I'm working on a script for a musical, but I myself am musically illiterate, and while I have attempted to write some of the lyrics, I freely admit that they are very rough and need polishing.
With the success of movies such as La La Land and The Greatest Showman, I really think my script has the potential to do well in the box office (It's about teens who have been bullied, how it affects their lives, and how they affect the lives of others), and with the right music, could be life changing.
But my dilemma is this; How can I get a composer/lyricist to take a chance on me if I can't afford to pay them in advance? I can't finish the script without the music, and without a completed script, I don't know if I can convince a producer to even consider listening to my idea. I do have an outline, a list of song ideas, three rough songs ready to be put to music and perfected.
Are there composers out there who would be at least willing to read my outline and song ideas, and tell me if they think my idea has enough merit to pitch to a production company? And if you believe, as I do, that this could be the next huge movie musical, would you be willing to take on this task for a stake in the future profits?
That would be great. Can you DM your email?
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I'd love to take a look and speak with you. I've composed 3 musicals for the theater, and am very excited to collaborate with a writer. Please do contact me!
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Most musicians find lyrics to be the toughest part. Rodgers and Hammerstein's collaboration was legendary. One was a lyrical poet and the other the musician. So don't feel ashamed of handing off half baked lyrics to a musician. Most musicians will love you and draw inspiration from your work.
What is more difficult, and near impossible is telling a composer what the music notes should be...
It helps if you don't get too attached to the lines of the poetry though. Just like lines in a script they often have to be wrangled to get the right tone once they are set to melody. But that's really the only thing in working with a musician. Also, if you don't like a melody talk it through in emotional terms. Musicians are like actors. The more they can understand the emotion the better they can respond to you...
Thank you for this advice! I really appreciate it!
One of the phrases I tell my artists in the studio on lyrics is that beauty in art is all about making the mundane memorable. This is pretty much the polar opposite of cliche which makes the memorable mundane.
Keep me posted. I'd be glad to work with somebody on a musical if I liked the point of the script.
Find a good lyricist/poet, find a good composer, match them up.