Do you think you could do this full-time?

What's good?

Yo, I know that pretty much everyone on these boards would love to make money making beats. Making a living off of what you love to do is everyone's dream, but do you think you could do this shit full time whether it would be with a group or by yourself. I love making beats, but sometimes I think to myself "could I make a living off this?". I look at producers such as Preemo, ALC, Madlib, ect. and I think man I don't know if I could ever make that many beats that those guys pump out and I feel like I don't make enough beats, ya feel me? And sometimes I get frustrated and I won't touch it for a while, and I get hella busy with work and shit. I guess if all I had to do all day was make beats then it would be easier. What are your opinions? How do you get out of a slump and get inspiration?

The problem with being a creative person is that you can't always be creative. You have bouts of real genius or inspiration and that's when you usually run over to the pads. This is (likely) the reason so many great artists have become addicted to heavy drugs, specifically the ones who are always in front of a crowd and at the stardom level: everyone just expects constant genius from them and the pressure is too much. I'd imagine that's one of the reasons getting blunted is such a part of the Hip-Hop studio experience as well . . .

When you make this your career you have to be on whenever necessary. You have to tailor a beat to a specific person. It loses the fun and it becomes work -- just like anything else.

I think I'd father get recognition here and there rather than be some sort of beat factory. When something isn't fun anymore it's work.

On the other hand, Primo's not putting out so much material that I think he's swamped. Same with other guys. They've got their hands full with touring, business aspects, and just hanging out. I've had spells of unemployment where I could do nothing but sit around listening to records, making beats, and mixing. It loses its charm after a while and you find yourself uninspired -- though it is nice to be able to spend an entire week on one project whenever you have the motivation to really crank out a lot of stuff.

Some part time jobs can be pretty lucrative. Not a bad option for artists.

I could do it as a full time job. Wouldn't bother me.
Right now I'm moving up. Till now I haven't really sold beats or something like that.
But I'm doing a few productions for a theatre show right now, and I'm starting to realise that being a producer/beatmaker is more then making beats.

For instance I had to talk with the director about what type of music she wants, adjustmenst in arrangament, stuff like that. Recording stuff, mixing stuff. Doing paperwork, vinyl shopping...

So if u would be a producer for a living, it takes some more time then a few hours in the studio every week. I think the extra spare time they have as a professional is all spend on other things that makes the diference between being an amateur and a pro.

I really love to make beats. It's my drug. When I have a really bussy period I'm really glad when I find time to sit down and make beats. Then I let all my saved up creativity come out. My goal is to make 2 beats I'm satisfied with. So I start like 5 or 6 projects every week, if it doesn't work, move on to the next sample/beat, or I dig up a few unfinsihed tracks. That way I never run out of inspiration.

I'm going to give it a shot, I'm still young and dedicated. I'm going to do my thing somehow. I can be a studio musician on a few instruments, I can make sample-free beats, I know how to flip a sample, I took college courses on how to be a producer/engineer so I can mic up and record/mix people.

Basically I'm saying go collect some things to put on a "resume", so to speak.

Lately I've been collecting musicians who are down with what I do, bring em to my "studio" (house), mic em up and make a fat beat.

Also finding people who are bringing you vinyl and samples is helpful...

Basically find people who can help you out and take care of em back.

I don't have to pay my musicians but they know that I owe them. I want people who are talented at their instrument. They want someone who can make them sound good.

We all know there are people who deserve to be paid musicians who aren't. If you think you're one of them, find other ones and double your power with them.

This can be applied to anything really.

Find a rapper, guitarist, singer, producer, ghost-writer, DJ, violinist, etc... because they are out there.

Cause I'm going to do my own thing, regardless of my situation and I think that's how it should be looked at.

nah, not me.

i love making music to death, and alotta times think to myself 'dam i wish i didnt have to study/work or whateva and just spend all day making beats' but truth is i need study/work to distract myself, and re-up my creativity. if i spent all day making beats id lose steam, and im the type of person that needs to be distracted with something else, and then ill come back with some fresh shit. making beats all day would seem like a job like bedouin said and then it loses its fun. although there have been plenty of days or even weeks where all ive done is nothing but music, i couldnt picture myself doing it full time. big ups to those that do though...

I agree with what the others said. I've been blessed with work that gives me a lot of free time, so I pretty much can make beats all day. But that creative inspiration comes when it comes- regardless of your schedule. Having a full day for beats, but still coming up with nothing cuz you're not "feeling it" is really frustrating. Personally, I think I need some balance.

I remember reading about Jake One quitting his job to make beats full-time and hitting the same roadblock. After a while, he went back to work, so that when he did get on the beat tip, he'd hit it with more gusto.

I would say, if you have some money and years to spare (meaning no real bills or families to raise)then its at least worth a shot. Its definitely something you should try in your lifetime. I was lucky to be able to give it a shot a couple of times. It gets difficult at times. I also found myself always ending up getting a regular job when the bills piled up or the sessions slowed down. One of the biggest setbacks for me was having the right people around. I've worked with a ton of cats over the years and a weak team or lazy cats in your camp will f*ck everything up! Right now tho I am chillin. I have a full time job and my commercial spot with an engineer. So even tho I don't support my life off it at least it makes enough bread to support itself, my addiction to records (and bud) and leave me with surplus bread. Bottom line give that shit at least one shot.

It would be good to try, but like has been said before it is a full time job. Funny I found this thread, last night I watched the Red Bull Academy interview with Nicolay and he touches on alot of this kind of stuff. He makes beats 8 hours a day...if you're interested in trying this (and it sounds like you are) then I'd suggest you watch his interview and hear his good advice on this.

where can i find that bruv?>

here's the link to the video archive:

http://www.redbullmusicacademy.com/vide ... /lectures/

there are alot of good ones to watch...I'm in the middle of the James Pants one which is pretty funny. Phonte has a good one as well.

If you need to kill time, you can do it here for sure.
Some of them don't work...I WISH the damn Bob Power one would, but it's not... oh well.

You could do it for a living. There are tons of people making money from music that arent famous. It all depends on how you handle your business and your skillz.

Its one thing to make a beat, its another to make beats everyday, and then make the type of beats that people need

jbraudio wrote:here's the link to the video archive:

http://www.redbullmusicacademy.com/vide ... /lectures/

there are alot of good ones to watch...I'm in the middle of the James Pants one which is pretty funny. Phonte has a good one as well.

If you need to kill time, you can do it here for sure.
Some of them don't work...I WISH the damn Bob Power one would, but it's not... oh well.

damm.. props for the link homie. that site looks tight.. could definately picture killing a few hours there

Ive been struggling for the past yr living off my music. Swear only by the graces of god i get the bills paid by the end of every month. Sometimes if i do really well for myself ill have enough to cop me a case o`beer too!!

Hell no...
This is my hobby. Im not about to turn my hobby into a job.

If anything I would love to make money out of it when theres chances but I wouldnt try and do this fulltime cuz then it gets labeled a job.

I also cant sit in front of my MPC and pump out beats all day or even cater to a crowd or a perticular style of music. Fvck that I just want to make heat and have fun. I also believe if you make music just to have fun then you build your own style unlike 99% of the industry who caters to the crowd and thats why everyone in Hip Hop is dick riders and all their music sounds the same.

Sometimes stepping away from my MPC for about 2 or 3 days cuz of school & work when I get back on my MPC Im so excited that I noticed thats when my best beats are made. When Im heavily stressed and I just want to vent and drop it all on the MPC.

Thats how its been lately aswell. I work 40 to 45 hours a week and go to school fulltime but when I get a chance to jump on my MPC I have so many ideas built up that it all works out.

ALC says it best.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fuXtLCV ... re=related
"Money should not be your motivation to make music.".... "It could currupt the way you do your music."