Why Music Is The Worst Hobby Ever!

[@itsrelativ3967]

At this point, I've seen more musicians including me enjoying sound design, template building and selling loops more than actually playing live or as a session musician. I've seen more money being made on the manufacturing and development of DAW plugins and instruments more than actually performing. It's mostly a hobby where I can choose to find the opportunities that I desire and not be tied down to a record deal. Sometimes doing composing for TV/film keeps my interest, but I don't need to do it to survive. None of my buddies have ever made a living from their own music either. We all have regular day jobs.

[@SmithMediaSolutions]

I very much appreciate this reply and I agree with the trend you are seeing. I have also built my career on the things "surrounding music".. I do the gigs, but I also do the production, bookings and management portion.

[@staticnoise84]

I love these videos, always have great information to think about!

[@SmithMediaSolutions]

Thanks so much Gorden!

[@DethChikken]

Best tool for learning work ethic I ever had was music! Definitely developed my social confidence too. I don't spend time building as frustration. That's like saying going to the gym is s frustration. It's just work ;-)

[@SmithMediaSolutions]

I love this perspective! Thanks brother:)

[@curtislitchfield1378]

I've had the grind put into another perspective in university a couple of years ago. There is a professor at the University of Lethbridge who decided to focus on Musicians Health, and got very scientific about it (writing papers with kinesthesiologists and measuring muscle use with some crazy motion capture tech). In the classical music world, musicians destroy themselves in order to be better, or in some cases, the best. I think a lot people in the pop music world (yes that includes rock and metal) don't realize they do the same thing, but it's usually machismo rather than pedagogy that tends to drive it. I find I have a delicate balance between the 2 viewpoints. I prefer to think of it as a painting hobby... maybe. Except I'm channeling Bob Ross, not Michelangelo. I think working on my skill is important, but I'll never be a shredder on guitar because I don't find it interesting, just like I don't find Paganini very interesting. Impressive... yeah! Interesting..... well.... Be honest, do you find Yngwie interesting? In the end it comes down to whether or not you have the skill to execute your art, rather than whether or not you should compare yourself to somebody else's skill. And most of all, to be honest in whether or not you HAVE that skill to really realize your vision. If not. Get some work in, but take breaks, and be as chill as Bob Ross about it.

[@SmithMediaSolutions]

I REALLY love this perspective! In my 20's I decided that if I wanted to play music for the rest of my life that I needed to study RSI(repetitive strain injury). I completely agree that grinding your body into a pulp is absolutely the wrong way to become a musician for life.

[@cinders302]

That's a good analogy. Very few will reach the level of Yngwie for speed and accuracy or the stylist level of Tom Morello who takes a completely different approach to guitar - kinda like the Bob Ross to the power of 10 when it comes to creativity.

[@JIm-w1b]

I'm a one man band home recording musician as a hobby. The #1 problem with music is the dichotomy of how it takes incredible amounts of money to create professional level music, but it's impossible to make any money at it, except for the truly exceptional, very fortunate few. My next biggest problem is, although I'm as good of a singer and songwriter as anybody out there, if not better, I cannot find an audience. You can be the next Paul McCartney and people won't appreciate. I spent serious money to make a You Tube video and practically nobody cared.

[@narresnair1154]

Very very relatable Wonderful perspective

[@bk8708]

Wow Paul this topic came out of left field but definitely was warranted. So many points that I agree and disagree with. For me I really love playing guitar and writing as I'd love to know the theory I think it would lost the luster of playing. But with that being said I think you nailed it by knowing your expectations of music. Although you don't know your potential till you play the one song you always wanted to learn and it clicks. I dunno great video

[@SmithMediaSolutions]

Well said, I knew this would a little controversial. I am very happy when people disagree with my opinions. I especially love it when a person states and argument in such a way that it makes me change my mind. Thanks so much for watching this and your continued support of the channel no matter what I throw out there:)

[@Tracks777]

amazing stuff

[@SmithMediaSolutions]

Thank you so much! I really appreciate that:)

[@Audiojunkk]

So true! Been producing music as a career for a decade and so much time is spent in frustration and crippling self doubt! But boy do those breakthroughs and continual improvements feel great when they happen! But I still feel like a beginner every time I start a new track! It never ends 😂

[@SmithMediaSolutions]

Absolutely!

[@cinders302]

Why is it always about kids learning? I think you're leaving out a large sector of the older models who want to learn, or refresh themselves. They often have the money to lay down and maybe they just want to do it to keep their brains engaged. Maybe we're a dying breed with all the younger gens following the EDM stuff, but I'd like to think that there will be a resurgence of people who want to play an actual instrument and/or put their face up to a mic without having everything DAW corrected, and do it for the hell of it, not because they see themselves as the next Chris Cornell, Brad Paisley, Eva Cassidy, or Geddy Lee. They just want to be decent enough to stay in time,eant dynamics, amd have fun with friends. Boy, that was a rant. 😆 Anyway, the whole point was to still make us old dogs feel like we still are, or can be, included - and that includes setting up the backline, and maybe FOH, too. There. 'nuff of that noise.' 😊

[@juanarriaga4929]

Nice perspective