How to Delegate Work and Do More of the Fun Stuff

So, yeah, if anyone can tell me how that’s done, that’d be ace.

I’m rubbish at delegating. I’m of the school of thought that, if you want something done properly, do it yourself.

To be honest, in my home life this has led to numerous DIY blunders.

But in the case of music composing and sound design I’ve been proved right, time and time again. Delegating sound work has not gone well for me, and, on occasion, it’s led to actually creating extra work. Not the desired effect, one might say…

However, it’s gotten to the point where I either work long hours on simple but essential tasks like tracklaying and foley… and miss out on valuable, really interesting time on the composition and sound design, experimenting and tweaking effects, getting the music to ‘great’ rather than ‘good enough’; or I farm out some of these nuts-and-bolts tasks to people who really enjoy it.

To be honest, being a one-man-band has served me well until now. In my first article for my column Composer’s Tips and Tricks on SCOREcast Online, due the week after next, I’ll talk about the benefits of diversifying within your trade.

Being able to offer recording, sound design, sound editing, sound clean-up, mixing, that sort of thing, gives me an edge that not a lot of composers in my neck of the woods cover.

But now it’s gotten me a lot of work. And it’s all work that I really want to do, so I’m sure as hell not turning it down.

A recent flurry of work has also caused me to develop RSI in my right hand, nothing serious, just an annoying twinge in the knuckles at the end of a long working stint. Perhaps I’m already at the computer maybe a few too many hours in the day? Eek.

So, I have a choice. I can actually complete all the work myself. I do have time. I’m not that daft that I’d take on an impossible amount.

But I will have to work really long days consistently for the next 3 months. It’s hard to find the fun when you’re dead on your feet and the end is nowhere in sight.

And where there’s no fun, there’s no creativity, there’s no good music and sound design, you’re more likely to be a bit grumpy and difficult to work with – and that does not a happy customer make.

So I’ve bit the bullet and put out an ad for freelance assistants. This is more than a bit scary for someone like me who likes to keep a tight reign on her side of the works.

But when I started receiving back the applications I have to say I was impressed. There’s more than enough talent out there. I’m stunned at the qualifications that some of the applicants had, that they’d be applying for this, a just-above-entry-level job.

So I have high hopes that my previous attitude to delegation will be proved wrong, that I can wrangle a team of intrepid recorders and post-production soundees and soundettes to take the journey with me on to the next level.

The way I see it, if I can spread the love a little, help someone who’s like me maybe six or seven years ago, just starting out, give them a little leg-up the ladder with a decent credit and a little cash too, for doing something they’re passionate about, that’s way more valuable than the cash in my pocket: the value to me of having more time to really compose.

It’s a win-win scenario.

Over to you. How have your experiences of delegating work gone for you? Are you like me: keeping a tight grip on the reigns, have you found it faster for you to do the work rather than explain to someone else how to do it? Or do you work best when delegating?

2 Replies to “How to Delegate Work and Do More of the Fun Stuff”

  1. Well, I don’t have as much work as you so I don’t have to delegate!! lol
    I am in a unique situation of having a day job but also having much time to commit to making music.
    If I can help you with anything, let me know!
    Cheers!

    1. Heehee! My work’s like buses… nothing for a while and then three or more turn up at once! Thanks for the offer, I’ll def keep it in mind! 🙂

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