How Soon Should I Start Networking?

[Snow_Storm]

Hello, this is my first official post on this forums. I am a 19 years-old Freshman community college student thinking of joining the industry as a musician. I know that being a musician in the industry is extremely difficult and you need some form of networking to gain word of any openings in the music field.

How soon should I start networking with video game companies and showcase my skills for them?

[Hannah]

Hello, this is my first official post on this forums. I am a 19 years-old Freshman community college student thinking of joining the industry as a musician. I know that being a musician in the industry is extremely difficult and you need some form of networking to gain word of any openings in the music field.

How soon should I start networking with video game companies and showcase my skills for them?

Well, networking isn't about contacting companies so much as getting to know people. Make friends with fellow musicians, whether they're inside the industry or not, and sooner or later, you'll meet someone who knows someone who can get you in. That's the idea anyway.

[ezacharyk]

How soon should I start networking with video game companies and showcase my skills for them?

Now. You want to start now and keep in touch throughout college.

The best thing to do is join the IGDA (http://www.igda.org). That is where people go to get to know each other a talk. You can also join up with a local chapter if there is one in the area.

You also want to get your own website and have a nice sample playlist of your work. The site needs to be great looking.

Also there are plenty of game development sites to get involved in. www.cgempire.com and www.gamedev.net are two I frequent regularly.

Just keep in touch with anyone you meet.

[GamesLaw]

The industry is very very lateral. Get to know a particular community, especially the CM's and prominent journalists (who usually end up becoming CM's). Go to events...I cannot tell you how important getting face time with people is....you'll get more out of going to PAX than you will from a hundred emails.

Start building a portfolio. Your dream job may come and go and pass you by if you don't have the minimum requirements for it. Don't forget that work you do outside the industry often counts for something inside....everyone got their start somewhere.