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Delivery
So, now you've created a demo reel that makes you proud. Staring lovingly at it on your desk won't get you very far, though. You have to get it to your prospect and in one playable piece. The best way is to hand deliver it and perhaps introduce yourself to some key players at the same time. Sadly, most of us can't afford a roadtrip every time a request comes in, so we have to rely on someone else to make the delivery for us. Here are a few general tips to make shipping your demo less painful. Always ship your tape or CD in its original protective case and use padded envelopes or specialty shipping boxes. Too many demos have arrived smashed and unplayable. The media buyer probably won't have the time to call you to request another, and instead will listen to the ones they've received from other potential composers. Don't waste your money sending your demo UPS, FedEx, certified mail, or anything anymore expensive than1st class unless specifically asked to do so. While you may feel the urgency to send out your reel, believe me, there is none of the same urgency on the receiving end. Save yourself the money. Never (let me repeat this again because, believe it or not, it has been done before), never send your master or your only copy! Make copies! Enough said. Followup You've sent out your demo reel, now what? You start pestering the producer, right? Wrong. The last thing a busy producer in the middle of creating a game wants is to be hounded. If the producer got in contact with you for your reel, then he knows it's coming and probably already has time set aside in his schedule to review all the submissions. And until that time, you probably won't hear a peep. It's taken months sometimes before I've gotten any word back. Just be patient. It is okay for you to check in with a producer after a couple weeks to ensure that she received the package in one piece. This shows your professionalism and concern for delivering the product. But do not badger the producer about whether she's listened to it yet or not. Believe me, if the producers are interested, they will call. Occasionally some will send a "No thank you" letter and even return your material. Don't be offended if your hard work comes back. Producers know that sending demos can be costly, and they are giving you the chance to reuse it again. I think it's a fine gesture. I have developed a simple tracking method that I use religiously. I log the date and the company to which I sent the demo. After ten days, I proceed with my followup, either by phone call or e-mail. I now know the company received my package and I relax. If the potential client calls me, I check another box. If the client hires me, I check another box. But I never, ever, ask a potential client if he listened to the demo. I've only done it once and now it seems to be the running joke. Every time I call, he takes my demo from the bottom of the pile and puts it right on the top. I've even been there once to see him do this. It is soon buried under other arriving packages and sits there until I call a month later and we repeat the process. One of these days he'll actually have the time to listen to it and I know I'll get the gig. |
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Features
