Hi Drew, great essay. I can relate to this on many levels. Acquiring more things is such an easy way to trick ourselves into thinking we're making progress. I'm also seeking to simply my set up now to make it easier to focus on the essentials.
I think the big thing was overcomplicating my songwriting approach with all sorts of new plugins. I also went through a phase of buying hardware synths… only to find they’re all a distraction for me. The optimal setup ended up being an acoustic guitar, something to write lyrics with, and my phone to record voice note ideas as they arrive. All the other stuff is great for the later production stages, but they didn’t help me make more music. Nice, what’s your creative business focused around?
I relate. I was in the same boat. Thought I needed all the fancy plugins and tools but I found if I can't write a song that works on acoustic guitar or piano alone, fancy tools wouldn't help it.
I'm coming from over a decade in the film world and right now my creative business is focused on helping mid-career creatives get out of freelance grind and build something sustainable with authority.
Well said man. I'm sitting next to a large rack of camera gear I rarely use right now. Over the years I've bought tripods, sliders, gimbals, lights, etc. and now it all spends most of the time on the shelf because I realized I'm more productive without it.
Several years ago I finally got around to editing one of the first short documentaries I ever filmed - I shot it handheld (and on a monopod), because that was all I had or could afford at the time. It wound up being one of the most successful things I've ever made, and the handheld, shaky cam aesthetic actually helped the doc feel more authentic than if I had a tripod, slider, and lights.
Editing that short 14 years after I filmed it got me rethinking how I filmed everything. Now, 90% of the time I shoot I have my whole camera/audio setup in a 20-30 liter backpack, and some miscellaneous stuff like small lights, batteries, etc. in the pockets of some cargo pants.
Definitely easy to fall into this trap. Especially when you're not letting go of stuff you don't really need anymore. Or worse, continuing to pay for subscriptions and products that just end up making things more complicated, not simpler.
Hi Drew, great essay. I can relate to this on many levels. Acquiring more things is such an easy way to trick ourselves into thinking we're making progress. I'm also seeking to simply my set up now to make it easier to focus on the essentials.
Thanks Rob! What about your setup is getting in the way? I see you’re writing and producing music? That was my world too MANY moons ago!
I think the big thing was overcomplicating my songwriting approach with all sorts of new plugins. I also went through a phase of buying hardware synths… only to find they’re all a distraction for me. The optimal setup ended up being an acoustic guitar, something to write lyrics with, and my phone to record voice note ideas as they arrive. All the other stuff is great for the later production stages, but they didn’t help me make more music. Nice, what’s your creative business focused around?
I relate. I was in the same boat. Thought I needed all the fancy plugins and tools but I found if I can't write a song that works on acoustic guitar or piano alone, fancy tools wouldn't help it.
I'm coming from over a decade in the film world and right now my creative business is focused on helping mid-career creatives get out of freelance grind and build something sustainable with authority.
Well said man. I'm sitting next to a large rack of camera gear I rarely use right now. Over the years I've bought tripods, sliders, gimbals, lights, etc. and now it all spends most of the time on the shelf because I realized I'm more productive without it.
Several years ago I finally got around to editing one of the first short documentaries I ever filmed - I shot it handheld (and on a monopod), because that was all I had or could afford at the time. It wound up being one of the most successful things I've ever made, and the handheld, shaky cam aesthetic actually helped the doc feel more authentic than if I had a tripod, slider, and lights.
Editing that short 14 years after I filmed it got me rethinking how I filmed everything. Now, 90% of the time I shoot I have my whole camera/audio setup in a 20-30 liter backpack, and some miscellaneous stuff like small lights, batteries, etc. in the pockets of some cargo pants.
Love that. It really comes down to, are you telling a story worth telling? If it’s good, the tech doesn’t really matter.
Definitely easy to fall into this trap. Especially when you're not letting go of stuff you don't really need anymore. Or worse, continuing to pay for subscriptions and products that just end up making things more complicated, not simpler.
So easy. I’ve been killing subscriptions pretty heavily this year myself.
Love this dude ❤️
Thanks man! You had a little peak behind the curtain on this one!