Unemployed, too much time on my hands

[Soverntear]

It's getting bad, we're talking bad to the point of having signed up for a neopets account. So I would like to start filling my time with more creative sides.

I figure after looking for work, exercise, poi and doing the "house husband" stuff for my lady I have about 8 hours to kill everyday. I would like to start adding in more practice eventually getting up to around 4-6 hours a day. I figure I will have to gradually over the next week work up the muscles in my hands to 2-3 hours a day. I'm just stumped at what to work on. Any help would be appreciated.

[MalcolmAmos]

Your job right now is finding work. You do not have time for hobbies.

I speak from experience. Your full time job is hunting for work.

[Col Pruse]

I was laid off in April of 2009 and was out of work until Feb of 2010. Pretty miserable time...

Anyway, I'd spend most of the morning searching for jobs and attempting to network. I hate the corporate world. Then after my required chores I'd spend the rest of the time playing. Learning songs by ear, playing chord tones, etc. Helped my playing immensely.

Good luck with the job search.

[knigel]

Originally Posted by MalcolmAmos

Your job right now is finding work. You do not have time for hobbies.

I hate to be a downer, but I agree. I was unemployed for 18 months (Edit : February of 09 until August 10), and it took me that long just to get a temp job. I didn't collect at all for 6 months. It was a very bad time, and I had to sell everything just to live.

Right now, you are collecting, and probably having a good time (I know I did!), but that cut off sneaks right up on you, and this economy isn't getting better, so your time is best spent finding a job. Yes, you can fit in some practice, and Rockford Files comes on at 4, but your singular focus should be finding a job.

[Soverntear]

Originally Posted by MalcolmAmos

Your job right now is finding work. You do not have time for hobbies.

I speak from experience. Your full time job is hunting for work.

Malcolm, I'm with you on this I spend roughly 6 hours a day between online and pounding the pavement. Got a couple things that are looking up. But I'm starting to get depressed and bleak (the normal cycle of unemployment) so instead of wasting my non job search and house task related time on internet crap, I want to get better at my bass.


On a happier note, I managed to finish my high school finally so that is going to help the job search.

[MrLenny1]

Try working up the scale of 4th's, linear on the E string. Start at G i.e.
major then minor then seventh's to start.
Once your hand is warmed up turn up the tempo w/metronome or drum machine.
Do variations, up on one scale then play octave down on next scale.
then mix up 1/4 notes to tripletts to 1/16 th's.
I used this to help my right hand pick up some clean speed on 1/16 licks.
Then try to solo across the whole 4th's exercise.
Yes, you have to look for work but you have an oppurtunity that is rare right now.
Good luck.

[kb9wyz]

Originally Posted by MalcolmAmos

Your job right now is finding work. You do not have time for hobbies.

I speak from experience. Your full time job is hunting for work.

I agree with this. But from a psychological standpoint, I can understand the need to release stress. I speak from experience of this as well. I would say don't commit too much time to your playing lest it slide into becoming a priority. But I would suggest getting Rufus Reid's book, The Evolving Bassist. It's for jazz, has lots of exercises, and will teach you how to read music if you don't already. So I would think that it could do the trick to help you be productive with the time you can't spend looking for work.

I hope you find something soon, brother.

[Johnius]

As it happens, I will lose my job on Thursday and I play a Stingray as well. I am in your same boat: I will hunt first thing, then on to the chores and preparing dinner. I plan on upping my practice routine and getting better as a way to keep my sanity. Because of the unemployment I had to forego lessons. My teacher suggested that besides practicing my other stuff: reading, slap, muting, that I learn songs by ear and choose a key to work in each day. Go through what scales and modes I know in each key all over the board. That should cover about most stuff.

By the way, I wish you the best of luck in your search. I saw my job's demise coming and I've been searching since March - 1 interview and didn't get it. It's tough right now. Use your bass to maintain your mental health.

[Kael]

Find a cover band. Earn money and rehearse at the same time. Profit.

Oh, and if you can swing the price of one, start picking up double bass.

[Soverntear]

Originally Posted by Kael

Find a cover band. Earn money and rehearse at the same time. Profit.

Oh, and if you can swing the price of one, start picking up double bass.

Solves both problems, you sir are a gentle man and a scholar