A dj in the crowd

Then save your money & don’t go. If that’s how you’re honestly feeling while you’re at the club, it’s best to stay home, save your money and dj for yourself. I used to have that, but then I changed my ear plugs (allowing me to hear more while still protecting my hearing (and if you’re not wearing hearing protection while you’re at a club, why not?!?!) and I also take a moment before I walk in the door or while I’m in the bathroom to say to myself “I’m not here as a dj, I’m here as a fan.” I also stopped going to shows like I used to and only go for artists I really like, so I actually want to be there as a fan.

That’s just me though. It’s worked as shows I’d normally be bored to tears at, I’m having a little bit of fun. Even shows where I’m selling merchandise. So you can be a DJ and still have fun at a show, you just have to leave that mentality at the door. Otherwise, you’ll always be in that trap and never have fun when you’re on the other side of the booth. Yeah, it’s not as addicting as being the person on stage with everyone going crazy for you, but it’s something you either need to learn or just plan on not going out to a club unless you’re playing.

Bored? Not so much bored as always looking with a “professional’s eye” at things. Never able to just be out with the rest of the crowd. Checking out the lighting, the sound systems, the DJ, never plain enjoyment. Still good to see others, even if they are worse than you (think you) are. Sometimes you see a “bad” dj having a good crowd going. It’s important to ask yourself “what is it that he DOES do that makes that crowd go”. Learning moment.

As for euphoria, I think everyone having played out for more than a handful of times (when you are still having starter jitters and are glad to make it through the set) has had that experience. The nights that everything clicks, the audience seems to dance to whatever you play, track selection comes in waves and the set is over before you thought it started.

Enjoy it, those are the jewels in our career.

I’ve had both…
I agree with Vintage and Todd at observing the lighting systems and so on.. noticing when the DJs invariably go into the red but nobody else seems to care etc.
And the high from DJing is normal.. you get used to it when you play what you love and everybody else is loving it too, but I guess it depends on what you like to play, what gets you going. I’ve met DJs who only DJ to get girls, or the adulation, etc etc.

As others have said, just be more picky about your nights – learn the nights you love and the DJs you love and just go to those. Even better, make friends with the DJs. I find when people I know are DJing I’m much more relaxed and subconciously evaluating them less than when it’s a stranger 🙂

My favorite thing, though, is noticing when a DJ makes a dodgy mix. Not in a “Oh look he made a mistake, let’s laugh at him/her” way, but in the “Wait a second, NOBODY else here noticed or cared about that! They’re all just having a great time!”

I used to really ‘play it safe’ when I first started playing out – terrified of making any kind of mistake. Now I realize that even great DJs screw up sometimes, but even when they do, most people don’t even notice! It really made me realize I can be less hard on myself and be a bit more adventurous. So there’s one advantage to being in ‘evaluation mode’ all the time.