Comments on: Composerly goofing off and “Hello?” http://rogerbourland.com/blog/2008/02/12/composerly-goofing-off-and-hello/ Roger Bourland writes about music and life Thu, 08 Jan 2009 08:20:40 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Roger Bourland http://rogerbourland.com/blog/2008/02/12/composerly-goofing-off-and-hello/#comment-71889 Roger Bourland Wed, 13 Feb 2008 08:07:15 +0000 http://rogerbourland.com/blog/2008/02/12/composerly-goofing-off-and-hello/#comment-71889 Good points! I think all businesses should offer sabbaticals, like colleges do for long term breaks and major battery recharging. I'm not gonna hold my breath. Good points! I think all businesses should offer sabbaticals, like colleges do for long term breaks and major battery recharging. I’m not gonna hold my breath.

]]> By: Brad Wood http://rogerbourland.com/blog/2008/02/12/composerly-goofing-off-and-hello/#comment-71883 Brad Wood Wed, 13 Feb 2008 01:06:12 +0000 http://rogerbourland.com/blog/2008/02/12/composerly-goofing-off-and-hello/#comment-71883 Agree---but I would expand to include virtually all really creative activities, including many not specifically in the arts. But certainly not all activity within a category is equally creative. I know that when I am asked to do something in my field of electronics, I lack motivation if I can't find at least some scope for creativity. This can be frustrating for the client, who hired me because I'm already supposed to know all the answers. One client confided to a friend of mine (so much for confidences btw), who works for him, that he imagined I had a big binder of circuits, and every so often I'd take out a page and copy it, and bill him for a bunch of money. But that would not only be wrong, it would be very boring. I've had a bit of a break for the past couple of weeks from immediately remunerative work, and it has been enjoyable aside from the latent fear factor (has business dried up?). I've used the time to do more speculative designs, mostly at the simulation level, and it's proven to have been an amazingly creative and productive period. However, I have had those moments where I can tell I've been driving at it a bit too hard, and realized that one does indeed need to switch gears, take a break, lest Jack become a dull boy. Agree—but I would expand to include virtually all really creative activities, including many not specifically in the arts.

But certainly not all activity within a category is equally creative.

I know that when I am asked to do something in my field of electronics, I lack motivation if I can’t find at least some scope for creativity. This can be frustrating for the client, who hired me because I’m already supposed to know all the answers. One client confided to a friend of mine (so much for confidences btw), who works for him, that he imagined I had a big binder of circuits, and every so often I’d take out a page and copy it, and bill him for a bunch of money.

But that would not only be wrong, it would be very boring.

I’ve had a bit of a break for the past couple of weeks from immediately remunerative work, and it has been enjoyable aside from the latent fear factor (has business dried up?). I’ve used the time to do more speculative designs, mostly at the simulation level, and it’s proven to have been an amazingly creative and productive period. However, I have had those moments where I can tell I’ve been driving at it a bit too hard, and realized that one does indeed need to switch gears, take a break, lest Jack become a dull boy.

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