Musicianship and lifestyle

[Triphosphate]

I'm currently working close to full time, and although I've taken the semester off, I'm a student as well. Instead of trying to use deadlines to maximize my time I've been using deadlines to maximize my speed... I started a project about a month ago where I produce something new and fresh every day, no matter what... sleepy, late in the night, drunk, fighting with my girlfriend, uninspired... whatever... just make something... it can be a 16 bar melody with no beat called "absolute shit" for all I care, as long as I get something done... when its a new day you work on a new piece, no going back to finish what I was working on yesterday... not till I make my new thing for the day. 1) you amass a huge collection of things to work on later on and 2) you start to get really comfortable with your DAW and hotkeys and formats and you start working faster as a result, thus maximizing your time. It's worked for me, I cranked out the track below in 4 hours... I don't think it's 'done' but you get my idea, I have enough of a springboard to come back and finish it in a couple of hours later.

[futures_untold]

@futures_untold: seems like you spend half your time posting on this forum

I see your post count is rising hehe

But my mate keeps saying to me that I seem to hardly post on DSF anymore...

Truth is, I click DSF like normal people click Facebook. Both = waste of precious life.

[majiika]

tbh, it seems that when I cram my timetable most and make the least time for music that I write the most. When I was unemployed a while back I had all day everyday to sit around and write tunes and i wrote fuck all because the lack of a structured day just breeds laziness and inactivity. When I crammed my timetable with full time work, night classes, a girlfriend, exercise and 2 dogs I found that while I had less time I using it all damn near 100% effectively. I think it just comes down to that, using what little time you have effectively. 5 minutes is a lot of time if you use it right.

this, times a million.

also being broke all of the time is quite uninspiring, being on top of things clears your mind & has helped my production heaps

[legend4ry]

also being broke all of the time is quite uninspiring

Theres actually many articles and books about how amazingly inspirational and productive it is to be unemployed and broke when you're an artist.

[AxeD]

@futures_untold: seems like you spend half your time posting on this forum

I see your post count is rising hehe

But my mate keeps saying to me that I seem to hardly post on DSF anymore...

Truth is, I click DSF like normal people click Facebook. Both = waste of precious life.

Yea but looking at the length of your post in this thread

[futures_untold]

Yes, DSF gives my life meaning

PS. Only joking, well, half joking.

PPS: Gotta focus on other projects lol.... Must.... Focus....

[futures_untold]

But seriously, back on topic...

How does one focus 100% on music or whatever the project / labour of love is?

I can't, and I doubt most of us can either. Thus DSF for me is the equivilent of other people watching TV (mildly informative but mostly a waste of life).

And still others go out and drink or play sports or walk the dog or whatever. If we try to focus 100%, I reckon we just burn out or become disillusioned when we hit a block.

Hence as mentioned above, timetables and variety of activities are essential to maximal output!

[Anne Droid]

I bring my laptop to work and I get to mix on the train to work and on my lunch break. Which is great, because before I get home from work ive already had 2 hours making tunes.

also, I try to make 1-2 hours every evening to work on stuff as well. Usually after dinner or before bed when I would usually watch TV or pplay video games.

[-[2]DAY_-]

i click here more often cuz i don't like any of my fb friends. n we have nothing in common. I don't give a fuck what their status updates are cuz they aint EVER about plugins, tunes, or funny jokes. give a fuck what they take iphone pictures of, cuz they ain't NEVER tits.
I needed this thread... have the same issues. so sick of dragging in from work, sorting out a meal, trying to work on a track after being on computers all day.. looking around at my dishes and dirty laundry while anxiety slowly builds into panic into exhaustion.... doing everything alone. I believe having a writing partner would help me. IRL would be best but even just to get home and someone sent me some stems or a loop or some lyrics

[Gutcha]

i find wanking less helps give more time to work on the ridds

[-[2]DAY_-]

blasphemy.

[catmartin]

Going through this at the minute 100%. My system used to be that my other half would work from 1-9pm which gave me loads of time to get things done in the studio, but now it's just 5pm-9pm. Because I'm recording vocals, I can't do it with anyone in the house and knowing I only have that 4 hour window makes me feel a bit stifled creatively I need to balance work,law and studio time and it's not happening.

[-[2]DAY_-]

i feel u. good luck to everyone
fuckin burnin me zoot from both ends at the moment, here.