Navigating the ever changing world of the music industry.

[lucai]

Hey justin, I'm at a crossroads in my career at the moment and i don't necessarily have to make a concrete choice but i need to go in a general direction to a certain point. I've been working as an engineer in Toronto at a commercial studio and with a home studio for smaller projects. I've recently decided to relocate to vancouver to for a shift of mind frame and possibly branch off into doing more in the film industry but still on the audio side of things.

My question is, in the state that music industry is have you been tempted to follow other avenues such as doing sound design/scoring for movies or video games now that they have budgets the size of some movies now. For the last 2 years i was strictly engineering and doing session work
and not playing live that often and i found myself craving to just go out and play every night so i jumped onto a tour that was 40+ dates but towards the end of that i started craving being back in the studio and creating. But being away for 3+ months kinda took me outta the game a lil in terms of getting first called for engineering gigs cause i wasn't around for so long and people sometimes assume you're not available because of it. How do you find balance in doing both? And is there one you'd eventually like to focus on more than the other?

I'd also just like to say thank you for doing what you do, love the vibe you seem to bring to projects but most of after watching a couple interviews with you, you're outlook and general attitude that you bring to the table is the most inspiring thing of all, many thanks!

Lj

[jmjbassplayer]

Hello Lucai,

Very nice to hear from you and read your story.

I haven't really been tempted to shift careers, no. And trust me: sometimes, the money gigs are THIN. It's not all peaches and cream over here all the time. But I am addicted. That's the deal. And yes, the balance of doing both is TOUGH...touring (which I am likewise craving a lot) takes me out of the game, there's no question. It takes a minute to get back in the scene.

I flip flop. Sometimes, like after 2 1/2 year Odelay Tour, 2 year NIN tour, 2 year Midnite Vultures tour, 1 1/2 year Ima Robot tour, I feel like locking down in LA and getting very committed to session work and producing. But then the pendulum swings. Sigh. I think it's our fate, some of us, that we need to vacillate between both....forever.

I don't really have anything to tell you to ease your mind. I just basically do both as I am able, but the transitions are never super easy. Regardless, I am very fortunate that I can.

All the best to you!
Justin