Very enlightening. Totally relatable. I came away from a high level manager position to spend valuable time with my wife and children. We broke away to become better people. Nicer to our selves and to each other. I got back into music some while later and have now had minor success as a games composer. No extra pressure, no tyrants, just deep seeded satisfaction at being able to work at my own pace. The jobs come and go, but the loved ones remain. That is my balance. Without them I would assuredly be feeding the worms in an early grave. Be great and keep on rocking Mr C. You really do inspire.
This is one of the reasons I love the channel so much - you're not just a composer, presenter, industry insider etc, you're a person. And a person who is honest and open rather than having a fake RUclips facade like so many others. Every word is worth hanging on to.
I can relate to this so much. I recently said NO to a forth film with a certain director due to the fact it took over my life. I had enough of it and had to decline for the sake of my health. I'm free to choose my own path and learned this vital lesson the hard way. Thanks Christian. I get it!
Our brains were not developed for this environment. We were only supposed to feel stress if a lion was attacking us-- and we'd get adrenaline with our stress-- which would give us euphoria after. Now we have stresses that are missing the adrenaline, which Dr. K (HealthyGamerGG) says can be supplemented by doing a full sprint if you feel stressed.
The older I get, the less I am prepared to sell my time. It is priceless, precisely because I don't know how much of it I've got. Loved this rant, Christian. You are correctamundo!
For what it is worth, I changed "work-life balance" for "maximising fun while meeting REAL responsibilities". Sometimes fun is work, sometimes it is spending time with friends and family, sometimes it is looking on a scene in nature. And not all responsibilities are REAL. Some are much more important than others; and if X is much more important than Y, is Y really needed. It took a while to figure this out and I haven't mastered this yet, but I know which way to continue. I'm glad you have your own vision of the path forward.
I appreciate your candor and openness. It is a much more real conversation than most life-advice videos. Our culture gives us a very limited picture of what "success" means, and it is usually the one that lines the pockets of executives and corporate leaders at the cost of us wringing ourselves out into someone else's bucket. We live in a culture that values a concept of productivity over everything. Productivity, our insatiable tyrant.
I worked for a trendy tech start-up with lots of young people. The company organised lunch and evening activities. The naive kids were told it the company’s goal was life-life balance!
I’m not an alcoholic nor am I religious but… the serenity prayer resonates with your great insights grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, Courage to change the things I can, and Wisdom to know the difference
I only know the two-dimensional version of Christian Henson, and he doesn't have the advantage to know me in any dimension. Respect goes to the one who lives his life as honestly as he can with himself, regardless of the price that may accompany. Whether it be faith, politics or philosphy, many flow along with the tide trying desperately to fit in with people they don't even respect that much. My limited opinion of Christian Henson is that along the journey he realized these things and shared them with us in the victory of discovery and the agony of the realization that sometimes the cost of truth is to stand alone. You, Christian Henson, are maybe the only musician that, while I respect and revere your work, would just as soon hear your thoughts on life as review a good score or two. But, in many ways that is the same thing, for I believe whole heartedly that what I experience musically is a portrait of who you are out of the arts. Thank you for your thoughts. High on my list is to bump into you in a restaurant and find a friend of such rich comtemplations.... and buy you dinner.
Christian, thanks for your honesty. I was in the IT and left finally. Like any job there MUST say no. Maybe semi retire. Music is wgat I want to be in. Then life, family, friends and put priority 1st. Yes I agree with you. The thing is In the UK. USA etc... is that its a rat race. There is no balance life.
Nothing more important than family time spent together. BECOME THE OTHER,. We had this conversation maybe 2 years ago when I messaged you to let you know I quit my job after watching your video. I now make my music and don't work for anyone. I have 9 children mate, 19 down to 6 months. YOU ONLY HAVE 1 LIFE, LIVE IT !!
Christian, I wish I could have a pint with you sometime to discuss this further. Being willing to say "no" has a whole lot packed into that statement. I decided many decades ago that I love playing and creating music so much that I made it a priority in my life. Yes, I've needed to have day jobs I wasn't thrilled with but I have no wife, no kids and no regrets. It's not for every musician of course and it's not been a bed of roses. Barely keeping my financial nose above water causes stress for sure but at the end of the day, I count the dollars I don't see in my physical bank that are in my happiness bank - creative satisfaction dollars, freedom dollars and peace of mind dollars. In this respect, I feel wealthy. The world should not force us into all or nothing choices. ✌❤
The eye-of-Sauron director (cinema or other arts), who think they can boss everyone around prior to throwing them out, is a sick tyran figure of our day and age.
I just finished reading the book "Essentialism" which contains many of the ideas you've put forth here. The book has a quote, "if you don't value your time, someone else will". One ongoing life exercise I do that has really helped me is to have a document that describes "one year in the good life". It answers the "what do I want?" and "what really matters?" questions, and had helped me realize that the things I dream of having someday are things I can works towards today with baby steps. Thanks for the honest vlog, it's greatly appreciated.
I don’t really understand the success culture we’re in anymore. Why do we need to achieve, be good at, succeed individually, thrive, make it, be admired…? Does anyone know what’s the root or conditioning for all this?
As a self employed builder, I never work my birthdays, always say no to awful customers regardless of financial situations, always take time for family, never work later than 4 on a Friday. This took 14 years to achieve, but life is now simple for me. Allowing time to help others who have less and need more. That is quality of life. I always aimed for quality over quantity.
Christian it's a funny old game is music. A philosophical view will help I suppose. You need to forgive yourself as you did what you thought was necessary. Years ago 1920's, a man said I hope I can find gainful employment.
@@TheCrowHillCo I like your honesty with what you said. The ego sometimes is driving us hard, really all you need is willpower I would say. There are many traps with the ego logic.
Man, this vlog made me feel like it's pre-covid times! Also made me a bit nostalgic about living the UK, seeing CH galavanting about like that... Might be the whisky though. Probably the whisky. :P
I too am standing at the precipice of chucking it all in and retiring. I unfortunately work in the saddest corner of the recording industry...composing/mixing political advertising in the US. Everything you voiced is my life in a nutshell. Turned 60 a week ago and looked at myself and saw a......grump. How did this happen?
@TheCrowHillCo Just trying to figure out, what is my next step. Thought about teaching, but not sure my/our knowledge is wanted or applicable to the next generation.
I have NEVER understood why composers put up with sadistic directors. It is now part of our culture. “You are so lucky that I am letting score my film”….we composers must love to be abused. And we keep coming back for more. Sad.
"When you're 20, 10 years is half your life". Sobering reflection of that statement: when you're 60, 10 years is half of what you've got left. *And* the years pass by much, much faster.
Christian thank you for your wisdom, it came just in right time for me. Your words should be permanently printed on billboards in cities... Just pure gold. Thank you.
Piece of wisdom this is. Thanks for sharing. It needs to be heard. Even for those of us who went through the mechanics for decades, as well, and think we have learned our lesson. It's so easy to get caught back into the madness. Sometimes a reminder is necessary. Hearing it by someone else who has experienced the pain helps recalibrate. I raise my class to you.
There’s an interesting book titled “dying with zero”. The key idea is that most people spend too much time working and too little time enjoying their retirement before their health becomes the limiting factor. Matches what you’re saying here pretty closely!
What a great video, as always. I'm so glad you're back Christian! I guess the flipside is if you did prioritise all those birthdays, family commitments (and I get what you say about their importance!) would you have ended up getting a reputation in your work life for being 'difficult' or 'unreliable'? It seems the music world is so competitive that I completely understand why you missed all those important events for fear of wrecking your career. Anyway, really great stuff, and I hope you're going to be doing composer walks sometime too!
Good on you for speaking your truth here. At this point in my life I take only the work that I want to take and it will be also about observing the person I work with as part of that process. I usually have been lucky to be able to see around corners and have a sense of people right off, but also not question who I am or what I have done either. I look ahead and am not a rear view mirror person. There are opportunities out there. I do many things in my lab here in the Northwest of USA and it's working out for me well. I escaped the Hollywood thing a while ago, but they still call, so that's good and say to me "great work as always". So I guess that's something. The relationships are good for me and I seem to work well with people even if they are not happy people and uptight. I just let them come around to what is important.
I don't have one exam, I don't own a home, I earn less than the average wage in the UK. I have bags of free time, I go out to eat seven days a week and I do a job I love, I only do things I enjoy. I don't chase material things. Just my wife and son get my attention....
The balance is not on the individual it’s on the society and culture. One cannot engage based entirely on their own rule set, they must navigate the road they are born on. A road they had and have no hand in creating. You don’t set industry terms, algorithmic terms, or corporate influence on society. We are all sick of it all. I love music and people not systems.
Thank you Christian. While I'm not in any danger of all of that music success and trappings, I did spend 35 years corperate-ing and telling myself the paycheck had to be protected above all else, and I know I'm not wishing I had more of that in The End.
Thank you Christian. Timely as usual. I've had a similar 'all in' approach to my work for the past 25 years which ultimately led me to move away from the corporate world in marketing and back into the creative world where I began. (You're partly responsible by the way.....;) With a challenging and long-running family obligation which has now run its course, I am fortunate to have the opportunity to consider how I structure the next chapter. My work experience has been that of a fire-hose - it's either 7 days a week, anxiety-driven madness or an empty inbox and feeling the world is passing me by. Much of that is on me - but it's time to figure it out a bit better before the next adventure kicks off. Please keep these musings coming - they are provoking and much appreciated.
One thing I’ve learnt (I’m mid 40s now and in a senior public sector job) is that it’s the people you work with that make all the difference. That’s what has made me look forward to Mondays as opposed to Fridays. My actual job (law) I haven’t really enjoyed in itself as a standalone thing for a good 15 years or so I don’t think, but I love the people I work with. The other thing is to not wait around in jobs you don’t enjoy - it’s a cliche but life is too short.
Thank you for being so honest - these must have been hard things to share and even hard things to have on your mind and deal with. In all honesty, what you said about it turning into a "Job" is why I bowed out and I'm hoping to just release music independently and ad hoc, for the soul and not for pay. There's not a lot of money in it anyway without destroying yourself or coming close to.
I recently gave away my full time job and salary in order to find a better work/happiness balance. I was in the strange position of using my vacation days to take on creative projects. Weird life when a vacation is actually working on something you love. Something had to change there.
The average person doesn't have many friends... true friends. When we're young, we have values that are more self-centered, then as we age we tend to learn from our earlier 'mistakes'. I LOVED working in the recording studio, but killed two marriages... in part due to my LOVE of the studio (meaning my workaholism, or addiction to working in something that I absolutely LOVED doing). However, this is the way that our lives tend to progress... many mistakes in our early years, then lessons learned being taken with a more serious bent. I get what you're saying, Christian, and believe me, you're preaching to the choir here. I appreciate your willingness to openly share with us... I'd be doing the same now at nearly 68 with an audience as well. However, this is what life is about... learning lessons as the years pass... or at least hopefully learning them as there are MANY who fail to learn anything at all as they blame everyone for where they are in life. Taking responsibility for our choices and learning to forgive ourselves for them is tantamount. Remember... we only do what we know and when we know better, we do better. Cheers, Christian!
Well done articulating a conundrum so many are wrestling with daily. I’m sorry to say it took years for me to figure out people requesting our services are not going to also be the cautionary monitor of what is reasonable to expect from you, and counsel you to back off. You nailed this when you observed who has the control over one’s time and commitments. Thanks for ranting on something we need to keep at the front of our minds. Insightful content as always!
Overworking cost me my first marriage, of 20 years. I had a full-time plus profession, plus a full-time plus company I ran, PLUS military obligations (that occasionally took me away from home for months at a time). Life was crushing me, and I didn't even see it. After 6 1/2 years of not having a day off, taking 2 vacations in 20 years, it came to a head. Lessons learned, albeit too late.....
@@TheCrowHillCo Though, while you are carving your way in the noise of competition it's very hard to see your inherent worth (because you either have not or feel like you have not yet demonstrated it) and leverage it - and hard for clients to see it, conveniently.
@@TheCrowHillCo Delighted to read you. In the 90's I NEARLY made it. I got as far as writing sketches for Sting and Pet Shop Boys, but none were taken up. Pet Shop Boys actually chose Go West over my song 'Something I used to do' which was definitely a mistake as far as I am concerned!! 😉 I started writing feverishly whilst being unable to work for one year because of needing to have all of my Large Intestine removed. I was working on a shoestring budget (understatement). Programming on Steinberg Pro 16 using a Commodore 64. Then having the C64 play my demo's through a 8/2 StudioMaster desk and singing a LIVE vocal straight onto DAT... No mastering, nothing. It was during this period that I discovered the village (West Haddon) methodist chapel had an upright piano. So I would borrow the skeleton key once a week and sing and play in this amazing acoustic place! I had three singing lessons and all I remember my teacher saying was "Thats VERY high... but remember, it also has to be nice to listen to"... So in the Chapel is where I learned to hit a G#6, and wait until somebody walking a dog would knock on the door and ask if I was ok? 😂 I am yet to try your vertical piano, but having JUST listened, I can confirm, it sounds just like The Chapel Piano and I got chills... they're multiplying, and i'm losing control! This time is my time now Mr Henson, this is The Big Push and I need all the help I can get. Best wishes to you and may all your dreams sprout wings. Nigel (The Armour Guy) ⚒
So much has changed from when we were 6-10 years old with our perception of what being a film composer is. At the start we have this romanticized innocent filter on what the job means. Writing epic & beautiful cues & hearing music on loud speakers. It’s exhilarating. What I’ve learned is that the AAA work that we romantize truly is NOT for everyone and is only for a few. film composition isn’t for all and only a few. Thanks for sharing Christian, I will do my best to prioritize my lively hood over work opportunities.
Christian you're speaking from the relatively 'safe' and comfortable perspective of someone who has a) people in their life and b) an incredible career in music. But, what about the person who now (in later life) has an estranged family, no regular job - due to 'retirement' and probably ageism - no attendant friends (the Whatsapp pings now and then) and nothing productive to do except write music for their first publisher and their first album of cues? That person gets up with the lark (and the sheep in the next field) and sits at the f****** DAW every single day, because they have no life and the balance, that stops them jumping off the cliffs they are surrounded by in their rural idyll, is the thought that they are doing something worthwhile, in their dotage, because - despite the previous achievements and benefit to society, the world would happily see them rot. For that person (guess who) music is their life.
As one enlightened person put it, "people are special, first they chase money to get better, and then they spend that money to buy back the health they destroyed in the pursuit of money."
It sounds like a confession to the self my friend. as we get older, I think a lot of us have these reflections., however as an artist your emotions are heightened that will also heighten your perception and the history of yourself.
Great stuff as always Christian! Thanks for sharing so openly! Very important topic. And please make a full solo cello with gestures! I will buy it the minute it lands!
This is one of the best videos you’ve ever made. Some of this parallels my life. I managed to step back a bit sooner than your good self it seems. But it was horribly familiar. If you didn’t pause recording this because you got upset, I would be massively surprised.
If at the end of my life, I still have my mental facilities intact and I make some sort of statement about my regrets, I wonder what I'm going to say. I wonder if society at large doesn't idealize certain things, and rate them more highly than others. If we don't do enough of the things society deems to be valuable, then we're not supposed to be happy, and we're supposed to regret it on our deathbed. I think it's quite possible, though, that had we done the things society puts the stamp of approval on, we could end up being just as unhappy. Maybe for some of us, a way to balance life to achieve 100% happiness and fulfillment doesn't exist. Have we even evolved to want to be blissfully happy and balanced? For most of history, human being have evolved to constantly battle a lifelong string of disasters and challenges (disease, plagues, famines, harsh weather, war). A state of peace/balance/contentment is an anomaly. If that sort of condition persisted for numerous generations, human beings wouldn't be equipped to once again handle harsh reality, should it reemerge, and might not survive.
Very enlightening. Totally relatable. I came away from a high level manager position to spend valuable time with my wife and children. We broke away to become better people. Nicer to our selves and to each other. I got back into music some while later and have now had minor success as a games composer. No extra pressure, no tyrants, just deep seeded satisfaction at being able to work at my own pace. The jobs come and go, but the loved ones remain. That is my balance. Without them I would assuredly be feeding the worms in an early grave. Be great and keep on rocking Mr C. You really do inspire.
Well done, and the best for the future :)
This is one of the reasons I love the channel so much - you're not just a composer, presenter, industry insider etc, you're a person. And a person who is honest and open rather than having a fake RUclips facade like so many others. Every word is worth hanging on to.
I can relate to this so much. I recently said NO to a forth film with a certain director due to the fact it took over my life. I had enough of it and had to decline for the sake of my health. I'm free to choose my own path and learned this vital lesson the hard way. Thanks Christian. I get it!
Health is wealth!!!
Our brains were not developed for this environment. We were only supposed to feel stress if a lion was attacking us-- and we'd get adrenaline with our stress-- which would give us euphoria after. Now we have stresses that are missing the adrenaline, which Dr. K (HealthyGamerGG) says can be supplemented by doing a full sprint if you feel stressed.
Love healthy gamer! So inspirational
The older I get, the less I am prepared to sell my time. It is priceless, precisely because I don't know how much of it I've got. Loved this rant, Christian. You are correctamundo!
“Sell my time” I’m gonna borrrow that one 😅 thanks for such a lovely comment
FREEEEEDOM! Thank you as always for being so candid with your experiences brother.
For what it is worth, I changed "work-life balance" for "maximising fun while meeting REAL responsibilities". Sometimes fun is work, sometimes it is spending time with friends and family, sometimes it is looking on a scene in nature. And not all responsibilities are REAL. Some are much more important than others; and if X is much more important than Y, is Y really needed. It took a while to figure this out and I haven't mastered this yet, but I know which way to continue. I'm glad you have your own vision of the path forward.
“Not all responsibilities are real” 🤯
This is gold. Thank you David.
I appreciate your candor and openness. It is a much more real conversation than most life-advice videos. Our culture gives us a very limited picture of what "success" means, and it is usually the one that lines the pockets of executives and corporate leaders at the cost of us wringing ourselves out into someone else's bucket. We live in a culture that values a concept of productivity over everything. Productivity, our insatiable tyrant.
We really have become a slave to it! But we can always get our lives back
I worked for a trendy tech start-up with lots of young people. The company organised lunch and evening activities. The naive kids were told it the company’s goal was life-life balance!
It’s a trap!
My thoughts goes to the guy next to Christian in the train.
And the people behind as well! 😂
@@TheCrowHillCo 🤣🤣
I’m not an alcoholic nor am I religious but… the serenity prayer resonates with your great insights
grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
Courage to change the things I can,
and Wisdom to know the difference
It really does! It’s almost a very mindful mantra to yourself
@@TheCrowHillCo yep! That one plus “and it too shall pass” are the only two you need to have on repeat 😎
I only know the two-dimensional version of Christian Henson, and he doesn't have the advantage to know me in any dimension. Respect goes to the one who lives his life as honestly as he can with himself, regardless of the price that may accompany. Whether it be faith, politics or philosphy, many flow along with the tide trying desperately to fit in with people they don't even respect that much. My limited opinion of Christian Henson is that along the journey he realized these things and shared them with us in the victory of discovery and the agony of the realization that sometimes the cost of truth is to stand alone. You, Christian Henson, are maybe the only musician that, while I respect and revere your work, would just as soon hear your thoughts on life as review a good score or two. But, in many ways that is the same thing, for I believe whole heartedly that what I experience musically is a portrait of who you are out of the arts. Thank you for your thoughts. High on my list is to bump into you in a restaurant and find a friend of such rich comtemplations.... and buy you dinner.
"No one should value your time more than you" brilliant.
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed!
Christian, thanks for your honesty. I was in the IT and left finally. Like any job there MUST say no. Maybe semi retire. Music is wgat I want to be in. Then life, family, friends and put priority 1st.
Yes I agree with you.
The thing is In the UK. USA etc... is that its a rat race. There is no balance life.
Especially in the big cities!
I don’t have anything to add here but I want to boost your engagement for this word to spread.
Oh wow! Thank you so much for helping to spread the word! I really do appreciate it 🙏
It should be Life-Work-Balance instead of Work-Life-Balance. The order is very important!
That is a fantastic point!
@@TheCrowHillCo yes!
Nothing more important than family time spent together. BECOME THE OTHER,. We had this conversation maybe 2 years ago when I messaged you to let you know I quit my job after watching your video. I now make my music and don't work for anyone. I have 9 children mate, 19 down to 6 months. YOU ONLY HAVE 1 LIFE, LIVE IT !!
Wow!! So glad it’s worked out so well for you!!! 👏👏👏
Oscar is the best solution to a happy life 😊 YO! while working on a movie...
Truer words have never been spoken!
Christian, I wish I could have a pint with you sometime to discuss this further. Being willing to say "no" has a whole lot packed into that statement. I decided many decades ago that I love playing and creating music so much that I made it a priority in my life. Yes, I've needed to have day jobs I wasn't thrilled with but I have no wife, no kids and no regrets. It's not for every musician of course and it's not been a bed of roses. Barely keeping my financial nose above water causes stress for sure but at the end of the day, I count the dollars I don't see in my physical bank that are in my happiness bank - creative satisfaction dollars, freedom dollars and peace of mind dollars. In this respect, I feel wealthy. The world should not force us into all or nothing choices. ✌❤
Peace of mind dollars! Love that!! Have a look at the last video where that might become possible! 🍻
The eye-of-Sauron director (cinema or other arts), who think they can boss everyone around prior to throwing them out, is a sick tyran figure of our day and age.
Eye of Sauron is putting it lightly!!
A.I. will give us a lot of 'Live' in this ballance very soon;)😅
I hope so!
Put your seatbelt on, mate.
Thank you everyone who pointed this out!
I just finished reading the book "Essentialism" which contains many of the ideas you've put forth here. The book has a quote, "if you don't value your time, someone else will". One ongoing life exercise I do that has really helped me is to have a document that describes "one year in the good life". It answers the "what do I want?" and "what really matters?" questions, and had helped me realize that the things I dream of having someday are things I can works towards today with baby steps. Thanks for the honest vlog, it's greatly appreciated.
Essentialism you say… I might have to check this out!
I don’t really understand the success culture we’re in anymore. Why do we need to achieve, be good at, succeed individually, thrive, make it, be admired…? Does anyone know what’s the root or conditioning for all this?
Not being enough. Not being able to broadcast it.
Capitalism and the internet is a dangerous combination.
We don’t die as heroes in battle anymore
To understand more about this, Byung-Chul Han's books, like The Burnout Society, are worth a read.
@@GavinskisTutorials Thanks will check, someone also recommended "The Gift" by Lewis Hyde and "The Success Industry" by Daniel T. Rodgers
04:14 I liked you more after hearing this list.
Bird of the same feather? 😅
One of the best videos you've done. It'll surely open so many people's eyes.
Wow! Glad you found it as such!
As a self employed builder, I never work my birthdays, always say no to awful customers regardless of financial situations, always take time for family, never work later than 4 on a Friday. This took 14 years to achieve, but life is now simple for me. Allowing time to help others who have less and need more. That is quality of life. I always aimed for quality over quantity.
Well done on being so respectful to yourself!
I stopped composing when my kid was born. Became a score mixer. Much less stressful.
That’s a great Segway!
As someone who is exactly your age Christian, I fully concur and endorse this message.
We have the royal seal of approval! Thank you for taking the time to leave such a nice comment!
Thank you Christian for all you do
Thank you for being you!
Retired at 51; highly recommend it - looks like you've read some Mark Manson, write your own story, couldn't agree more
Wow! So much life to enjoy retiring that early!
Christian it's a funny old game is music. A philosophical view will help I suppose. You need to forgive yourself as you did what you thought was necessary. Years ago 1920's, a man said I hope I can find gainful employment.
That’s a great point t of perspective!
@@TheCrowHillCo I like your honesty with what you said. The ego sometimes is driving us hard, really all you need is willpower I would say. There are many traps with the ego logic.
Man, this vlog made me feel like it's pre-covid times!
Also made me a bit nostalgic about living the UK, seeing CH galavanting about like that...
Might be the whisky though.
Probably the whisky. :P
38% the whiskey!
Impressive how you can talk and film like that on your own - then caught a glimpse of your camera in the train window!
A keen eye!
I too am standing at the precipice of chucking it all in and retiring. I unfortunately work in the saddest corner of the recording industry...composing/mixing political advertising in the US. Everything you voiced is my life in a nutshell.
Turned 60 a week ago and looked at myself and saw a......grump. How did this happen?
The good thing is that it’s not too late to turn it around!
@TheCrowHillCo Just trying to figure out, what is my next step. Thought about teaching, but not sure my/our knowledge is wanted or applicable to the next generation.
Wow. That's powerful. Thanks for being so candid and inspiring.
Thank you for enjoying it and for taking the time to comment 😊
I have NEVER understood why composers put up with sadistic directors. It is now part of our culture. “You are so lucky that I am letting score my film”….we composers must love to be abused. And we keep coming back for more. Sad.
"When you're 20, 10 years is half your life". Sobering reflection of that statement: when you're 60, 10 years is half of what you've got left. *And* the years pass by much, much faster.
Christian thank you for your wisdom, it came just in right time for me. Your words should be permanently printed on billboards in cities... Just pure gold. Thank you.
We appreciate everything you do. Plus, the new Dot Allison library is quite amazing.
Piece of wisdom this is.
Thanks for sharing.
It needs to be heard.
Even for those of us who went through the mechanics for decades, as well, and think we have learned our lesson.
It's so easy to get caught back into the madness. Sometimes a reminder is necessary. Hearing it by someone else who has experienced the pain helps recalibrate.
I raise my class to you.
Glad the reminder came at a good time for you!
oh, no, we've been increasingly focused on productivity since the industrial revolution
There’s an interesting book titled “dying with zero”. The key idea is that most people spend too much time working and too little time enjoying their retirement before their health becomes the limiting factor. Matches what you’re saying here pretty closely!
I’ll have to check it out!
What a great video, as always. I'm so glad you're back Christian! I guess the flipside is if you did prioritise all those birthdays, family commitments (and I get what you say about their importance!) would you have ended up getting a reputation in your work life for being 'difficult' or 'unreliable'? It seems the music world is so competitive that I completely understand why you missed all those important events for fear of wrecking your career. Anyway, really great stuff, and I hope you're going to be doing composer walks sometime too!
Value your freedom… 110%… always appreciate the honesty
Your own freedom is such a gift!
Thanks Christian, I've missed grumpy old guy.
You don't have to wear a seatbelt in a taxi?
🤦 I will do better!!!
Good on you for speaking your truth here. At this point in my life I take only the work that I want to take and it will be also about observing the person I work with as part of that process. I usually have been lucky to be able to see around corners and have a sense of people right off, but also not question who I am or what I have done either. I look ahead and am not a rear view mirror person. There are opportunities out there. I do many things in my lab here in the Northwest of USA and it's working out for me well. I escaped the Hollywood thing a while ago, but they still call, so that's good and say to me "great work as always". So I guess that's something. The relationships are good for me and I seem to work well with people even if they are not happy people and uptight. I just let them come around to what is important.
All very true mate. You encapsulated the conundrum perfectly. x
I don't have one exam, I don't own a home, I earn less than the average wage in the UK. I have bags of free time, I go out to eat seven days a week and I do a job I love, I only do things I enjoy. I don't chase material things. Just my wife and son get my attention....
The balance is not on the individual it’s on the society and culture. One cannot engage based entirely on their own rule set, they must navigate the road they are born on. A road they had and have no hand in creating. You don’t set industry terms, algorithmic terms, or corporate influence on society. We are all sick of it all. I love music and people not systems.
Thank you Christian. While I'm not in any danger of all of that music success and trappings, I did spend 35 years corperate-ing and telling myself the paycheck had to be protected above all else, and I know I'm not wishing I had more of that in The End.
35 years I. The corporate world deserves a medal! It’s no mean feat at all!
Well done on carving that space for yourself and your family! 👏
Thank you so much for your soul advice. Today your going to help change my life
Thank you Christian. Timely as usual. I've had a similar 'all in' approach to my work for the past 25 years which ultimately led me to move away from the corporate world in marketing and back into the creative world where I began. (You're partly responsible by the way.....;) With a challenging and long-running family obligation which has now run its course, I am fortunate to have the opportunity to consider how I structure the next chapter. My work experience has been that of a fire-hose - it's either 7 days a week, anxiety-driven madness or an empty inbox and feeling the world is passing me by. Much of that is on me - but it's time to figure it out a bit better before the next adventure kicks off. Please keep these musings coming - they are provoking and much appreciated.
Im happy to be part responsible for a positive change!
Yeah spot on Christian.
Thanks!!!
One thing I’ve learnt (I’m mid 40s now and in a senior public sector job) is that it’s the people you work with that make all the difference. That’s what has made me look forward to Mondays as opposed to Fridays. My actual job (law) I haven’t really enjoyed in itself as a standalone thing for a good 15 years or so I don’t think, but I love the people I work with. The other thing is to not wait around in jobs you don’t enjoy - it’s a cliche but life is too short.
People are such a big part of what makes life, life!
Thank you for being so honest - these must have been hard things to share and even hard things to have on your mind and deal with. In all honesty, what you said about it turning into a "Job" is why I bowed out and I'm hoping to just release music independently and ad hoc, for the soul and not for pay. There's not a lot of money in it anyway without destroying yourself or coming close to.
Doing stuff for the soul always feels good!
I recently gave away my full time job and salary in order to find a better work/happiness balance. I was in the strange position of using my vacation days to take on creative projects. Weird life when a vacation is actually working on something you love. Something had to change there.
Glad you made that change - that’s bravery!
The average person doesn't have many friends... true friends. When we're young, we have values that are more self-centered, then as we age we tend to learn from our earlier 'mistakes'. I LOVED working in the recording studio, but killed two marriages... in part due to my LOVE of the studio (meaning my workaholism, or addiction to working in something that I absolutely LOVED doing). However, this is the way that our lives tend to progress... many mistakes in our early years, then lessons learned being taken with a more serious bent. I get what you're saying, Christian, and believe me, you're preaching to the choir here. I appreciate your willingness to openly share with us... I'd be doing the same now at nearly 68 with an audience as well. However, this is what life is about... learning lessons as the years pass... or at least hopefully learning them as there are MANY who fail to learn anything at all as they blame everyone for where they are in life. Taking responsibility for our choices and learning to forgive ourselves for them is tantamount. Remember... we only do what we know and when we know better, we do better. Cheers, Christian!
What a fantastic comment and a lovely line to end it! 👏🙏
@@TheCrowHillCo Thank you so much, Christian!
"THE" most valuable video I've watched from you Christian, thank you.
High praise indeed!
own your time, dont rent it
Poetry in motion!
'Strafing decades' I'll be using that phrase from now on!
Hahaha permission granted!
Great video. Utterly selfless and honest which is something you don’t see much of. I doth my cap to you guvnor. Be happy.
A cap has been dothed! Thank you sir!
Well done articulating a conundrum so many are wrestling with daily. I’m sorry to say it took years for me to figure out people requesting our services are not going to also be the cautionary monitor of what is reasonable to expect from you, and counsel you to back off. You nailed this when you observed who has the control over one’s time and commitments. Thanks for ranting on something we need to keep at the front of our minds. Insightful content as always!
Thank you, I’m glad you got something out of it!
Overworking cost me my first marriage, of 20 years. I had a full-time plus profession, plus a full-time plus company I ran, PLUS military obligations (that occasionally took me away from home for months at a time). Life was crushing me, and I didn't even see it. After 6 1/2 years of not having a day off, taking 2 vacations in 20 years, it came to a head. Lessons learned, albeit too late.....
Wow that is A LOT to have on your plate!!!
Look at us. Look at what they make you give.
Exactly! Take stock of it!
@@TheCrowHillCo Though, while you are carving your way in the noise of competition it's very hard to see your inherent worth (because you either have not or feel like you have not yet demonstrated it) and leverage it - and hard for clients to see it, conveniently.
I use many of your products Mr Henson, and after only two months, new hairs are already starting to appear!
Thank you Sir. ❤️
Im so glad you like them! Vertical piano is my favourite so far!
@@TheCrowHillCo Delighted to read you. In the 90's I NEARLY made it. I got as far as writing sketches for Sting and Pet Shop Boys, but none were taken up.
Pet Shop Boys actually chose Go West over my song 'Something I used to do' which was definitely a mistake as far as I am concerned!! 😉
I started writing feverishly whilst being unable to work for one year because of needing to have all of my Large Intestine removed. I was working on a shoestring budget (understatement). Programming on Steinberg Pro 16 using a Commodore 64. Then having the C64 play my demo's through a 8/2 StudioMaster desk and singing a LIVE vocal straight onto DAT... No mastering, nothing.
It was during this period that I discovered the village (West Haddon) methodist chapel had an upright piano. So I would borrow the skeleton key once a week and sing and play in this amazing acoustic place!
I had three singing lessons and all I remember my teacher saying was "Thats VERY high... but remember, it also has to be nice to listen to"... So in the Chapel is where I learned to hit a G#6, and wait until somebody walking a dog would knock on the door and ask if I was ok? 😂
I am yet to try your vertical piano, but having JUST listened, I can confirm, it sounds just like The Chapel Piano and I got chills... they're multiplying, and i'm losing control!
This time is my time now Mr Henson, this is The Big Push and I need all the help I can get.
Best wishes to you and may all your dreams sprout wings. Nigel (The Armour Guy) ⚒
O that many of us would have a choice,
I Hope you get to the point where that is an option!
@@TheCrowHillCo Thanks I think it will be called retirement at 67
Your Final words on this video from my heart, you found it, stick with it and follow it, be blessed and your family.
You too! 🙏🙏❤️
"YOU" are a national treasure, mate.
No that’s you! 🫵
Love this already. Great take. Capitalism and meritocracy can rip the life out of people.
Don’t let it get your soul too!
So much has changed from when we were 6-10 years old with our perception of what being a film composer is. At the start we have this romanticized innocent filter on what the job means. Writing epic & beautiful cues & hearing music on loud speakers. It’s exhilarating. What I’ve learned is that the AAA work that we romantize truly is NOT for everyone and is only for a few. film composition isn’t for all and only a few. Thanks for sharing Christian, I will do my best to prioritize my lively hood over work opportunities.
Hopefully an improved livelihood can you create as well!
I cannot thank you enough for sharing this
Miss these walks and talks we use to have all the time. Nice to have 1 again
Thanks! More to come!
Amen. This is confirming to hear as I pursue with my performing and composing career in a way that is less exploitative than the first twenty years.
It gets better as you get wiser!
Christian you're speaking from the relatively 'safe' and comfortable perspective of someone who has a) people in their life and b) an incredible career in music. But, what about the person who now (in later life) has an estranged family, no regular job - due to 'retirement' and probably ageism - no attendant friends (the Whatsapp pings now and then) and nothing productive to do except write music for their first publisher and their first album of cues?
That person gets up with the lark (and the sheep in the next field) and sits at the f****** DAW every single day, because they have no life and the balance, that stops them jumping off the cliffs they are surrounded by in their rural idyll, is the thought that they are doing something worthwhile, in their dotage, because - despite the previous achievements and benefit to society, the world would happily see them rot. For that person (guess who) music is their life.
Music can be our salvation. It has been mine over the last two years!
As one enlightened person put it, "people are special, first they chase money to get better, and then they spend that money to buy back the health they destroyed in the pursuit of money."
Wow! That is an incredible quote!
It sounds like a confession to the self my friend. as we get older, I think a lot of us have these reflections., however as an artist your emotions are heightened that will also heighten your perception and the history of yourself.
It’s funny how so many people go through the same thing!
What a great video, Christian. Thank you for being vulnerable. A very important reminder for us.
Thank you for enjoying that side!
Ensuring that you don't become your own tyrant is excellent advice in any walk of life. Thank you Christian. :)
Thank you! Becoming the villain in your own story is a scary idea
Thanks Christian for your honesty and wise words.Had a tear to my eye watching this.
Oh Man! I’m honoured!
I could never get enough of christians old man energy
😂😂 and the power only gets stronger!
Great stuff as always Christian! Thanks for sharing so openly! Very important topic. And please make a full solo cello with gestures! I will buy it the minute it lands!
Solo cello you say….
@@TheCrowHillCo Yes, please! Think of the Cello Moods that Mr. C produced back in the olden days, but with gestures.... I'm drooling already...
I'm in Edinburgh tomorrow, recommend any good gastro pubs, cheers mate
The Canny Man’s in Morningside. You will never go anywhere like it. Does food (from the 1970s). Rick Stein says it is the best pub in the world.
Hearing this really helps. Thanks again, Christian. 👊🏽
No, Thank you! 🫵
Correct 🫡🙏🏿🙏
Glad we hit the nail on the head! 🎯
Absolutely well put. Saying "NO" truly is the most difficult skill to acquire
And the 1st one is the hardest!
@@TheCrowHillCo definitely!
Another honest rant... great advice sir!
Honest rant! Love that as a title😂
Hear hear Christian!
Moderation in all things.😁🎶🎹🎶Play On
Play on indeed!
Thank you😊
I love the honesty!
Our own wise man just amazing sayings from Christian
Thank you, we’ll try and keep the wholistic advice coming!
Hindsight?
Brilliant.
This is one of the best videos you’ve ever made. Some of this parallels my life. I managed to step back a bit sooner than your good self it seems. But it was horribly familiar. If you didn’t pause recording this because you got upset, I would be massively surprised.
Thanks for this candid info. I can't help but remember the line from the Journey song, "Love and a music man ain't what it's supposed to be."
If at the end of my life, I still have my mental facilities intact and I make some sort of statement about my regrets, I wonder what I'm going to say. I wonder if society at large doesn't idealize certain things, and rate them more highly than others. If we don't do enough of the things society deems to be valuable, then we're not supposed to be happy, and we're supposed to regret it on our deathbed. I think it's quite possible, though, that had we done the things society puts the stamp of approval on, we could end up being just as unhappy. Maybe for some of us, a way to balance life to achieve 100% happiness and fulfillment doesn't exist.
Have we even evolved to want to be blissfully happy and balanced? For most of history, human being have evolved to constantly battle a lifelong string of disasters and challenges (disease, plagues, famines, harsh weather, war). A state of peace/balance/contentment is an anomaly. If that sort of condition persisted for numerous generations, human beings wouldn't be equipped to once again handle harsh reality, should it reemerge, and might not survive.
🙏❤️🙏
🙏🙏🙏