Getting Time to Relax and Record

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Brother Number One
Member Since: Jan 22, 2008

Right, does anyone else have real trouble getting time to relax and write/record music or just play in peace. I work hard, go boxing twice a week and am usually out with friend on the weekend + my wife likes spending time with me occasionally (really) so if we woke up on a Saturday morning and I said "tell you what, babe, you go out with your sister, I want the day to myself" she probably wouldn't be best pleased. + when I do manage to set aside some time, whether it be a day on the odd weekend or a weeknight, I put myself under pressure to have a bit of a free play, try and have a check through my old half done bits to work out what is completed next, lay down a few new ideas and stuff and I end up getting nowhere.
The other night I had about 2 hours "playing" and I finished off a remix based on some comments made on this forum. Only it was nearly a year later! Thats how long it took me to get round to it. Crap, no? with that workrate I'll have finished my album in 2025. Hey, it might even sound retro by then! Still it will give me time to learn to sing.

Does anyone else have these sorts of issues or are you all content enough with wanking to not need a wife taking up your recording time.

Seriously though, its actually starting to affect my marriage 'cos with all the **** I like doing (boxing, music, motorsport etc) I don't have that much time left for my wife. She's phucking gorgeous too!

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http://www.reverbnation.com/2ndg
Member
Since: Nov 27, 2007

May 12, 2009 03:45 am

well man, sounds like a dilema.

to be honest with you, i have alot of free time at the moment, work is slow round here( i spend too much time here) and in turn i have all the time in the world for recording, but coz im sitting round here bored outta my 'king brain, i cant write jack.

my opinion is, ya really need other stuff in yer life to give you ideas and enthusiasm to write, and to get away from it full stop.

in both our cases, we cant get it right.

my life, "motto" if ya like is "Balance".

for me it just dont work if its not there. easier said than done though eh?

SM7b the Chuck Noris of Mic's
Contributor
Since: Jun 20, 2002

May 12, 2009 09:45 am

I feel ya man. I work 40-60 hours a week ( depending on airflow) on a graveshift schedule, I have to find time to sleep get different appt done durring the day (manditory appt) , spend time with the wife and kids ( i have two young boys who want to play with daddy) , do the chores around the house . I have a nice group of friends that my wife and i share and they want to do things on the weekend, so it rough having time for music. I get an hour here and there to work a little bit on a project ( but i've not had a recording project since i came to Guam, over a year and a half) . I'll put it this way, a buddy of mine and i are working on starting a new project, we've been trying to get together for the past 3 weeks to set up our new practice space , it's not that we don't want to, it that, one or the other of us has unexpected things to do that weekend ( due to my job being 24/7 we work different shifts and different days off ) . i think this weekend will be the weekend .

Czar of Turd Polish
Member
Since: Jun 20, 2006

May 12, 2009 12:14 pm

I am pressed for time constantly but luckily my wife is very understanding. The only thing that stops me from playing music when I want is my conscience. My daughter likes to scream in the mic (she loves delay and echo FX) and pound on my drums as well. That may not lead to very productive recording sessions but I don't mind, at least we are spending time together.

That being said, if it affects the marriage then fix it right away. I actually quit my band a couple years back as I was away too much. After a few months she saw what it did to me and gave me her blessing to start again. I think showing her what was more important bought me some favor.

On the other hand, everyone needs a little alone time now and again. When you do get it, don't try to accomplish too much and just enjoy yourself. My mixes sometimes (usually) never get completed but that's ok in my eyes.

Rockstar Vatican Assassin
Member
Since: Mar 20, 2009

May 12, 2009 12:16 pm

I'm no Dr. Phil, but I can offer you this tidbit of advice. Take care of your wife first, and you'll have plenty of time for your other activities.

Quote:
I work hard, go boxing twice a week and am usually out with friend on the weekend

Sounds like You, You, You, then maybe her. I dunno what she is like, but from my own experience I've learned to do trade-offs. Example: My wife hates band practice days (cause their at my house) but loves movies. So, I take her to a 1.5 hr movie so I can have 4 hrs. of band practice. Not all the time, but you get the point. On days we play out live (long nights), I make sure to take her out to eat and/or just do small tasks around the house that I know she wants me to take care of. The point is.... make it all about her first before you get to your personal business. Keep her happy... and you'll be happy. Marriage Saved!!!!

I'm willing to bet your mother would say something to the effect of "Finish your homework first, and then you can go out an play" when you were a kid. In life and in marriage... nothing changes. Heed your mother's advice!!!! It WORKS!

SM7b the Chuck Noris of Mic's
Contributor
Since: Jun 20, 2002

May 12, 2009 12:48 pm

Cpt, I agree man. my oldest (who is 3) loves to beat the crap out of the drums and has a blast making odd and fun sounds in "daddy's room" . we get to spend time and i can have a little fun with music and fam. My wife is very supportive and lets me get away with a bit but as you said it's a give and take. I like to spend time with her and i alone as well as the whole family and that help with keeping a good marrage. You do need to have your "me" time, granted that is probably what suffers the most for me , but i make an effort to get away for an hour here and there and that fine. I think i have a good thing, i just wish i had more time ( like a lot of people do) .

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002

May 12, 2009 09:22 pm

While I haven't had time for my personal creation's for at least the last 5 years I'm now trying to start to make time. Especially since my youngest, now 16 is starting to play guitar and is spending more time in here with me.

I think its time to start writing again. And our little project that is starting in another thread just might be the excuse I've needed.

Frisco's Most Underrated
Member
Since: Jan 28, 2003

May 13, 2009 12:39 am

Since I've started school, I have hardly any time except during breaks. I do find a couple hours here and there, but finding time for music is not very often these days. If I was a tad more focused, I prolly could pull it off, but between basketball, school, girl, family, music is kinda getting put to the side. But summer is coming up, so I should have more time then. I have so many ideas, just need to get to them.

I do continue to write lyrics though, in my commute time.

Cone Poker
Member
Since: Apr 07, 2002

May 13, 2009 07:38 am

I don't do jack squat and I can't find time to record. Like my day is usually spent waking up at around 5pm, having some coffee, talking to the girl, reading, etc. By the time that like 10pm rolls around I want to put something to tape, but then i think about having to move the gear around, plug stuff in, mess with knobs, ooooh my god it's so much work. I've found that if you're already bored and/or depressed then even if you have a ton of things to do you won't do any of them. I've taken to keeping oil paints, charcoals, and canvas in the studio now so that if I just have a complete block or get pissed off that i can't get anything good down today, I can still get the creative juices flowing. Also, sometimes it helps to paint for a while while listening to music before sitting down to record.

Pinnipedal Czar (: 3=
Member
Since: Apr 11, 2004

May 13, 2009 11:53 am

Things have gotten a bit harder to accomplish at the home-studio, since my gal started working nights. I have a day-shift schedule on the weekdays, and a night-shift schedule for the weekends. It can be weird at times. So, to play guitar during the week, I simply bring it to work with me. They don't pay me enough not to, so I might as well. Of course, there are all the interuptions of being at a desk with four phone lines to deal with, but we have our slow days as well. If have a good idea while at work, I just save it to the JM4 looper memory for editing later on.


guitar enthusiast
Member
Since: Apr 05, 2006

Jun 12, 2009 03:44 pm

Dude, sounds like my deal... I have a guitar at work which I keep at my desk. I use the Tascam GT-R1 to record any riffs and things that I come up with anywhere that I'm at. I also carry my lyric book with me to write words and ideas whenever stuff hits me.

Like most of you other guys, I don't have enough time to record or write at home. I squeeze it in when I can. But I carry the GT-R1 and lyric book with me at all times so that if I have some downtime anywhere I'm at I can produce something to record at home when I find the time to do that.

Fortunately my girl is a bass player and she writes the bass lines to my songs and records them. She shares my love of music and helps me get it done as well. At least that’s not an issue for me. My issues are everyday chores, a fulltime job and going to school. I get maybe one afternoon per week to do a little recording.

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