It’s not the greatest time to be a DJ, is it? The industry as we knew it appears to have shut down. Nobody seems to have any work. As we shift from denial to acceptance, things feel difficult. That’s because they were easy before, but things have changed. And anyone who calls themselves a professional DJ will have to change with them. Here are a few things to keep you active and motivated during this time.
Find the resources
Sites are popping up with lists of resources for out-of-work creatives during this time. Start Googling and check out what’s available to you in your area. FreelanceArtistResource.com is one good place to start, but keep looking for what you’re looking for, of course.
Keep healthy
We’re DJs, and we feel more like studio rats than people who do yoga (although this guy is apparently a yoga DJ). So it’s OK if you don’t do 6 hours of meditation or run on the spot for 5 miles. But you have to admit, we need physical and mental exercise to stay healthy. Start with one small thing every day. It could be a stretch while you wait for the kettle to boil. Make it something you do every day. Just like you enjoy being able to use a pair of decks, learn to enjoy the benefits of keeping healthy.
Stay in touch
Those under lockdown are all getting a little tired of Zoom calls and WhatsApp family groups by now. So make sure that you’re enabling some quality interaction with the people you used to see regularly. Make the purpose of your phonecall to have a laugh or offload some of your worries. Keep connected to people, even though lofi phonecalls aren’t great. Make the time spent with others count.
A few simple things are all that’s required to stay positive and healthy during this time. Remember, as DJs, people look to us to bring the good vibes. And the good vibes are certainly in demand right now. Keep learning the tools of DJing in our selection of online DJ courses. Now’s your chance to level up!
John Bartmann is a music producer and DJ