Quote:
Originally Posted by StreetcarBlanche
I have a passive-aggressive relationship with FB  It does allow me to keep in touch with my best friend who lives in Portugal, as well as relatives far flung across the globe in other countries. Otherwise, I wouldn't know they existed.
Good for you for preening your FB time down to nil. I never used to be online as much as I have been. It has its pros and cons. That's for sure.
I wrote my first story about a briefcase caper when I was in 3rd grade. On yellow legal pad paper with Crayola illustrations. And stapled.
I love to write. Forget novel prose form. Can't do it. Tried. Terrible. Short stories, and poetry and journalistic writing instead. In my late 20s and early 30s, I got freelance writing gigs for print publications. But then I had a nasty accident that interrupted that path and derailed me and I just never got back into it. But since this is a gig economy, and I'm signed up to take a free workshop later this week on how to set up a consulting business online, might as well ask the two consultants who are leading the workshop for guidance.
I'm also interested in screenwriting as well. I took a $10 intro to tv writing class online and learned a lot. The kicker I learned is that most tv writers either got their gigs through networking, or contests, or agents, or pure luck. Also, I go to the library a lot and use the books I find there with regards to writing and publishing. Who says you have to spend big bucks to learn.
I also love to paint. I used to paint in acrylics in high school and college. Not abstract but more scenic. On small canvases. Now my interest is in screen-print art. But I also like the idea of painting on canvas using stencils. When I have the money (god help me whenever that is), I plan to take an introductory course in screen-print art making, but not sure when that will be.
In college, I took a world music class and wrote and composed a piano piece that I had to perform with classmates. Three classmates and I co-wrote the song lyrics to sarcastic, bluesy song that made fun of the politician in office at the time, and we co-wrote the music; I played the piano, and the other two classmates played the Djembe and the acoustic guitar. Sometimes I think I should have fought harder to follow my passion for music and percussion (piano and drums) and go to music school etc. and all that. When I substitute taught for music teachers, I enjoyed showing music documentaries, teaching percussion rhythms with drum sticks or shakers, chants, clapping rhythms, and teaching kids how to compose their own songs using a music staff and notes.
That's cool that you mix music too. What's your style? I knew a DJ in college. |
That's all cool sh** - very varied.
I will say most people in the creative industry who have made it "knew someone" or by sheer luck. It can be a cut throat world - the creative one. I know in Djing it is. Politics and undercutting.
I play breakbeats. It is not popular anymore, but I have been doing it for 20+ years now. It is just what moves me. I can't stand EDM or Dubstep or Trance - House is okay, but more the old school kind.
I was always into the more underground scene and my gigs were not at huge clubs. I don't play out anymore - I moved and lost all my connections, but I wouldn't get booked now anyways because of the music I play.
I know I sound like an old man, but - here we go - back in my day, you had to get turntables and a mixer and spend tons of money on vinyl and really understand music and your records. There were no bpm counters or sync or mp3s. When I started I couldn't afford good equipment, so I had turntables which could not hold their pitch (which is essential to djing) and I constantly had to adjust. Once I was able to afford professional turntables, it was super easy for me.
Now I have a controller and it is very easy so I am able to be a lot more creative with my mixing.
I also started producing music, but I am still sh**.
I play on a couple of online radio stations from the UK and have a podcast.
I also have a hearthis.at account where I post my mixes. I actually deleted my old page and have started fresh for the new year.
I am also an abstract acrylic painter. I have always been an artist drawing and watercolors and all. I could never really afford paint and canvas and all when I was growing up, so this is all pretty new to me as well, but I have been doing it for a couple years now and really enjoy it.
I went to college for graphic design but failed out my first year due to excessive partying.
I enlisted in the US Army as a graphic designer - I know, but it does exist - I was in with the leadership and needed a security clearance. Then I started having psychotic breaks and got out.
I had a web design business at one point, but I did not do very well - I was not very good at landing clients.
I finally went back to college as an adult and got my BS in software development.