How to INSTANTLY Quit Procrastinating for Music Producers

Even though I spend most of my days wishing I had more time to make music, when that time arrives, I find myself avoiding the task.
Why do we Procrastinate? What can we do to end procrastination and get to work?
In this episode of the Music Production Podcast, I share 3 techniques that have worked for me over the years.
What to do to Finish More Music - Music Production Podcast #322 - • Can't Finish Music? Yo...
Show Notes:
Seth Godin on Chores - seths.blog/2023/05/chores/
Produce Music Like Jerry Seinfeld - Music Production Podcast #172 - brianfunk.com/blog/seinfeld
Storytelling and Creative Productivity with Matthew Dicks - Music Production Podcast #314 - brianfunk.com/blog/matthew-dicks
Matthew Dicks on Incrementalism - matthewdicks.com/incrementali...
Brian Funk Website - brianfunk.com
Music Production Club - brianfunk.com/mpc
5-Minute Music Producer - brianfunk.com/book
Intro Music Made with 16-Bit Ableton Live Pack - brianfunk.com/blog/16-bit
Music Production Podcast - brianfunk.com/podcast
Save 25% on Ableton Live Packs at my store with the code: PODCAST - brianfunk.com/store
This episode was edited by Animus Invidious of PerforModule - performodule.com/
Thank you for listening.
Please review the Music Production Podcast on your favorite podcast provider!
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💻 Plug-ins:
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😎 Brian Funk
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Chapters:
00:00 Do you love making music?
00:40 Why do we procrastinate?
02:35 Step 1
05:16 Step 2
09:52 Step 3
13:20 What do we do next?

[@BrianFunkMusic]

How do you fight procrastination? Share any tips!

[@PabloDeModeOfficial]

First of all, great podcast! I’m gonna point something out: a lot of music making is interaction. When you work solo, like me, you have to built a safe system to work. If you are in an unpredictable environment, it feels like starting again every day and that’s not much different than making chores. It looks easy but it’s not. I asume artists want to work on their craft for different reasons, namely, get heard! Of course you have to show up. Where I live there are a ton of artists (some of them very talented) who work every day no matter what but somehow there’s no connection between their art and the audience. Personally I think that’s kind of boring… like living in a fantasy world. The best thing I can think about fighting procrastination is just to get to work with something that really inspires you, something you feel connected to, something you really want, only for yourself. That’s the biggest problem I’m facing: I like the work I do but then I start thinking: is this really approachable? Does it connect with reality/feelings/desire in general? Does people make think about or enjoy? I know my limitations and I find it difficult to break that barrier. One thing I recognise: it is very challenging to be a musician, singer-songwriter and also promoter, publisher, musical director, gig organisator, community manager 24/7, webmaster, and a long etcetera… I love your content and you have a lot of valuable information to keep in mind. 😊

[@BrianFunkMusic]

@@PabloDeModeOfficial Thanks Pablo! I appreciate you watching! So true about the environment. I like to keep things set up at all times. I don't want to have to do to much setting up because that's often enough to make me feel to lazy or to pick something easier to do. I think part of the point of creating art in general is to share it. Otherwise why bother hitting record? I do like listening to my own work and there's a lot of it that never goes public, but I also enjoy the thrill of sharing it. But I try not to worry about what people will think while I'm doing it. I try to trust that if it means something to me, it will probably mean something to someone somewhere. I enjoy the connection process too. The beauty of today is that we have access to the entire world. The hard part is we have to do so many different jobs at the same time! But I wouldn't pick any other time than now!

[@PabloDeModeOfficial]

@@BrianFunkMusic I absolutely agree. In fact, working in a safe environment is more or less what you say in tip #2, making it easy to start. We have now plenty of facilities to make music that were almost unimaginable 30 years ago, or we had to go to expensive studio’s to get a raw demo. Interaction and communication is, however, the key. And, how hard it sounds, I’d say: don’t believe the hype… But that’s another story…

[@modelcitizen2028]

TOP TIP! Just simply load up your DAW (or favourite instrument) and have it ready to record with a few good sounds, even if you have no immediate intention of doing any music at that time. That removes one major barrier to getting into the routine of working on and finishing your tracks - works for me 80% of the time. Also, write down a game plan for your track, so you know what you need to be working on for each day: For example, drums Monday, bass-line Tuesday, chords Wednesday, etc.

[@BrianFunkMusic]

This is great advice! That way when inspiration does strike, you are ready! Thanks@@modelcitizen2028

[@polmorgan3533]

Gonna watch this later....

[@BrianFunkMusic]

LOL! 🤣

[@JohnJohnCrusher]

Well hopefully it's because you're busy making music!

[@polmorgan3533]

@@JohnJohnCrusher Actually yes i was taking a break from doing vocals. I just signed up to Distrokid and have uploaded a couple of tunes to test the water, before i put up my best tunes. kzbin.info/www/bejne/roStdKeJiLCVbbc

[@BrianFunkMusic]

@@polmorgan3533 That's awesome! Nice work on the track, listening now. I love that driving synth line!

[@polmorgan3533]

@@BrianFunkMusic Thanks Brian . To be continued and thanks for your good advice I feel really lucky to be alive at this time for music with so many great teachers like you, thanks.

[@SonicVibe]

I been homeless in a shelter working full time worked my way to a new place recently, but even homeless I made myself upload consistently the last 7 months I went from knowing nothing about music to making decent stuff feel good to have the work finally start to pay off. hardest part was starting its therapeutic for me and I have fun, honestly idk 🤷‍♂️ what I would have done without it the past yr . Many nights no sleep 😴 for work but made that video I wanted to make if there is a Will there is a way is all I’m saying !

[@BrianFunkMusic]

That's pretty amazing! Where there is a will there certainly is a way! Congratulations to you on the new place and the dedication and discipline!

[@DanielMaruniak]

Chores also cultivate a more creatively conducive state. A clean environment is a great way to create.

[@BrianFunkMusic]

I do think doing some tidying helps g we the creative juices flowing. It’s all on the balance I suppose.

[@DanielMaruniak]

@@BrianFunkMusic definitely, and I do think the point you are making is don’t let a great piece of music not be written because of a menial task that can be accomplished at any point in time. Song ideas come and go, and get lost if not captured.

[@BrianFunkMusic]

@@DanielMaruniak Yea that's it really. Inspiration is like holding water in your hand. Drink it up or it will slip away!

[@TheMisterGriswold]

My best advice (works for me) is to simply start. Don't set any goals whatsoever, just start. Simply sit down with the option of getting up whenever you want, look at what's in front of you, and see what happens. Just start. You will be amazed. 🎶🎹

[@BrianFunkMusic]

Agreed! Great advice. Simple but effective!

[@SurLife]

Your advice is good for all the arts of life... Thanks!!

[@BrianFunkMusic]

You're welcome and thanks for watching!!

[@michaelshondel9274]

Bro! I don't know why I didn't stumble across this sooner but it's exactly what I need right now. I'm actually thanking God and doing a happy dance for this book! Thank you Brian!

[@BrianFunkMusic]

When I was working on the book, I never imagined a happy dance breaking out! But now your comment is giving me a happy dance too! Thanks :)

[@michaelshondel9274]

Bought the book .. over the last few years I've gathered all the necessary tools to create a nice little home studio... I look at those tools every day, thinking to myself, I've got everything I need to record my music... But I don't. Now, with your incredible day by day book, I have an easy to follow map to course my journey. Thanks again, Brian!

[@BrianFunkMusic]

@@michaelshondel9274 Much appreciated! I hope it helps. The hardest part of the equation is simply getting to work and following through. I think it's easiest when there is a plan, which is a big part of what the book offers. Please keep me posted on your progress! Enjoy :)

[@kevinshaw15]

I put off watching this for a long time - but so true! thank you

[@BrianFunkMusic]

lol It can wait! Thanks for watching!

[@alanredversangel]

I take my laptop to my kids gymnastics class, it is literally the most productive music hour of my week for mixing, pre production, arranging etc it's all down to routine. I plan a recording EVERY time I know the house will be empty too.

[@BrianFunkMusic]

That's a great idea. It sounds like it works because it is scheduled and there aren't any other options!

[@alanredversangel]

@@BrianFunkMusic My other productive time is after a few whisky's, usually around midnight when I noodle on a keyboard and go 'oh crap i need to get this down before I forget it' Next thing I know it's 2:30 am. This isn't very sustainable surprisingly.

[@BrianFunkMusic]

@@alanredversangel I like the late night hours a lot, but I've gotten so trained to get up early that it's hard to do them on a regular basis. But I think that's the type of thing we can mix in from time to time. Maybe the actual times we schedule don't need to be the same time every day or week, but just that we keep it on the schedule consistently. There's a different Brian that shows up late at night compare to the Brian that shows up in the morning or afternoon. It can be fun to tap into those different sides of myself by working at different hours!

[@PabloDeModeOfficial]

Interesting. I discovered during pandemics that the morning time is the best time to get productive. Inspirations strikes in the evening but, surprisingly, that’s the less productive time of the day. Let me explain: suddenly you found that amazing chord progression and melody and sound effect and you can’t wait to get into the studio. But your brain is tired because if you start at 11 pm, for instance, you probably have worked the whole day doing different things. It happened to me then that I spent let’s say 2 hours getting that amazing chord progression right. Insomnia follows: the melody keeps sounding in your head but you can’t wait for the next day to work on it. Then the next day you hear the product (that was my experience)… even if I liked so to say, I think “I was busy on this chord progression and melody for two hours when actually this could be done in 15 minutes!” So I realised that it was better and more productive doing relaxing-passive activities in the evening like reading a book, watching a movie or simply listening to music “ad random” (not too late in the evening tho) and then the next day with a fresh pair of ears and a fresh brain trying to get active with making music but also “work in general”. The hardest part of it all is building a sustainable habbit but that’s an essential part of the job.

[@BrianFunkMusic]

@@PabloDeModeOfficial So true and lots of good insight! There are definitely different mindstates we can take advantage to make our music.

[@Andysmusicaljourney]

As an absolute beginner-musician, I can confirm that making music is very scary as I fear I can't get anything done and/or the end result is trash, and I ended up wasting my time. Then I realize, after a while, that I'm a beginner, producing shit is what I do, and that's ok. In fact, that's a requirement to produce anything good eventually. Anything I produce now is bound to be absolute garbage, so I just need to have fun while exploring sounds and those happy little accidents. But I keep forgetting that, because it's so damn hard when everything is new an uncomfortable.

[@BrianFunkMusic]

Bad news though... those feelings never really go away! Sometimes I think the more we learn the more we realize we need to learn. I think at all stages you have to be willing to produce garbage. Not everything will be amazing, in fact by definition, most of it won't be. It's about enjoying the fun of doing it. Sometimes we get lucky! Great insight!

[@Andysmusicaljourney]

@@BrianFunkMusic Oh, I do realize that. Luckily, I've got enough life experience to understand that the learning never ends. And it shouldn't end, because if it did, it would make the task itself infinitely boring. Once something is absolutely effortless and plenty, it becomes mundane. Paradoxically, you kind of need the struggle to keep at it as long as you make at least some form of progress to not get discouraged.

[@BrianFunkMusic]

@@AndysmusicaljourneySo true! And it's an important thing to remember when the going gets tough!

[@MK-vi2cm]

I found your channel about an hour ago. Thank you for making these videos

[@BrianFunkMusic]

Awesome! Thanks for watching!

[@soldrozd877]

this guy is so good much love

[@BrianFunkMusic]

Thanks and the same to you!

[@JohnJohnCrusher]

Part of my procrastination revolves around deeply not wanting to interact with a computer program or computer screens in general. But as an Ableton user thats an integral part of the music making process I'm pursuing. I'm far more inclined to rearrange the studio, build something with my hands, go garden... Anything but stare at a computer screen with tiny font some more Of course once i get going, the stoke of the sounds carries me through

[@BrianFunkMusic]

That's an interesting point! Sometimes, especially when it''s nice out, I don't feel like sitting down at a computer. Playing guitar in a band by contrast, is more physical as I can stand move around and dance a bit. It's more physically interactive. I have a table that is counter-top height and I find that is often a much more enjoyable music-making position. How do you feel about DAW-less setups or real world instruments? Is there less procrastination? I haven't thought about it in these terms!

[@JohnJohnCrusher]

​@@BrianFunkMusic I've been a gigging drumset drummer my whole life and indeed, I'm always far more inclined to sit down behind my drumset without procrastinating, I think because of that physical interaction aspect. It feels much more natural and therapeutic. So yes, I have noticed a big difference between DAW and DAW-less setups. My Ableton set-up is built around a MIDI keyboard. Maybe I can start my DAW sessions with some raw loud jamming each time... 🤔 Just to get me interested in starting

[@BrianFunkMusic]

@@JohnJohnCrusher That's cool! Yea what instrument is more physical than drums!?!

[@cathaljasonmcternan8572]

Brilliant video.

[@BrianFunkMusic]

Thanks for watching and I'm happy you enjoyed it!

[@thomasgrayiii7827]

Atomic Music Habits

[@BrianFunkMusic]

Ha right! Great book!

[@nicoincertezza5763]

thank you brian! and sorry I didn't finished to watch this episode... I have to go and make some music :)

[@BrianFunkMusic]

You can watch it later! 🤣 I'm glad you didn't waste any more time!

[@_Out2Lunch]

Let me just say: as a new subscriber-your videos, your presentation-I think-is peerless on this platform. Unpretentious too. Since I’ve blocked Tapeop, Gearspace etc in the name of getting back to the actual “doing” part of music making-I look forward to yours being the lone encouraging voice from a congested and overwhelming social media arena. I’ll be careful not to watch too much!

[@BrianFunkMusic]

Yes the doing is the hard part! Once you feel even the slightest urge to work, you have to seize it! I'm glad you are enjoying the videos and thanks for the encouraging words. :)

[@lilian896]

Thanks for this encouraging video!🩵

[@BrianFunkMusic]

Thanks for watching :)

[@mintheuniverse]

Great video 🎉

[@Turtlpwr]

Thank you

[@BrianFunkMusic]

:) You're welcome!

[@carolynhrdng822]

Thank you!

[@BrianFunkMusic]

Thanks for watching!

[@xspace7412]

Great tips Brian! Thank you will apply!

[@BrianFunkMusic]

Thanks!!

[@dynatwenty]

any help on this topic is greatly appreciated! lookin into your book now. I can really relate to the stuff you said, man my house is so clean when i wanna be creative! And damn, when i get up sitting down in the studio to finally record i NOODLE shit i already noodled. I can sit down make music as long as im in my comfort zone and when i take on new challenges like for example learn to do vocals, or get better at guitar, i procrastinate the hell out of it. It didnt help my brain to feel good when i done the "work". Next day, phone, doom scrolling for 4 hours. i hate that and that habit needs to leave right now.

[@BrianFunkMusic]

lol you can tell how much music I’m making based on how clean my house is

[@CharlesDavis-gj5pt]

Hi Brian, I just wanted to stop by and say hello. I'm a big fan of your podcast. Thanks for sharing your insight and knowledge!

[@BrianFunkMusic]

Thanks, Charles! Really happy to hear that :)

[@ctatrains]

You must have been hiding in my studio. Nobody could have seen me that well procrastinating. For me it's updating my daw template and matching volumes of all the synths so my lazy butt doesn't have to mix so much even if I do finish a cue. When I get one synth too loud I have to go back and raise all the other ones so I'm in the red so I have to bring them all down and match them again. Then I have lunch and watch KZbin videos on procrastination.

[@BrianFunkMusic]

It sounds like you have been spying on me! So many of us go through this stuff. It's important to actively fight it! Thanks for sharing your thoughts and reminding us that we are not alone!

[@suntanbear4763]

Thanks for the video and the strategies. First year I starting seeing my partner I wrote her a song for valentines day, now she expects one every year and she has 10 songs. My song completions over that 10 years is about 15 (including her 10). So I know that I can complete a song if the consequence of not doing so is the disappointment of my partner. I need to find some strategy equally as compelling for all the other times when I have time but don't start or I start but don't complete. When I have the most time to create is when I'm most likely to binge on a box set and do anything else but.

[@BrianFunkMusic]

That's a really nice story! I love it! Maybe you should start doing a birthday song too :) Great strategy though! Thanks for sharing!

[@lorenzoreinadrums]

To schedule a "creative" session seems a really good idea. I spend too much time on do lots of adjustements and not to actually work on new pieces. Do a stream session seems also interesting, but receive interactions from the viewers can be a form of distraction?

[@BrianFunkMusic]

Any time I've done a stream, I wind up getting lost in the process. Then every once in a while I check the comments. A lot of times they are helpful, almost like having a collaborator. But I've also never had so many comments that it could really get too distracting!

[@davidgoode7416]

Thanks a lot for the helpful content, it's all great

[@BrianFunkMusic]

You're welcome! Thanks for watching and sending the positivity!

[@kristofwynants]

Hi Brian, thanks for yet another inspiring video! This topic truly rings a bell. The tips in this video will help me for chore! (Sorry, lame dad joke...) Been following you since the Afro DJMac days, so nice to see your endeavors grow in content and shape. I love how you blend music making with philosophy, science and health. Also I really liked your guest appaerance in the Tune Shed and vice versa. Thanks for spreading knowledge and inspiration and have a nice day.

[@BrianFunkMusic]

Aww thanks so much! The Tuneshed guys are great! Thanks for sticking with me all these years!

[@Bitapart]

Funny this happened to me a lot. I have a full day for just making music and I do all my chores first😔

[@BrianFunkMusic]

Maybe if this was a video about getting chores done, my tip would be become a music producer!

[@Bitapart]

@@BrianFunkMusic that might work😂

[@avalotikeshwara6136]

Procrastinating watching videos like this one.

[@Dieje]

Why you paying the bills so aggressively !! hahahaha

[@BrianFunkMusic]

haha I'm not happy about it!

[@tylermcconnell]

I’m doing the EXACT same with live-streaming! Trying to do it daily. We’re cut from the same cloth, my man! 🫡😎💪

[@BrianFunkMusic]

That's awesome! Any time I have live-streamed, I have felt how focused it made me. I have to do it more! Thanks for sharing and keep it up!!