DJing is one of the most fun things you can do with your weekend. Whether it’s having a group of besties over or heading out to play a party somewhere, it’s a great use of energy. But there are some things can stress you out about being a hobby or career DJ. Let’s check out a few things that you might need to fix to move away from stressful nights.
Lack of preparation
The number one source of stress is lack of preparation. Dumping your tracks onto a flash drive isn’t good enough! You have to spend the time curating your set like a garden. Setting cue points can require massive amounts of time. Cue points are the point in the track where your software will start playback. But some tracks have instrumental or atmospheric intros which need to be skipped. Make sure your cue points are set for every track so that you don’t end up mousing around the on the night. That way, you’ll be able to spend less time doing admin and your set will flow.
People control
Most people at parties are drinking, which is, like, what makes it a party. Drinking means fun. Fun means irresponsibility. And that means people barging into your booth, demanding requests, knocking things over. People can be total hazards. Set your boundaries early, while they’re sober. Hey, requests are fine, but a DJ is in charge of the music on the night. It’s better to turn requests down than become the target for other people’s nostalgia and personal taste. You’re there for the crowd. Behave like a pro. Act like a pro. The venue or event booker should be on your side.
Wondering if you’re doing a good job
DJs sometimes find it difficult to talk about this, because we’re the ones who people look to for their taste. Doubt is a part of the job. It’s totally normal to spend half the night wondering if anyone is actually enjoying the music you’re selecting for them! Even the playlist from the client might not be the right selection. So remember a few things: you’re never going to please every person there. You are constantly scanning for feedback like eye contact, tapping feet, dancing. And if it’s a corporate or wedding event, always remember: hey man, you just work here.
Being on top of your DJing game makes things awesome. Nobody needs stress, especially if you’re the one setting the atmosphere for others to loosen up. So put your relaxation and confidence at the center of the job and do your preparation! Learn more DJing tips by signing up for the DJ Techniques Level 1 course with DJ Courses Online today.
John Bartmann is a music producer and DJ