Am I mad?

[karmacazee]

Thought of posting this in the SNH, but I reckon it's better suited for the production forum.

I'm thinking of quitting my job and devoting myself to my music. Well, not really thinking about it, more like pretty adamant about it. For a start, I've grown sick and tired of my job (been a barman and a waiter for 8 years), and I did a goddamn music degree in Uni!

Through an odd and ugly twist of fate I've come in to some money which has I've had lying dormant for a few years in an account, fearing the guilt of living off money I haven't really earned... So I could fund myself through it, which, as I know, is a very lucky position to be in.

I know that I'll kick myself when I'm older if I don't...

Will it make me an arty twat?

[deadly_habit]

dont do it
recession and such
just request less hours and a reg schedule man so you have days off you can depend on to work on tunes or patches and such
plus it's nice to have money for food, booze, drugs and gear
oh and rent

i just got back working 2 months ago after 6 months unemployed and i barely worked on music cause i was depressed with process looking for work (income) etc

[karmacazee]

dont do it
recession and such
just request less hours and a reg schedule man so you have days off you can depend on to work on tunes or patches and such
plus it's nice to have money for food, booze, drugs and gear
oh and rent

i just got back working 2 months ago after 6 months unemployed and i barely worked on music cause i was depressed with process looking for work (income) etc

Being unemployed does suck balls. Took me three months just to get this shitty job now, ha.

But for the last month or so it's all I can think about. Gah! Maybe it's because of the summer or something...

[deadly_habit]

just convince boss for a regular schedule i know how shit like that can be so you consistently have a schedule and time to work on chunes

[gorbek]

Yea Deadly Habits got a point... recession! You might not be able to get another job for awhile if you decide you need to work, and the money you've saved isn't quite enough.

Besides why dip into those savings now, you might have a better use for them later. Just think of music as primary and work secondary!

Anyways, thats just how I feel about it.

I'm kind of thinking about this too, I am graduating university for mechanical engineering this month and am hesitant getting a job right away since

1) There are none.
2) I have an opportunity to live in my parents basement for a few months 'actively' searching for jobs and focusing on making tracks...

While this is the bum approach, I wouldn't mind taking music more seriously since as soon as I get a job my life will become shit (Regrettably my engineering coop jobs have enlightened me that its looking like a dull future) and ill be pissed off for not trying harder with it. Even if my shit amounts to nothing, I'd like to say I've tried.

I might lose my mind being at my parents place again though too.. haha

No offence to anyone who enjoys being an engineer... just my feelings

[deadly_habit]

while it sucks im living with my rents atm and saving to buy a foreclosed home or rent a half house to build a full recording studio
living with the rents helps to save money heh just for me they hate me funning monitors or pa rig testing tunes same with neighbors
oh and backyard parties with full pa setup
being a bum is necessary sometimes

[boomstix]

@OP

if you could get work in a bar that has music that you like, that would be a really good way to get gigs and meet the promoters and others that you'll need to know if you want to take it pro

[heidi m.]

I'd say fuck it and do it.... But the others do have a point
Like your tracks btw

[deadly_habit]

Are u rendr? ;p

Listen, no one gives an f about music. And if they do, they just steal it. And if you are the kind of person who pays for the music you like, then you are a nobody, and you don't count.

Not being negative, but that is the world that we find ourselves in.

There is apparently money in DJ'ing. But I don't know how much of that is like saying there is money in being a rock star?

If I could, I'd recommend finding more interesting/meaningful work, that allows more free time for production.

I don't know how much money you have, but if its not in the millions, its not enough to live off of for the rest of your life.

Plus, all this music stuff is for kids dood. I don't know if its chemical, biological, or what have u, but still. U gonna be dj grandpa spinning crystal cubes or whatever they're gonna have in 20/30 years?

If I was independently wealthy, I'd spend a lot of time with my family, make a lot of art and music, and travel extensively, but I'd also do what I could to make the world a more just, equitable and sustainable place, otherwise terror will reach out to every quiet corner of this globe and destroy everything that was ever beautiful about or civilization.

quoted for trusth
i've made more off djing than releases even fabric one
if i had cash and no job i'd be painting and traveling instead of music

[isiahfire]

Do it.
Imagine being old and regretting not living your life how you wanted to.
Honestly, nothing scares me more.

[deadly_habit]

Do it.
Imagine being old and regretting not living your life how you wanted to.
Honestly, nothing scares me more.

imagine living your dreams with no cash
been plenty of times i debated it and even 6 months unemployed didnt inpire me as much as work

[defekt]

You could try getting a job doing sound design or soundtracks for films before quitting your current job?

[triptych]

Quit and start reapplying now, that way you may have a job by the time the money runs out.

[dj tinman]

A good income from DJing can only be obtained (imo) from having a residency. And there aren't many people who can say that they have regular, weekly bookings from an underground music genre such as dubstep or dnb for example.

It is acheivable though if you are highly in demand becuase you are making good music, or if you compromise and play cheese and commercial crap at clubs such as liquid etc etc.

For me, the first option is out of the question as my music isn't good enough yet. I've tried the second option and although I made an average wage it was demoralising spinning music that I hated!

The only other option then is to make money off music you have produced. But as I understand this is extremely hard to do and not very profitable. Music is so cheap to buy these days and a large majority of people won't even fork out the 79p, or whatever the price is, for a download, favouring the pirate route.

Don't wanna sound over negative but it is hard out there. Work out your outgoings and potential earnings and then figure out whether it is achievable or not!

Just my 2 cents anyway! Good luck if you do.

[deadly_habit]

in the usa a good residency involves being a top 40 dj which is a shame or get into house
bitches love house and it has so many sub genres and pop remixes

[heidi m.]

bitches

[3za]

just remember that or your out goings (rent, food, ect...) are going to chomp up or your moneis. if you aint got a wage your money is just going to go down and down till you aint got jack. as people said start working less hour and more time on music.

[abZ]

I have one friend that currently does music full time. Before he went full time he released music for 10 years, played all over the world djing. Got set up on AC Slaters label and has been in the top 10 on Beatport for a month or so. But even so he is living with his rents now. You got all that going on? Even if you do, it isn't likely to last long. When shit start getting slow music wise, try explaining to perspective employers that you have just been writing tunes and djing (partying) since your last job. I am sure they will hire you right up. Point is get something to show for yourself. And remember you will never make enough money off of any one thing. YOu have to DJ / Produce probably run a label or do A&R or something. I would say shoot for working half time day job half time music but you are going to have to do full-time both to even get to that point.