Family-First Composer: Proven Path to Escape 9-5 and Support Your Family Composing Music for Film, TV, & Video Games

"Since the beginning of my composition career, I’ve worked exclusively with companies and on projects that are family-oriented. I want my kids to be part of everything I do, so I only bring positive art into our house that we can experience together. Practically, that means I score a lot of casual games and work with companies like Disney who understand that my schedule revolves around my family first. I drive my son to soccer practice and my daughters to theater and cheerleading. Weekends are set aside for my family. I don’t work crazy crunch hours. A vital piece of my life is having a wonderful assistant who helps organize my business. I regularly outsource tasks because my goal is to maintain a healthy life balance. I set aside time for my family first because I only have another 10 years left with my kids before they leave my house. I’m not going to squander that.

When composers refuse to focus on their families first, they pay a terrible price in mental health, resulting in guilt and resentment. Your career should never be the focus of your life; instead, it should be the tool that allows you to fully enjoy your family. This is at the core of what it means to be human.

There are countless music business courses, school programs, and books you can consume for knowledge, but what composers are really seeking is to be part of a team; part of a family. When you treat your team and family with the same respect, it becomes a mutual exchange of information and ideas. When I develop relationships with clients, they're not on the opposite side of the table. I call them 'partner clients' because we’re all working towards the same goal and growing together.

Young composers often believe that they need to start their career with advanced negotiation skills, psychological tactics, and academic pedigree. Yet when I hire composers, all I'm looking for is a talented team player with work ethic to support our vision. When I sell to clients, I'm not selling music; I’m selling the experience of working with me. There are plenty of other composers that do great work. I’m selling a positive experience full of mutual respect. When a project closes, my clients don’t focus on the music assets. They mention how great it was to work with Adam: 'He’s fun, focused, and dedicated, so we’re going to hire him again!'

If you desire to have a successful career as a composer, you must be willing to sacrifice. This investment may not cost monetarily but will certainly require a significant amount of time and energy. You need to weigh the costs with your family and determine what you’re willing to pay. If you can find a mutually respectful way to honor your family time, you’ll be equipped to devote the extra hours to building a career.

If you desire to be a Family-First Composer, you're not alone. You're not the only one feeling lost and disconnected from your family. You're not the only one wondering how to fulfill your passions while trying to nurture the most important piece of your world. Your family wants you to be happy and successful. Don’t compromise your core beliefs for a career. Honor your family first and they’ll trust that your work time is devoted to benefit them. What do you dream for? Express that to your family. If you lie to yourself and pretend like these desires don’t exist, you're going to breed resentment and instability. Let your family know that they’re more important than your work. Then focus on balance.

You don’t have to grind 24/7 to be a successful screen music composer, but you do have to be intentional with your time. I’m proud that Steven Melin has fought for this balance at an early age, and he’ll show you how you can too. I’m excited for how Family-First Composer will equip you to live the most fulfilling life possible."

– Adam Gubman (Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge, The Greatest Showman, Disney Parks Worldwide)