Lessons for a Composer from Shark Tank - Part Two

Recently I shared an article from Fast Company about "7 Entrepreneurial Lessons from Shark Tank", and then followed it up with the first in my series on what a composer can learn from the show. The topic of part two: Be PreparedOne of the biggest mistakes entrepreneurs make on Shark Tank is a lack of preparation. It is also one of the easiest things to get right! But time and again, people stumble over their vision for the business, get confused about their sales figures, and just flat out don't know how many functions of their business are actually performing.When you go into a meeting with a director, you had better be prepared. Here are some ideas on what to prepare for a meeting:

• Learn as much about the project as you can. Did they send you a script? Read it and take notes. Does the film have a website? A Facebook page? Read the blog to get an understanding of what production was like, how much sweat and labor has already gone into the production, and what kind of work ethic they expect from their crew.

• Learn as much about the filmmakers as you can. What are their past projects? What type of films do they seem to like working on? Do you have any mutual connections? Read their bio, maybe you both happen to be from the same small town back East which would make for a great ice breaker.

• Know your numbers. Are you planning on pitching a full orchestral score? Do you know how much that will cost, even if just an estimate? How about scheduling? Can you give them a solid estimate of how much time the scoring process will take?

• Know the genre. If you're going in for a meeting on a romantic comedy, make sure you actually can talk about some romantic comedies. Research the iconic scores in the genre, and brush up on some of the latest releases. When the director says "I want something that sounds like Drive," you had better know what that means.