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Author Topic: Jack of All Trades vs. King/Queen of a Trade  (Read 10431 times)

Pzychosis

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Jack of All Trades vs. King/Queen of a Trade
« on: April 07, 2016, 05:31:03 pm »
What do you think is better, being really good at multiple things, or better at one single skill/talent? Do you think there's an ever better route than these two?


I personally choose the Jack of all trades route because I don't aim to be the best, but just be good at what I want to be good at.
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Lydian

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Re: Jack of All Trades vs. King/Queen of a Trade
« Reply #1 on: April 07, 2016, 05:36:13 pm »
Both.

Ever heard of jobs that require T shaped skills? Specialize in one area and then learn just enough about all the other areas to get by.

http://www.scrumexpert.com/wp-content/uploads/scrumtshape.jpg
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toughenough6

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Re: Jack of All Trades vs. King/Queen of a Trade
« Reply #2 on: April 07, 2016, 06:53:10 pm »
I think I'd sooner listen to an artist that has incredible sound design and mediocre mixing/writing/whatever else (for example) than someone who is solid at everything.

Then again, that's just me.

Remember, if you're bad at mixing or writing or sound design or something you can always collaborate to get the aspects that aren't your strong suit.

I'd strongly recommend working on one thing at a time.
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Wontolla

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Re: Jack of All Trades vs. King/Queen of a Trade
« Reply #3 on: April 08, 2016, 01:01:51 am »
A solid understanding of everything makes you good, being exceptional at one thing makes you great. Noisia are gods of sound design, but I don't really feel like listening to them casually because of their composition. Similarly, most Monstercat artists have good sound design, clear production, great songwriting, but no real forte, and a lot of them are fairly interchangeable. So there's your answer... the "T shaped skills".
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Marrow Machines

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Re: Jack of All Trades vs. King/Queen of a Trade
« Reply #4 on: April 08, 2016, 01:10:14 am »
I wanna have skrillex skills guys.... with a wu tang attitude....and an ill gates style...and a psychedelic down tempo jungle trance henry rollins sense of humor
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Arktopolis

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Re: Jack of All Trades vs. King/Queen of a Trade
« Reply #5 on: April 08, 2016, 06:00:58 am »
The idea of T-shaped expertise is a bit funny to me, because you can divide each field into smaller subfields, and I'm not sure it applies at all levels. Like, should the leg be "making bangers", or "sound design" or "granular synthesis"? It starts to look more like a fractal than a T :D

My opinion is that a good producer is good at songwriting first, sound design close second. Artists whom I listen to and respect the most, like Madeon, Porter and Culprate, have both of these down, so at this scale I don't really advocate a T shape. On a much lower scale, yeah it may be best to be really good at resampling or serum at the expense of other sound design methods.

Just don't have a T-shaped expertise without the leg. That is, don't settle on being bad at everything.
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Lydian

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Re: Jack of All Trades vs. King/Queen of a Trade
« Reply #6 on: April 08, 2016, 02:46:25 pm »
Quote from: Arktopolis on April 08, 2016, 06:00:58 am
The idea of T-shaped expertise is a bit funny to me, because you can divide each field into smaller subfields, and I'm not sure it applies at all levels. Like, should the leg be "making bangers", or "sound design" or "granular synthesis"? It starts to look more like a fractal than a T :D

My opinion is that a good producer is good at songwriting first, sound design close second. Artists whom I listen to and respect the most, like Madeon, Porter and Culprate, have both of these down, so at this scale I don't really advocate a T shape. On a much lower scale, yeah it may be best to be really good at resampling or serum at the expense of other sound design methods.

Just don't have a T-shaped expertise without the leg. That is, don't settle on being bad at everything.

M shaped skill?

http://blogs.forrester.com/f/b/users/AMULLEN/updated_skills_image.png :O
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FarleyCZ

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Re: Jack of All Trades vs. King/Queen of a Trade
« Reply #7 on: April 08, 2016, 02:57:15 pm »
I was kinda down by knowing a little bit about a lot of fields but not being professional in any of them. ...then I saw some Adam Savage's speeches. He made that his qualitty. It's not completely applicable to music, but encouraging to all the courious souls non the less. :)
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Arktopolis

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Re: Jack of All Trades vs. King/Queen of a Trade
« Reply #8 on: April 08, 2016, 03:19:25 pm »
Quote from: Lydian on April 08, 2016, 02:46:25 pm
M shaped skill?

http://blogs.forrester.com/f/b/users/AMULLEN/updated_skills_image.png :O

This one I like! At the risk of sounding like a fanboy, I was pretty impressed to learn that Madeon also does his own graphic design :D
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FarleyCZ

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Re: Jack of All Trades vs. King/Queen of a Trade
« Reply #9 on: April 08, 2016, 03:29:14 pm »
Quote from: Arktopolis on April 08, 2016, 03:19:25 pm
Quote from: Lydian on April 08, 2016, 02:46:25 pm
M shaped skill?

http://blogs.forrester.com/f/b/users/AMULLEN/updated_skills_image.png :O

This one I like! At the risk of sounding like a fanboy, I was pretty impressed to learn that Madeon also does his own graphic design :D
I refuse to refer this dude as a human. He can't be from this damn planet. Crazy skilled. He really does not need to solve this question, yeah. :)
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"Earth is round right? Look at it from right angle and you'll be always on top of the world."
...but don't overdo it, because that's called being a d***k.

Lydian

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Re: Jack of All Trades vs. King/Queen of a Trade
« Reply #10 on: April 08, 2016, 03:53:01 pm »
We should start a madeon fan thread.  ;D
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vinceasot

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Re: Jack of All Trades vs. King/Queen of a Trade
« Reply #11 on: April 09, 2016, 02:31:08 am »
you have to find your niche and look at your strengths


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