in about every aspect of the music business but is the most truth is the word "Relationships." Writers, artists, publishers, producers even the people you are talking about, copiest's, arrangers, etc. all start at a certain point with many from their peer groups.
In a town like Nashville where hundreds of people all come to town about the same time, everyone kind of gravitates together. They attend the same social events, the same classes, workshops, etc. They tend to rise together, in similar directions. As one after another either drop out or their career's rise, they work with each other on various projects.
In the case you mentioned where one copiest has work with another main source, that is how it is for everyone. You are more likely to work with someone you know and trust their work, than some outsider just asking for work. If you look on the credits for anything, you usually find the same names over and over. Randy Newman, scores all the Pixar movies because they are all friends and have a track record. So you will find that same thing in your field of endevor.
And of course, as computers grow, you find more and more people doing it themselves, decreasing the need for outside people to do that. Over the past few years the market for askills in almost anything in music have decreased while the demand has increased and the amount of people trying to get in have exploded.
So the advice I might suggest is the same as with anyone. Start to team up now with people who are just starting out where you are trying to go. Getting in on the ground floor of anything is really the only way into any business.

MAB

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Permalink Reply by Keith Stacey on February 23, 2010 at 10:45am

Thanks Marc, I have been doing that for a few years, it's just slow going. Looks like I'm on the right track.

thanks again

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Permalink Reply by MArc-Alan Barnette on February 23, 2010 at 12:06pm

Keith,

You probably are. We all have to use that old worn out phrase "Keep doing what you're doing." But that is really what it is. For me, you have to look at history. It is always been like this. It takes forever to get anywhere and that is why most of the people who are successful are not there until later in life. Gives them the life experiences and judgement that they need to find their own little "niche." and that is what all music is. Finding a niche and being able to exploit that where it works for you or people who might employ you.
It is a long hard slog, but you just have to keep at it. Most people quit. If you are not one of those people, it already gives a leg up on the competition.

MAB

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