What's the single most important thing you've learned as a DJ?

1. Don’t show you are TERRYfied

2. Fake it til you make it

3. I’m the oldest 😛

Not to overlook marketing.

I learned this industry is not a total meritocracy where just learning/building skills will get you places. Being socially known, building a brand, image, and such…that all plays major roles now.

Ten years ago, if someone like me were telling me all the stuff I tell you guys now…I might have grown more in all this.

NO REGRETS BY THE WAY…but this is why I try to teach you all marketing, so you have a better chance at going somewhere in all this. 🙂

remember to enjoy it.

If DJing becomes a chore then you should only do it if you are making more money than other things.

I DJ for fun and only that. When I have been paid I have looked at that as a bonus, but not important to me.

Depends whether this is a career or a passion

The desire to do it and the perseverance to keep on at it. As Jason Nesmith says, “Never give up, never surrender!”

Or “King Kong aint got nothing on me!”, “Thats not a knife, this is a knife”, “Life is like a box of chocolates” and other such useful movie quotes.

So keep going, no matter what and do what you love best. Or as one more movie quote would say, “Run Forrest, RUN!”

Always get paid

If it’s clubs, big parties, and raves you’re after, befriend the oldest/longest gigging DJ in your city. They will give you a sense of perspective and humility. My city has three of them and we’ve become good friends…not just “DJ friends”, but actual Real Life friends…and they’ve helped me see things in a much sharper contrast in this game. Some trainwreck at a jam or slow point in your career means so much less after talking with peeps that have been doing this to eat and pay rent since the late 70s or 80s. One of these guys helped shape the sound of this country with the parties he’s played (in the drum & bass area), one of them came from being a tour DJ in the 80s for big hip hop acts and now rocks rare funk and deep breaks on 45s, and the other came from London in the dawn of all of this and has seen literally everything come and go and come again.

After these deep long conversations late into the night over pints at our local pub I’ve come to see that not one single thing that you think is unique to you or is some special little snowflake of a problem that you face is new. Not one thing. The best advice any of them ever gave me? “Stop caring about this thing you’re complaining about…because it truly does not matter in the grand scheme of things”. These three, in their own avenues, have watched whole generations of clubbers and ravers grow up and leave only to be replaced by new ones over and over and over. No one is going to remember that one night you weren’t top shelf. Everything arises and ceases except you…you are the constant. Partiers, “fans”, venues, promoters, even whole scenes and sounds…they all arise and cease and if you choose to you will still be there. So stop worrying.

So go out and meet these guys, whoever they may be in your town and whatever genre of tunes or style of jam they rock, and talk to them. Be humble and get deep.

Sometimes you just can’t please everyone… great life lesson as well!