12|07|08   Insanity and the flip-side of DIY ethics

“Anyhow, the trade-off of DIY is my sanity and happiness. Now, I have no issue sacrificing happiness, as I no longer really consider happiness to be an important objective in my life, but my sanity?”

Here’s a brief selection of just a few things I need to sort in the next 2-3 weeks:

  • create A4 programs for the upcoming farewell shows
  • continue dealing with the volumes of emails and myspace messages pertaining to the booking of the US tour
  • rehearse three times a week with Evan for the upcoming shows
  • finish writing lyrics to two of the songs we will be performing
  • continue working on the new album, including recording synths, programming drums, and continue writing lyrics for all the songs
  • organize accommodation for SXSW in March
  • fill out a 20+ page application for an Outward Sound grant to help fund SXSW and the US Tour
  • write a massive business plan to accompany the Outward Sound application (henceforth OSA)
  • sort out travel plans for Rhythm and vines
  • rehearse the full three-piece band, including Simon on drums, in time for Rhythm and Vines
  • find support bands for US tour
  • create a full tour budget and sort out personal finances
  • record material and lyrics for an upcoming split EP release with US label Mine, All Mine! Records
  • create a US tour poster and get printing quotes for OSA
  • organize shipping quotes for personal belongings and gear from New Zealand to the US in time for OSA
  • get flight quotes for OSA
  • calculate entire 9 weeks of petrol costs for US tour via mapquest for OSA
  • get quotes for 500 promo CDRs and artwork for SXSW in time for OSA

DIY has its limitations. You just can’t do it all yourself. I reckon the way of the future is OIY. Outsource-it-yourself. Or CIY. Control-it-yourself. Or MIY. Manage-it-yourself. You get the gyst…

Or perhaps just GSS. Get-some-sleep.

Anyhow, the trade-off of DIY is my sanity and happiness. Now, I have no issue sacrificing happiness, as I no longer really consider happiness to be an important objective in my life, but my sanity? I think I would rather like to hold on to it a while longer, thank you very much! :)

Yay! Check out the new Enright House Shop I just finished making! Even if you’re not the type of person who buys music anymore, do take a look at how pretty and shiny it is! :)

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  • Jenny

    You can do it, Mark! You could always hire a non-paid intern…:)

  • rach

    I’ve been thinking about this comment:
    “I have no issue sacrificing happiness, as I no longer really consider happiness to be an important objective in my life”. I wonder if this is a similar feeling to ’short term pain for lifelong gain’ which kicked in a few years ago for me? Rather than a fast route to satisfaction that doesn’t last, is it worth making a few sacrifices for a mightier goal? My feeling is Yes.

  • adele

    very best of luck, mark! I’m looking forward to finally seeing an Enright House performance here in the US in the near future.

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