I have been collecting records for 50+ years. I collect original issue psyche, first pressings. My thoughts always have been, get them, and if I go through a spell where I get burned out, I just stop buying, but I rarely or never sell. If I get busy with life, I just let them sit and wait for me. It's a part of my life that adds value to the day to day drudgery of work and problems in life. To me, records are worth the pleasure that they give me.
100% agree. I certainly understand the burnout with buying and feeling like you don't have time to enjoy what you've got. But man if it isn't the coolest thing ever to pull out an unopened copy of a record you bought on sale 5 years ago and forgot about, especially on a cold, rainy day where you're stuck inside rooting around in your collection.
I hear ya. I collect cds, same thing. I've even started selling some. I'll buy ones I know j have just to try t get ones in better shape. This has kept it fun for me. Also, got an old car. I've had it 20 years. Sometimes I'll go crazy on it for a few weeks, then nothing for a month. It's fantastic. I'm in construction, and there's something satisfying of having no end goal rediculous Dec 23rd deadline to try for.
I'm a 70 year old record collector who's made a livin' in record stores over the decades. There were times when I had to contend with the unbelievable...half my collection stolen from a storage locker, water damage, warps and melted vinyl due to heat exposure, "friends" stealin' when they were given access, recent losses due to people takin' advantage when I was away, etc. I'll never regain what's been lost 'n will always feel the pain. But I still cherish my collection, despite the up's 'n downs. Thank you for your insights 'n honesty 'bout your own personal travails. I suppose when all is said 'n done I'm fortunate to be one o' the few who has held on to my remainin' collection all this time...'twould be impossible to replicate it now.
Dillon, I would so love to see a new series where you just do one take random pulls from your collection and give the story behind them, Maybe like 5 at a time. You really light up when you do that!
Long time collector, seller and obsessive fan of records here. 40 years in and there's a lot of records in my possession I haven't listened to yet. I've worked in public education all along and always worked around large groups of people. So I cherish whatever time I have to spend in the record-filled basement. I moved around a bit when I was young and was always on the hunt for some interesting music I didn't know about yet. I still am. Whenever I could afford to buy good collections I did (and still do). Having a large quantity of records for years I haven't listened to yet used to make me feel like a terrible person. Now, I have the opposite of burnout - I have the abject fear that my favorite music may already be in my house and I might die before I hear it! I now think of the the records I haven't heard yet as records I look forward to hearing someday. If you have record collecting burnout, you probably have too many - or at least a lot of - records. My suggestion is to pick a random one you don't know about out and drop the needle. Repeat as needed. If NONE of the music you have in your possession is bringing you joy, it is time to sell your collection. Please get in touch, I may want to buy it!
I have been feeling burnout as well so this video hits the nail on the head. I think these audiophile releases have been burning me out. Sometimes it’s hard to pass on an album especially when they advertise it as being mastered by God himself from the original analog tapes and pressed by angels 😂
Your love of music speaks volumes. I found myself nodding along to some of the things you’ve said here, like I have felt that way too. Thanks for opening up with something I know I have personally felt as well and how you’ve dealt with it. Also, when you speak of your grails, all we see is your excitement 😀
I have been collecting for 45 years. I have never sold off everything but did stop amassing for a while in the 90's and 00's but I am back into it heavier than ever. My only limitation is money! I only have a certain amount that I can spend so that keeps me in check. Collecting is diffinitely an addiction but I feel it is a good one. I hope I never get burnt out on it! Cheers! Love your videos and I am super envious of your collection!
I had no idea that some people were so mean to you when you joined the Vinyl Community, just because you were a dealer! It makes no sense to me because they certainly had to buy their records from somebody who sells records in the first place. I enjoyed hearing your perspective on burnout and can relate. I have been feeling that way somewhat lately, but I think I just need to thin out the collection again (which I do from time to time). I also remind myself that records are just material objects and that they could all be gone tomorrow (as could I). But it is certainly a hobby that brings me joy and helps me connect with other people, and I think that is what it should be. Furthermore, it is intertwined with my musicianship. Thank you again, Dillon, for a thought-provoking discussion.
Thank you! Your hoensty and passion are always heartfelt and genuine and that's what keeps us coming back. I have dealt with burn out a few times, not to the point of selling everything, but it just feel like I am sitting in a room full of amazing records and not listening to them. But then.... oh man, a new release or a new repress, or even just catching a glimpse of the spine of a record on my shelf and BAM! like a time warp I'm flooded with the memories surrounding when I bought it, where I bought it, what I was going through at that time. All of a sudden it stokes the fires again and I am back to diggin' at the stores near me. Thank you for sharing all your experiences every week, especially this one. It IS healthy to burn out and then fan the embers again. Cheers.
Truly loved this reflection on record collecting, what it means to you, and how that evolves. As a lifelong collector and huge fan of everything you do with your channel and store, I connected with so much of what you said. Thanks for all you do for the record collecting community!
You perfectly described the collectors conundrum! It’s a time based medium and the bigger my collection gets sadly the more disconnected I can get from my records. I love music and it’s overwhelming when you have thousands of records because you can’t play them all and realistically you may go several years without listen to certain ones. And obviously when you’re like us you are constantly searching for grails and want list items that as soon as you get them no matter how happy and satisfied you were you suddenly find that their are twenty more grails you “must have”. 😂
Thank you for telling your story so openhearted. My son has autism as well , so i can appriciate what you are talking about , but as long as there is music, you can deal with whatever comes in your way and find strength 🙏🏻
I had burnout a few years ago from my full time job as a scientist and somehow landed on the other side of the pandemic (Aug ‘22) starting and running a small bricks and mortar record store in Tasmania, Australia, with my Mrs, selling only music by women! I’ve found that mixing things up in life, having a variety of interests, helps reduce the hyper-focus on one thing. So, I still work full time as a scientist but I also run a record store and even though I’m busier, I’m somehow less burned-out! I appreciate your sentiments in this video - lots of good advice. Keep it about the music as much as possible! 🤘🏼
Congrats on running your own record store! I like what your Mrs. is doing too. Gotta represent us women in music! I have a couple Missy Higgins LPs myself. Cheers from the States!
I write this from Spain. I enjoy your thoughts about your work and collecting issues involving records (great taste, respect and gentle tone to your audience and rich thematic), but most of all I think you give people space to think about what is life and the important things in a natural way. Keep te ball rolling dude
I cant imagine there are many more records that you need. The want list has to be short by now. I've been burnt out for years. I've stopped trying to keep up. Ive never been to an RSD. It feels good to let go, to be honest. I've participated in the record rat race. Not at your level, but I have come home with hundreds and thousands of records many, many times. Sometimes I can't watch your haul videos because I know I will have a twinge on envy. But then I tell myself, he gets to have all these records because he loves records enough to have a shop, and I just never got to that stage.
I love your videos. You have a skill of not just talking effortlessly to an audience but making the viewer feel you are just talking to us individually over a coffee or a beer. Great stuff. Have you considered doing a live show?
I've been buying records non stop for 32 years now. I've sold many. When I buy something new and I don't like it, I don't even try, I have enough experience, it goes to the selling pile imediately. I still got a shitload of records. I only came once close to that burnout you are talking about, and I now understand it much better. Not saying that it will make sense to everyone though : It happened when I was obsessed with contemporary electronic music, at the end of the 90ies. I felt I was on top of it, and I only needed to keep up with the new releases. And it got depressing a little, as I was not feelng all the new releases that much. And then, I stumbled upon true avant garde electronic music, even from my own country, and that was earth shattering! That's when I realized that my relationship with music is about challenging myself, intelectually, emptionally, spiritually. Since then, As I constantly find passion for new (to me) niches, there's always a drive. Of recent, it's been hungarian folk music of the 70ies, the hypnagogic world of Romance, the sea life ppost industrial electronic music of Asmus Tietchen, the post colonial futurism of portuguese Telectu, and so many others. Yes, I do struggle to find time to properlly ejoy my new records, especially considering all hte new music I survey online to find the next purchases, but in the end, it works out. Not being a completist also helps out massively. Fare well, Dillon, your virtual pal Stunty
For me the interest is the dig. When you find that one interesting record. The joy it gives you, getting it home and sharing it with a loved one while having a drink and chilling with my dog. I dont think anything gives me that pleasure and sense of tranquillity.
I’m as much as a collector as I am a listener. I’ve always collected things and once i got vinyl It became another collection. I love listening to the music obviously but to me that great feeling I get is from seeing my collection grow. Having all of my favorite artists records and bootlegs and whatnot is important to me. I’m very obsessive as well and always searching for as much information about a band as possible and these records hold information. Sometimes I just go through and look at every record I have and to have them all there and all in sleeves and safe and taken care of just makes me feel good. For me even when I don’t have time to listen to vinyl, I always like to just look at it. I guess I’m lucky in that way.
Dillon, I absolutely love watching your videos! I really appreciate your wealth of knowledge about so many genres of music. I am slowly building my collection and truly appreciate your passion for collecting. I understand the driving desire to buy everything, lol, I have had to put the breaks on more than a few times over the past 3 years. I hope one day to make it out to your store. Continued success in hunting for vinyl.
You're the real deal my friend. Always appreciate your true story! It is a bit different because you have to engage with records because that is your career. For us average Joe collectors I think we have to be "healthy" enough to know how to give ourselves a break. Sometimes we put these rules in our head that we have to listen to a record this many times, or at least this long each day, etc. Rule that become stressful when your body/mind is rebelling against them from burnout. I have had a few times where I literally say "screw my music room and collection" lol...and will just go a month without really stepping foot in it or playing anything. I think a vacation from anything that is your typical day to day is always good. We just have to learn how to break out own rules at times and that is not easy with obsessed people like us record collectors.
Definitely important to step away from something if you generally love it but find that it is becoming a burden. I agree with you. Otherwise it loses its magic
Great show. Your show was first one I started watching . I love picken and selling to make my collection better. And I like helping out people with what there looking for. Take care. Plan on coming down next week to look for Prog/fusion.
I do believe it, I can imagine a lot of people collecting records as artefacts to sit on a shelf or as an investment, and instead listening to the album on CD and/or streaming.
One of my favorite parts of the record collection journey is record shopping while traveling in a new city. When I know I'm going on a trip, I stop my regular visits to my local shops and save up for buying rarities in unexplored stores. Will be visiting LA soon from Houston and can't wait to explore random parts of the massive city scavenging for records. Helps with burnout for me when you're feeling like you're buying too much too recently and need a small break
Such great thoughts man! You def. are on another level of burnout from records with owning the store and all - its one of a million reasons I have hesitated to open one. I def. hear you on the tone poets and classics - they are so good and cheap how could you not get them all?? Which leads me to my issue - which is just simply SPACE - I do think about will I actually ever listen to all of these again - here is a freaky thought - being a parent - Ive always been told - be careful because the LAST TIMES are already occurring - the last diaper change, the last time in a crib, last time holding them, etc....just think - there are already records in your collection that have been played for the LAST TIME with you.....And all of us - which one is it?
....love your content man...I've been handling vinyl since I was about ten...buying and selling for myself for 45 years and have done 16 years behind a second hand record counter ...burnout happens to us all and it's to be recommended to take a break and do something else for awhile...the records will always be there...just like I'm hoping this channel will be ...having poked about in the "vinyl community" on a number of occasions I'm struggling to think of anyone else I've watched that has me coming back for more like your well considered, well rounded, eclectic, heartfelt presentations of stuff that excites you and might also excite ...great story telling skills as well...more please ...but not so much more that you burn your 'tuber self out!!!....
Awesome video man, there will be a day I come to the shop . No idea when that will be because I live in Chicago but one day…… congrats on being successful with your passion
I feel ya Dillon. I have been on a hard journey since I found Whatnot. Since November I have literally bought over 400 records to the tune of over 8 grand! I didn't even keep track till I needed to keep track. I have had to take a breather and re-evaluate some things. I have had a few shows and got rid of stuff I have not listened to in years. I now am going to take the time to enjoy my new acquisitions in time and hope I don't keep finding things I want, lol. LOVE your vids and your shows and hope to come for a visit soon! Peace dude and keep on keeping on ✌️
I got back into vinyl during the initial lockdown. I still had around 40 LP's that I had saved since the CD revolution but sadly I literally dumped my whole collection around 1984 or so. it's been my goal since to upgrade my existing and replace what I had gotten rid of. Once I reached that goal I got way into thrift shops, flea markets and buying on Discogs. All 3 scenarios lead to burnout - Discogs due to sellers over grading their records, misidentifying pressing etc. Flea markets tend to be waaaaay overpriced in the last few years and digging through thrift shops can be really frustrating - too many Jerry Vale's, Andy Williams, Englebert Humperdinks, Al Martino and Herb Alpert. I've spent hours digging through thrift shop slop only to become frustrated and discouraged. What keeps me going is the occasional grail find which makes it all worthwhile. So I'll keep the faith and keep digging. There's nothing more satisfying than bringing your finds home, cleaning them and then cataloguing them and adding to my Discogs collection. Not ready to give up on that. Cheers!
The burn out is so very real. I had it right before moving to NC. Purged a bunch and that felt better. It’s about balance for us. So many thing come before collecting, that’s what some folks need to realize. Awesome and informative video.
I have a big vinyl collection and recently found myself suddenly taking possession of 800 records from a family member. Dealing with that huge unexpected vinly haul was so overwhelming, from organising and transporting the lot back to my place to storing them. I had to step away from vinyl for a while just to take a breather. Always enjoy watching your videos. Reply
I have quite a bit of music myself, and I can sigh and agree with all you’re saying. I am even noting others in the collecting community making the statement “Quiet time and silence is underrated”. There are times I fully agree. Sound is much too prevalent in our lives.
I have collected records for about 35+ years and I used to belong to a few big record forums pre Facebook, and I would take photos of records, and share them and the community was smaller then. But I started to find I was taking photos and chatting more than I was listening, and I started to get burnt out and forgot what it was all about to me in the first place. That is why I never joined the vinyl community even though I started watching in its infancy. I think burnout will be very real with a lot of members of the vinyl community because it seems to be a sprint for them rather than a marathon.
Hi Dillon! You're definitely the most positive guy in the RU-vid vinyl community. I love your videos! Your collection is amazing, and one day I'll make it to your store. Looking forward to receiving my copy of Oran-Gutan. Thanks again!
I've recently experienced this exact situation. I constantly felt like if I didn't jump on a brand new release, I'd be missing out. I have been trying to focus more on enjoying the near 1000 piece collection I already have instead of thinking I NEED a certain new release.
I started collecting records when I was 6 in the nineties. My father brought me home a Yellow Submarine record bought from a friend selling his collection to switch to cds. Now me, my father and his friend are all record collectors❤
Great video, I feel like I could be approaching burnout, but definitely a bit abscessed at the moment. My collection journey has been from when I was young, didn't have that many physical copies growing up, but still have what I had then today. Recent rabbit hole has been heavy rock and Psych, only really just getting stuck in. Interest piqued through watching your channel for a couple of years and seeing all these cool covers then going away and checking out the records. Now over time I have started to really get into it. But being recently married and having some work to do on the house I am trying to go too mad with it, trying to stop the FOMO when I discover new things and remind myself eventually things get repressed again. I have started following those channels thanks for the recommendation. You are 100% part of the VC, no one is in charge haha. Cheers for another interesting video.
Great video! I think I might have become burnt out a bit. I started collecting back around 2007, and in 2013 I found three little secondhand shops in small towns that stocked piles of records and didn't know anything about the value. Every record was 50 cents to max of one dollar! Needless to say it was incredible. But they eventually eventually closed, I moved and now I can't get that thrill of deals like that anymore. Now I do buy an occasional album if something new catches my attention, or a remastered release. But maybe I'm burned out a little, especially with the prices, RSD and the fun of those old great deals. Keep on rockin!
Records are great, they've been a big part of my life (too big, honestly). When it comes to the music though I can get the same pleasure by listening to something on RU-vid as I get from spinning the original vinyl. I don't have a lot of time for music purists tbh - but I do understand the seductive allure of something rare and sought-after. In a way my love of the music and the object are related, but not that closely. There are some records I'd love to own as objects but I don't think I'd get more enjoyment from the music just because I'm spinning the OG vinyl.
I've been buying records on and off since the mid 90's. I rarely run into hard to find records so when I do, it's a really big deal. I've been watching your channel for years and the amount of crazy rare records you find is insane I have to wonder that because of that, the thrill is going away for you. Anyway, cheers!
Appreciate all your hard work with your great videos. Hope you will get plenty of rest. Must be crazy busy doing your channel and running a business! Take care.
so true. the music is what it's about. There are some shop owners who hold onto records that they dont even collect themselves, for the sake of "investment", and even hoping to drive up prices through creating scarcity. That kind of "collecting" is the dark side of our community. It's important that we re-evaluate every once in a while why were doing this. Sure, our collections have value. But once they become "investments" that's when I think we're in trouble. Thanks for yet another great video. I hope to come visit your shop in person one day.
I’ve been collecting for 5 weeks and I already amassed 50+ records. Mainly jazz from mofi, analog solutions and blue note. I think it’s hard not to get FOMO since every release is “limited edition” “sells out quick” and “best version ever released”
Interesting you post this now. I've kind of been feeling it myself lately. My main problem is not appreciating the records I have, and always craving the next purchase. Today the most important thing to me is the record I am about to buy, but almost as soon as I've bought it all I can think of is the next one. Tbh it's not doing my finances any good, and I fear I'm becoming a bit obsessive - its been 25 years of collecting music, and ten years of buying solely vinyl but maybe in the last 3 or 4 months it's become a bit unhealthy. Think I need to try and take a break (he says while bidding on three records on eBay and making an offer on one on Discogs). Send help.
Definitely know that feeling! I tell myself I absolutely need something. As soon as I get it nearly every single time I listen to it a few times. File it then suddenly and inexplicably there’s something else I “absolutely must have!”. On my drive home from work I have an internal monologue whether I should stop at a shop on my way home. This is on work days because obviously on my day off it’s not even a question-I’m going to a record store. I live in Los Angeles and we have so many good ones.
i think it's a bigger topic than even records, and i am glad you are talking about it! I have maybe 600-700 records----MOST of it is very underground, limited, rare. I can't just order these records from Amazon or Target, most of these have to be searched for and sourced. MOST of the time, my record collection makes me very happy. But i've realised in times of stress, or a lot of activities, or possibly just during times when i don't feel so great----i come down hard on my record buying and my collection. I look at them very negatively and wonder "what is this all for!?". I think this touches a bigger point though, that HUMANS are always desperately trying to cement their place in the world and our material possessions have long been used as a route to do that. like us, our collections are also temporary. And the JOY they give us, even for a few moments, is an experience in itself. I don't want to ever own more than 1000 records, because once a collection becomes too large it gets diluted. i don't want it to be about the stuff----but more about the FEELING. I have decided that once i get to 1000 records, i have an automatic kill-switch that will get activated to sell 200 records to take me back to 800 again.
For me it comes down to how much fun I get out of the records. I don't consider myself a fanatic -- I don't need "first pressings" or "limited edition" or whatever -- I just want to enjoy the music. For me that's what it's supposed to be about. Most of my records have a memory. For example, I recently listened to Paul McCartney's "Band on the Run" LP and I remembered when I was 13 and my dad took me to see Paul for the first time. Truthfully, I have a small record collection (about 100 singles and 75 LPs). But I love everything I have. And I listen to them daily. It's important to find that kind of joy. Like you say, it always goes back to the love of music.
2022 was a banner year for me and I swore I would dial it back in 2023…and then I found a May Blitz vertigo swirl UK misprint copy and the flame was reignited! It’s just too easy to nerd out, if you know what I mean?
my friend and iwere just having this conversation today. but our issue is more about buying a record then being dissapointed because of some ticks or pops. we are very picky when we buy and hardly never buy below mint minus, we keep saying doesnt this bother anyone else? are we too picy? i have issues with new vinyl too, i get a couple that sound amazing then a dud, sometimes i want tosell tt and all the records. just keepbuying cds and sacds, which usually sound amazing, thoughts?? great video
Yes indeed, Dillon. I said it on my channel 'I didn't realise I wanted that!' Therein lies the dilemma of vinyl collecting. I need to get ruthless with my collection as it needs a severe trimming. Where to begin...?
My love of vinyl started at the age of 3 learning to operate my parents furniture style turntable system and listening to their collection. My Dad was in the nightclub business in DC so when I was 6 he would bring me a bunch of records that the house DJ didn't want or already had. I started buying 1.00 records at rummage sales where I lived during the early 90s. I didn't have a lot of money then so I had a small collection. Then in 2014 I started buying 45s at a local store and that is when my obsession started again. Now it's hard to stop and I feel that burnout mentally now.
I'm with you Dylan, burnout is great so that we can all stay in line. I'm the same way when making videos, a little burnout is good, nobody wants to see my mug every day, haha.
The money always decides !. Always been a lover of music but I don't consider myself a collector. When my collection reached 6000 I felt like I was chasing my tail. Down to a more manageable 3000 and even that feels like too many sometimes plus cd's and 7 inches. I've switched off from it all for a bit so I can appreciate more what I have. It's not all about the next album or 12 anymore. And that's a relief. While I'm at it. Thanks Dillon for the content, knowledge and wisdom you share with us. I struggle with certain aspects of the vinyl community for various reasons. You never over value the medium versus the music and as a human being it's clear how your values inform your sharing of your hobby and business with other people. So... yeah. Thanks again man.
I’m a little burned out right now, I’m retired and would listen to vinyl 5-6 hrs a day until recently I m down to about 2 hours a day. I have about 3100 vinyl albums and about 1100 CD’s and 200 45’s and 200 cassette.
Hey dude just wanted to say I’ve been going through a rabbit hole on your videos. It cause of yours and other people YT videos I’ve recently began to collect again after a decade of not buying anything. I still have most of collection sitting in storage from when I was teenager about 200 or so records of mainly classic rock. About a week ago I went to the local record convention in Austin TX and I was blown away by how expensive some of these records were and kinda discouraging to me. So I get it how it can burn someone out on this hobby however it’s the cheap deals that keeps me going. I found some great 12’ singles from Cypress Hill , Digital Underground, Craig Mack and some hip hop albums that weren’t on my radar but very glad that I picked it up. I’m trying to boost my hip hop collection. As expensive as this hobby is it can still really fun and cheap if you’re on a budget like myself. For the more desirable records I’ll save up and buy one of Discogs every 2 months. Just ordered RCHP’s Blood Sugar Sex Magik Brazilian pressing. I’m super excited for it. I think it’s cool to collect different region releases plus it can be cheaper than going for a U.S. first press release on some albums. Thank you for your videos they definitely helped me out on collecting!
Thank you for sharing this! I own a business that I do not like, but I love my family so I make sure I like my job enough to succeed at it lol...I get it! Our son is on the spectrum and it can take life adjustments to be the kind of parent one wants to be to them for sure.
I've left comments on other channels about this subject. as someone who has several different collections including a couple thousand albums i can relate. We all go thru phases and purges do what's best for you and makes you happy.. 😊
Aloha Noble Records Great topic. I've had my share of burnout, I started collecting in the 10th grade that was like 1972. Of course like anything else over the years I've bought a lot and sold a lot. I used to get free demos because I worked in a record shop in 1977, And over those years I would buy demos for less than a dollar from the representative of labels who needed lunch money, lol. In 1984 a friend of mine opened a record stop or should I say cassette tape shop because Cassette tapes were happening, he had all that floor space so I asked him if he would take my albums on consignment, I might have been burnt out not sure ,but I really enjoyed selling my records and watch people pay those prices, Even back then we would sell collector albums of course not as high as they are today We also sold in goldmind magazine, internet wasn't happening at full scale yet. I'm amazed that you're able to have a collection and run a store, In Hawaii I remember in the 1980's if Customers found out you are taking the good stuff home they would never come in your shop and they would spread the word that you keep all the good stuff for yourself. Of course back in the eighties there were so much competition today we only have 3 shops in Honolulu and only one big enough to sell RSD product. If you ever get burned out Your collection will end up in the store anyway and you are the curator of your store. Make your store the best store in the U.S.A. Anyways, always enjoy watching your Videos, looking forward to the next one. Mahalo Ed
Thanks Ed! I don’t keep all the good stuff, it’s actually rare that I keep anything. One of the big reasons I bought the collection in Florida is because I wanted some for my collection, but I already had a lot of it so we had one of our most epic drops ever with the rest of it! Thanks for watching! 🙏
Dillon, what affects me the most. Is I love my collection and collecting so much, but have very little time to actually commit to enjoying my records. I work Monday through Friday, get off work and spend time with my family. Sometimes I'm only able to listen to records one day a week.
I came here to say the exact same thing. In fact, when I start feeling this way I start going through them and seeing each ones I can get rid of because I haven’t listen to them in forever. I’m in the process of doing this right now.
Hi Dillon, I am a CD/vinyl collector from France. I just discovered your channel and I just love it. You already made me discover fantastically cool records. Thanks for that. I love vinyls but I tend to buy more CDs because they are a lot cheaper nowadays. This is probably seen as a cardinal sin by the vinyl community...Keep up making cool videos. Thierry
over time I've experienced that burnout, especially when feeling like I don't interact with the collection enough. there are many reasons for the lack of interaction, including lack of time - and even when I have time I have to be considerate of family members. but I'm also aware that the main reason is I'm always involved with new (mostly older) music that I don't own yet. my listening time is spent mostly on checking out stuff I'm currently interested in and deciding if I should buy on vinyl. so mostly I'm listening to digital files, either online or downloaded. hence the concept of The Living Collection. I've vowed to myself that I will try to keep it alive through multiple kinds of interactions - that could include sorting/organization (and possibly culling, yeah never really done that...haha), setting aside (a minimum?) time each day to play records, and my favorite: DJing. local open turntable nights, or your own regular or one-off gigs and maybe a radio show or youtube channel :) someday. be nice to have the occasional record party with friends too. and yeah we all get burnt out on record collecting until we hit that motherload - which for me recently has included Three 6 Mafia! oh and that time (2000/2001) when I imbibed 50+ years of hard rock and metal in 18 months (with a little help from Sam Dunn, Martin Popoff, Pete Pardo and Fenriz among others) - that was a pretty good time too :)
Well, you have been going HAM recently. I get burnout with it as well, but record collecting to me is a cyclical thing that been a long constant. They're just there and I get into and out of them quite often, with no real intentions to sell or off my collection until I'm older and if one of my kids don't want them. BUT, it's a nice thing that's there and apart of me and will always be there to enjoy and be a part of who I am. What I really miss, is the regular crazy deals I use to get and crazy finds at the local thrift stores. Those days are seemingly gone........least for the crate digger like myself. You get it kinda easy as its your life and people come to you with stuff they wanna sell.
I know the feeling. I just finished putting over a 1,000 records onto Maxell XLII and XLIIS tapes as part of a personal archival project. Been doing it for 4 years now. Finally done. Haven't recorded a tape for over 2 weeks now. I used to crank out several per day. Just taking a break. I'll be back after a beer or three!
i'm right there as well. started serious collecting in 2019. back then i had 20 or so albums and it was a joy, easy. now i have close to 800 and it now seems almost like a chore just trying to pick one out to listen to. i think about selling but then i think of all the "i can't believe i own this" albums i have and it's hard. so yeah i'm in kind of a burnout phase. tks for the videos!! great job.
Funny that this is your topic today. Thank you for sharing! I've hit a plateau recently. Life has been crazy and I haven't had time to relax with my records. My collection is at a size (1,500) that I feel needs to be better managed - maybe prune some out, organize it in a more meaningful way so that I can find titles better (how many sub-genres is too many?) 😜Maybe there is a tinge of guilt that I am not enjoying my collection enough to warrant the time, space and money it has taken up. I suspect this phase will pass and I will whole heartedly dive back in because I love music.
Every hobby or job puts you through varying stages of emotion. It's common, nothing to see here basically. The more you enjoy something, and the more time you spend doing it will eventually cause burnout, as you say, but it will wane and you're emotions will swing back to loving it all over again. I'm old. I've gone through these cycles many times.
I'm just getting back into it again.. i got replacement KLH Model 24 , i had a model 20 for decades now i have a "Man Cave" and just today i bought two Traffic LPs and a Best of Spirit LP. my prize record is a mint Savoy Brown "Shake Down" i paid 60 bucks for a mint copy in Maine while on vacation.i asked the shop owner and he said i have it but its down stairs:)
After about 15+ years of collecting, I have about 60 records, they don't even completely fill two cubes in one of those Ikea shelves. That being said, I have more movies and video games than I can every possibly hope to get through in my lifetime; it's nice to have one collection I can feasibly cycle through once a year.
It's difficult having a list of old stuff you still want when there is also so much current music coming out I want to buy. I'm guilty of pre ordering stuff without having heard a single track just because it's an artist I like.
I have gotten into record collecting a few years ago because I went down my basement and found a cheap record player nobody was using. Now I have a proper hifi setup and about 100-130 records! I don't think I have ever got burned out and I play records at least twice a week since I started.
I’m 68 and started collecting early on. Had 600-700 by the time I was 18. Mix of current and 10-15 years earlier stuff. Mostly used from ppl record stores but when I found garage sales and flea markets I went crazy. Collection ballooned. Got bored and sold doubles at record shows and flea markets thereby getting it down under 10000 LPs. Nothing wrong with selling on the side - it gave me the cash to buy other LPs or even other items like tools and guns and nice items for my kitchen. FYI - I sold for less than stores did so other collectors got a fair price. Don’t understand the snobbishness of some in the VC. Seems like they are the “I got it you don’t crowd” Or at least some come off that way. I tried to upgrade titles but so much was not findable. Now with Discogs and Ebay and all the reissues of semi rare to impossible LPs -records are gettable. But it has gotten so expensive. That really has slowed me down. Still really appreciate just pulling something out and playing a disc I haven’t heard in a while. Just nice to appreciate the artistry.
It definitely always comes and goes with vinyl but when i do burnout i look through my collection and play my favourite vinyl (Kate Bushs The kick inside and Anything fleetwood mac). I dont have a massive vinyl collection but im hoping for it to grow more. If anyone burns out just take your time and enjoy your record
