Is it ever too late?Can a Nobody become a success?

Defining success is the hardest part of this question. I switched to digital after owning 1200’s for 8 years and never playing for anyone. 1 year later I have created a successful house party series (75-100 people in a town of 3000) and have a monthly spot at a club that I get paid for. I consider myself a success because I get to do what I love, I created new fans of the music I love, and I have a regular paying gig.

If you consider success in a different way, I still don’t think it is ever too late. People go back to college in their 30’s 40’s or 50’s and change careers, and become successful, Why should DJing/producing be any different? I heard someone say once that if you do what you love, that is the thing you would do if money was no concern, you will eventually become a master and and get paid for it. The trick is hard work, marketing, and persistence, all the while keeping your love for sharing what you love with other people.

someone shunned by society . . . considered a freak . . . never got invited to parties . . . no social life what so ever . . . a bit of a black sheep

Sounds like the life story of most artistic/creative types during their formative years, particularly the famous ones. Certainly was the way I felt. Most people eventually you find their niche and a social scene without losing their values. It sure beats the isolated tortured artist life. For me it was liberating, and now people typically describe me as outgoing and friendly. If you want to be a DJ it may seem like a contradiction to be the “life of the party” when you feel you don’t fit in socially. But plenty of DJ’s I know are introverts. And glad you like the Star Wars refrence, even though it’s probably dated.

sounds like you have confidence issues

The Black Rag, post: 40880, member: 7330 wrote: I understand your point in this but i don’t think you understand what i meant when i said ”a nobody”,i didn’t mean it as just another average person,i meant it as in someone shunned by society who for most of his life had no friends,was considered a freak,someone who never got invited to parties,had no social life what so ever and was often told to go away if he mistakenly showed up to a social gathering.

Peaking at high school may send you out in to the world with a lot of confidence, but the music industry (and many others) these days isn’t somewhere where you can get away with believing more in your self than your ability backs up. You will, no doubt, understand how flawed human nature is when you’re a bit older and you will see those judgmental @ssh0les for the pathetic, shallow worms that they are. Young people can be very cruel, they will follow confident fools to the ends of the earth, and a culture of judging and pidgeon-holing people quickly takes hold in many groups of young people. Don’t believe their judgement – there is no good reason why you should believe that they were ever qualified to judge you, what did they know, really, they were just kids and got kicks out of putting people down (because they thought that moved them up a rank).
The music world, electronic music especially, is full of people who didn’t fit in, who weren’t popular at school, many don’t even reveal their true identities, but still make a good living making music.
Nobody is ‘a nobody’ – popularity most likely came at a price if you think about it, fitting in with harsh, judgmental people who were cruel to those they looked down upon would have been required no doubt to fit in with the ‘popular’ crowd – you likely didn’t fit in because you weren’t prepared to be a d1ck – if they ever realise the truth about how they acted, then they’ll have to live with the regret.

“When the time comes” has such an expecting feel to it. Like you are waiting for something to happen. The matter of the fact is that YOU are the one that has to make it happen. If you get creative and bold, you can always find a venue that is open on slow nights and have nothing by way of a (paid) DJ playing. Offer to play there monthly, bi-weekly or even weekly for a month or two (hard if you are jugling a 60-hour a week start-up as well, I understand). Stick some of those menu-holders on the bar with a text like “I DJ for tips” if you want :).

The thing is to get out there and be seen. If you are as good as the crowd reaction suggest, then you will actually start seeing people coming back for you, perhaps bringing friends to witness this great DJ. Before you know it, people will ask for you and the venue owner might want to give you a shot at a paid slot on the busy nights. Or someone might invite you to play paid at a private event.

Nobody’s gonna notice you practicing is what I am saying.

So, go out there and make it happen for yourself!

Greetinx,
C.