Most composers focus on getting better at writing music. That is important. But after a certain skill level, what separates a struggling composer from a thriving one is not talent. It is systems.
Here are three I wish I had built from day one.
1. A client pipeline
You need a repeatable way to find new clients. Not "post on social media and hope." A real pipeline: identify prospects, reach out, follow up, close.
This does not have to be complicated. A spreadsheet tracking who you have contacted, when you followed up, and where they are in the process is enough to start.
2. A portfolio that sells
Your demo reel should not be a random collection of your best work. It should be curated for the type of work you want to do. If you want to score horror films, lead with horror. If you want game audio, show game audio.
Make it easy for someone to say "yes, this person can do what I need."
3. A delivery system
How do you handle revisions? How do you deliver stems? How do you manage feedback from three different stakeholders on the same cue?
Document your process. Make it repeatable. When a client knows exactly what to expect from working with you, they come back.
The pattern
Notice these are not about music. They are about business. The composers who thrive long-term are the ones who treat their career like a business, not just a passion project.
That realization is what started my journey from composing to growth engineering. And it is what I help other creatives figure out today.
