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View Full Version : ever get work burnout?


pounce
April 13th, 2007, 06:34 PM
generally speaking, the technical support areas of shows are under appreciated, especially by many of the bands or performers. it's the you aren't noticed till something goes wrong deal.

anyhow, the problem is that between the hours and the attitudes, and doing this day in and day out, it's possible to get a little burnt out.

talented bands and nice people bring out the best in me and my work. it's kind of simple. but there is a lot of work i do that is kind of just a grind. right now i'm working on a proper show where i'm mixing and orchestra and singers and so forth. it's pretty fun, and the folks are very nice to me. plus i'm getting an extra grand to multitrack record it for them to make a few vanity cd's. i just drug in a small interface and i'm using my powerbook. kind of cool.

however, i know a string of really mind numbing gigs are coming up just around the corner, and last year these gigs pushed me to the edge. at least the edge of leaving the venue to pursue other audio work. thing is, the venue has the same shows year after year, so you don't have to be too many years in to it before there isnt' a challenge in it anymore. in fact, i worry that my audio skills are suffering since i can just go through the motions with some of the events coming up.

shit, i like the money and the fact that i get decent health care and so forth, but it doesn't feel very adventurous. frankly, i have a hankering to go do an independent movie or make some original music again. that stuff was fun, and got me into this field in the first place.

anyhow, how do you guys ride the work burnout rollercoaster? i am making a point of starting up an ambitious project or two that will fulfill my artistic side better and be just plain more interesting to me to fight off the work boredom. i like being involved in production, but should no longer expect my main venue to bring things that are as challenging or interesting as my own side projects. now to find a way to balance the time between those two things.

anyhow, the work burnout isnt' bad for me at the moment, but ask again in a month after these miserable gigs coming up and i'll have a different answer.

clicktrack
April 13th, 2007, 10:32 PM
Burnout? Me? Hell yes.

Running the mobile as well as a day job leaves me with not much time to myself. For the truck, even when we're not busy with gigs, there's plenty of stuff to keep us busy...post-production mixes, regular maintenance, upgrades, finishing projects, cleaning. Not to mention we've always gotta be pimping ourselves out looking for future work, and with that comes the normal paperwork that goes with any business. So there's always something to do.

I force myself to take mini-"vacations" from audio when time allows. Even though I could be finishing soldering that patchbay that I've wanted to install for months, I need to take the mental health days. I find that when I do that, I can go through the non-exciting stuff much easier and faster.

The "vacation" may be as simple as taking a weekend and doing something as banal as house work. Whatever. It just has to be anything BUT audio work.

I love audio work, but for me to keep that love, I need to take these breaks when I can to "fill the cup".

bunnerabb
April 14th, 2007, 01:39 AM
200 and change shows a year.

Fried, dyed and laid to the side, y'all.

Jason Phair
April 15th, 2007, 03:25 AM
I throw things.


Like my Black&Decker drill that I got a couple Christmasses ago...a lotta shit piled up a few weeks ago, and the proverbial straw on the camel's back was a rack screw crossthreading and snapping in half.


The drill was about 15 feet in the air still when it hit the wall about 45 feet away.


On the other hand, I don't recommend this form of therapy, and if you can think of something better, let me know, please.

Spock
April 15th, 2007, 04:18 AM
Yea,

Work burnout. I'm have a a bit of it right now. Stupid bosses, stupid co-workers. I get over it by doing something completely different, like music, or photo work.

Dr. Bob
April 15th, 2007, 05:54 AM
I throw things.

I've tried this therapy... and upon ocassion... it works wonders... but can potentially be VERY expensive in the live or studio realm... obviously.

On the other hand, I don't recommend this form of therapy, and if you can think of something better, let me know, please.

I dunno... Maybe the objects you are throwing are the wrong ones... Lighting Dudes and Prima Lead Singers are good choices. (They're so seldom missed... and can be soooo deserving!)

U87's and Pultec would NOT be on my list of effective devices to throw... Unless you got cash out da' ass.

Mr. dB
April 22nd, 2007, 01:36 AM
Ever find yourself "over-entertained"? You've seen so many bands, good mediocre and bad, that no one is capable of impressing you anymore? Ever find that when you leave the gig, you enjoy the silence of your car, and refuse to turn on the TV or music system at home for weeks at a time?

Immanuel
April 23rd, 2007, 12:08 PM
thing is, the venue has the same shows year after year, so you don't have to be too many years in to it before there isnt' a challenge in it anymore. in fact, i worry that my audio skills are suffering since i can just go through the motions with some of the events coming up.

I had a teacher once, who played live with the big old guys in Danish rock. Particularly one guy wanted it to be "like on the record" ever time. So gigging with him for years, my teacher had the same challenge as you. He solved it by transposing both of his keyboards in different keys. It made him have to work harder - hard enough to stay focused and consentrated. I don't know ... maybe you can find some way to challenge yourself?

QweziRider
April 23rd, 2007, 11:57 PM
IOn the other hand, I don't recommend this form of therapy, and if you can think of something better, let me know, please.
The cat. Highly kickable.