How do you become completely irreplaceable as a composer?
With the rise of AI, large teams replacing freelancers, and an ever-growing pool of talented artists entering the field, this is a question every aspiring composer should be thinking about — not just to break in, but to stay in demand.
And after a decade in the composing industry, I've learned some answers to that question.
One of the core skills to a sustainable composing career is learning how to build trust.
(That's what I teach in the Composing Career Bootcamp.)
Trust is built on many things:
• 👋 Being reliable
• 🗓️ Delivering work on time
• ✍️ Setting clear expectations
• 💬 Communication throughout projects
• 🤝 Sharing yourself authentically
• ☕️ Building genuine relationships
And more.
But I believe there’s another essential skill that makes a composer truly irreplaceable:
Vision.
Let me explain:
Many composers, especially early in their careers, focus solely on servicing their clients.
They take a project at face value, sticking closely to temp tracks or the director's ideas without question.
In other words...
They become a "yes-man".
But the most sought-after composers aren't just skilled or agreeable. They're innovators, thinking beyond technique, tradition, and expectation to push creative boundaries forward.
Hans Zimmer put it best in his recent interview with Rick Beato:
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“The job is not to listen to the director telling you what the music is he wants, because if he knows what music he wants then he can do it himself. My job is to sort of listen to him tell me the story and then do the thing that he can’t even imagine.”
That's the difference between servicing and serving your clients.
❌ SERVICING MEANS GIVING YOUR CLIENT EXACTLY WHAT THEY THINK THEY WANT ⎯ NOTHING MORE.
They're happy, you're satisfied, but neither of you grows.
But serving?
✅ SERVING MEANS PUSHING EXPECTATIONS, TAKING RISKS, AND CREATING SOMETHING NEITHER OF YOU THOUGHT POSSIBLE.
Remember:
Do do this you need to build trust.
A client won't be receptive to being served unless they believe it's in their best interests.
That might look like being referred, or having an online presence, or even a 30-minute discovery call before working together.
But here's the bottom line:
Learning to serve instead of service is the only way to free yourself from competing on skill, price, or speed.
Get curious about your clients’ minds and visions. Don’t just look for work— look to learn.
And when you've built the trust and conviction to serve?
Don't withhold your expertise or imagination.
Challenge your clients to grow, and I guarantee they’ll keep coming back — not just for music, but for the transformation you offer.
👋 Want to work with me?
I've got two courses...
- 🎻 Orchestral Mockup Fundamentals. Learn how to program and perform realistic orchestral mockups in minutes with my no-fluff, 3-hour crash course.
- 🎬 Composing Career Bootcamp. Join 100+ students from around the world who are using my 6-week program to land paid work in film, animation, and games. (Or try my free 4-part masterclass before deciding to enroll.)
And two ways we can work together...
- 🚀 The Pro Group. I help composers grow their businesses and do more of what they love. If you're ready to work closely with me, book a call and let's chat about your goals to determine if we're a great fit.
- 🎶 Commission Music. I'm accepting new clients for commissioned composing work. If you like my music and want to discuss working together on a project, hit reply to this email or click the link and let's chat.
That's all for now!
Hit reply to share thoughts or say hi.
Otherwise, happy music-making and see you next time. 🙂
- Zach
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