dxp
Sitting in my studio the other night and I realized that I'm just not having FUN anymore.
Whether it's playing, mixing or writing. I have this HUGE block going on.
I think it's all because I have been trying to finally get all my songs re-recorded and put to a disc.
Just something that I can share with close friends and for posterity.
So now instead of just letting it happen, I guess I'm pressing to make everything as perfect as possible. Add to that I just don't have all the proper mixing skills and know how and frustration seeps in.
 
Now, this pressing thing in general is probably not bad, as it can bring focus,  but in my case it has totally taken the fun away from the music, from the process.
 
Like many of you, I would imagine, music is my outlet in life.
I play, I write and my soul opens and I purge myself of all the daily dysfunction that life brings.
Without that outlet things get backed up.
 
Would that be 'Artistic Constipation'?
 
geez
 
Any advise?
 
Dave

LOL (sorry I don't really mean to laugh) but I know the feeling all too well! Trust me brother, if you could play all the instruments well and all your skills were up to par on the recording aspect, you'd STILL feel this way. If you [link=mailto:half-@ss]half-@ss[/link] it, you regret years later that you did it that way. My first album has that effect on me. I love the songs but hate the production. So much so, I've started re-recording it so I can do the songs some justice. If you get all anal with everything and are Mr. Perfect, that takes a toll too. So it's just a no win situation really unless you have a band. That does help but even there, you will still get overly involved.
 
The fix? Stop being hard on yourself and accept who and what you are at THIS time right here and now. Do what you do...I'm sure it will sound good enough. NOT doing anything is sad. God forbid something happens to you and you have shared nothing....well, you don't want that. When people like/love you, all the things YOU think are important are not important at all, Dave. You think your friends and family will care about your production? They will be happy just to hear you on CD bro, trust me. You're not a pro engineer...you don't own a big studio...don't try to compete with stuff like that. Accept who and what you are as well as what gear you have.
 
Make it fun...laugh at yourself. Then sit back and think about all the people in this world that would kill to be able to do what you can do....that will never have a chance. They can't afford an instrument let alone several different instruments, a computer, all the software, good decent mic's....get my drift? We sometimes forget how blessed we are bro. People take life way too seriously in times where they shouldn't...yet they don't take it seriously enough when it really matters. Enjoy that you have the gift of music and the means to get it out there. Even if it isn't as perfect as you'd like it to be....think about the kid in some country far away that would kill to just have a $20 acoustic from a pawn shop with 2 strings on it. Record them songs a little at a time and smile the whole way brother. It's supposed to be a fun hobby...it can be whatever you want it to be. You are the boss. :)
 
-Danny

P.S. Dave: you made a mention of "too 80's." Let me talk about that for a second. You were influenced by? Right..players of the 80's. There's nothing wrong with it man. I'm 80's and I'm proud. Go have a listen in the songs forum. You can tell how old each poster is based on the material they have offered. Seriously. The majority in MY opinion, are classic rockers and range in age from 40's to 60's. There's NOTHING wrong with that at all. If you think about things seriously...
 
How do you influence a man that grew up on late 60's and 70's classic rock to think like the band Disturbed and have a "now sound"? Right...you don't. He is either influenced by that band and their sound to where he alters himself...or he doesn't. Most will NOT and rightfully so. We are what we are. I grew up on some of the greatest rock/metal guitarists of this time in my opinion. Eddie VH, Randy Rhoads, Terry Kath, Gilmore, Page, Eric Gales, Yngwie, Lynch, DeMartinni, Satch, Vai, Petrucci, Dann Huff...you get the idea. I have no problems being told I borrowed from those guys. That's what I grew up on man...these guys are what made me want to play guitar. I'm not going to go all modern if I don't feel it or enjoy it. Who gives a flying crap about modern if you do not feel it in you nor are you trying to get a record deal? Do what you do...enjoy it and be proud of what you've become. If you want to go modern, listen to modern and try for what they do. If you are happy where you are, flaunt it...someone will like it. There are still many of us 40 on ups alive that like music that has an older flavor to it. :)
 
-Danny

Danny Danzi

dxp
Sitting in my studio the other night and I realized that I'm just not having FUN anymore.
Whether it's playing, mixing or writing. I have this HUGE block going on.
I think it's all because I have been trying to finally get all my songs re-recorded and put to a disc.
Just something that I can share with close friends and for posterity.
So now instead of just letting it happen, I guess I'm pressing to make everything as perfect as possible. Add to that I just don't have all the proper mixing skills and know how and frustration seeps in.
 
Now, this pressing thing in general is probably not bad, as it can bring focus,  but in my case it has totally taken the fun away from the music, from the process.
 
Like many of you, I would imagine, music is my outlet in life.
I play, I write and my soul opens and I purge myself of all the daily dysfunction that life brings.
Without that outlet things get backed up.
 
Would that be 'Artistic Constipation'?
 
geez
 
Any advise?
 
Dave

LOL (sorry I don't really mean to laugh) but I know the feeling all too well! Trust me brother, if you could play all the instruments well and all your skills were up to par on the recording aspect, you'd STILL feel this way. If you [link=mailto:half-@ss]half-@ss[/link] it, you regret years later that you did it that way. My first album has that effect on me. I love the songs but hate the production. So much so, I've started re-recording it so I can do the songs some justice. If you get all anal with everything and are Mr. Perfect, that takes a toll too. So it's just a no win situation really unless you have a band. That does help but even there, you will still get overly involved.
 
The fix? Stop being hard on yourself and accept who and what you are at THIS time right here and now. Do what you do...I'm sure it will sound good enough. NOT doing anything is sad. God forbid something happens to you and you have shared nothing....well, you don't want that. When people like/love you, all the things YOU think are important are not important at all, Dave. You think your friends and family will care about your production? They will be happy just to hear you on CD bro, trust me. You're not a pro engineer...you don't own a big studio...don't try to compete with stuff like that. Accept who and what you are as well as what gear you have.
 
Make it fun...laugh at yourself. Then sit back and think about all the people in this world that would kill to be able to do what you can do....that will never have a chance. They can't afford an instrument let alone several different instruments, a computer, all the software, good decent mic's....get my drift? We sometimes forget how blessed we are bro. People take life way too seriously in times where they shouldn't...yet they don't take it seriously enough when it really matters. Enjoy that you have the gift of music and the means to get it out there. Even if it isn't as perfect as you'd like it to be....think about the kid in some country far away that would kill to just have a $20 acoustic from a pawn shop with 2 strings on it. Record them songs a little at a time and smile the whole way brother. It's supposed to be a fun hobby...it can be whatever you want it to be. You are the boss. :)
 
-Danny

More (and many) wise words from the Danziman..........
 
This used to be me. I had these tunes / ideas that nobody but me ever heard because I thought they didn't sound good enough to play to anyone. Then I came to realise that hey, it might not be perfect or great, but how many people that are going to hear this could actually do it better ? What is there to be afraid of from these people ?  The major breakthrough for me was a song I recorded that was played at a funeral of all things. Lots and lots of people there and almost all of them came to me afterwards and asked if it was possible to buy a copy. Even people who hadn't attended heard about it and contacted me to ask if they could have a copy. In the end I think it was about 150 people who wanted a copy. I couldn't bring myself to profit from it given the circumstances, so I just charged everyone who asked a nominal amount "to cover costs" but in fact gave all of the money taken to charity. Main thing was that it opened my eyes to the idea that it doesn't have to be perfect. Another breakthrough for me was the songs forum here. Some serious talent in there and it took me a while to put something I did into this environment becuase of that, but in the end I just thought........it's only the internet, none of these people know who I am or will point at me in the street and say ......there's that guy that really sucks, so I just went for it. Turns out that those very people whose abilities intimidated me so are the ones who helped me the most and I am better at this stuff now than I was because of them.  Still a long way to go, but I have learned from the process.
 
The downside of improvement is that I do sometimes listen to things I was once quite pleased with, that I presented to people and think........that's awful, what the hell was I doing ??  BUT, they still like it, so I guess that's good enough.
 
 

@ Danny - thank you my friend.
I sit here and I'm numb in the head after reading your posts.
(Heel of hand to forehead). (Apparently too hard).

What you said is SO obvious, yet I could not see it.

And Paulo, same for you man.
I did used to be very proud of my music but I think the onset of all this new technology and the warped
Thinking that it HAD to be perfect because now the tools are there to take it to that next level...
Well it finally took its toll.

As a secluded, private person it IS an intimidating thought to put stuff out there for others to critique, as you mentioned. Hell just starting this thread was a leap for me! Ha.
But after digesting much of the wisdom offered here, it's all about perspective now for me.
I'll never be a Danny Danzi but I can still play better than my buddy that totally tortures a guitar every time he picks it up!!! Lol

I love a challenge. Now I have one. Posting something in the Songs forum.

THANK YOU

Dave

 
DOH!!!

craigb
 DOH!!!

Exactly!!!

I can't stop laughing at that stupid picture...

sonar 1

I haven't been in the studio to record or play since February.  I frankly don't have any desire to do anything.  I can't explain it!  Everytime I get an idea it usually doesn't go any further than that.

Psalmist35
I haven't been in the studio to record or play since February.  I frankly don't have any desire to do anything.  I can't explain it!  Everytime I get an idea it usually doesn't go any further than that.

Must be something in the water......  I'm not very active writing in recent months either.

Everything in its season...  When I first burned out trying to record my own music, I was pretty depressed.  I had always played in bands, so tackling a recording project as a solo artist was a daunting challenge.  I really wanted to write, record, and produce my own albums.  I had so many ideas that I thought were good.  I thought that there might be an audience for that music somewhere. 
 
In all the bands I had played in, I always felt competent.  I was accustomed to believing in myself, my ability, and in my instinct.  I then had a couple of failed recording collaborations.  For years, I couldn't understand why it was so hard to collaborate with friends in a recording project when we could play together so easily as a band.  It was a very painful realization when I finally admitted to myself that the reason was because I was not good enough in their eyes.  Sure, they'd put up with me for live shows, but after burning through several hours of recording, they wanted to "go a different way".  I really didn't understand.  They liked my drum parts.  They liked my lyrics.  They liked my vocals.  The overall perception, however, was that I'm too much of an amateur.  For the first time in my life as a musician, I felt inadequate.  Since my musician friends didn't believe in me or want to hear my ideas, I tried to go on alone.
 
I discovered that complete abject failure has a way of dimming some of one's enthusiasm.  Gear broke down, schedules changed, the demands of life changed, and my available free time faded away.  It was hard, but I finally started to accept the idea that in this season of life, I don't have all of the options and abilities I had in other seasons.  As much as I hated to let certain things go, I had to give up on some goals and dreams for now. 
 
Many, many years ago, I took a year long class in a local recording studio to learn the art.  The teacher/engineer/owner had a favorite saying he would use at inappropriate times.  He called it his "Producer" act.  He would stab the talkback button and say, "Dude!  It's just not happening!"
 
As I watched spiders and dust bunnies take over my little basement studio, i could hear his voice in my head.  Not this...Not now...  For now, during this season of life, I'm focusing my creative energies elsewhere.  Maybe I'll return to the studio one day.  Maybe I'll upgrade my gear and start over.  I just don't know.  Maybe later, when there's more time, when I'm better rested, or when the right season comes along, I may try again.  I won't have all of the instrumental parts I hear in my head because I don't have the skill on each instrument to play them.  I'll attempt to do the best I can with my limited skill and technology, but I know my place now.  My audience is much smaller than I once believed it to be.  At this point, I believe it is an audience of one.  The dream is not gone, but it is far, far more humble.