These Incidents might look interesting, strange or simple but these indicate a different kind of challenge also someone like me can face in career. Having no training in music, having no family background in Music Industry or Film industry, no identity and no network in Music while i was growing up, it is a challenge to make an identity as a music composer later , because you can't tell everyone you meet on roadside  "ok give a situation or lyrics and i will compose to prove you that i am a music composer", and if you make them listen some previously made/recorded song, still they might think  "Oh, he is saying that it is his composition but not sure if its really his, it might be some song i haven't heard. Does he even know what is Music Composing?". 

 

These acquaintances's responses were out of ignorance of my progress in Music and because of disbelief because i had no background or training in Music.. However, not having any network and identity in industry can be used by rivals also to actually harm, using exactly same words about me to prospective contractors "He doesn't know what is composing music etc etc, and the work on internet he is claiming as his own is actually someone else's"

 

Making an identity as a music composer, to convince anyone that i am a music composer, to tell music companies and movie producers that i am a genuine music composer and hence am available to do your work, has been a different kind of challenge for me. and  i found something new in my hand to help me in this direction around 3 and half years ago, on June 1st 2016,  - that is - The membership of Music Composers' Association of India, MCAI".    

 

I agree, not every music composer can relate to my above experience and the kind of benefit i am getting by becoming a member of MCAI but not everyone is same. We are unique people with unique story of life and so is our Original Music Composition, it might sound similar to someone else sometimes,  but is still unique and different from others. 

 

On 1st June 2016,  I had actually walked in to MCAI office to know the procedure of taking membership because one of the new producer had ditched me, he had taken my work and had later refused to make the payment saying that he didn't like my work. I was also worried that, that producer might register my work in his or any of his fellow's name. I had approached office to inquire if association can help me in this case or in such cases. As i was waiting in office to meet the general manager, i noticed names of some of the Legendary Music Composers displaying on  the board as former presidents of Associations and some stalwarts as members of current executive committee . Those were among the names  whose music i listened to and learnt music, and am still learning more. They are among my inspirations. I was thrilled but confused also. One moment i felt like being in the dreamworld by being a member of this association, next moment i doubted also that if i can really be member of this association of such Legends and stalwarts

 

As i met the general manager Mr Raviraj and discussed the procedure of taking membership of Association and my dispute with the  producer,  i also inquired him if it is possible to meet other music composers members of the association in some meeting or gathering if i take the membership.. and his reply thrilled me  "In AGM you can get the opportunity to meet many composers . Members of Executive Committee are very much likely to  come in the meeting". ....That was it for me. Without waiting for a moment i made the full payment then and there itself.  Meeting and getting acquainted to so many music composers in one meeting could open door to many opportunities. Meeting and getting blessings of seniors like Anandji Bhai and Pyarelalji  has been a dream always. Apart from that with seniors and achievers  in industry you get to learn a lot more. To some senior you can assist if it works out and make another beginning in career, or with some others you might get along well and decide to collaborate for some project or make a duo partnership, or some can become friend and recommend,  and if all that not does not happen one thing will happen for sure that some of them can feel rivalry  who would criticize always but then you can use it to motivate yourselves to do more and more  and better.  I agree that networking and making an identity is not made in one day, these things  don't happen in one day of AGM  but the process can begin that day of AGM once i attend it and meet others. These advantages i never had as an individual because i didn't learn music from any person or school, nor do i have  any family background or any friend circle in music and film industry. Whatever little circle i have, it is made by me after leaving job and spending time in the industry. So, membership of MCAI and AGM appeared to me like coming with new opportunities and possibilities. Moreover, in MCAI , all members understand the scope and limitation of Music Composer's department. So, at least one day during AGM i spend hours talking to people who understand my job. Otherwise for the rest of the year, i am among people who criticize my composition if singing is poor or accompanying track is not contemporary. So as an individual I find numerous benefits of becoming member of MCAI and AGM

 

Looking at things objectively, as such, Music Composers' Association, like any other association, is formed to benefit each member of the association, with an objective to protect rights of every member, to protect every member from exploitation in the industry.  In short, it is supposed to benefit every member of the Association, otherwise why anyone would become member at all, right?

 

Non receipt of payment from producers and cases of copyright infringement are two issues in which MCAI comes very helpful to every member irrespective of how big and powerful is opponent's individual or company name in the industry. The power and experience of association collectively is good enough that most of the times you might just avoid getting into a situation of dispute if you just tell that you are a member of MCAI (and hence all the harassment that is associated with the dispute gets avoided). After becoming a member of MCAI, one doesn't have to worry much about the suspicion of getting unreleased work stolen when unreleased compositions are sent to some prospects, and if that still happens, Association will support you. You just need to follow the procedure and handover the case to Association. Apart from that the newly formed legal cell guides you to scrutinize the contract well before signing, so that you don't end up singing a contract with terms and conditions that exploit you. 

 

I felt that as an individual, i can impress, have impressed few or many people with my music composition skills. but after becoming a member of MCAI, i can market my skills freely by sending unreleased work to as many as prospects. It helps to make better identity as a Music Composer in the market and also make some network in the industry.. Of course learning more and more is always there from more experienced Members of the Association in the industry, specially the commercial aspect because impressing few people with skills is very different from using it commercially for making a successful career.

 

 

As such, i feel Association is very important for every member Music Composer and so is important probably the contribution and involvement of every member towards the Association. 

 

as i learnt that alone one can impress select few people or many people but after becoming member of Association one can rock the masses, one can achieve in career, one can become commercially successful and prosper. 

 

I conclude this write up here for now, will write more on this, some other day

 

Wishing all of you a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year!

 

Keep Rocking!

 

Vijay Singh