DoGmanX Posted January 15, 2012 Posted January 15, 2012 Hey guys!I need some help....I have been DJen for 15 years ( I'm 32 now) and have always loved doing it. The first 6-7 years I was doing mobiles and only in the past 5 years or so I have stared working at venues.I am currently resident at a pub/nightclub and just havnt been able to get into the groove and feel what the crowd wants. Don't get me wrong we still are doing very well on the door and bar sales, but I just don't feel what I used to feel while I DJ anymore. I can't get into a vibe (you know when you just can't put a foot wrong and everyone is going nuts....)I would appreciate any suggestions you guys could help me with to get me back enjoying DJen and rocking out every week.It used to be my creative outlet, I used to trudge through the working week looking forward to going crazy on the weekend and rocking out 600+ people.It stared happening around the time I stopped smoking weed, so I thought starting to smoke again could give me creativity back, but it didn't. Now I don't smoke before I DJ.....and before you ask no I don't do any other drugs that could be affecting me mentally, just weed,I really LOVE working at this place and they have really looked after me. I just don't want to have the conversation with the Venue Manager saying that I am leaving because I'm not into it anymore.....Please help a fellow DJ!!!! Quote
SourceRaver Posted January 15, 2012 Posted January 15, 2012 Sounds like you need to step away for a while. Is it starting to feel more and more like a job than a creative outlet? If so you need to back away from the decks and do something else for a while. Chances are your Mojo will return.Some othe things you could try are:Get into producing music and start playing your own tracks (if you dont already).Start experimenting with new genres and look for venues that will allow you to play them.Invite some fresh blood into the Dj booth. You can learn a lot from other people and a bit of competition or collaboration can really liven things up.Take on an 'apprentice' and teach them the art of Dj'ing. It will force you to think more about how you do what you do and it can be rewarding watching someone grow. Have a look at the lighting in the venues and learn how to control it. With your musical knowledge, you will be able to match the lighting to the music and more than likely create 'moods' that really make the night.Good luck and let us know how you get on. Quote
andyman Posted January 15, 2012 Posted January 15, 2012 Expand your music library and dabble with different genres. Quote
DoGmanX Posted January 16, 2012 Author Posted January 16, 2012 Hey guys,Thanks for the replies. I did try and get another DJ in (who has more talent than I could ever imagine), but found he wanted to play his electro/tech house stuff which just didn't go at this place. It got to the point where I almost had to ask him to leave coz he was playing Deadmau5 when they wanted to hear Rhianna. I have also purchased Arkaos and started doing some projections.The time off thing, i am a little worried that if I take some time off that they may get someone else in. You know the DJ world, things can change i nthe blink of an eye and from a past gig where I was sacked by SMS, I am a little bit aprehensive.Anyway thanks for the replies, really appreciated it, keep em coming! Quote
Lurk6r Posted January 16, 2012 Posted January 16, 2012 he was playing Deadmau5 when they wanted to hear Rhianna.I think that's your problem. Do you play mostly top 40 and are constantly bugged to play the same 5 songs over and over again? Quote
DoGmanX Posted January 16, 2012 Author Posted January 16, 2012 he was playing Deadmau5 when they wanted to hear Rhianna.I think that's your problem. Do you play mostly top 40 and are constantly bugged to play the same 5 songs over and over again?Its mostly top 40 and House music with a bit of RNB/Old skool chucked in there. Hell last week I played i wanna dance with somebody by Whitney....Dont get me wrong Deadmau5 is one of my favorite Producers, but it just doesn't go at this place.......WE tried it before and lost half our nightclub. This guy just wants to play what he likes, and doesn't read the crowd. He is a very selfish DJ Quote
russell Posted January 16, 2012 Posted January 16, 2012 Hell last week I played i wanna dance with somebody by Whitney....shoulda dropped the Leftfield - Not Forgotten bootleg instead. Quote
dflux4 Posted January 16, 2012 Posted January 16, 2012 Why dont you get out there and be on the other side of the fence? Go out to a few gigs of other dj's and see what they are up to? Quote
DoGmanX Posted January 16, 2012 Author Posted January 16, 2012 Why dont you get out there and be on the other side of the fence? Go out to a few gigs of other dj's and see what they are up to?I think that's gonna be the best thing to do, get back to my DJ roots. I actually started as a Turntabilist, but I had about 30 battle records stolen so I stopped doing it. I need to re-discover why I began doing this in the first place....... Quote
russell Posted January 16, 2012 Posted January 16, 2012 and before you ask no I don't do any other drugs that could be affecting me mentally, just weed I need to re-discover why I began doing this in the first place....... sounds like you need a few disco biscuits. Quote
DoGmanX Posted January 16, 2012 Author Posted January 16, 2012 and before you ask no I don't do any other drugs that could be affecting me mentally, just weed I need to re-discover why I began doing this in the first place....... sounds like you need a few disco biscuits. Oh mate, havnt had one of them in about 6 years.....its not the same in Melbourne anymore Quote
dflux4 Posted January 18, 2012 Posted January 18, 2012 Why dont you get out there and be on the other side of the fence? Go out to a few gigs of other dj's and see what they are up to?I think that's gonna be the best thing to do, get back to my DJ roots. I actually started as a Turntabilist, but I had about 30 battle records stolen so I stopped doing it. I need to re-discover why I began doing this in the first place.......Sounds like you know the answer to your questions now, i wish you luck with your re-discovery.Keep us posted and let us know of your thoughts, we are all like minded around these parts and will do what ever we can to keep people within this close community Quote
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