Get In The Game

If you are thinking about commissioning: get in the game.

Commissioning new music is one of those things that can feel a little bit scary at first. There’s risk, there’s extra pressure, there’s communication with a creative artist you admire, ideally.

It’s such valuable work, though, and not just for you. It’s valuable for your students, your local community, and your professional community!

When I think about the fear around commissioning, I am reminded of this conversation about supporting charitable causes from the indelible Aaron Sorkin show Sports Night. Natalie and Dan are having a conversation as a climber is reaching the summit of Mt. Everest.

Natalie: Every once in awhile, if I have a few extra dollars, I’ll give it to an AIDS group.
Dan: That’s great.
Natalie: It’s only a little bit.
Dan: A little is better than nothing.
Natalie: I’ll get you the name and address.
Dan: The thing is more people die of breast cancer every year than die of AIDS. More people die of diabetes. About 20 times as many die of heart disease, but the government doesn’t spend as much money researching those. It’s not that we shouldn’t be trying to cure AIDS. It’s just that we should be trying to cure everything. And if I’m dying of luekemia, I might well wonder where my red ribbon is. Why isn’t someone throwing me a pajama party at Barber’s?
Natalie: Two guys have ascended five miles into the sky. They walked up a wall of ice and are prepared to knock on the door of heaven itself. There’s really no end to what we can do. Know what the trick is?
Dan: What?
Natalie: Get in the game.

If you’re wondering whether or how to start commissioning music, there’s no one right way. The only thing to do is get in the game.