Fighting Perfectionism

[Derpageddon]

A coWorker a couple years ago asked me if I was a perfectionist. When I answered yes, she stated that I should probably curb that or I will turn out to be a miserable person. Fast forward a few years I have been noticing how disregard to perfectionism is the key to getting anything done AND enjoying what you have accomplished.

Perfectionism in itself isnt a bad thing, it good to take pride in your work and try your best but some times that interferes with trying to have fun or getting something done. I am a fledgling producer and a perfectionist, two things that don't go together. While I have learned a bit about curbing it, I would like some advice as to what I should do about it. There is a balance between doing something well and doing something a all. Thanks.

[Facade]

are you the kind of perfectionist where everything has to be alligned just right (like the ocd kind)
or something else? (not sure)
cause i can sometimes be the first kind i mentioned its annoying xP

[Derpageddon]

Nah, im not OCD. I just have the problem where my work needs to be flawless 100% of the time or im not satisfied (that might be a bit of an over simplification)

[Facade]

aah yea i know what you are talking about now xD
i used to be the same way i scrapped like a hundred projects cause they werent perfect i have no idea how i changed though

[Whitetail]

There has to be some point when you're working on something where you step back and say "it's done"
You'll never be able to see your work the same way you see other artist's, understanding this you should be firm on yourself but not unreasonable - if you listen to other musicians songs as scrutinizingly as you listen to your own you often realize that you're harsher on your own music than you are other artist's, much harsher.

Now that's not to say you should settle for anything less than your best work, but you do have to keep in mind in the end nothing is perfect and sometimes it's better to be done with a track before you're sick of it than to fiddle with raising and lowering the decibels of a single layer all day chasing after a mythical perfect balance.

[Derpageddon]

sometimes it's better to be done with a track before you're sick of it than to fiddle with raising and lowering the decibels of a single layer all day chasing after a mythical perfect balance.

Dat quote

[Facade]

sometimes it's better to be done with a track before you're sick of it than to fiddle with raising and lowering the decibels of a single layer all day chasing after a mythical perfect balance.

Dat quote

awesome quote o.O
so true o:

[Lavender_Harmony]

There has to be some point when you're working on something where you step back and say "it's done"
You'll never be able to see your work the same way you see other artist's, understanding this you should be firm on yourself but not unreasonable - if you listen to other musicians songs as scrutinizingly as you listen to your own you often realize that you're harsher on your own music than you are other artist's, much harsher.

Now that's not to say you should settle for anything less than your best work, but you do have to keep in mind in the end nothing is perfect and sometimes it's better to be done with a track before you're sick of it than to fiddle with raising and lowering the decibels of a single layer all day chasing after a mythical perfect balance.

Can I say right now that you are the main reason I don't hate my music anymore. That one time you sat down and talked to me about my perfectionism and how I should learn to let go of the small details and focus on the important points was the point I stopped saying my music was crap and actually sought to improve myself positively instead of constantly beating myself up over nit-picky stuff.

Thank you. <3

[Fimbulin]

oh man. I've put over 42 hours into this one track (after 9 hour shifts at work) because "raising and lowering the decibels of a single layer all day chasing after a mythical perfect balance." Idk, with some projects I don't care this much, but this one.... I care too much about. I want it to be my best yet, but seriously- either I'm spending too long on it, or I'm doing it right! idk...

[Whitetail]

Thank you. <3

I'm just glad to see it helped.


@Fim

Well there's a difference between being perfectionist and not spending enough time on your work. Don't take anything I've said as an excuse to cut corners when producing - thing is you just have to have a good distinction between when you're addressing a valid concern you can fix in the song and just being overly critical of your own music and knit picking at things you wouldn't in other's music. There's nothing wrong with aiming for perfection, but at the same time understand that exact perfectionism is something that can only be aimed for.

[Fimbulin]

@Fim

Well there's a difference between being perfectionist and not spending enough time on your work. Don't take anything I've said as an excuse to cut corners when producing - thing is you just have to have a good distinction between when you're addressing a valid concern you can fix in the song and just being overly critical of your own music and knit picking at things you wouldn't in other's music. There's nothing wrong with aiming for perfection, but at the same time understand that exact perfectionism is something that can only be aimed for.

Thanks for that. I realize I'm being way too nit-picky on my own track. A while back I remember posting on the forums to give up on who cares what about your music, just post it and see your progress over time. A few quick chats with HMage helped me realize that apart from his job of mastering, as long as it's good, he doesn't care about the little things. If I ever want to go professional, I'd have to care, but then it would be my job and not my hobby. This is making free music for a silly community anyways.

[ChromaticChaosPony]

I can be a bit of an OCD perfectionist with my music. That is why I have almost nothing created.

[Lyonize]

This is something I learned through creating my Balloon Party track. Even though mine didn't make it onto the album, I can honestly say, out of all of my songs, I am most satisfied with the track I submitted for BP.

[K3WRO]

I can be a bit of an OCD perfectionist with my music. That is why I have almost nothing created.

This

[Kromium]

I can be a bit of an OCD perfectionist with my music. That is why I have almost nothing created.

Dude that's like me... I haven't made anything in a while because I'm afraid it'll turn into crap and my time will be wasted.