Just curious. Starbucks/drawing-related question.

[velderia]

I notice that whenever I bring my laptop and tablet to a Starbucks, and work there... I actually WORK there.

At home, my mind goes blank, turns mushy, and I have a hard time focusing. I burp a few lines instead of grinding and breaking down a full page.

I'm not sure what it is and I just kind of didn't think about it until now. Has anyone else experienced this? I'm kind of worried about it because it's not really gentle on the wallet. The gas isn't that bad, especially after I moved, but buying drinks can add up, especially since I spend long hours in there, almost all day, trying to make as much art as I can.

I'm not sure what I can blame it on. I used to think maybe it's because I'm further away from my parents, but it also could mean that maybe it's more comfortable there. I don't know. Maybe it's also the fact that I have to pay to use the wireless there, thus forcing myself to not surf around the internet.

Has anyone had this problem? Were you able to overcome it?

[FourTonMantis]

I really don't think this is a problem. If you can concentrate better in a non-home environment then go for it. You don't have to buy something just because you're at Starbucks.

[Hexokinase]

Isolating yourself from other forms of entertainment is always great for your productivity. Even if you find art to be genuinely fun, it can be difficult to whip out the ol' sketchbook when there's the PS3 giving you a coy look in the corner of your eye.

If you want to be productive at home, then make the necessary sacrifices to make sure it happens: lock yourself in your room, take away the tv, and unplug that ethernet cable.

If you don't like the vibe of the home environment, go to a library, park or any other peaceful location where you can draw for free.

[timpaatkins]

Found out recently that Starbucks have refills on coffee for 50 cents. So if your sneaky and its a big Starbucks, bring used cup and ask for a refill now and then to keep costs low. If your drinking some fancy schmancy bullshit frappa sugary melted donut mocca part skim soy milk froth concoction, then you'll just have to pay the devil his due.

[velderia]

Found out recently that Starbucks have refills on coffee for 50 cents. So if your sneaky and its a big Starbucks, bring used cup and ask for a refill now and then to keep costs low. If your drinking some fancy schmancy bullshit frappa sugary melted donut mocca part skim soy milk froth concoction, then you'll just have to pay the devil his due.

Hmm... The odd thing is ever since I moved my stomach can barely handle coffee and I'm becoming a tea drinker now. I used to be a heavy coffee drinker and felt like falling asleep on 3 cups of coffee one time.

Maybe I should write to Starbucks saying they should have a 50 cent tea refill...

Or find someplace else that is laptop friendly and tea-drinker friendly. I'm not sure where though.

Now I kind of wish I was still a heavy coffee drinker again. You're on to something because a barista gave me a decaf cafe misto for free today because they had to brew something fresh and it's actually their policy to not charge the customer that has to wait for it. I was only able to drink half of it though. :<

[MiniGoth]

Nope, you're away from all the at home distractions and 'gottas'. It's why a lot of people who work from home still rent an office space.

[XanaChama]

Hmm... The odd thing is ever since I moved my stomach can barely handle coffee and I'm becoming a tea drinker now. I used to be a heavy coffee drinker and felt like falling asleep on 3 cups of coffee one time.

Maybe I should write to Starbucks saying they should have a 50 cent tea refill...

They do. But it's not 50 cents, it's something close.

Or find someplace else that is laptop friendly and tea-drinker friendly. I'm not sure where though.

The book store has coffee shops :) They don't care if you buy anything either. That's what I do. It's usually bustling if you're around peak times if that's what you need to get your energy moving. Good for public figure drawing too. I'm like you. I usually need to leave sometimes to create (but it's not absolutely necessary since I have my own place), but I can't really handle their coffee too often because of a health problem and I can make tea at home :/. That and when you're low on cash and know you have to buy groceries, it loses the incentive. If you go into the ones at the malls though, they don't care if you buy anything. Hell I used to buy my food from next door and walk in there and sit. Just because it was air conditioned and they had chairs that didn't suck...

Now I kind of wish I was still a heavy coffee drinker again. You're on to something because a barista gave me a decaf cafe misto for free today because they had to brew something fresh and it's actually their policy to not charge the customer that has to wait for it. I was only able to drink half of it though. :<

You might want to look into this:

https://www.starbucks.com/cardrewards/default.asp

It doesn't give free refills on tea though but you don't have to pay for sweeteners. (I'm a tea drinker too so boo). Just have to fill the card up for $15 a month. It's just a gift card.

[Katfayheirti]

This is why people have studios. A lot of people focus better outside their home. You're definitely not alone.

[J Wilson]

For a while I used to head to the mall and hang out in the foodcourt to be productive. I could quietly sketch people around me to warm up, and then work on rough sketches for hours. It's funny to think a bustling mall felt like it had fewer distractions than sitting at home. Only think I missed was having the internet handy to look up reference quick (although there were bookstores).

Ah, one day I'll have a nice distraction free studio to go to, away from home.

[arttorney]

If you draw with a laptop your studio doesn't have to be much either. There are a lot of crap little marginal 250 sq. ft. offices vacant right now because of all the failing small businesses. Take a look at a lot of factors including how much starbucks money you might spend per month, how much of a write off you can get on schedule C (assuming U.S. taxpayer) for an office or studio rent, how much you might like to have a place to store old files and junk, how much you think it will improve your productivity, how you no longer necessarily have to give out your home address to people you don't know all that well. One of those little offices might just do you some good, but you know your own life and have to balance everything out against the money that would be involved.

If the internet is a problem, don't pay for the internet service to the office. If you have a cell phone make sure you get good reception in there while you are scoping out possible offices. If the reception is good then you don't need to pay for an office phone line either. There are a lot of little cash vampires you can, and probably should, dodge if you want that office to be your little quiet place.

Get one with a sink so you can have a little tea set up in there.

[donm]

I have this problem from time to time. I don't go to a starbucks but I do go to barnes and noble occasionally to get inspired and sketch (in the coffee section). I used to hate not being inspired at home but to overcome this I've optimized my desk area and really the whole apartment to be more streamlined so I don't get scatterbrained and can pretend Im at the office. I also have a hard time when my wife is home so I try to do it when Im alone in the house with inspirational music blaring. sometimes I play a game or two just to get my blood flowing...although Im one of those people that buys an online fps and occasionally gets on for about 45 min. and can get off right after. If you're interested theres a good site for optimizing your productivity: www.lifehacker.com

[HugeHarHar]

Heh. I'm a starbucks employee, and do the arts.

I recommend getting in with the employees, I know that sounds kind of obvious but most stores I've worked at the customers who chat it up with us usually end up with cheaper/free drinks. Aside from that you may find some of the employees may do art as well.

Iced teas are pretty cheap, and have 50-55 cent refills as well.

[Zirngibism]

Heck, why does it have to be a Starbucks?

I think a public library is a great place to work, and have done it before. They are well lit, not too noisy, but still interesting environments.

Plus, you're surrounded by a bounty of reference/inspiration!

And provided you're not doing anything messy, they can't really kick you out.

(Plus, most libraries have cafe's if you get hungry/thirsty.)