For me, i had a ready bedroom studio for 3 years. Every time i was returning from my job, even if i had time, i didnt feel to produce because i was feeling mentally and emotionaly exhausted. When i stoped my work for 2 years ( i sold a second house and i could feed myself for some years ) suddenly i used all the equipment, and i was making steady progress even with just 2 hours per day. So it is Very Important to be financially free even for 2 years. You really have 10 times more energy for your hobby.
@@AdamSliger the good thing is that if you have plenty of time the first 2 years , which are the years to gain momentum and learn music production, after the first 2 years you dont mind returning to your full time job, because you have gained momentum, and you need less time to keep a constant speed forward.
When I had a full time job, I’d get up at 4am before my 8 am shift and write music for 4 hours. This meant id have to be really disciplined in going to bed early, but it got me to where I am today. (Just dropped two new albums). I am not making a full time income off of my music yet, but Everytime I need money someone needs a project done. And for that I am grateful!!!
Visual media composer and sound designer here, who happens to also have a full-time job and family! I get up at 5AM everyday, and write for 2 hours before I have to leave for my shift. Once I get home around 4PM, I use the Pomodoro technique to split my time up between taking care of chores, making dinner, and writing a few bars of music. 7PM, I shut it all down to spend time with my wife and kids for a couple hours, and then it's off to bed to get up and do it all over again the next day. I also take one day off from composing (either Saturday or Sunday) per week. Breaks are important - burnout can still happen even when doing something you love. Anyway, I'm not quite doing this full-time, but I have a steady stream of clients who are getting me closer to that point. Discipline and hard work will get you there. Thanks for the awesome video!
Going to the library to work is such an underrated tip! Need lyric or mood inspo? Flip through a book and see what resonates. And my library (in a small town no less) has a library of things that include audio gear and a couple synthesizers and other instruments. Yours might have that too!
Working 40 - 60 hrs per week w/ a dog and girlfriend at home as well. I have a home studio, but I’m always tired after I get home. The way I combat this is get in a solid hour early in the morning and a 45 minutes sesh in my truck at lunch too. Then maybe another 30 min after everything’s done at home. There’s a lot you can do with a really good MacBook and a pair of beyer dynamics. I produce in my 98’ Mazda pick up all the time now
amazing how sitting at a Panera bread or Starbucks can really make you creative. I don’t know what it is, but I’ve done it 1 million times. I’ve written a lot of great tracks in settings like that. i’ve been guilty of that as well. Just make sure that you put your devices away because UA-cam and social media can be a distraction. Just have a focus and put everything aside. It’s amazing what you can do in an hour or two. another thing that has helped me a lot is this. I’ll go on live, on UA-cam and I’ll do some live composing where people are watching you. There is something about people watching you that commit you and motivate you. It’s kind of cool and it gives you a certain creativity that you wouldn’t sit there by yourself. I know most people aren’t UA-camrs and it’s not their thing but you can go live on Facebook and you would be surprised who sits there and watches you work. Some people that aren’t musicians are fascinated with it and just love to hear what you’re doing. If you’re OK with an audience, it will motivate you and put some creativity in you.
i feel like this video found me at a perfect time - it's always been easy for me to use production to tune out the outside noise the work world, but it's been so much harder lately (i've had to throw in ~50 hours a week at my job for the past couple of months to manage all the personal monkey wrenches), and it's made the writing and production process harder to have the energy and excitement for. i felt my brain crack open a little bit during this video realizing you've described the selfimposition of my current process, i'm so excited to make these routine changes and get back to seeing the beauty of audio again!! v inspiring and insightful!
Don't know if this works for everybody; but I always try to come up with a title first. Even when nothing happens with recording/ production. The title gives me a limitation and at the same time, tells me everything I need.
1:25 that’s me 100%. All my time is dedicated to other people needs or passions (my jobs, plural), and along with having to care take for a family member it takes everything out of me. There’s nothing left afterwards and there’s just not enough of me to give to myself regardless. My setup is 100% good to go, but by the time I’m good to go I have no creative energy left regardless of all the hacks and I feel completely at a loss. I’m at a point where I don’t need a therapist to talk, I dont need a friend to “be there for me”, I just need real, actionable solutions out of my reach to allow enough of myself to be available for me to create.
Sidenote: 5:55 I record voice memos nonstop in hopes that I’d actually have enough time to develop or work on them but I’m so burned out at the end of the day that my brain can’t even think creatively and I can’t get into a flow state whatsoever. I’ve begun to realize that all of this advice is fantastic, but my life situations constantly keep me from my fullest potential and it’s all shit out of my control. I’m not suicidal anymore because of it, but I damn sure was for a good portion of my life. Hell, I quit music for several years after playing professionally, but my truest self always pulls me back. But then life reminds me “hey, that’s cute, but no”. Now I’m almost 40 and still have nothing to show for myself and feel such shame and anger about everything that has kept me from myself outside of my control.
hey homie! first off thanks for sharing so openly! second i totally feel you. there are times where it feels like i have more ideas than i'll ever accomplish but i think it's important to remember that just because you're this busy now that doesn't mean you'll always be there. it comes and goes in seasons and even if you don't get as much done as you want, just being able to create at all is amazing, even if it's just a voice memo here and there or a demo or two every once in a while. and when the time comes where you have more space to create, you'll be ready.
Awesome videos always! The only thing I slightly disagree, is to have ideas before starting your song. For me, and it has worked excellent, I take a new chord progression that I like, and I start from there building . Again and again adding things. And suddenly you have a complete track, ready for arranging. So even if you don't have the slightest idea before starting, just choose any reasonable chord progression, and loop it and start adding things. Most of the times you end up with something good !
For fulltimers use your weekends wisely what is do is my lil bits of time during the week i put together the ideas on the weekends i finish them the output can be as heavy as u want 🤙🫡
For me, i had a ready bedroom studio for 3 years. Every time i was returning from my job, even if i had time, i didnt feel to produce because i was feeling mentally and emotionaly exhausted. When i stoped my work for 2 years ( i sold a second house and i could feed myself for some years ) suddenly i used all the equipment, and i was making steady progress even with just 2 hours per day. So it is Very Important to be financially free even for 2 years. You really have 10 times more energy for your hobby.
Oh for sure. The more actual free time I have the more creative I can be. It’s like that saying, everyone’s an artist until rent’s due
@@AdamSliger the good thing is that if you have plenty of time the first 2 years , which are the years to gain momentum and learn music production, after the first 2 years you dont mind returning to your full time job, because you have gained momentum, and you need less time to keep a constant speed forward.
When I had a full time job, I’d get up at 4am before my 8 am shift and write music for 4 hours. This meant id have to be really disciplined in going to bed early, but it got me to where I am today. (Just dropped two new albums). I am not making a full time income off of my music yet, but Everytime I need money someone needs a project done. And for that I am grateful!!!
i need to get on that wave tbh
@@AdamSliger worth it!!!! IMO
Visual media composer and sound designer here, who happens to also have a full-time job and family! I get up at 5AM everyday, and write for 2 hours before I have to leave for my shift. Once I get home around 4PM, I use the Pomodoro technique to split my time up between taking care of chores, making dinner, and writing a few bars of music. 7PM, I shut it all down to spend time with my wife and kids for a couple hours, and then it's off to bed to get up and do it all over again the next day. I also take one day off from composing (either Saturday or Sunday) per week. Breaks are important - burnout can still happen even when doing something you love.
Anyway, I'm not quite doing this full-time, but I have a steady stream of clients who are getting me closer to that point.
Discipline and hard work will get you there.
Thanks for the awesome video!
That’s great!! Glad you’re finding success
Going to the library to work is such an underrated tip! Need lyric or mood inspo? Flip through a book and see what resonates. And my library (in a small town no less) has a library of things that include audio gear and a couple synthesizers and other instruments. Yours might have that too!
Ours is pretty sweet too! The next town over has a full studio but I’m not a resident sadly
Working 40 - 60 hrs per week w/ a dog and girlfriend at home as well. I have a home studio, but I’m always tired after I get home. The way I combat this is get in a solid hour early in the morning and a 45 minutes sesh in my truck at lunch too. Then maybe another 30 min after everything’s done at home. There’s a lot you can do with a really good MacBook and a pair of beyer dynamics. I produce in my 98’ Mazda pick up all the time now
Solid 👊
amazing how sitting at a Panera bread or Starbucks can really make you creative. I don’t know what it is, but I’ve done it 1 million times. I’ve written a lot of great tracks in settings like that.
i’ve been guilty of that as well. Just make sure that you put your devices away because UA-cam and social media can be a distraction. Just have a focus and put everything aside. It’s amazing what you can do in an hour or two.
another thing that has helped me a lot is this. I’ll go on live, on UA-cam and I’ll do some live composing where people are watching you. There is something about people watching you that commit you and motivate you. It’s kind of cool and it gives you a certain creativity that you wouldn’t sit there by yourself. I know most people aren’t UA-camrs and it’s not their thing but you can go live on Facebook and you would be surprised who sits there and watches you work. Some people that aren’t musicians are fascinated with it and just love to hear what you’re doing. If you’re OK with an audience, it will motivate you and put some creativity in you.
Agreed - from a starbucks
i feel like this video found me at a perfect time - it's always been easy for me to use production to tune out the outside noise the work world, but it's been so much harder lately (i've had to throw in ~50 hours a week at my job for the past couple of months to manage all the personal monkey wrenches), and it's made the writing and production process harder to have the energy and excitement for. i felt my brain crack open a little bit during this video realizing you've described the selfimposition of my current process, i'm so excited to make these routine changes and get back to seeing the beauty of audio again!! v inspiring and insightful!
Heck yeah
I can't wait to get my hands on that dang planner!
i love this sm
Great advice! Love this! NEED THAT PLANNER ASAP
I also love that notes and prompts section in the planner you showed
I’m watching this while trying to be productive
Happens to the best of us
Don't know if this works for everybody; but I always try to come up with a title first.
Even when nothing happens with recording/ production.
The title gives me a limitation and at the same time, tells me everything I need.
This is good
@@AdamSliger 😘
I think the journaling prompts are a great idea!
I produce in the mornings and I teach music at schools in the afternoon, while rising three todlers. Its is possibly, if you want it
5:45 Oh! Thanks for the reminder! 🧺👕
You were right, 320 kbps is the max bit rate for MP3’s. 👍🏻
Ok good lol thanks I’m bad with numbers
1:25 that’s me 100%. All my time is dedicated to other people needs or passions (my jobs, plural), and along with having to care take for a family member it takes everything out of me. There’s nothing left afterwards and there’s just not enough of me to give to myself regardless. My setup is 100% good to go, but by the time I’m good to go I have no creative energy left regardless of all the hacks and I feel completely at a loss.
I’m at a point where I don’t need a therapist to talk, I dont need a friend to “be there for me”, I just need real, actionable solutions out of my reach to allow enough of myself to be available for me to create.
Sidenote: 5:55 I record voice memos nonstop in hopes that I’d actually have enough time to develop or work on them but I’m so burned out at the end of the day that my brain can’t even think creatively and I can’t get into a flow state whatsoever. I’ve begun to realize that all of this advice is fantastic, but my life situations constantly keep me from my fullest potential and it’s all shit out of my control. I’m not suicidal anymore because of it, but I damn sure was for a good portion of my life. Hell, I quit music for several years after playing professionally, but my truest self always pulls me back. But then life reminds me “hey, that’s cute, but no”. Now I’m almost 40 and still have nothing to show for myself and feel such shame and anger about everything that has kept me from myself outside of my control.
hey homie! first off thanks for sharing so openly! second i totally feel you. there are times where it feels like i have more ideas than i'll ever accomplish but i think it's important to remember that just because you're this busy now that doesn't mean you'll always be there. it comes and goes in seasons and even if you don't get as much done as you want, just being able to create at all is amazing, even if it's just a voice memo here and there or a demo or two every once in a while. and when the time comes where you have more space to create, you'll be ready.
I don’t know what you’re doing to me but I can’t skip your posts
I think maybe like one page with a bunch of prompts listed out that way people can use them and then like three pages of notes maybe??
appreciate it!
Awesome videos always! The only thing I slightly disagree, is to have ideas before starting your song. For me, and it has worked excellent, I take a new chord progression that I like, and I start from there building . Again and again adding things. And suddenly you have a complete track, ready for arranging. So even if you don't have the slightest idea before starting, just choose any reasonable chord progression, and loop it and start adding things. Most of the times you end up with something good !
Whatever works for you!!!
Damn. No special magic tricks for getting more time out of your day?
Oh well, good advice either way.
Haha sorry, appreciate ya
For fulltimers use your weekends wisely what is do is my lil bits of time during the week i put together the ideas on the weekends i finish them the output can be as heavy as u want 🤙🫡