Thursday and Friday was a laugh! Friday was probably the best night out I've had in a long time.
Tuesday 17 April 2018
Industry Week
I totally missed writing about this week. For now, here's a link to the performances I was involved in and maybe I'll add some more stuff when I'm not so buy.
Thursday and Friday was a laugh! Friday was probably the best night out I've had in a long time.
Thursday and Friday was a laugh! Friday was probably the best night out I've had in a long time.
Tuesday 10 April 2018
Easter Half-Term
Last week was quite strange. I knew I had tonnes of work to be getting on with but day by day decided to completely avoid it. The old, "I'll do it later" job followed by, "I'll just do it tomorrow." and then, "I'll just do it next week." There were a few events I should make note of. I had my first double date on Thursday evening with Aaron, my friend Chantelle and her fiancé Kyal. We went to Nandos and few were quite shocked that this was my first experience. However, I'm still not sure if I was really that impressed. The evening was nice but the food wasn't as good as I thought. It didn't help that I had already eaten a little too much before going out so I was practically force feeding myself, it was nice but not amazing. My favourite part was the paprika sprinkled chips. We went to McDonalds after for a McFlurry. On the Saturday, I was actually social and went to a party with Aaron after work and met a few of his friends. My parents were out at the caravan so I stayed over at his that night. I didn't last long at the party from coming over from work. I still feel a bit bad for making him come away from it all fairly early but we still had a nice night.
This week has been much more productive and I've still managed to get it many hours playing games I've played all too many time. I've figured it's all about balance. I've managed to further progress my video by almost five minutes over the last couple of days (which for me is quite impressive after last weeks struggle) but I've certainly reached a point where I can't wait for this particular project to be over. I'm just sick of it now. It's weird because I like making music videos and made a few since as early as 2013. It's like I feel like because it's not 100% related to music, it's niggling me as being part of the course. Oh, well... there is only one more smaller project after this and that should be a little more fun recording samples of random things (with a theme obviously) to make a track. I'm looking forward to that one at least, but i just need to get this lump of shite out of the way first.
In other news, I'm gaining weight rapidly. I think I've put on around a stone over the holidays (it is Easter, so the chocolate has been about in larger quantities) I need to be a little more careful now and think about my "summer body" for when the Spain thing happens. Not that I'll be walking around with much on, but I certainly won't be comfortable with my current amount of flab. I've even brought some fruit. There will be gym sessions and I will cut down on the a sweet stuff. I think I do have an addiction though, still at least I don't smoke. It's hard to get to the gym at the minute without thinking about my workload, hopefully I can find some time next week once I've made some more progress as it is looking more likely that I may reach my goal of around 10 minutes video footage complete by this Friday. It's a big ask, but it's certainly possible and if I achieve this it will certainly give me a little more freedom.
This week has been much more productive and I've still managed to get it many hours playing games I've played all too many time. I've figured it's all about balance. I've managed to further progress my video by almost five minutes over the last couple of days (which for me is quite impressive after last weeks struggle) but I've certainly reached a point where I can't wait for this particular project to be over. I'm just sick of it now. It's weird because I like making music videos and made a few since as early as 2013. It's like I feel like because it's not 100% related to music, it's niggling me as being part of the course. Oh, well... there is only one more smaller project after this and that should be a little more fun recording samples of random things (with a theme obviously) to make a track. I'm looking forward to that one at least, but i just need to get this lump of shite out of the way first.
In other news, I'm gaining weight rapidly. I think I've put on around a stone over the holidays (it is Easter, so the chocolate has been about in larger quantities) I need to be a little more careful now and think about my "summer body" for when the Spain thing happens. Not that I'll be walking around with much on, but I certainly won't be comfortable with my current amount of flab. I've even brought some fruit. There will be gym sessions and I will cut down on the a sweet stuff. I think I do have an addiction though, still at least I don't smoke. It's hard to get to the gym at the minute without thinking about my workload, hopefully I can find some time next week once I've made some more progress as it is looking more likely that I may reach my goal of around 10 minutes video footage complete by this Friday. It's a big ask, but it's certainly possible and if I achieve this it will certainly give me a little more freedom.
Wednesday 4 April 2018
Pre-Easter Stress and Relief
The weeks of school gigs have been pretty intense and made it a little stressful dealing with my own work due for a rehearsal this week. On Monday, I probably should have done more that I did in preparation. Tuesday, I could probably say the same although I did manage to do a few things like setting up my interface and a channel in Logic to send midi notes to play live in time with my project. Thats something. Wednesday was extremely stressful. I knew I had to run though everything with what seemed to be minimal preparation. Even my video wasn't ready but that couldn't be helped. I wasn't due to perform until about 2:30pm which gave me the morning to do a few practice runs with the minimal tech I decided to take with me. Using the looper became a bit of an issue as it so easily went out of time with my backing track. This was all I needed, more issues on the day.
When I arrived, another student, Johnny was in the venue waiting about for Matt, our tutor. He had just done his performance and within ten minutes or so it would have been time to perform mine own. As Matt was in and out juggling us AO brought in some alumni to show off his new desk (which I'm sure some of them saw last year) oh, and the new side fill monitors on stage. Really? Now? I was anxious enough knowing that my performance was minimal and now I had an audience to watch me set up. Fuck off. Get out. I wanted the room totally to myself, but of course I didn't say anything.
Thankfully Matt was kind enough to allocate me sometime to get some more practice in before he filmed me perform. This gave me almost two hours, which even I thought was a bit much. Knowing that it wasn't going to be perfect anyway made me want less time to get in and get away quickly. I mean, it was the last day of term and no one really wanted to be there. I managed to adapt to my looper a little better although it still wasn't 100%. I did finally do the performance. I interrupted Matt in his office because I couldn't take it anymore. I just wanted to get it over with. I had a better idea of what I was doing and if I'm honest, overall it went much better than expected. I just wish I had the time to put more effort in beforehand then maybe it would have been even better.
As a mini celebration to end the stress, I caught up with fellow band mate, Peter in town. If I'm totally honest, my original plan wasn't to have a big meal but naturally that happened. We went to the Pit & Pendulum, where they ID you for coke and they managed to mess up my order. I wasn't in an amazing mood already so I mostly went on about that as they eventually solved the matter. We tried to talk a little about band stuff but its hard when you don't have a full band anyway. We're still after a new vocalist and probably a new bass player so I can jump on keys or guitar.
Thursday was much more relaxing. Finally. It was also a day that I had been waiting for for weeks. Its a shame it couldn't come before all the stress to chill me out and I hoped so much that this day could bring me some much needed inspiration. Recent days have felt quite cold on those terms, creating the odd progression here and there. The rather legendary NR had arranged a charity evening in support of LOROS including a meal and recital. I figured it would be nice to see him and his little village and so told him we would come. By we, (I guess I haven't mentioned him yet on this blog.) I mean my fella, Aaron. We're a rather new thing but I think we work. This made a nice date night for us and also meant that he could meet Nick too. The evening was amazing. I was feeling adventurous with the food and so had the lamb curry and Aaron had the pie. It's always amazing to watch Nick play piano, especially sight reading. It's a skill I don't think I could ever have, as much as I understand music theory I still struggle to read a treble clef at the most of times. Sophie's voice was amazing too. It's a shame I didn't really get to speak to Nick all that much but I definitely got my fair share of hugs. I can only hope that he will still teach me. He's far but he's worth it.
I slept over at Aaron's for the first time that evening, we didn't get loads of sleep because of the sun beaming through the loft window but it was enough to spend more time with each other. When I awoke, I realised how beneficial the night before had been. Even now, almost a week later, I have a sense of closure and a clearer head. The months I'd spent worrying when old news was new. Absent feelings. It almost feels like a new me but for now its back to working on my projects. It's great to still be in contact with Nick.
For now, I've got to continue work on my final projects which currently I have no motivation. I still believe its a lack of students that brings me down and maybe the fact that I do so much more abd have to balance all of that.Either way, in a couple of months I'll be free form it all for and I cant wait. One last push then no more NCN or Nottingham College or whatever they want to call themselves.
*Shakes fist*
Here's to a new new start at UoD!!
When I arrived, another student, Johnny was in the venue waiting about for Matt, our tutor. He had just done his performance and within ten minutes or so it would have been time to perform mine own. As Matt was in and out juggling us AO brought in some alumni to show off his new desk (which I'm sure some of them saw last year) oh, and the new side fill monitors on stage. Really? Now? I was anxious enough knowing that my performance was minimal and now I had an audience to watch me set up. Fuck off. Get out. I wanted the room totally to myself, but of course I didn't say anything.
Thankfully Matt was kind enough to allocate me sometime to get some more practice in before he filmed me perform. This gave me almost two hours, which even I thought was a bit much. Knowing that it wasn't going to be perfect anyway made me want less time to get in and get away quickly. I mean, it was the last day of term and no one really wanted to be there. I managed to adapt to my looper a little better although it still wasn't 100%. I did finally do the performance. I interrupted Matt in his office because I couldn't take it anymore. I just wanted to get it over with. I had a better idea of what I was doing and if I'm honest, overall it went much better than expected. I just wish I had the time to put more effort in beforehand then maybe it would have been even better.
As a mini celebration to end the stress, I caught up with fellow band mate, Peter in town. If I'm totally honest, my original plan wasn't to have a big meal but naturally that happened. We went to the Pit & Pendulum, where they ID you for coke and they managed to mess up my order. I wasn't in an amazing mood already so I mostly went on about that as they eventually solved the matter. We tried to talk a little about band stuff but its hard when you don't have a full band anyway. We're still after a new vocalist and probably a new bass player so I can jump on keys or guitar.
Thursday was much more relaxing. Finally. It was also a day that I had been waiting for for weeks. Its a shame it couldn't come before all the stress to chill me out and I hoped so much that this day could bring me some much needed inspiration. Recent days have felt quite cold on those terms, creating the odd progression here and there. The rather legendary NR had arranged a charity evening in support of LOROS including a meal and recital. I figured it would be nice to see him and his little village and so told him we would come. By we, (I guess I haven't mentioned him yet on this blog.) I mean my fella, Aaron. We're a rather new thing but I think we work. This made a nice date night for us and also meant that he could meet Nick too. The evening was amazing. I was feeling adventurous with the food and so had the lamb curry and Aaron had the pie. It's always amazing to watch Nick play piano, especially sight reading. It's a skill I don't think I could ever have, as much as I understand music theory I still struggle to read a treble clef at the most of times. Sophie's voice was amazing too. It's a shame I didn't really get to speak to Nick all that much but I definitely got my fair share of hugs. I can only hope that he will still teach me. He's far but he's worth it.
I slept over at Aaron's for the first time that evening, we didn't get loads of sleep because of the sun beaming through the loft window but it was enough to spend more time with each other. When I awoke, I realised how beneficial the night before had been. Even now, almost a week later, I have a sense of closure and a clearer head. The months I'd spent worrying when old news was new. Absent feelings. It almost feels like a new me but for now its back to working on my projects. It's great to still be in contact with Nick.
For now, I've got to continue work on my final projects which currently I have no motivation. I still believe its a lack of students that brings me down and maybe the fact that I do so much more abd have to balance all of that.Either way, in a couple of months I'll be free form it all for and I cant wait. One last push then no more NCN or Nottingham College or whatever they want to call themselves.
*Shakes fist*
Here's to a new new start at UoD!!
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