Ever feel like giving up?

[Ghost of Muttley]

Everything is a sine wave. EVERYTHING.
Sometimes the harmonics are more pleasing than other times..

[Sharmaji]

"Grandiose fantasies are a symptom of Resistance. They're they sign of an amateur. The professional has learned that success, like happiness, comes as a by-product of work. The professional concentrates on the work and allows rewards to come or not come, whatever they like.

"Self-doubt can be an ally. This is because it serves as an indicator of aspiration. It reflects love, love of something we dream of doing, and desire, desire to do it. If you find yourself asking yourself (and your friends), "Am I really a writer? Am I really an artist?" chances are you are. The counterfeit innovator is wildly self-confident. The real one is scared to death.

Just a couple excerpts from my favourite book, The War of Art.

Woot!

[minusworld]

try doing some collabs , or just take a break from producing for a couple of days.
maybe learn how to dj or become a promotor en set up some nights! that way you'll get to know some good producers who will probably give you some feedback/tips.

and don't forget to have fun .
if youre not having fun , then what's the point?

Oh and think about getting a dog if you don't allready have one .

[Pedro Sánchez]

Oh and think about getting a dog if you don't allready have one .

?

[JTMMusicuk]

Oh and think about getting a dog if you don't allready have one .

?

dogs know how to re-sample

[wub]

Their mixdowns can be a bit ruff though.

[JTMMusicuk]

Their mixdowns can be a bit ruff though.

and there it is

[sketchyderek]

Even Mother Theresa questioned her faith.

I've been there many times, just stopped and asked myself "what's the point?"

[Pedro Sánchez]

Even Mother Theresa questioned her faith.

Yeah but she didn't know how to use logic or reason.

[Hircine]

gotta move back to my parent's house, they got 6 dogs in there, I think that's enough to turn me into skrillex.

Nah I never felt like giving up. I write and play music because I like it. I don't need a career, I'm going to college for that. If music turns out to be a career, it's okay, if it doesn't, it's okay too. I just like music.

[Samuel_L_Damnson]

I cant say I ever felt like giving up. Some times I have had creative block, but when this happens I just go and do something else

[wub]

Even Mother Theresa questioned her faith.

But she carried on, and that's why she makes exceedingly good cakes.

[Insahn]

A good read on this subject by Author of "The Dresden Files" Jim Butcher. Just substitute the words "Author" or "Writer" for musician. It all applies.

http://www.goodreads.com/author_blog_po ... ds-to-know

[Mad_EP]

I'm going to risk sounding like a Class A dick...

...but please know that it is not at all supposed to come across that way.



Everyone - at some stage feels like giving up. Some are rewarded by their perseverance by breaking through the wall that was holding them back (artistically, financially, professionally, whatever). Others die a slow and undignified musical death because they didn't know when to legitimately give up.

The important thing is to know what camp you belong to - and to accept it. I am not saying that if you don't top Beatport's Chart or make tons of money or whatever that you're shit... quite the contrary. You might be making something really great that take people AGES to recognize and respect for what it is. But that is a harder aspect to quantify... knowing whether something is artistically very good even though it isn't receiving attention, and takes a very strict (and difficult) look within. As for the others - it almost doesn't matter whether it is musically great, if one is making a decent living - I would never begrudge someone their livelihood just because they happened to be at the right place at the right time.


The reason I bring all this up - is because even under the best of circumstances - Music is a SHIT way of making a living. Yeah it can be great - but most likely, it won't. And the only reason to ask if it should be given up is in the context of trying to make a living at it. If it is a hobby - who cares? I like chess - and I am ok at it... but it is a hobby so who cares if I am shit? No need to give it up. Same with music - but if the goal is to either 1) make a living or 2) express something significant... and neither is happening, just say "I enjoy this for the sake of enjoying this" and keep it at that. If you get better, great. But if not, it doesn't matter. You won't see people on Chess forums saying "You ever feel like giving up?" unless they are trying to become grand champion.


Sounds like a grumpy old man post - I know. I am a grumpy old man. But these posts come up a fair amount (already a couple on the first page right now)... and part of the reason is 1) it is a kid who has been in the game for 10 minutes and doesn't understand why they haven't been headlining FWD or Fabric yet. Things take time. Even for those who are on top right now - you just didn't know them when they were putting in the blood, sweat & tears. or 2) it is someone who has been in the game forever and still can't write something that they or others can get into... at which point it takes a true friend to say "why not see this as a video game... don't worry about getting the high score - but just have fun while playing."


I only say this cos sometimes it takes a look inside to really know what is what. No disrespect and truly - best of luck.



*** Mad EP (saying shit no one else will since 1976)

[Alistairr]

mad ep speaks the truth! again!! finally someone whose not afraid to give an honest opinion on how he feels, especially on a forum this size, no doubt there will be a backlash but i agree with him on almost every point.

[Pedro Sánchez]

I'm going to risk sounding like a Class A dick...

...but please know that it is not at all supposed to come across that way.



Everyone - at some stage feels like giving up. Some are rewarded by their perseverance by breaking through the wall that was holding them back (artistically, financially, professionally, whatever). Others die a slow and undignified musical death because they didn't know when to legitimately give up.

The important thing is to know what camp you belong to - and to accept it. I am not saying that if you don't top Beatport's Chart or make tons of money or whatever that you're shit... quite the contrary. You might be making something really great that take people AGES to recognize and respect for what it is. But that is a harder aspect to quantify... knowing whether something is artistically very good even though it isn't receiving attention, and takes a very strict (and difficult) look within. As for the others - it almost doesn't matter whether it is musically great, if one is making a decent living - I would never begrudge someone their livelihood just because they happened to be at the right place at the right time.


The reason I bring all this up - is because even under the best of circumstances - Music is a SHIT way of making a living. Yeah it can be great - but most likely, it won't. And the only reason to ask if it should be given up is in the context of trying to make a living at it. If it is a hobby - who cares? I like chess - and I am ok at it... but it is a hobby so who cares if I am shit? No need to give it up. Same with music - but if the goal is to either 1) make a living or 2) express something significant... and neither is happening, just say "I enjoy this for the sake of enjoying this" and keep it at that. If you get better, great. But if not, it doesn't matter. You won't see people on Chess forums saying "You ever feel like giving up?" unless they are trying to become grand champion.


Sounds like a grumpy old man post - I know. I am a grumpy old man. But these posts come up a fair amount (already a couple on the first page right now)... and part of the reason is 1) it is a kid who has been in the game for 10 minutes and doesn't understand why they haven't been headlining FWD or Fabric yet. Things take time. Even for those who are on top right now - you just didn't know them when they were putting in the blood, sweat & tears. or 2) it is someone who has been in the game forever and still can't write something that they or others can get into... at which point it takes a true friend to say "why not see this as a video game... don't worry about getting the high score - but just have fun while playing."


I only say this cos sometimes it takes a look inside to really know what is what. No disrespect and truly - best of luck.



*** Mad EP (saying shit no one else will since 1976)

</thread and all similar>

[hxczach]

Do your best to have "fun" producing. If its always like work and never any fun, you're going to be discouraged and bored with this.

Also, never have someone else's opinions in mind while producing. Its an expression of yourself, so at the end of the day it needs to be your own thing. Just have fun with it. Don't worry about anyone else. If you make something that you like, chances are you had fun doing it.

Feeling uninspired? Load up a new project, drop some drum samples in, get them sounding tight, and make a queer little drum loop or something. If it doesn't go any further than that, make sure to save it anyway. That way when you are feeling inspired you won't be hassled by building new drums.

Bottom line, do your own thing and have fun with it. If you're having fun, its never a waste.

[JTMMusicuk]

I'm going to risk sounding like a Class A dick...

...but please know that it is not at all supposed to come across that way.



Everyone - at some stage feels like giving up. Some are rewarded by their perseverance by breaking through the wall that was holding them back (artistically, financially, professionally, whatever). Others die a slow and undignified musical death because they didn't know when to legitimately give up.

The important thing is to know what camp you belong to - and to accept it. I am not saying that if you don't top Beatport's Chart or make tons of money or whatever that you're shit... quite the contrary. You might be making something really great that take people AGES to recognize and respect for what it is. But that is a harder aspect to quantify... knowing whether something is artistically very good even though it isn't receiving attention, and takes a very strict (and difficult) look within. As for the others - it almost doesn't matter whether it is musically great, if one is making a decent living - I would never begrudge someone their livelihood just because they happened to be at the right place at the right time.


The reason I bring all this up - is because even under the best of circumstances - Music is a SHIT way of making a living. Yeah it can be great - but most likely, it won't. And the only reason to ask if it should be given up is in the context of trying to make a living at it. If it is a hobby - who cares? I like chess - and I am ok at it... but it is a hobby so who cares if I am shit? No need to give it up. Same with music - but if the goal is to either 1) make a living or 2) express something significant... and neither is happening, just say "I enjoy this for the sake of enjoying this" and keep it at that. If you get better, great. But if not, it doesn't matter. You won't see people on Chess forums saying "You ever feel like giving up?" unless they are trying to become grand champion.


Sounds like a grumpy old man post - I know. I am a grumpy old man. But these posts come up a fair amount (already a couple on the first page right now)... and part of the reason is 1) it is a kid who has been in the game for 10 minutes and doesn't understand why they haven't been headlining FWD or Fabric yet. Things take time. Even for those who are on top right now - you just didn't know them when they were putting in the blood, sweat & tears. or 2) it is someone who has been in the game forever and still can't write something that they or others can get into... at which point it takes a true friend to say "why not see this as a video game... don't worry about getting the high score - but just have fun while playing."


I only say this cos sometimes it takes a look inside to really know what is what. No disrespect and truly - best of luck.



*** Mad EP (saying shit no one else will since 1976)

put it so well mate, respect for this post

[B-Frank]

It's frustrating sometimes. I feel like I'll never have a decent career as an artist sometimes though I work so hard
to improve my craft. But there are times where I get no support from
Anyone. It's really discouraging. I just got a whole new setup for producing but now I just want to take it back. I'm so
Discouraged right now

First and foremost I'd like to say Mad's post was probably one of the best I've read on these forums for quite a long time... Secondly I'm sure it's been said already but you are totally and utterly in it for the wrong reason.

I'll put it out there now and say 99.9% of the producers started off making music because they love it even if barely anyone took much time to listen, I''d also say that these same producers who have still made it would still be making music if there fanbase ran away never to be seen again and had to start from scratch. The Artists who build on their successes after accomplishing what they set out to do, take Chase and Status as an example, for many years they smashed the underground scene and done big things for the scene, garrentee half the time they done that they were doing it because they loved the music, after they've acomplished that i have no ill feeling towards an artists for conquering new pursuits and making money.

Feel like I strayed a little off topic there but yeah, a little cliche'd summary:

Make music because you enjoy it as a HOBBY, if one day you are in the position to make it as a living, so be it, that is just a by-product of your love for the music and art of making it.

[ChadDub]

I haven't touched FL in a month because I've been out driving and doing things I've never been able to do because I just got my license in the beginning of January. Idk when I'll get back to it, and I don't really care, I'm just doing me. Whatever I want to do I do it.