DirtyDan717

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.

I followed all the steps here to the letter. Really helped me out. But as was said before, it’s usually that godforsaken wireless.

http://www.native-instruments.com/knowledge/questions/847/

http://www.djtechtools.com/2011/08/14/optimizing-windows-for-djing-part-i-power-script/

http://blog.dubspot.com/optimize-your-windows-7-pc-for-djing-music-production/

Hee Won Jung, post: 31198, member: 948 wrote: Y
As a DJ we should be able to play out on any medium….

This deserves an extra mention as well. I eventually see my workroom having DVS, Controller-based, and regular vinyl setups.

Call this silly if you want to, but I have an imagined scenario in my head, it’s what drives me. You’ve all seen that disaster movie scenario played out a hundred times in a hundred story lines, “The pilot had a heart attack! what are we going to do!?”. Some passenger with a Cessna license steps up and saves the day. I want to be that guy. Be able to walk into any situation and hold my own. That’s where the “better vs. worse” conversation loses me. wtf cares? Just do work son.

Terry_42, post: 31163, member: 1843 wrote: Talk to everybody. All they can do is turn you down… ask 20 bar owners you get one gig…

I had the same attitude when I was unemployed (Telecom). Must have went on 30 interviews, sent out couple hundred resumes. People asked me if the sheer number got me down. I’d reply with “Nah, just takes 1 to say yes.”

$175 for 4 hours. Honestly it wasn’t even 4 hours. I did four 30 minute sets, in between the band went on for 45 minutes. It’s a pretty popular bar, the whole “chicks in cowboy hats” dancing on the bar type gimmick. Definitely couldn’t rely on a jukebox environment. Bar gigs are great work if you can get them when you’re first starting out. The people are there for the express purpose of getting hammered, so I used it as my practice space.

Now I’m at a sports bar 3 nights a week, same pay but I’m on straight for 4 hours. It’s taught me about flow, about substance and about creativity. The downside to these kinds of gigs is you beholden to what the manager wants so you can’t stray too far from his status quo, but much like the Matrix some rules can still be bent. Others, can be broken.

When i finally do progress to a club gig doing what I really want to do (dnB, jungle, some house when I’m feeling squirrely) I will have had an amazing “internship”.

Depends. If it’s a lifting day, no cardio, metal and old school punk. Pennywise and Rancid are 2 of my favorites.

If it’s crappy weather outside and I have to run on the treadmill (which let’s face it is one of the most boring things known to man) I find I get it through it a lot faster with a Diesleboy Mix. If I have to be a hamster on a wheel, d&B/jungle all the way. I play a game with myself to see if I can spot the transitions between tracks. Before I know it my 45 minutes is up.