More of a plea for advice than anything else.

[ShipwreckSoundWorks]

Hey guys. I haven't been around here for a few months. I haven't been doing much recording.
I suppose I had a question for everyone who has a good amount of experience on this forum.

Recently, I've been falling out of recording. I picked up photography about three years ago, and I've been getting back into that again, quite heavily. I've sort of quit writing music and recording completely. I still sit down with my own band and track some stuff when they wanna get it done (they're extremely professional 23 year olds, and I'm only 17) but other than that I don't do much anymore. I deal with a lot of shitbags on a daily basis. Shitty 20 year olds who don't respect me or pay the fuck up when they're supposed to. Shitty music scene with people I hate. I just started to not want to record anymore. Let alone, although I respect the music scene, I just want to record GOOD music for once. I was just wondering if I could get some more experienced opinions on this sort of burned out feeling. Anyone else been in and out if this? I feel like it really sucks because I had a whole plan about how I was going to at least make this a partial point of income for the future, now I'm kind of rethinking that.

I know this sounds arrogant as fuck, but I mean recording bands has been my entire focus for the last two years. I've built a name in this city and people quit going to other recording artists. I've established, and If I put everything I have into this, I don't see a problem being able to do this with a job on the side. I just don't think I want to anymore, but that kind of saddens me.

Edit: I respect so many people on this forum. I want the opinions of everyone who cares to offer them.

 

[if6was9]

You need to work on a project you like, with good people who are talented.
I know what you're feeling. I felt like I'd worked with nothing but crap for a while there, seemed every band I was working with were either half assing it, really new with no direction or solid ideas or just plain a bad band. Of course none of these bands wanted to really spend alot money or put in the work to get a really good recording either.

But I got record a few really cool bands then and I felt much happier with how things were going. All the work I'd done with the crap bands prepared me and my editing got really good and I got faster at everything. All those not so talented bands helped me buy good gear that now helps me attract better bands etc...
I suppose you just need to find the positives and find a really good project to work on to get you enthusiastic about recording again.

 

[Jack Pirate]

I understand your point, but I have to say this: If you're only 17 years old, you didn't even have time to get to the other side of the fence and check things out yet. I understand that you feel like you've seen it all but there's no way that's the case, there's a whole array of things that you haven't even heard of yet. If you really like doing this, you should continue despite the fact that it's hard as fuck to make a living out of it. Give it a try, see if you can completely shut the engineering thing down and still be happy. If you can that's great, if you can't then you're screwed like most of us haha.

 

[Terminus]

I would consider myself lucky to be doing what you describe at 17. I've been burned out on music in general before, all I can say is take some time away from it, come back later and see if you still want to do it. I guess if you don't you don't and that's how it goes. At least you have other things to fall back on like photography.

 

[pikachu69]

^^^^

For sure, at your tender age you are lucky to have the experience you have. You hear some times how the more experienced engineers started in studios when they were still in nappies but this is rare. I am 34 and I have never stepped foot in a 'real' studio in my life other than my own project studio. I live in a small town in a small country. I have been working hard for 10 years tring to make something of recording and only this year has it started to pay SOME bills. For us mear mortals it takes time, lots of time.
If you feel burnt out at 17 maybe recording is not for you?
After 10 years I cant say I have ever felt burnt out or over it, even with all the shit bands I have worked with. I look forward to it every day.

 

[-Noodles-]

Being creative means you're a slave to emotions. If you don't feel like doing it - just take time out. Return to it now while you're not 'feeling it' and you'll produce work you're not happy with so take some time out to listen to good music without the pressure of being an engineer.

it's happened to all of us.

 

[crillemannen]

Man what are you bitching about hahaha. You are 17 and the reality of life hasn't struck you yet. Im just saying mortgage, a fulltime boring job that sucks the life out of you and all that comes with that.
If you want to succeed with being an engineer you need to just work your way up to there. If you are good at what you do better and better bands will contact you. Even working fulltime with audio production can be draining from time to time and not every band will be a great experience. But the great bands will make up for that.

 

[if6was9]

Didn't realise you were 17 when I replied first. That's too young to be burnt out!

 

[Sloan]

Raise your rates to keep shit away, but make it worthwhile when someone has the cash. Require payment in full to book.

 

[ShipwreckSoundWorks]

Thanks a lot you guys, I really appreciate all the responses.
And yeah I know, I'm only 17 and don't have to worry about shit, and I'm living it the fuck up before college next year. I suppose I am too young to be burnt out, but I'm held responsibility wise with this business the same way an adult would be. It just sort of makes me less passionate about it when I have to deal with adults that act my age, when I'm acting theirs.
I'll keep up with it though, I never said I'd quit. It just kind of sank into the background over these last few months.

 

[rfahey86]

Welcome back. I've been away for a while too, until recently. I had a local band contact me about doing a recording for them (kind of out of the blue being that i haven't mentioned anything about recording in months). So I started tinkering away with my equipment and software and am ready to do their album for them. Kinda weird the way shit works out. But anyhow, I don't want to hijack your thread or anything. Hopefully you find your "recording groove" man! Have fun

 

[ShipwreckSoundWorks]

Just incase anyone cared for an update: I worked with this skate punk/post hardcore band yesterday, and it totally got me stoked on recording.
I'm so fucking sick of metal.