How Long Does It Take To Become A Successful Composer???

This has been a tricky film to make, seriously considering the length of time it takes to become a successful composer based on the thousands of composers I have met. The sacrifices are huge and are usually made earlier in life where you have less commitments and responsibilities to turn your back on. But, this has got me into trouble. What do you think, is it possible to become a successful composer later in life?

To check out those other vids I’ve been tarting around:

[AndreaGiordaniComposer]

Ah, THE Topic! ... I will never forget what my acting teacher told us one day in acting class! It was brutal for some of us to hear this, but damn, it was true! 10 years, she said! At least! Right...So yeah, I'm in both industries LOL does that mean I would need 20 years? I don't know, maybe. Because I'm already composing for last 20 years! (I'm 35).
And no, I don't come from a country like UK, where you can fe that you are closer to the industry. So I did leave my country and went to UK thinking that'll help. It did changed the way I think and I've learnt a lot as I was exposed to the industry. It inspired me immensely. But after spending 10 years in UK trying like crazy in both industries I ended up working like a maniac, not having time to really create, but only work and run to get that rent paid. Awful! I did find a niche in my acting world. I made my own VO booth and I'm enjoying in recording audiobooks 😎
But, what catapulted me the most was this channel! I finally felt like there's hope for me as a composer! Thank you Christian ❤
So after the most heavier year in my life in which I lost my mother and my grandmother in 2 months time and after realising that my only home left was my creativity and my music, I left UK, for a country I've never even seen, where I don't have anyone I know. But I do have a sea! I finally understood that I can't run for my rent and work like a maniac in 100 different jobs just to say that I'm in London and that maybe something will come finally and realise itself! I wanted to continue creating! I wanted that time for having an inspiring walk by the sea or through the forest and then going back home and telling the story, solving that cue! I left friends, places I love, concerts in RAH, theatres... Only to create time for pursuing my calling! Oh but how fantastic a decision I've made! I'm creating again! I'm working as a composer more than I've worked in all these 10 years together! I feel like it's moving somewhere finally. Only because I have that TIME! I can be dedicated to it, I can follow my instincts and be in the flow.
And I'll be honest, I wouldn't mind if it would take me another 10 years !
This community here is fantastic! And I am so thankful to be a part of it! It got me so inspired! Never give up,
Thank you to everybody for sharing your touching stories! Forward, friends! 👌
Massive thanks to Christian for pulling me back in line, there where I belong!
And my only question is - when is that walk going to happen? I already have my tickets for September 😎 Set and ready!

[GavinMorris]

Christian, I am so sorry for your loss. Wishing you the best.

[hootist]

Hi Christian, btw I'm 63. Great advice and insight as ever. I'm a "MA" student of "media composition". Must admit, I don't expect to be a "top dog" in any pool of expertise, but I honestly enjoy getting my head into this "media" and sample library "world" that I didn't know existed 24 months ago... Some of your older videos definitely sparked something in me !!! Have been enlightened by you about what the job entails (as you have previously, and here pointed out so well). For me its a fact that being older (codger!!) and able/lucky to give it my time is great. Like us all I want "my stuff" to be heard.... appreciated....and at this point (if I put enough graft and a smattering of luck/fortuity) paid for (a bit). So as a chap that definitely has arrived late, technology has allowed me to get on the shirt-tails of the composition revolution that Spitfire and others provide. The challenge is there for me ... though at a slightly different angle from the the younger guns. Does this make sense? :)

[jmi_music]

This is my favourite kind of video from you, Christian. Up on the mountain top talking candidly about the realities of the job, the business and the industry. It’s massively valuable, and realistic expectations are a necessity to avoid burnout or disappointment. I’d love to see a video that breaks down the 10 years into possible steps one might take (obviously every journey is unique), but as a thought experiment to get us thinking about a long term vision for ourselves that we can make unique and personalised. Anyhoo, I enjoyed this video - I hope you get a rest and a beer! Thank you.

[ChrisHaighMusicOfficial]

I really enjoyed this video Christian! I think everything you said was spot on, especially about what is meant by successful. I used to battle with this and have had many conversations with people about it. And essentially everyone’s vision of what makes someone successful is subjective. For example, if someone thinks you aren’t a successful composer unless you are at the level of John Williams, Elfman and Zimmer for example. Then unfortunately that person is probably never going to see themselves or others as successful.
For me it’s always been about being able to be in a position to do what I love and get paid enough money to support my family, without having to compromise and take on work I don’t want to do. I have been in this position for 10 years now and I’m 40. I have a two and a half year old that I have been lucky enough to see every developmental step he’s taken since birth. That is because I was fortunate enough to be able to take nearly a year off of composing, as by this point my royalties were coming in strong and regular.
It’s great to set the bar high in your goals but I feel if they aren’t realistic or done in bite size manageable stages you could become a very disappointed and bitter person.

[paulguarinomusic]

Well said. I love listening and learning from you, I just started dedicating my time to music at age 70. Studied music since age 7 via the accordion majoring in music education, after losing my music teaching job I decided to reinvent my career so I could support my family, my wife was an art teacher and in the 70’s budgets for the arts were always challenged. That said after selling paper for 40 or so years I purchased my first $99 daw and out a card table in my basement 2 years ago when Covid started, I’m having so much fun writing but now I’m diving into orchestral works. You have been an incredible mentor to me, you are the real, honest person I’ve met that tells it like it is, I love that, we don’t get that clarity here in the states, I wish good health and fortune, you deserve it all, maybe within 5 years I can have something composed for my first film before I get too old

[JonRob]

Knowing yourself, and what you want to do is also key.

[PhilipValdesMusic]

Wish I had decided to be a composer 15 years ago. Thought healthcare was a safer career choice but nobody tells you that as a creative person, a non-creative career will kill you a little each day. Yeah I can afford the music toys I like but don't have the time to use them in a really meaningful way. That's why it's a young person's game, once you get all the responsibility that comes later in life, it becomes very difficult to find time to do things for yourself, much less start a new career path.

[awpMusic]

My best ideas tend to come to me in the middle of the night! Sometimes, they still sound good in the morning! :)

[jacknicholson]

Hi Christian. I was one of the people who asked you about the ageism in your recruitment tweet. You tweeted – "do you know anyone in the Edinburgh area who is young and eager to work in the music tech industry helping me make videos for my vlog and Spitfire Audio". I agree with every point you make in your video but it's not related to that tweet. You can't advertise to hire someone based on something they can't change: age, sexual orientation, gender, race. I only write here because I really do respect your work. It's great that there is someone like you in the industry willing to talk about these topics in such an open way.

[Nicodimus]

Hey Christian, just wanted to say thank you for setting up this youtube channel. When I first started watching, there was advice you gave which was something akin to 'finding places where other people hadn't thought that needed music' - this proved to be a major driving force into being able to sustain myself financially. It also made me really question why I make music. In short I realised that I like feeling connected to people through art.

Thank you for all that you do. It made me realise exactly what makes me happy with music, and create my own path, rather than pretend what I think would make me happy.

[PlugInGuruVideo]

Your realistic perspective is something many people need to hear, Christian. Thank you. Simply buying sound libraries and writing a few tracks is a drop in the bucket to finding lasting success. While society's attention span keeps shrinking and people are almost raised with an expectation of instant success, that isn't how it works in real-life. Even bands that often are presented as an overnight success are not overnight success stories when interviewed. Many great points - this is a video I will gladly share with many to help remind us all that the best type of success doesn't come overnight be it for film, commercial productions or even building a sound library business (I've been working on cracking that nut for 12+ years!)

[Mishkacat]

Sorry to hear about the loss of your mum - my condolences to you Christian

[StudioDraven]

Thanks for this video, Christian. I’m 48, and I’ve just finished my bachelors degree, but I’ve been creating music since the 90s. I’ve got a couple of small jobs under my belt, and more on the way. My wife and I also work, but my hope is that eventually we’ll both be able to survive in what I make from composing.
I think the thing is that we’re always learning and evolving, honing what we do. I have no illusions about this being easy; if I can make our lives a bit easier doing something I love, that’ll do for me.
For now.
Thanks again man. Your insights are always invaluable.

[MrKnt]

I fully embrace 10 years!! What got me to wanting to become a film composer in the first was being a kid watching SyFy (used to be the Sci-Fi Channel) movies. I started indeed late as I’m 27 and in the field of marketing trying to do a career shift as it were 😂. But I’m having a lot of fun on my journey and to me that’s important! But along the way I’m blessed to be learning a lot from channels like yours, Tom Holkenborg and Guy Michelmore! I don’t fear being in my 40’s when I score movies haha after all John Williams was in his forties when he scored Jaws! So I’m just plowing through, but enjoying the journey! Thank as always for your content Christian as well as all you and the Spitfire team do!!

[terryd]

Sorry to hear of your loss, Christian. I had no idea US was your mum. What A lovely lady.

[jamesbruce]

Im 33 and worked another job on the side to pay my bills for a long time. About 3 years ago I transitioned into music and sound design full time. I would not have been able to do it if I had not realised that I am a company. The company provide a full service that includes not only the product but also being easy to work with, maintaining regular radio contact and inputting creatively to projects as a whole when appropriate.

I agree with you that starting out younger was easier, I dont think I would have had the energy to write all day then go work in bars every night much past my 20s. Not to say people cant or dont do that, but I feel that you can only go that hard for so long before it starts to effect the quality of the work you produce.

I also feel that starting younger gave me more time and space to make mistakes. Lots of mistakes lol. But now I can draw from them as a HOD and turn that into useable experience.

Your videos are always insightful and I look forward to them for my coffee breaks.

I hope you are well.

[robnorthcott]

Nice one, Christian. I'm not long off 10 years in this game now and still feel like I've a lot to learn and a long way to go but am of course grateful that I'm still going at it!
I must stress to others the importance of looking not just after yourself, but your relationship with music. We all get into this game because music is our favourite thing and it's worth trying to keep it that way. I found myself at the start of this year on the verge of quitting the industry because I was essentially burned out - nearly everything musical I'd done over the last few years was with a view to paying the bills rather than feeling creative and inspired, and I realised I'd taken my favourite hobby and turned into just another 'job.' I had to completely reset or it was over for me.
Keep listening to albums, keep watching films, keep reading books, keep getting out and about, but most importantly do these things because they're fun and you love them!
Thanks for the video. x

[marklovatt]

Fair play Christian being realistic about your own personal situation is the best advice, at 51 I knew I was doomed a long time ago but there’s always a dreamer somewhere in every musician I like to think, an optimism that is nice to hold on to. Just keep making music and trying no matter your age I say, your creations better out there than stuck on a hard drive!

[westheartmusic]

Spent most of my musical career playing in bands as the guitarist, keyboard player, bassist or drummer - only now am I concentrating on composing for my own pleasure and not writing for bands. I realised a while back that I'll never become a famous composer, or make a comfortable living from this - but it won't stop me composing music and the personal reward of sharing my music with others - the dream now I guess is to release an album and leave a mark that pretty much says, that was to perfect my craft and get better at music production, mixing and mastering as best I everyone can do this, so it's something to be grateful for regardless of the fame and fortune ;)