What would you do with this opportunity?

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Brad

Brad

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Okay, let's say you are an aspiring film/TV/media composer and/or sound designer. You have done some independent work and some spec work, but nothing huge.

Now, by some strange happenstance, you find yourself with the opportunity to take a general meeting with the HEAD OF PROGRAMMING AT A MAJOR CABLE NETWORK. Not your local cable station, ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESFUL CABLE NETWORKS IN THE WORLD. They do have their share of original programming, but most of their stuff is not new. This dude who you are going to meet with is the head of programming, basically in charge of the west coast operations. Now this guy doesn't make musical decisions for productions, I am sure, but he is a man in a position of power & influence in the industry that you are trying to get a break in.

What would you do? What would you bring to this meeting? Your video reel & a resume? In the hope that he may like it and pass it on to some hot shot producer/director? Would you showcase your talents but then ask if there is a job sweeping the floor in studio A? Would you just sit there and shoot the shit? I mean, people are trying to sell themselves to this guy all day long, maybe take a different approach and just talk about something else? I mean, this could be a big opportunity - what would you do to ensure that you don't bust a cap in your own foot?

Any ideas at all are welcome.

And no, you can't come to my meeting!!! :D
 
Oh yeah, one more thing.

What would you wear? I mean, it is not a job interview. It's a general meeting. Would you knock the dust off of your best suit?
 
What is the context of the meeting and why is he seeing you? Are you tagging along with somebody else, cocktails, whats the purpose? Have you been talked up to him due to any specific skills you have?
 
Here is the scoop Tex:

He is the professor in my History of Broadcasting class. On the first day of class, the younger students (I am a little older than most of the class as I am a returning student - I am a just a tad older than you, Tex) started asking him if he could get them a job in TV, etc. He politely said that he would not do that - he wouldn't have the time even if he wanted to. He then said that he would take a general meeting with any of the students who made it to the end of the semester and who wanted to meet with him at his real job (the prof'ing on the side thing is really a labor of love for this guy - you can tell.) He didn't come right out and say it, but you could tell that he was offering something that only a nitwit would pass on.
Anyway, that was the only time he ever mentioned the meeting thing. Nobody seemed really interested or understood that a meeting with someone in his position was a hard thing to come by.
So, throughout the semester we have shot the shit, he knows what I do and what I want to do. He has given me some tips, but nothing hard & substantial. I asked him a few weeks ago in private if that meeting offer still stood, and he said "Hell yes"

I'm pretty sure he likes me. I do well in class and I participate. I have managed to crack him up on more than one occasion.
Last week, I told him about a recent gig I got doing music/sound design for some commercials, and he was very congratulatory and then started asking about my rig. In that same conversation, I told him, "You know, I am going to schedule that meeting with you, right?" He said "I'm counting on it"

So, I guess that's a good sign - he doesn't sound like he is thinking "Shit, not another meeting with a student!" I have a feeling that he does these meetings so that kids can come and see what a big shot does, ask some questions about how to break in, etc.
But I am seeing our meeting as being a little different.
Maybe not, maybe I am reading too much into this. Maybe my hopes are getting too high.
 
Sounds awesome. Chances are a programming guy wont be too involved in hiring of techs so I wouldnt try to hit him up for a specific job unless you want to get into the managerial side of the business.

Your best angle is probably a letter of recomendation or better yet some specific names of Production Managers, Post Production Coordinators or Producers that he would be willing to refer you to. They usually have control over who they hire so you will need to impress them also.

If you were able to call up a producer and say "whats his name' said I should call you" that would be a huge advantage in getting them to listen to your stuff or giveing you an interview.

As far as clothes go you should probably dress the way he does as long as it's not too obvious your trying to kiss ass. He will probably consider the way you look and act to be the way you will look and act for any interviews that he would refer you to.

Good luck Dave. Sounds like a great opportunity and networking is the way to stay busy.
 
Thanks Tex, I appreciate your input a lot.


But now I am pissed. Who is Dave and why is he going to MY meeting?

:D :D :D :D


Brad
 
Fred.......oopss.....BRAD,

Sounds like you already have this guy pretty well on side, so being able to relax and talk to him shouldn't be a problem.

One BIG question is why he offers these meetings.........is it;........ to see who the motivated people are and therefore give them a little bit more "inside" knowledge,.........to get interested people out of their classroom comfort zone and see who they react on "foreign" turf (i.e; do they try too hard to impress, etc.,).....blah, blah.

It seems like a great opportunity to pick his brain away from the classroom.............make the most of it and good luck.

:cool:
 
Hey, thanks New Zea... um, I mean ausrock.

Just an addendum - if he wasn't on side before, he is now. Last night we handed in our final project for the semester. It was obvious that he was very impressed with my project. So he knew my name before, but now he really knows it, and it's a good thing.
I mentioned again to him that I would see him soon because I would be taking him up on the meeting. He shook my hand and said "I'm looking forward to it, Brad"

I told my fiance about this and she is doing the fantasy "what if" thing, which is messing with my brain a little - I know I can't get too excited. This could mean nothing, but it could also be a very good thing. I just need to keep my head on straight and keep perspective. Though I am confident in my ability, I know that there are a million other people out there that can do a better job than I can.


Man, I just keep telling myself - if nothing else comes of this, at least I have made a good contact.


Brad
 
Hey man Dave's not here. sorry, not sure where that came from ;)

This will either be encouraging or discouraging but talent has very little do with success. Success is based on networking, being reliable and getting the job done. Those are the qualities they look for.

Your meeting with him is just the first tiny step in hopefully a long and rewarding career. You will have to prove your worth every day and as they say "You are only as good as your last album."
 
Well this mayby a little out of proportion but I do come across a lot of guys/students who are asking for a job in my studio. First of all I want to make clear that I'm not in the situation of actually being able to hire somebody fulltime, but occasionally I do need a part-time engineer for different recording jobs.

9.9 out of 10 volunteers are not even taken serious by me. Those are the guys that are extremely enthousiastic, but no where near real live-situation. You can tell they all want to do the job, but actually have totally no clue what it is about. Only the don't realise themselfs.

0.1 out of 10 are those of whom you can tell just by talking to them for 1 minute they will do the job good. Skills aren't the most important thing. Getting along with clients, and mentality are more important. Those who have that, and make actually sence when speaking about recoding are the guys that I will hire. Funny part is that all of these guys get into the business of recording one or the other way within no time. So if one of them comes by and asks for a job I don't have, I'm sure I'll see him within a year working for somebody else or himself.

So basicly, if you have it Brad, and I guess you have, That nutty professor allready knows. Don't act like a little puppy drewling all over him. be confident, show you know what your talking about, show youré reliable and serious about the job. Be straightforward, no nonsense. Tell him what you want without talking bullshit.

This business is a serious business, and lots of money go around. So people who are full of bull will never get the change, they be out before the know. These big shots know that people who are up to these jobs are rare. Imagine what this guy has done to come all this way, I'll bet you he didn't come there with talking bull.

Go for it tiger;)

BTW, dress like a musician. You're not a layer, I don't trust musicians that come dressed in fancy business suits. A real musician couldn't afford one;) ;)
 
Yo, Brad!

Forget about meeting with this Bozo!

If you really want to get your music into the ears of the "right people", you're better off joining TAXI. :eek::rolleyes::D
 
Well, you definately want to meet with him. Definately take samples of your work! Never show up to an interview without samples of what you are capable of doing! If he doesn't care to listen/view them, chances are he'll pass them along to someone in the studio who will.
You're interested in a job as a staff or contract composer. Don't sell yourself short and take some low man on the totem pole position, unless it has DIRECT involvement with the position you are interested in!
You are a creative type, don't show up in a suit! But don't show up in a torn T-shirt and faded blue jeans either! I'd wear a nice "I-ZOD" type golf shirt, and some "Docker" slacks. Or something to that effect. The only people I ever see wearing suits and ties are shoe salesmen in the mall! (and corporate laywer types)
Good luck!
Be confident
And remember: Sell Yourself.
 
Good luck to ya bro, I hope you get that opportunity that you seek. As for clothes, he's seen you all semester so if you wear something that's totally out of character for you, it'll look funny to him, kinda artificial you know? I'd wear the nicest stuff you have that's still in the style of what you normally wear. Hope it goes well.
 
Downside, I want a job in your studio,...

but that COMMUTE to HOLLAND would be a BITCH!;)
 
THAT sir is NOT the right mentality.

Don't call us, we'll call you.
 
Downside, that's a joke!

It's a joke, ha. Get it? Haha.;)
 
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