I really need some advice on something...

[BronyMetalMix]

I have to get something off my chest...I sometimes don't follow my own advice. I know alot of you have seem my posts about "Not giving up" and being thankful for what you already have rather then worry about what could be. But sometimes I don't even follow that. Sometimes while I'm making a track I get stuck, I worry I won't get it done. I stress out over it. All the while I always see updates from my friends about how they've been able to finish up their new track. I'm happy for them, I truly am and their success. But something deep inside me gets to me, my mind starts to get me down telling me that I can't do this, that I should just give up on making music. Ugh...it hurts, I try to fight it, it's like a back and forth between "Don't do it" and "Just give up" *sighs softly* it's one of my biggest problems...I wish I could do something about it... u_u Recently it's gotten to the point where I just break down and cry...I-I don't know what I should do. I don't wanna give at all..but I just feel weak against it. D-do any of you have any advice or something that could help..?

Thanks,
Note Wise

[Motivfs]

It's never easy to make music, it takes A LOT of time and you never master the art.

Plain and simple, some people are more skilled and have been devoted to music all their life even before touching a DAW, which means that right there they already have previous experience to work with. Others, like me, have had no real previous experience in music and just keep trying harder every day to improve. I'm also a slow learner so that's an issue too.

Everyone is different when it comes to music, for some it will be harder to do than others, it's about being persistent and sticking to the plan, if you REALLY love music, you will persevere. You will break through that wall, that really, I'm sure we've all been through.

It's definitely discouraging to have friends who progress better than you, I mean hell, look at my signature, do you see how terribly depressing that looks? How I'm calling my music garbage? I wasn't joking either I meant that from the heart at the time. We all have moments like this, it's about not giving up and sticking to it.

It may sound harsh, but if you love music, and working in a DAW, you will stick to this, but if you quit, can you really say you were devoted, that you loved working in a DAW day in and day out and putting up with all those mistakes only to battle through again and again?

[BronyMetalMix]

I do love doing this. I'm not gonna let this make me quit. I keep telling myself "Well if I quit...what would that help?" I wouldn't be happy because i gave up to easy. My friends won't be happy, my fans won't be happy. It won't help me in the least because I won't be able to improve

[Callenby]

It sounds to me like you already know what to do, and just might need some encouragement. Here's the best way I know of offering some:



That's a quote from Ira Glass, I believe. It came with some few others, if you'd like.

I come from a family of artists and know quite a few other ones, and being familiar with their creative processes (and my own) I feel that I can vouch for Motivfs when he said it's normal to at one point or another have fundamental doubts about your ability to do what you love.

But there is one thing I really want to stress: don't compare yourself to other artists! I think it's one of the most counterproductive things you can do as an artist. The only thing that seems to ever accomplish is demoralizing yourself. I've done it before and it didn't help one iota. You are not them and they are not you. What works for them won't necessarily work for you and their background/experiences are not the same as yours, so it really is pointless trying to make comparisons. Just because you don't always see others struggling in their work it doesn't mean they don't, and just because they finish a song it doesn't mean they're truly happy with it.

You say you are doing this because you love it. What more reason do you need?

[Freewave]

Being a musician is really frustrating because its a ton of work, there's so many people who are good and better at it, feedback is often pretty weak, its easy to always find flaws after you put something out, and you'll be constantly be finding things to learn and ways to improve. It should likely take a few years to be good and even more to be great. Some people will have a natural talent and be able to cut through that time with ease while the rest of us really struggle to keep up and just have to work harder.

This is a marathon and not a race. People enter marathons all the time who do not expect to "win". It's about taking part. Don't focus on who is in front of you or behind you. Focus on your own music and progress and most of all for it being enjoyable to do.

And next time put something like this in the hugging/venting thread.

[BronyMetalMix]

Thanks you guys, you're advice really means alot to me. I really can't thankyou all enough. It seems whenever I'm curious about something or i don't feel right. I can come here, make a thread and see what you all have to say. You all are so kind and friendly to me It means alot.
I actually got a e-mail last night that made me feel good about myself and my music. I don't wanna say what it is, but it sure made me proud of myself ^_^