I need some advice

[sgs4u]

Ulf, Madness exists on every point of the bell curve. Starting too many ideas, can certainly be a burden, as well. Every song, is your painting. Life your life. Quote:I envy everyone that has this kind of productivity. I really wish ideas would keep popping into my head like this. I Spoke to another taxi member awhile ago that had the same kind of "problem", couldn't barely finish one song until another one was in the pipeline...I Consider making good music being a little like photography; you need at least 100 pictures to get a single good one, often more. So this is a valuable gift, - nurture it! I have 160 songs that made it to the PRO over a period of 30 years...compare that to 106 songs in two years Gotto get to work...

[mixopenta]

Quote:Ulf, Madness exists on every point of the bell curve. Starting too many ideas, can certainly be a burden, as well. Every song, is your painting. Life your life. As said by a wise man. I guess balance is key in everything.

[clonsberry]

Quote:..perhaps it's because I do most of my editing in my head before I even write anything - if it doesn't really work I don't bother to write it down.Some of what I feel is my best material is stuff I've put away for months or a year and, when I go back to it, it's all clear and I can easily finish it. Is it clearing me head? Maybe. Or is it that time it bakes in your subconscious? Maybe. And there are the ones that you go back to and say "what was I thinking?!". It's true that the methods we write with are as diverse as the songs we write and the people writing them.Quote:I guess my point is, we all have to do what works for us. Being concerned about having "too much" inspiration seems a bit like being worried about being "too joyful". It's a problem a lot of us would like to have...Or too much money. If anyone has THAT problem, I can help.

[jchitty]

Some very good insights here from all you folks. Thanks.

[squidlips]

Quote:Quote:..perhaps it's because I do most of my editing in my head before I even write anything - if it doesn't really work I don't bother to write it down.Some of what I feel is my best material is stuff I've put away for months or a year and, when I go back to it, it's all clear and I can easily finish it. Is it clearing me head? Maybe. Or is it that time it bakes in your subconscious? Maybe. And there are the ones that you go back to and say "what was I thinking?!". It's true that the methods we write with are as diverse as the songs we write and the people writing them.Quote:I guess my point is, we all have to do what works for us. Being concerned about having "too much" inspiration seems a bit like being worried about being "too joyful". It's a problem a lot of us would like to have...Or too much money. If anyone has THAT problem, I can help. I can help you help them. I could get the hang of spending money. I think. If I practiced really hard. Also, songs gotta cook. Some not so much. Some gotta simmer for a while. The difference between cookin' brownies and cookin' jambalaya. Walking away from it is one of the ways I deal with it too. I trust that part of my brain (the smarter, quieter part) that is more involved with the creative process to be on the job pretty much 24/7.

[jchitty]

Quote:Quote:Some of what I feel is my best material is stuff I've put away for months or a year and, when I go back to it, it's all clear and I can easily finish it. Is it clearing me head? Maybe. Or is it that time it bakes in your subconscious? Maybe. And there are the ones that you go back to and say "what was I thinking?!". It's true that the methods we write with are as diverse as the songs we write and the people writing them.Or too much money. If anyone has THAT problem, I can help. I can help you help them. I could get the hang of spending money. I think. If I practiced really hard. Also, songs gotta cook. Some not so much. Some gotta simmer for a while. The difference between cookin' brownies and cookin' jambalaya. Walking away from it is one of the ways I deal with it too. I trust that part of my brain (the smarter, quieter part) that is more involved with the creative process to be on the job pretty much 24/7. I love your 'slow cooker' method, and I've talked about it here before. And isn't it cool how songs just take on a life of their own....how you set out to write one specific theme or go with a specific genre, but then the theme or genre will totally change when you're finished with the song? You gotta let those pork ribs get tender in the slow cooker....can't take them out too soon....or you'll get some stringy and tough ones. Occasionally, some of the best songs are written very quickly, but for the most part, songs have to simmer for a while. The flavor you get is not what you expected. Sometimes, it's even better!As they say, 'the song writes itself.

[matto]

Hey Chitty,I would echo some of the others' comments...I think for somebody who isn't producing their own demos it's a really good idea actually to write a lot of material first and then figure out which are the best. After you've narrowed it down, you can finetune those top candidates thru critiques and re-writes, and eventually demo them.Since you're shooting for high bar Nashville listings, this would be a really good process IMO.matto

[jchitty]

Quote:Hey Chitty,I would echo some of the others' comments...I think for somebody who isn't producing their own demos it's a really good idea actually to write a lot of material first and then figure out which are the best. After you've narrowed it down, you can finetune those top candidates thru critiques and re-writes, and eventually demo them.Since you're shooting for high bar Nashville listings, this would be a really good process IMO.mattoThanks, Matt! You've had tremendous success with TAXI, so I am always appreciative of your thoughts. I am leaning toward continuing just with the songwriting process as opposed to the production end....that seems to be the consensus here. I may make one or two demos (after I get critiques) next year just to satisfy the part of me that needs to feel like I'm making progress. I had planned on making many more demoes if funds permitted, but I think you guys have a point.

[arkjack]

You might want to get a small 4 or 8 track digital recorder that you can use to lay down your rough demos and ideas. Then you could lay down basic demos to take to review with your guitar teacher or send off for critique....I usually do this with my mentor, lay down 20 songs and listen through them to get his reaction on ones that are better than others to pursue....ArkJack

[tedsingingfox]

After following this thread for the last few days, I just have to say outloud...Lord Have MERCY, I love these forums. The support, the info, the viewpoints, the humor, the genuine compassion and belief in a common goal/dream...What a fantastic discovery this has been for me. Thanks to all of you simply for being here for (me) each other. This has become my newest addiction, and one I truly benefit from. Thank you.AND thanks for all the money your helping me to save by keeping me off the porn sites. (BTW, I will be in court to fight my eviction proceedings in about two hours... And as soon as I'm out of court I'm heading down to Albuquerque (a 3-hour drive) to fly to NYC for 5 days with my step-dad. I Will let you guys know how it goes, but the law and all the evidence is on my side AND he has cashed my rent check, so I know I'm safe.)Thanks, again, everybody.Later,Ted