Balancing the Day Job

I know how you feel. In my case, I wake up 5:30am to go to college (engineering) till 11:45am. Then I got a part time job from 12:30 pm to 6 pm and I also practice taekwondo nearly everyday from 7pm to 8pm.
I found a time to practice from around 9pm to 2am after dinner and shower. College homework I do during my free time at job or during breaks between classes.
I get nearly no sleep time, but you get used to it 🙁
I have no issue with nearly no sleep, not that I wouldnt like some more ! But there are others that just HATE to be sleepy and then they should find another time to practice.
Remember that even if you work as a DJ, it is a job that you are only good at if you enjoy it! And that includes practice times, research times (for tracks, updates in software and hardware, etc) Some days when I have heavy homework I cant mix and then I feel as if that day was somehow incomplete.
Just plan your times, organize your schedule and you will find at least half an hour to have some fun with music 🙂
I even sometimes load my iPod with the new tracks I downloaded and with a notebook and a pen in hand, I write down where I would like to place my cues while I travel (public transport) so then I just come home, place the cues I decided earlier and play with them.

Hope I was of any help 🙂

EDIT: I can remember a quote from a blog I read a long time ago that said ‘The more organized your schedule is, the more freedom you have to change it.’

Bit of advise: Do not try too hard.
Sounds funny I know, but if you are trying to get rid of stressful influences by “doing one thing after another”, you will work it out.
I was a huge workaholic when I was still pro DJing, hugely different from what people suspect a DJs life is like… (aka going home with 3 chicks, waking up a 4pm, getting a manly breakfast and partying on…. didn’t happen)
When I took on my day job now (marketing manager) I was the same and got hugely burned out…
Now I reformed, meditate and just look at things differently. The day has 24 hours, 8 of which I like to sleep (or 6 as minimum) so make due with the rest. If I suddenly have 20 things on my desk like today… I still find time to post here, because sometimes you need a break…

Relax and go with the flow.

A lot of us are dealing with this. I’m an Executive Chef with a young son, free time is not something I have a lot of. People like us have jobs that pay the bills so we need to spend our free time doing things we enjoy not things that cause us even more stress. Balance your life and you’ll be a much happier. For what it’s worth, I dig for tracks while I’m getting ready in the morning and plan or play sets for a couple of hours a week, usually after my son goes to sleep. Don’t burn yourself out, do what you have time for.

Yeah I’d 2nd what Terry42 & rjwhite41 said.
Also resist this macho attitude of “I don’t need sleep.” Its unhealthy and all you do is burn yourself out.
I was a crazy workaholic when I was younger and all I did was burn myself out.
What’s the point of success if you don’t have any time or people to enjoy it with?

İve been djing for nearly 18 years now and have only ever done it as a ‘serious’ hobby and i too have a full time teaching job AND married which you can imagine is very very demanding but somehow i have managed to dj regularly and continue to do so. İ also do a monthly at a local bar/club. The way i managed is by using any spare time for discovering new music and allocating anything between 1-2 hours a week mixiing which is all i can manage. HOWEVER if you feel ready and really want to continue djing alongside a demanding job/life then my biggest recomendation is to find a local venue where by you can play on a regular basis. You practice and dj at the same time. İt also means that your busy schedule cant interfere in that because its ‘fixed’. Dont worry about the new talent emerging all the time and that you feel that you are starting all over every time you mix because unless you have dreams to be the next Sasha or are serious about djing as a career move then there is no reason to worry about other talent. Dont forget that for ‘part-time’ djs like us its about playing for enjoyment not for a living. İ dj maybe twice a month on average to about 50-100 people, half of them friends and believe me its GOOD enough. Focus on a suitable venue and if you can afford it get a suitable PA because that gives you more opportunity to play in venues that may otherwise not be suitable such as bars etc. And of course continue with the online mixes as that is so easy to do these days. Good luck and dont ever think that just because you have a demanding occupation you can do what you love.

There’s something cool about buying any SW plug-in you need and release any kind of music you like, not worrying about the next rent or house payment.

DirtyDan717, post: 32163, member: 2871 wrote: Here’s the thing. You want to be a superstar DJ? If that’s exactly where you want to be, then you will dive in with both feet and make that happen. You will sacrifice more lucrative and stable situations to pursue that dream. Same with anything that gives people passion. You will work, practice, sweat and grind that shit out until it either happens or doesn’t. Those other guys that have more time than you and are surpassing you? Think about what kind of sacrifices they’re making in other areas. Unless you’re independently wealthy, there’s a lot of odd jobs/part time jobs and ramen in their lives.

You, on the other hand, you have a career. Clearly it makes you happy and at least mostly fulfilled (if it doesn’t, you’re in the wrong field). If you’re not willing to sacrifice all that to be the next Tiesto, well that’s okay too. Do what you do and have fun doing it, even if you only ever get to a weekend warrior status. Just be where you are and be content with that, until you’re not. My own example, I work in telecommunications. Decent living, comfortable lifestyle. I also work in radio. Do I entertain the thought of being the next Howard Stern? Of course. I’m very good at what I do and I could probably make something happen. Of course that means abandoning my current income for damn near abject poverty, (other radio jocks can attest to this). Abandoning a lifestyle that let’s me buy the DJ gear I want, play out a few times a week, snowboard, study martial arts and lots of other fun stuff. I no longer have that kamikaze gene that makes me want to pursue radio full time.

Other kids coming up? They have that. I’m okay with not. I know a lot of guys in the industry that have trouble making rent every month, get bounced from market to market at the whim of a one nazi General Manger to another but for the 60 hours a week they put into their shows they are the happiest people I know…most of the time.

My point is, don’t compare yourself to other DJ’s. Realize what you’re willing to give and what you’re not. When you make peace with that everything becomes much easier. If you’re not having or finding fun in everything you do, you’re doing it wrong.

Yes, Yes and yes…

If you want to become something great… it doesnt only take talent it takes massive amount of sacriifice and time. Currently that is what I am doing and I do not mind any of it. I cannot express how much I want this to become my life and I will push head on and over come anything that gets in my way. And if I fail I will get up. Again and again and again. “Every failure is a brick in my palace.” – fogotton name.