How do you manage your time and how much time do you spend producing?

[Helius]

Hi, I wasn't really sure where to put this topic but I figure this was the best section.

Basically I'm 19, and I have a full time job and have done since August last year,which usually means I don't get a lot of free time in the week. Also I go out with friends a lot on weekends. I always loved the idea of making music, and I started about 9 months ago potentially earlier but I'm not sure. Anyway, what I've found is that I usually don't have a great deal of time to sit down for intense period of time and learn/make progress, I tend to do like a 3 hour session max at a time if a weekend, but then I may not have enough time again to do it again until the next weekend. I try to fit in as much time as possible and I think I need to start planning my time out better of weekends and evenings to get more done. But  I was wondering what other people are like. Do you have a full time job and still have time to produce?  Or do you have a part time job or do you just do production? Also do you spend long periods of time producing or short sessions?

And if anyone has any advice on how to manage time better that would be appreciated

[Mussar]

It's always better to do something every single day than it is to do it sporadically for longer intervals. You have an hour every day to make music, I promise you - It's just a matter of finding it. For example, I'm currently enrolled in 8 university classes because I hate myself and hate not having graduated yet even more. I have specific music making time built into my schedule, and on the days it's not I'm still working on something related to music like ear training or theory or what have you.

I've attached a little schedule map that I've been using lately - Figure out what your obligations are for each day, mark off when you're gonna sleep and eat, then just look at how much time you have outside of that. Put in your social obligations, and you'll either find time for music or you'll have to start deciding what has to be scaled back on - your music, or your social life.

[bryan]

I have a full-time job and am married and just finished my Master's degree.  So, essentially the only "time" I would have is on nights and weekends.  As Mussar said, you can always "find" time if you want it bad enough.  Thing is, most mornings I don't "want it" bad enough to make music for an hour.  I think I've come to a realization that while music is my passion, it's not my EVERYTHING.  And that's okay. 

[Lydian]

bryan. that was one of the most real things I've read all day. Kudos for you for not letting your passion consume you.

[vinceasot]

you have to sacrifice your life if you want to make music

[bryan]

you have to sacrifice your life if you want to make music

I don't really see it that way vinceasot.  Yes, you may have to make certain sacrifices to pursue music (especially professionally), but I don't think you have to sacrifice YOUR LIFE.  I know that you didn't mean it in a literal manner, but even figuratively, I think it's a bit of an overstatement. 

There have been many times in my life where I've felt "guilty" about not producing music enough.  I know that music is my passion.  I know this because of the many "tests" it passes (like "what keeps you awake at night?" and "what do you lose track of time doing?") and because others close to me have confirmed this.  So, once I came to the realization that music is my "thing", I suddenly felt a lot of pressure to pursue it at the expense of all other things.  This did two things: it made me feel bad about NOT making music and it put MORE pressure on me to make it - neither of which is helpful.

I think it comes down to - what is the purpose or role of music in your life? Is it your everything? Do you WANT to sacrifice your social life, your marriage, your schooling, your other areas of interest for music?  What priority does it have in your life?

Things can get deep quickly here.  I end up thinking about what I want to be remembered by or the cliche "what do you want written on your tombstone?"

For me, music is A passion, but not THE ONLY passion.  I also am passionate about having a good marriage, a healthy social life, eventually being a good father.. so i'd rather sacrifice MUSIC for most of these things.

I must, however, admit that I don't have all of this figured out and I still struggle with it mentally.  I think, especially in Western culture, there's a lot of pressure to become "famous" or be "known".  A lot deals with recognition, soundcloud plays, twitter followers, etc.  Validation is found in these channels via other people.  And I think that's dangerous. To base your self-worth (or musical success or fulfillment) on other people is risky.  Better to find satisfaction within (or say, in a higher power)

Just my 2 (or 3 or 4) cents..

[Lydian]

Bryan. I deal with the exact same struggle. Music is my passion but the pressure behind what that actually means can be crippling.

I've learned though from other people on this forum that thinking of music in terms of sacrifices really isn't the best way to go about it. DJ/Producer Deorro came from my high school and used to kick it at my house because he was homeless. Eric had his first kid when he was 16 and he used to work + go to school to support his family and yet he STILL found time to make music on his piece of shit PC laptop.

If he was able to make it as a DJ/producer without sacrificing his girlfriend, kid, and education then others shouldn't have to do it either.

[Helius]

Thanks for the comments guys, I get where you're all coming from in terms of you have to make sacrifices for music sometimes but, as others have said I don't think you should have to sacrifice everything else you want in life. I think as long as I can get my time management down and learn to prioritise different activities I should be able to find a balance somewhere which could allow me to continue learning and progressing with music and producing while still enjoying most of the others things I want in life. No matter what passion someone has I don't think it is healthy or preferable to block out everything else to focus on it. (just my thoughts)

[Marrow Machines]

On the right path, this process is bigger than yourself. So don't expect to be number 1 awesome dj producer person in a short amount of time.

It also often takes a team of people to do what you want. Don't be afraid of seeking counsel from people who have done this a lot longer than you've begun.

[Helius]

Yeah don't worry I'm very aware of that, it will take a long time and a lot of hard work. What do you think is the best way to find and talk to more experienced producers or anyone that is interested in production as well? Other than this forum of course

[Miles Dominic]

Yeah don't worry I'm very aware of that, it will take a long time and a lot of hard work. What do you think is the best way to find and talk to more experienced producers or anyone that is interested in production as well? Other than this forum of course

Send demo's tweets or message producers you look up too. Ask them for feedback, talk to them about music etc.

[Kyle King]

I like using the Pomodoro Technique to ensure that I at least spend 120 minutes in the studio to make things happen, and then during the 15 minutes break I get at the end of my set of Pomodoro, I then decide if the session is going well enough to do another one, and then if not, I stop.

[Lunatic Expert]

It's always better to do something every single day than it is to do it sporadically for longer intervals. You have an hour every day to make music, I promise you - It's just a matter of finding it. For example, I'm currently enrolled in 8 university classes because I hate myself and hate not having graduated yet even more. I have specific music making time built into my schedule, and on the days it's not I'm still working on something related to music like ear training or theory or what have you.

I've attached a little schedule map that I've been using lately - Figure out what your obligations are for each day, mark off when you're gonna sleep and eat, then just look at how much time you have outside of that. Put in your social obligations, and you'll either find time for music or you'll have to start deciding what has to be scaled back on - your music, or your social life.

Thanks, Mussar! Your weekly schedule form would help me a lot to find music producing time.