I don't think there's a similar thread out there (my apologies if there is), but I'm hoping this will benefit many of the members here who are interested in a compositional career.

To start off:

1) What's the most effective way of getting your name known in the world as a composer?
2) How does one find an agent?
3) How do you get your works published (e.g. in book format)?

Feel free to throw in related questions.

I believe the best way to get your name out is to show your compositions to previous teachers or someone with a knowledge of music. It's also nice to ask a professional to lay though your music and give you feed back. If they like what they play/hear they may perform it! I also know a man who got his name out there for transcribing and arranging. He started off doing small requests for his friends in college and now gets his compositions played by bands across America. It's also most profitable to self publish your own works rather then getting an existing publisher. The man I just talked about does the same thing. His publishing site and works and such can be found here. Check him out or throw some questions his way. I'm sure he won't mind. http://www.wroymitchell.com/

A lot of people also sign up for stuff like ASCAP or BMI. I believe what they are is a community of songwriters who have a big compilation of songs for singers and bands to take a look at. The songwriters are paid royalties when their songs are recorded and performed. If also remember correctly they also get money regularly as long as they keep supplying the community with new material. Some one back me up on all this or disprove me please! You can find their sites at... www.ascap.com and www.bmi.com

EDIT: I think with these groups you also register yourself as a publisher or something to that degree.

Does that help?

First of all, you must ask yourself: how 'known' do you want yourself to be? Bach wasn't famous when he wrote, or rather, he wasn't famous until he died. The same fate goes for many other composers. So you need understand this point in order to go on. Do you want to be a composer for music or for a purpose? Or do you want to be a composer for yourself? Let's face it: we all want benefits of our own sometime in our career either ways.

As said above, it'd be nice to have someone who's more professional than you to give you some advice on how to go on in your career. But this is not vital depending on your genre of music. I mean, half the pop music writer didn't have mentors of any sort, but hey, they still become popular. Meanwhile, for more avant-garde composers, its best to have someone who could help you to be heard.

I don't really understand what you mean by an 'agent'. If you want to find a composition teacher, then just find one, composers of all sorts are everywhere. If you want someone who would publish your music or perform your music, well, it's possible. However, you just can't expect "OMGWOW" responses for a while. I'm not saying that you would get the "OMGWOW" responses if you have a teacher, but it's just that more famous people in this career would give you their attention.

As for the publishing question: just make sure your music is ready to be published and just kind of look for the opportunity or hope for the chance. If you have a teacher, again, you may have better luck as you may be recommended.

Speaking of publishing, there's a library for contemporary composers in my area that publishes composers' new works and put them in the library for people to rent or to perform. It's a good way for publicity.