The 'Good Enough' Question: How to Know You're Ready (Spoiler: It's Sooner Than You Think)
The 'Good Enough' Question: How to Know You're Ready (Spoiler: It's Sooner Than You Think)
You know that voice in your head, right? The one that whispers, "Who are you kidding? You're not a real composer. Hans Zimmer started when he was five. John Williams has a degree from Juilliard. You learned GarageBand from YouTube tutorials."
Yeah, that voice? It's lying to you.
Here's something that blew my mind when I first learned it: most working film and game composers started exactly where you are right now. Sitting at their computer, wondering if they're fooling themselves, comparing their behind-the-scenes to everyone else's highlight reel.
What You'll Discover in This 8-Minute Reality Check:
The actual skill benchmarks that matter (hint: they're lower than you think)
Why "good enough" is the wrong question entirely
How professional composers really got their start (spoiler: messily)
Three concrete ways to assess your readiness right now
The mindset shift that changes everything
Perfect for: Anyone drowning in self-doubt about their composition skills Reading time: 8 minutes that might change your entire perspective
The Plot Twist: You're Probably Ready Sooner Than You Think
Let me tell you about Sarah. She spent two years "preparing" to apply for her first film scoring gig. Two years perfecting her demo reel. Two years learning "just one more technique" before she'd be "ready."
Know what happened when she finally applied? She got the job. And the director told her, "We loved your fresh perspective. You didn't sound like everyone else."
All that "not being ready enough"? It was actually her secret weapon.
Here's the thing nobody tells you: the industry doesn't need another Hans Zimmer. It needs you, with your unique voice and perspective. But first, you need to stop asking "Am I good enough?" and start asking better questions.
The Real Skill Benchmarks That Actually Matter
Forget what you think you need to know. Here's what you actually need to be hireable:
For Small Film Projects:
Can you write music that supports a scene without fighting it?
Can you deliver a properly formatted audio file on deadline?
Can you take direction and make revisions without having a meltdown?
Do you understand basic sync and timing?
That's it. Seriously.
For Indie Game Projects:
Can you create a loop that doesn't have an obvious seam?
Can you match the energy of what's happening on screen?
Can you work within file size limitations?
Can you communicate professionally with developers?
Notice what's NOT on these lists? Perfect orchestration. Advanced harmonic theory. Expensive sample libraries. Years of conservatory training.
The Reality Check Test:
Here are three quick ways to gauge your actual readiness:
1. The Friends and Family Test Play your best 30-second piece for someone who isn't a musician. If they can tell you what emotion you were going for, you're connecting with audiences. That's 80% of the job right there.
2. The Technical Delivery Test Can you deliver a properly labeled WAV file, on time, that starts and ends where it's supposed to? Congratulations, you're ahead of roughly 30% of people who call themselves composers.
3. The Feedback Test When someone gives you notes ("can you make it more mysterious?"), can you go back and actually make it more mysterious? If yes, you're ready for professional work.
How Professionals Actually Got Started (It's Messier Than You Think)
Let's bust some myths about how working composers actually broke in:
Myth: They were discovered because of their incredible talent Reality: They were consistent, reliable, and said yes to opportunities
Myth: Their first work was polished and professional Reality: Everyone's early work was pretty rough, but they delivered it anyway
Myth: They knew everything before they started Reality: They learned on the job, project by project
I know a composer who got his first film gig because he was the only person who responded to a Craigslist ad within 24 hours. Not because he was the most talented person who saw it – because he was the most responsive.
Another got her first game music job because she posted a 30-second loop on a game development forum and someone liked her style. The loop wasn't perfect, but it was exactly what that developer needed.
The pattern? They put themselves out there before they felt "ready."
The Wrong Question vs. The Right Questions
Wrong Question: "Am I good enough?" This question has no answer because "good enough" is a moving target that depends on context, project needs, and a million other variables.
Right Questions:
"Can I solve this specific project's musical problems?"
"Am I reliable and professional to work with?"
"Can I deliver what I promise, when I promise it?"
"Am I getting better with each project?"
See the difference? The wrong question is abstract and paralyzing. The right questions are concrete and actionable.
The Confidence Building Game Plan
Here's how to build genuine confidence in your abilities:
Step 1: Start With Tiny Wins
Don't aim for your dream film scoring gig. Start with:
A friend's YouTube video
A local business commercial
A student film from your area
An indie game jam project
Success builds on success. Each small project teaches you something and proves you can deliver.
Step 2: Focus on Problem-Solving
Every project is really asking: "Can you solve our musical problem?" Start thinking like a problem-solver, not an artist seeking validation.
The director needs tension in this scene? That's a problem to solve. The game needs exploration music that doesn't get annoying? That's a problem to solve.
When you solve problems, you become valuable. When you're valuable, self-doubt melts away.
Step 3: Track Your Growth
Keep a "wins journal." After each project, write down:
What you learned
What went well
What you'd do differently
How you've improved since your last project
Reviewing this list when self-doubt creeps in is like having a superpower.
The Mindset Shift That Changes Everything
Here's the secret: professional composers aren't people who never doubt themselves. They're people who move forward despite the doubt.
That voice saying "you're not ready"? It never fully goes away. I know composers scoring major films who still hear it. The difference is they've learned not to let it make their decisions.
Your job isn't to eliminate the doubt. Your job is to create anyway.
What to Do Right Now
If you've read this far, you're probably more ready than you think. Here's your homework:
Pick one small project to pursue this week. Could be answering a call for music on a forum, reaching out to a local filmmaker, or creating a piece of music for practice.
Stop consuming educational content for one week. I know, I know – that's scary. But you probably already know enough to start. You're just avoiding starting by learning "one more thing."
Set a "good enough" deadline. Give yourself a realistic timeframe to finish something and share it. Not perfect – finished.
Remember: the goal isn't to be the best composer in the world. The goal is to be a working composer who gets better with each project. And you can start that journey today, exactly as you are right now.
Your Next Steps
If this resonated with you, you might enjoy these related posts:
Ready to take the leap? Join our community of composers who are building their skills and confidence together. We share opportunities, give feedback, and celebrate every win – no matter how small.
Drop a comment below: What's one small project you could start this week? Let's cheer each other on.
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