The Self-Imposed Pressure of the Imaginary Deadline
(Or would that be The Imaginary Pressure of the Self-Imposed Deadline?)
Last week I was back in the studio for just three days. I flew into New York after a weekend performing and teaching in Augusta, GA. And I flew out at 5am on Thursday to do a Creativity Training and performance in Washington D.C. (I had one of those nights where I didn’t sleep at all because I kept jumping up thinking it was time to leave. Do you ever have those nights before early flights?)
My schedule is so busy right now that I was only able to fit this one small session in.
It’s interesting to do it this way. A little unusual for sure. (Many artists make a CD in one condensed block of time.) But this is working. The time off in between sessions seems to be giving Ben and I some space to live with our choices in the last session. It creates a healthy detachment for each of us. We’re both relaxed and completely trusting of each others’ choices. Kinda sweet actually.
At one point in mid-September I got panicky about the deadline for getting the CD done. Pressure started building up in my head. But after one of my nail-bitey days, my husband reminded me that there is no deadline. BeMyRecordLabel is, after all, a very relaxed setting. (You are the only ones who even know I’m making a CD!) When I let that sink in, I felt instant relief.
The worst thing some indie musicians do is that they begin recording, and then they book all of their CD release parties and performances in advance because they’re so excited about having a new CD. When the recording takes longer than expected (surprise surprise), they ruin the last month of the process by rushing to get the CD done, rather than rescheduling the CD release shows! (Yes, I’ve been one of those very indie musicians!)
So, this week I’ll give you a few peeks in the studio with Ben Wittman and Duke Levine. By the end of the week, I should have a few new mixes for you to hear. (The new versions of the songs take a little longer because Ben has to take more time with all the new tracks - now that they’re blending with the earlier stuff that we did.)
Stay tuned!
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Elaine wrote on 28 Sep 2008 at 5:47 pm :
Self imposed deadlines are scary - they suck. BIG Yay! to you for being aware of this. I always stuggle and usually continue to get sucked in with the pressure.
Here’s to BMRL’s very relaxed setting and to ‘no deadline’
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Thom wrote on 29 Sep 2008 at 4:35 pm :
Christine,
Well the good thing for us is every week is like a mini Album release party online. As excited as I am to hear the final Album, I am much more excited to be enjoying the whole process unfold. I think the concept of doing it in smaller pieces is awsome. I honestly don’t know how you can go thru a dozen songs at once and not be emotionally drained for months. Keep up the peace and calm and just have fun at your own pace, we are enjoying every bit of it.
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romanlily wrote on 01 Oct 2008 at 9:34 pm :
As one of the producers of this record (well, you know. Sort of), I just want to say that I fully approve of all of the production choices you have made to date. The boys back at the home office approve, too. As a matter of fact, we agreed that this project is unfolding at exactly the right pace.
