What "The Bear" Taught Me About Composing

We all work tirelessly on our craft, our sound, and our music.

But with so much talent out there, the hard truth is that your music alone usually isn't enough to help you stand out!

So what do you do? 

What makes a director not only choose you again but rave about you to other people in the industry? 

I’ve been thinking about this a lot and I think the answer is in the experience you create for the people you work with.

It's about moving beyond just delivering a great score and becoming an unforgettable collaborator!

Funny enough, I've been learning all about this from a place that has nothing to do with music...from the TV show The Bear. 

The concept is "Unreasonable Hospitality."

It’s more than just good service.

It's about actively creating moments of genuine care that show your director you're not just a service provider, but a true partner in their vision!

There’s a scene that I love from this past season.

A family is celebrating their daughter's 6 month remission. In an email, they mention they'd love to try the restaurant's lunch-only beef sandwich but also that their daughter has always wanted to see snow in Chicago.

A good collaborator handles the request. But a great collaborator hears their dream!

Richie, one of the main characters, hears the snow comment and knows the restaurant can't afford to fly the family back out in December.

But they CAN afford "a power washer, 10-pound bag of sand, and a 45-degree angle nozzle."

Later during dinner service, Richie makes a moment out of serving the beef sandwich. He's loud and excited but the family absolutely loves it!

When a guest at the next table overhears, Richie includes him and gets him a beef sandwich too. He made this guest who was just a bystander feel like a VIP by expanding the circle of hospitality!

He turned a potential disruption into another moment of connection.

The night ends with the family outside, having hot chocolate and marshmallows in a private, makeshift winter wonderland.

He didn't just serve them... he created a story they'll tell for the rest of their lives!

The way this kind of "above and beyond" service is highlighted in the show is actually inspired by Will Guidara's book, Unreasonable Hospitality.

(Funny enough, I'm actually listening to the audiobook right now and we see Richie reading the same book in an earlier season!)

Will's philosophy is built on creating these "one-size-fits-one" experiences where it's less about the cost of service and more about the emotional impact on someone.

So how do we, as composers, apply this? If we want to stand out in this field, we have to be unreasonable!!

This reminded me of Hans Zimmer's process that he talks about in his conversation with Rick Beato. 

He’s mentioned that he deliberately avoids reading the script when a project begins.

Instead, he invites the director to dinner, a bottle of red wine, and asks them to just tell him the story.

He’s listening for the passion, the vision, the things that matter most to the director as a person.

It’s a deliberate act of hospitality!

He’s basically saying "Your personal vision is the most important thing here and that's where I want to start."

It totally reframes the relationship from a service provider transaction to more of a partnership!

THIS is how we can stand out! It’s not about always expensive gestures.

• It's about deep listening.

• It’s about showing them you’re invested in their vision on a level they didn’t expect.

• It’s about finding our own version of the "fake snow in Chicago" moment.

It’s about the small, impactful moments that are unforgettable!

That’s what makes you more than just another talented composer.

You become a creative partner who listens deeply, cares personally, and delivers thoughtfully.

You become the person they can't imagine doing the next project without.

That's what people remember!

So that's all for today's Composer Odyssey!

My hope is that you lean into unreasonable hospitality as a way to not only help you stand out but build genuine relationships.

If you want to take the next step and get the dedicated feedback and peer network to help you land those fulfilling scoring opportunities, I'd love to have you learn more about my Composer Odyssey Membership!

Have a great week and as always... Happy Composing! 🎵