Sticking to 1 genre for a career?..

[Oneyejoe]

So I have a question ive been pondering myself for quite a bit now. I have only been producing for a little over a year now. I have been working very hard at this, for the beginning stages I was working on studying everything every day for many hours at a time. Recently I decided to put all this into practice, I havnt really had issues finishing songs, my only issue is having enough time to finish them. I work a full time desk job and I have many obligations as does everyone. At any rate, I have been spending times I normally wouldnt be up, like 11pm - 4am was a session I had just last night.. totally jacking up my sleep schedule but its worth it to me.. And I am pretty confident with the ideas I am blasting out honestly. Plus every single song is getting much much better, after listening to my 1st finished track all the way up to my 8th. SO much better... Getting very close to professional quality, not there yet by any means, still a bit to go but im very confident im getting close.

ANYWAYS, I say all this so you guys can understand where Im coming from.

I want to create a career with music, right now I have been making nothing but dark prog tech house. Similar to artists in Mau5trap, because I really enjoy it. I also have great interest in dubstep / drum and bass / experimental music like Flying Lotus, etc.. I love so many different genres than what I listed but basically I do have a desire to work on making genres like that but I am making huge huge progress in this genre ive been making so far. (Dark prog tech housy stuff similar to BlackGummy and REZZ and what not)
Problem is I just do not have as much time as Id like to have. So I feel maybe its better to use that time to focus on perfecting that genre which I have seemed to aquire a style in?.. Or would it be beneficial to spend the little time I have in other genres?.. Which id like to do but again, time.. I want to make a career out of music. Yes the whole touring DJ thing, I honestly dont care if it seems unreal Im going after it. I dont care to make millions of dollars and become rich. I just have 1 life, I love music so much and I want to be irreplaceable in this life. Im replaceable at my deskjob that I can no longer take with a sane mind. At any rate.. Just some helpful advice from anyone in or out of the industry. What are some ways or ideas to getting enough money to sustain myself comfortably while allowing myself to have a full time career in electronic music?.. I know this is a very common dream and I apologize for typing up such a huge story lol. But I am working very very hard at this and I am confident with my abilities, I just need to aquire more time. At least I feel.. Any help or suggestions?..

Thanks

[Zexila]

Well, it would be so much easier if you were Dj-ing same music you are into, that way you would have money coming at you and space to promote your own music, also it would beneficial for your own music making, it's the music for the floor anyways.

But how strong is the scene in your town?

But yes, sticking to one genre helps a lot, as I recall "underground" scene is still strong despite all the mainroom bigroom festival stuff and it will be strong when that stuff is over, so yeah, think it's worth investing your time, because it's not going anywhere and you can build your name there, opposed to catching trend bus where every few months something new is in and someone new is hot, than in few months not.

I dropped college, day job and everything to make music, never made it "big", but would do it again, not having to go to stupid job than having sleepless nights and watching dawn like a free man listening your fresh loop cycling for 110th time, priceless.

[Oneyejoe]

Well, it would be so much easier if you were Dj-ing same music you are into, that way you would have money coming at you and space to promote your own music, also it would beneficial for your own music making, it's the music for the floor anyways.

But how strong is the scene in your town?

But yes, sticking to one genre helps a lot, as I recall "underground" scene is still strong despite all the mainroom bigroom festival stuff and it will be strong when that stuff is over, so yeah, think it's worth investing your time, because it's not going anywhere.

As far as music im into, haha like I said Im into electronic music, I love the Flying lotus style of music, as well as something like C Y G N - Orion, that song gave me goosebumps and now just gets me so relaxed and deep into thought. I also love Excision and Datsik, Ill bang my head in the car on my way to work while driving and it gives me a rush. I also like Nosia, same reason, I love the rush it gives. House music, I LOVE Deadmau5 and basically everyone he signed except Feedme, who is obviously good but his style never appealed to me at all really. Listening to people like BlackGummy, No Mana, and Rezz, and Enzo Benette are freaking amazing...

But at any rate, I should probably stick to the one genre Im pretty close to "perfecting" at least for my taste?.. Plus, how would one go about making enough income to live off of without being Deadmau5 status or Feedme status, because I definitely dont expect to be like that, I just notice lots of "Underground" (underappreciated) artists who seem to not work anymore unless im mistaken. Like C Y G N for example. Looking at how many soundcloud followers he has leads me to believe he does not work at costco. But not everybody and their grandma is pumping his stuff in their cars. I appreciate the advice.

[Zexila]

Being local DJ will pay the rent and food, some plugin on sale, so before you quit your job, get your studio done, you will hate yourself for it on long run.

So how strong is the scene in your town?

[Zexila]

Just find yourself before you jump into unknown, I know it's tempting to make all the stuff you like to listen, but that seeks more time and slower results, so you are basically left with one thing, if you don't really like it deep inside, you will fail.

[Oneyejoe]

Just find yourself before you jump into unknown, I know it's tempting to make all the stuff you like to listen, but that seeks more time and slower results, so you are basically left with one thing, if you don't really like it deep inside, you will fail.

The scene is alright, not above average by any means, but there is 1 club that I know of nearby that DJs play at. And I get what you're saying, that is a fear of mine. I am definitely not going to be quitting my job unless I get signed to some label that will send me on tour, or until I make enough money to live off it comfortably. I do like it, thing is I am probably just going through an indecisive phase. And I do like it a lot, I just get bored somewhat easily. Maybe I should just accept the fact that I am pretty good at 1 genre, and just like listening to others?.. I suppose you're right though, Im going to experiment a little bit. Fill my desire to play with other genres a bit.

[Zexila]

Do experiment, that's how you develop skills and your own sound/thing and that's how you will find out what suits you the most. Do learn how to make sounds or techniques you dig in different genres, that's valuable really, you can incorporate plenty of it and shape your own signature sound.

[Michael L]

Here's a map of possible genres and their mashups.
http://everynoise.com/engenremap.html

[BertKoor]

On sticking to one genre: In general I think it's helpful in a commercial point of view if your portfolio can be easily pidgeon-holed into one genre (or maybe 2 or 3.) But you certainly become a far better producer if you do some experiments (which implicates you don't need to publish it) with creating tracks in other genres. Because that way you work on a much needed general production skill, and that is to be able to create whatever is in your head, regardless of the genre. Exploring different techniques helps you in building up a vocabulary of stuff you can use in your future tracks. With more stuff up your sleeve you can have a style of your own and that helps tremenously in being distinguishable from all the other producers that are making the same genre. You have to bring something unique to the table and stand out.

On getting professional: music production is like football. Millions do it for a hobby and never earn more than what it costs. But they do it nevertheless because it's so much fun! And there's just a few becoming millionairs by merely playing a game. It takes not only skills and talent, but also quite some luck. Being at the right place at the right moment, knowing / meeting the right people. Then some talent at promoting yourself. Or let others with that talent do that for you.

[Numanoid]

Sticking to 1 genre for a career?..

That is what True Metal is all about innit?

Never chage, like Status Quo.

[Distorted Horizon]

Any help or suggestions?..

I have a friend who's not tied to any specific genre. He just has multiple artist names and what ever type of music he happens to make (goes with the flow), he releases it under proper alias. Own for house, own for DnB, own for different sub genres of trance and own for experimental/ambient.

Funny part is that he has gigs for all his aliases

[Distorted Horizon]

Actually I do the same. One for psy, one for DnB and one for house.
Though I don't have any gigs but it's mainly because I suck

[Aloysius]

If you're not playing live you could just use different artist names for different projects.

Your Artist Name Number 1: For all your dark prog tech tracks.
Your Artish Name Number 2: For all your Heavy Metal tracks.

Edit: Others got in before me with this suggestion.

[Distorted Horizon]

If you're not playing live you could just use different artist names for different projects.

Your Artist Name Number 1: For all your dark prog tech tracks.
Your Artish Name Number 2: For all your Heavy Metal tracks.

Edit: Others got in before me with this suggestion.

Great minds think alike

[Numanoid]

Great minds think alike

Didn't work out for Garth Brooks

He thought he could change into Australian Chris Gaines and nobody would notice