Is it OVER after 30?

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the_agx

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Hi,

I'm 26 and am only now starting to take producing seriously. At the moment, I am NOT producing, but learning music theory. I am hoping that when I get back into producing, I will be able to play what's in my head, instead of settling for what I can just about play, or click and drag in a "piano roll" sequencer.

But with my full time job, relationship over but still spending time together sometimes, talkative mum, somewhat social life, etc, it is going to take me at least another year to get "intermediate". I'm still doing scales and ear-training! I get about 45 mins a weekday to practice and say 7 hours at weekends.

So by the time I have any beats ready, I assume I will be about 28 - 30! Anyone who made it in producing in this style of music was there from their teens - the real successful ones anyway.

I read here that Quincy made Thriller at 50, but he didn't START OUT at that age, I'm sure.

So is the dream dead after your mid20s?
Who is the oldest producer who "made it"?
What age are you and at what stage are you in producing?
 
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It's over when YOU want it to be over.

I'm 19 now, producing for 4 years on and off.
Won't stop until I drop.
 
the first time i listen to music i always check out what the age of the producer is. youknow wha i mean it's a very important thing in this ind....ok i cant be ****d. NO it dosna mean a thing my main man.

i'm guessing you like music and have an ear for things you like. if you make hot music then age shouldnt matter.
 
If you are JUST NOW starting your music education, I will say it's kinda late in the game, because music is a lifetime of learning, and you've already missed like 1/3 of it...


But I will say it's definitely NOT over after 30. I started chasing music seriously at 26...and now at 32, I'm at the top of my game...killin these kids...making business moves...in fact, I'm on a plane coming back from LA right now, setting some stuff up.


But I will say this music takes SACRIFICE. 45 minutes per weekday?? You're gonna get nowhere with that lack of dedication. I've been putting in 8 hours per day, every day, for 6 years...and that's AFTER working the day job for 8-10 hours.

Any social life you have is gonna have to go...tell that GF that her time
is in the weekends, and tell your mum to STFU, and get about the business of learning this music...


Remember, that on average, it takes about 10-12 years to get your "shot"...I'm talking 10-12 years of full time grinding...non stop...


You ready for that???



If not, then keep ur day job. This game is not for the weak willed.
 
j.troup said:
If you are JUST NOW starting your music education, I will say it's kinda late in the game, because music is a lifetime of learning, and you've already missed like 1/3 of it...


But I will say it's definitely NOT over after 30. I started chasing music seriously at 26...and now at 32, I'm at the top of my game...killin these kids...making business moves...in fact, I'm on a plane coming back from LA right now, setting some stuff up.


But I will say this music takes SACRIFICE. 45 minutes per weekday?? You're gonna get nowhere with that lack of dedication. I've been putting in 8 hours per day, every day, for 6 years...and that's AFTER working the day job for 8-10 hours.

Any social life you have is gonna have to go...tell that GF that her time
is in the weekends, and tell your mum to STFU, and get about the business of learning this music...


Remember, that on average, it takes about 10-12 years to get your "shot"...I'm talking 10-12 years of full time grinding...non stop...


You ready for that???



If not, then keep ur day job. This game is not for the weak willed.
Click to expand...

Your talking about music production... Not rapping. You say 10-12 years, which aint true to be honest man. I seen so many cats make it from myspace/youtube. In less then 1 year of work. 1 Mixtape can change it all for you dude.
 
^^^^ Thats the EXCEPTION, not the RULE.


And those people who u think just blew up after 1 mixtape, u never know how long they been grinding before that...


Ask Gucci Mane and Rick Ross.
 
It's over when you die.

the_agx said:
Who is the oldest producer who "made it"?
Click to expand...
It could be you.

You have to think about it. Can you see yourself as a producer? Do you have the musical talent? If yes, then do everything to become it. Live in a sh&thole, don't go out with friends, forget GF, save all your money, care less at how your family/neighbors think of you. Practice all the time. Learn by yourself and from other people. Then 10 years later you might still be a bum, but at least you've tried :)

Everything in this life is up to YOU.
 
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j.troup said:
If you are JUST NOW starting your music education, I will say it's kinda late in the game, because music is a lifetime of learning, and you've already missed like 1/3 of it...


But I will say it's definitely NOT over after 30. I started chasing music seriously at 26...and now at 32, I'm at the top of my game...killin these kids...making business moves...in fact, I'm on a plane coming back from LA right now, setting some stuff up.


But I will say this music takes SACRIFICE. 45 minutes per weekday?? You're gonna get nowhere with that lack of dedication. I've been putting in 8 hours per day, every day, for 6 years...and that's AFTER working the day job for 8-10 hours.

Any social life you have is gonna have to go...tell that GF that her time
is in the weekends, and tell your mum to STFU, and get about the business of learning this music...


Remember, that on average, it takes about 10-12 years to get your "shot"...I'm talking 10-12 years of full time grinding...non stop...


You ready for that???



If not, then keep ur day job. This game is not for the weak willed.
Click to expand...

says the man with 13,000 posts! lol, now that's dedication.
 
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Age is nothing but a number. You're better off being old and producing, than being old and performing shows.
 
How important is it to you?

I honestly think you have more than 45 minutes a day to devote to it, if it is really important to you.

Don't get me wrong; you need to live a balanced life. But, that being said, you have more than 45 minutes a day. Come on.

Mum, I gotta go, I have scheduled my practice time, and it's important to me.

Can't come over tonight. I've got some things I have to do it.

etc.
 
j.troup said:
If you are JUST NOW starting your music education, I will say it's kinda late in the game, because music is a lifetime of learning, and you've already missed like 1/3 of it...
Click to expand...

That bullshyt.

You can learn music like you can learn anything else, no matter how old you are. The brain is a powerful tool and we only use a small percentage of it. You can become an expert on on any topic in about 5 years if you invest at least an hour a day into that subject, music education is no different.


So go for it, there are not clear cut rules to any of this shyt.
 
the_agx said:
Hi,

I'm 26 and am only now starting to take producing seriously. At the moment, I am NOT producing, but learning music theory. I am hoping that when I get back into producing, I will be able to play what's in my head, instead of settling for what I can just about play, or click and drag in a "piano roll" sequencer.

But with my full time job, relationship over but still spending time together sometimes, talkative mum, somewhat social life, etc, it is going to take me at least another year to get "intermediate". I'm still doing scales and ear-training! I get about 45 mins a weekday to practice and say 7 hours at weekends.

So by the time I have any beats ready, I assume I will be about 28 - 30! Anyone who made it in producing in this style of music was there from their teens - the real successful ones anyway.

I read here that Quincy made Thriller at 50, but he didn't START OUT at that age, I'm sure.

So is the dream dead after your mid20s?
Who is the oldest producer who "made it"?
What age are you and at what stage are you in producing?
Click to expand...

What exactly is your dream of 'making it'?
 
Dude Jay-z, Prince I could go on 4 ever man it ain't over....trust! Keep doin you!!!!
 
j.troup said:
If you are JUST NOW starting your music education, I will say it's kinda late in the game, because music is a lifetime of learning, and you've already missed like 1/3 of it...


But I will say it's definitely NOT over after 30. I started chasing music seriously at 26...and now at 32, I'm at the top of my game...killin these kids...making business moves...in fact, I'm on a plane coming back from LA right now, setting some stuff up.


But I will say this music takes SACRIFICE. 45 minutes per weekday?? You're gonna get nowhere with that lack of dedication. I've been putting in 8 hours per day, every day, for 6 years...and that's AFTER working the day job for 8-10 hours.

Any social life you have is gonna have to go...tell that GF that her time
is in the weekends, and tell your mum to STFU, and get about the business of learning this music...


Remember, that on average, it takes about 10-12 years to get your "shot"...I'm talking 10-12 years of full time grinding...non stop...


You ready for that???



If not, then keep ur day job. This game is not for the weak willed.
Click to expand...

No doubt man, your only as old as you feel and as a producer our clock isn't nowhere near as scrutinized as an artist. I landed my biggest placements at 30 and its only going up from there. There comes a certain musicality with age that one just doesn't possess in the early 20's. (also not looking a day over 25 always helps :) )

Also your music styles becomes much more diverse with age as well. Im able to produce hip hop, dancehall, soulful house, rock, Pop, R&B and even ethnic music. Without years under my beat my music styles would be pretty narrow.

P.S. Having an understanding girlfriend is pretty much the most important factor or else the one thats suppose to be your biggest supporter winds up being your largest obstacle. I've cut off a whole lot of girls because of the same reason until I landed my current girlfriend who's totally understanding. She doesn't question my goals. She knows that comes first for me.
 
j.troup said:
If you are JUST NOW starting your music education, I will say it's kinda late in the game, because music is a lifetime of learning, and you've already missed like 1/3 of it...
Click to expand...

That's how I feel. By my age, the producers I know of, are at least signed and releasing stuff. The best producers I know are almost able to RETIRE at my age.

j.troup said:
But I will say this music takes SACRIFICE. 45 minutes per weekday?? You're gonna get nowhere with that lack of dedication. I've been putting in 8 hours per day, every day, for 6 years...and that's AFTER working the day job for 8-10 hours.
Click to expand...

OK. How is that possible coz last time I checked there were only 24 hours in the day - and in my day, it seems their are only 10! lol. I mean serious, I look at my watch, I look away then back, and it's the next minute. I cant see the same minute twice. I get home, eat, net-surf, msn, music, then blink and its 10.30pm.

How did you do 8 hours music after 10 hours work? Was it:
9:00 work
5.00 commute
6.00 home
6.30 music
2.30 bed?

With me, its:
9.00 work
5.30 commute
6.45/7 home, Oprah-mum (yak yak yak nonstop talkathon)
7:00 net/email/these minutes just disappear
7.30ish dinner
8.15 youtube? I dont quite know! (at this point I am amazed that I let this time escape. It's a valuable extra hour!)
9.00 music (with interruptions from mum, ex-gf, msn, adhd-style net surfing, forum-refreshing, setting up ipod, getting new music, etc.. Man, I am actually shocked at this. I do however talk a lot to my msner who feels the same as I do about music, show him my ideas, ask him for producing tips, talk production, slate today's music, etc)
10.30 get ready for bed, do whatever necessaries, tasks, etc (this time floats away too)
11.15 girlfriend on phone
11:45 try to get gf off phone
12:00 sleep

Yes, writing it out has allowed me to see that I can squeeze another 1 hour and a half out of what I do.

But how TF did you get EIGHT hours out of that ****? If I sleep after 12, I am a wreck in the daytime. Eyes burning when I wake up, drowsy by 9.30am, nodding off at 3pm, etc.

To the other posters, I am talking about: is 30 too late to make it big, obv you can produce in your room til you die, but I mean, to "make it" in the industry.

Thanks.
 
you don't need an "image" to be a producer, so age doesn't really matter. as long as your sh*t knocks, no ones gonna care how old you are. if you were trying to be an artist (rapper, singer) then the image factor could come into play depending on your style
 
kutkeyz said:
Dude Jay-z, Prince I could go on 4 ever man it ain't over....trust! Keep doin you!!!!
Click to expand...

How old was Jay-Z when he came out? he came out in 1996, but I think I heard him in some 1993/4 songs, so he had his foot in the door about 3 yrs prior to 96. So how old was he?
 
the_agx said:
Living off my songs and quitting my day job.
Click to expand...

Your actual age will not be a barrier in regards to creative output but the realistic expectations of what can come out of your pursuit can be if you do not take the time to learn not only the music business in its traditional sense but also in its current transition. Do not go into this at full speed without having a real sound understanding and a realistic viewpoint. The young kids with little responsibility can afford to do it just for 'brownie points' (which is where the VAST majority of production work is at financially speaking) but at your age life is very real so make sure you approach it that way. Its nothing wrong with a realistic approach to your dreams.
 
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