How do you find the time?

[wrxfiend]

Just a query,

How do you guys find the time to follow this passion we share? I have to work full time to pay bills, and 2-3 hours a night just isn't enough time to hone these shabby skills of mine.

For those of you lucky enough (or should i say dedicated enough) to earn a living out of djing or production, do you work part time or casual aswell?

Just having a real hard time slogging out this horror 9-5 retail sales job of mine, knowing that my studio is sitting idle.........

Also working EVERY saturday sort of kills any ideas of gigging on the weekends?

just looking for some ideas, direction, advice..........

[LabRat]

I usually dedicate on a day off or a Sunday. Go full ball and then a few hours after work (if I can) use it to finish off the track(s)

[Gandy]

i had this exact issue last year

what i did was set up a high interest earning savings only account, and put money away each week. i started off with a small amount of $100 a week, and then every two weeks i would increment that by $100 until i found a sweet spot of being able to save and live comfortably.

i did this for about 6-8 months, then by the end of the year i had quite an impressive savings, finished up at my job and now this year im doing producing full time and taking time out just to enjoy life

the important thing is to always just keep putting money into the account, you will be surprised just how quick it all adds up.

do up a budget, add up your expenses for the month and see how much comes out (deicde on what you need to spend money on and what you want to spend money on, then take away a coupple of wants), maybe you can also get different job with less hours and still be able to live comfortably

[russell]

working in the mines does fuck all for my interests.

Can still do a bit of production but can't use any of my hardware and it's all done through headphones which is a bit shit.

Got a plan for the future though to get me out of this industry and free up more time for me work on producing and hopefully get some DJ work.

[wrxfiend]

Gandy, its nice to know it is possible. You have given me some hope. Do any of you work from home, internet based or such?

[overit]

I never find the time.

I teach DJ skills I have learnt over the years to young people and this is a rewarding living, but like any self-employed job I have to spend heaps of time on training, making sure I'm insured and legal and setting up projects and advertising them, just for starters. It also took a long time to get a rep and make it work as a living.

I do mobile gigs for money too so have to spend time prepping route maps, maintaining playlists and doing those gigs. I get this work because of my old rep as a DJ in bars and clubs in my home town.

I don't mind either of these tasks, they still keep my hand in with the gear and I often get 5 minutes or so to quickly jam my skills before sessions or gigs.

But I can't honestly say these things satisfy my desire to DJ for myself.

Years ago all I did was put on events, DJ and get high, I was always broke but I loved it. I played what I wanted, created my own scene, and had the rock n roll lifestyle 100% of the time.

Then I decided to start a fam and take on the responsibility to keep the bread on the table, now I am always working and I love it.

So basically I dont get the time to indulge my creative DJ side, when I did i didn't earn any money becasue it was so much fun spending it all... but since then I have made a living out of working with music and DJ gear. It's a fine balance which I couldnt have found if I wasnt willing to live without cash while I was earning my rep as a DJ and then work fookin hard while I was catching up with the money-making when i started my family.

TL/DR users:

Final point: As you know I do occasionally get to post short vids and mixes though... secret to doing those at the moment is: Don't find the time. TAKE THE TIME.

[Mitch]

I skip on sleep.

And i still have fuck all time to dj

[Kodiak]

I work 4 on 4 off shift work. So have a bit of spare time up my sleeve usually spent playing golf (free yay), playing games, playing with my hobbies (DJ, photography) and masturbating. But hard to find time for the yardwork and housework in between all the other important shit I am doing. I am separated so have my daughter on my days off. Over the holidays I haven't had much of a chance to mix much but am keen to get back in and mix up some new shit.

[GREMM1S]

i work 20 or so hours a week in a cafe, when im off uni like now i have a fair bit of time to prepare for my weekend gigs, does get a bit harder when i go back to uni.

At the moment djing is about 50% of my income which is sweet

[wrxfiend]

guys, don't take any offence at this, but should i just learn to mix dubstep?

I'm thinking my chances of making it as a hip hop turntablist are pretty slim.

I have respect for all you guys that are making money following your passion, it's just that edm has never really grabbed me that way

[Mitch]

Nah, do what you enjoy otherwise you'll lose passion.

There is market for hip-hop

[overit]

two options:

1) make a living playing music that isn't your first love so you can at least earn a living playing music - this won't always be dubstep, you'll have to move with fashion and will probably end up doing chart/commercial and functions at some points in your life. This option allows you to have dj gear around you and the chance to do what you want with it once in while. It basically means you try to make Djing your dayjob, which isn't easy.

2) stick to only playing what you want. Get a "normal" day job. Hope the day job earns enough and leaves enough time to indulge in DJing. and maybe, one day, fashion will turn round and start to favour your taste in music again.

Obviously these options are the same, it's just that in option 1 DJing is the day job. Be warned, it's still one of the hardest jobs to succeed in.

[GREMM1S]

guys, don't take any offence at this, but should i just learn to mix dubstep?

I'm thinking my chances of making it as a hip hop turntablist are pretty slim.

I have respect for all you guys that are making money following your passion, it's just that edm has never really grabbed me that way

House/electro is far bigger than dubstep if youre after gigs, but as mitch said youll just end up hating it if you play stuff you dont love.

[russell]

guys, don't take any offence at this, but should i just learn to mix dubstep?

I'm thinking my chances of making it as a hip hop turntablist are pretty slim.

I have respect for all you guys that are making money following your passion, it's just that edm has never really grabbed me that way

There's always an underground scene regardless of what that may be from country to country.

Play what you love otherwise there's no point. It will become a chore otherwise.

Start throwing your own parties. starts small, build a following and see what happens if you need to.

[LabRat]

guys, don't take any offence at this, but should i just learn to mix dubstep?

I'm thinking my chances of making it as a hip hop turntablist are pretty slim.

I have respect for all you guys that are making money following your passion, it's just that edm has never really grabbed me that way

Don't take offense to this but you shouldn't be thinking about the money because it's not going to come and if it does it's not millions. Sharpen up your skills and be the best you can be at your craft. Feel free to go explore new genres and mixing techniques but get out there and have fun doing it. If you're lucky enough the money will come

[yizzle]

^ wise. And this man knowns

[wrxfiend]

guys, don't take any offence at this, but should i just learn to mix dubstep?

I'm thinking my chances of making it as a hip hop turntablist are pretty slim.

I have respect for all you guys that are making money following your passion, it's just that edm has never really grabbed me that way

Don't take offense to this but you shouldn't be thinking about the money because it's not going to come and if it does it's not millions. Sharpen up your skills and be the best you can be at your craft. Feel free to go explore new genres and mixing techniques but get out there and have fun doing it. If you're lucky enough the money will come

No offence taken Spit! But realise that my reason for the thread was to come up with ways to better manage time and money so I can spend more time practising the hobby I love, If I could get gigs and earn some (extra coin) awesome, but I've spent 12 years practising to a room of one, if it was for money, I would have given up years ago

I respect anyone who has the guts to get up in front of people and do what we do!

[Addi]

Yeah its a very tough balance. I work full time as a news photographer so i work 40+ hours a week including all weekends, so finding time for productions and planning sets is tough. Doing gigs is tough too, as its a 2.5 hour drive to canberra for our big gigs and 4 hours to Sydney, so there are plenty of long hours at work followed up by travel, gig, no sleep, more travel and straight back to work. I guess having a passion for it helps as it honestly doesn't bother me having to do that.

[russell]

travel, gig, no sleep, more travel and straight back to work.

take the work out of that and you've got the pro DJ lifestyle right there

[crundyy]

guys, don't take any offence at this, but should i just learn to mix dubstep?

I'm thinking my chances of making it as a hip hop turntablist are pretty slim.

I have respect for all you guys that are making money following your passion, it's just that edm has never really grabbed me that way

Don't take offense to this but you shouldn't be thinking about the money because it's not going to come and if it does it's not millions. Sharpen up your skills and be the best you can be at your craft. Feel free to go explore new genres and mixing techniques but get out there and have fun doing it. If you're lucky enough the money will come

No offence taken Spit! But realise that my reason for the thread was to come up with ways to better manage time and money so I can spend more time practising the hobby I love, If I could get gigs and earn some (extra coin) awesome, but I've spent 12 years practising to a room of one, if it was for money, I would have given up years ago

I respect anyone who has the guts to get up in front of people and do what we do!

yeah dubstep is complete rubbish, mix gabber