Diffusion Magazine

Hello, Joel, glad to see you around !

I always wanted to ask you this in person, but anyway....here is it :

As we all know, studio life can be brutal on us sometimes....How do you deal with the extra long hours in the recording studio ? I mean, physically (tiredness, fatigue...), Mentally (loss of objectivity and decrease in productivity), and personal (trying to achieve a reasonable balance between studio life and that beautiful family of yours)

Thanks so much and best regards !

***Traducción***

Hola Joel, contento de verte por estos lados !

Siempre he querido preguntarte esti en persona, pero de cualquier forma.... aquí va:

como bien sabes, la vida de estudio puede ser brutal con nosotros algunas veces....Cómo manejas las largas horas adicionales en un estudio de grabación ? Ines refiero, físicamente (cansancio y fatiga),Mentalmente (pérdida de objetividad) y personalmente (tratar de alcanzar un balance razonable entre la vida del estudio y esa familia tan hermosa tuya)

Muchas gracias y cordial saludo !

Hey Camilo!
Man..... Fuck.... Good question.
I got some really good advice from Michael Brauer about this. He is someone I look up to, And I'm lucky t be pals with him.... He gave me some of the best advice I ever got:
Make time for family.

Here is the thing I tell everyone...
If you set a specific time frame that you will work, like for me it is 10am-8pm every day, and if I am still there at 8:15 people are like "wow thanks for staying, man!" Like I'm a hero for staying 15 minutes later because we need t get done, and its because we were very clear that I was done at 8....
BUT
If you don't set a very clear work schedule with the clients, then no matter what time you leave... Even if its like 16 hours later.... Then they look at you like you are an asshole.
It's a fact.
Being super, super clear with my clients, who I respect their time and work my ass off for them every single minute I said I would, is the key.
If you were in a session with me, and I told you I would work from 10-8, I would actually be working 10-8 and never be late and super respect your booked time. I expect that same respect in return of the fact that I have a daughter and a family and friends and my life is recording but I like going to Dinner also!
The easy answer is being clear with people, but it isn't always easy.
Setting boundaries is the only way. Brauer sets Wednesday as "family day" where he leaves at 6pm no matter what is going on, so he can have dinner with his wife and kids. It's smart.
I don't do that, but I do make sure to have the mornings with my daughter and then I run out the door into a waiting car service t get home and read her a book before her bed time.
I also use a compressor you built on everything I mix so that makes it faster t get it sounding great so I can leave.

I hope we get to talk more about it in person sometime, man. Sincerely.

Thanks a lot for such an inspiring answer !

RE the compressor i built for you, thanks for the compliments ! Very flattering words coming from you !

Best regards.

Thanks for the answers Joel and thank you Camilo for asking this questions, really apreciatte it for learning and for sure i will apply.

Regards,

Sebastian.