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Forum: General Discussion

Topic: Setting the mood

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How does everyone get themselves peped up for a gig? I mean, if you and your girlfriend or wife had a huge fight earlier and it is effecting your thoughts, it would show through the music your spinning in the club or party, right? Your job as a DJ is to keep the people on the floor and show them a good time through your music. And if your mood is not right, your music is going to suck, your mixing abilities are not the same, in my opinion. People say, "just don't think about it when your spinning." I don't buy that saying. How does everyone deal with this?

DJ Syberman
 
Posted Sat 24 Feb 07 @ 5:28 am
channeling. use your mad to your advantage. (her words!) one of the best nights dj'ing i've ever had was after an argument over where and what to eat, that got overblown. i channeled the mad into music and had over 300+ people in the bar at 3am. granted that its not always going to be like that, but when it works it REALLY works.
i've even had nights when management had ticked me off something royal and turned them into spectacular nights of people dancing and drinking and having a hell of a time. i think they caught on to this, and have done it on purpose a few times.
being able to compartmentalize your feelings, moods, etc. is possible, just not as easy as anyone makes it out to be. learn how to leave your drama at the door. your other half has to remember that work is work and you need to be everyones best buddy, and be a professional flirt with the ladies. that's your job/career and if she doesnt know it or understand it then there will be conflict. dj's have a fairly high divorce rate ya know?

other than that, gettin pepped up i leave to the wonder drug... CAFFIENE!!!

AND LOTS OF IT...
 
Yeah, channel your anger through your music and let everyone dance their butt's off! I didn't look at it that way. Thanks, that's good piece of info.

DJ Syberman
 
Great topic! I was thinking about starting the same thread myself, so thanks.

When it comes to depression and unhappiness in your self it is very hard to drop that and put on a good show, there is little you can do except convince yourself that success on the night will bring you success in the morning. If you really can't enjoy yourself, then think of your duty, to make others happy through music, Try to empty your mind of thoughts and focus on the music, reminding yourself that doing what your doing is a profession and you can't let your feelings effect your work negatively, i.e creating a negative atmosphere as a result of your problems .

Also, things aren't always as obvious as they seem, I had an argument with my wife, pretty bad one too, but went out and had an awesome gig, I don't know how, but I did. Other nights I've had no reason to be unhappy but I was! and then gone on to have an average night. So it might be fair to say that external discomforts like arguments that you recognise and know how to deal with, are easier to use to your advantage than those times when you just feel 'off', because you don't know the problem, therefor the solution is harder or impossible to find.

I recommend eating a good meal about an hour before you play. Caffeine is a very good stimulant, increasing your concentration and awareness, it can potentially give your mood a lift. Another less obvious aid, and can be combined with caffeine: Smoothies, drinking a natural smoothie with a range of fruits really does have a "pick me up" effect, try it before you play, you'll be surprised!

Alcohol will just enhance your feelings, so if your not feeling good, it's not a good idea.

At the end of the day, it doesn't matter how you deal with your problems, but it matters that you do deal with your problems, realising that you have to lead a party will mean changing your mind set and using mild stimulants to encourage you.

In extreme cases though, I don't recommend DJ'ing, if you really have a genuine problem, then try to arrange a replacement DJ for the night and rest. Remember DJ'ing isn't a normal job, it's a specialist job and the conditions need to be right.
 
Usually I just put on my headphones and meditate...go over my playlists in my head shift the focus...once i get to the gig and start playing i get a rush and soon after its like it never happened..I mean the rush the beat knockin people having a good time....thats my drug...
 
wildcountryclub wrote :
channeling. use your mad to your advantage.


Yup. That's what I call "Battle Mode" and what I use to get me and the crowd into "the zone."

I just did it last night, but not because of an argument with anyone. I was just pissed at the 2 other "dj's" that I was rotating with (I was doing this club as a favor for some co-workers who are trying to break into the promotion scene) because they kept messing up the vibe with off beat mixes, no fluidity, and no turntable skills at all, but they claimed to be representing some local radio stations.

Long story short, I'm the only turntablist that last nights promoters want to have back in 2 weeks and I get to pick whoever i want to spin with me or just do the entire night myself.

Thanks anger management/channeling Battle Mode! =P

p.s.
The club owner LOVED VDJ's visual features which I demoed usng his projector in between throwing down on the tables with SSL. ;)

- VT ConQuest
(Visual Turntablist)
 
a bit of attitude on the decks never harmed anyone, just makes you take more risks, except they aren't risks because your super connected to the task at hand.
 
I tried caffine as a pick me up but I drink alot of it and it does nothing for me. I never tried smoothies, I guess I'll give it a shot. I had this topic in mind for a while now. I'm glad I started it.

DJ Syberman
 
Well you say drinking caffeine, but caffeine is available in tablet form too. If your getting your caffeine from coffe, then use real coffe, not Nescaffe instant ;). Heres a bit of a tip worth trying, drink a strong cup of coffe (ideally a naturally made coffe such as cuban), black with no milk, drink it real quick, and follow with a few Turkish delight bars. the two combined creates a reaction: Energy MADness!
 
Just take two corona's that'll get you started.
 
Yea under normal circumstances, but during difficult times or those days you feel really bad, alcohol would only serve to exaggerate those feelings.
 
I only have four little letters for you.




B E E R


And make sure it's a good Canadian lager or Belgian blonde
Could go either way on that one; blonde lager - or just a blonde hottie

But I think John Cleese said it right and most elequently:

"American beer is like making love in a canoe.... Fucking close to water"



DJ Marcel
Purple Onion NightClub
 


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