Seven Pieces Of Advice For DJs In 2023
for a fun and healthy new year behind the decks
For clubs and parties, 2022 was the year of rebirth, with dancefloors getting stably full again after the pandemic. During this time I felt that more and more people are being drawn to DJing, a phenomenon ongoing for a few years now that was boosted by many electronic music fans locked down at home looking to develop their passion.
And why not? Selecting music at a party or just mixing together your favorite tracks at home can be one of the most fun activities in the world. At the same time, having observed things from a number of perspectives (as a long-time DJ, but also as a booking agent, manager, and promoter), I started noticing how DJing can quickly lead to frustration, forms of gatekeeping, and in general toxic attitudes and bad train of thoughts. Take them with a grain of salt and some humor - but I hope these seven pieces of advice can help you keep things fun and healthy into the new year.
1. DON’T GET FRUSTRATED IF YOU DON’T GET NOTICED
In a more than ever DJ-saturated world, my first advice for DJs is to try and avoid getting frustrated when you don’t get noticed. You just can’t expect everyone you know to listen and share your latest mix, or all the promoters you know to book you at their parties, just because you put effort into what you do and believe in it.
DJing can make you experience some really unique “highs”; playing and feeling one with the crowd in certain moments feels like an ecstatic communal experience that is hard to put into words, something that often DJs themselves admit to chasing. These moments are real and you should cherish them. At the same time, you should keep in mind that they depend on a number of variables, from the crowd to the club’s atmosphere and soundsystem. As a DJ, you are not the center of a party, but a part of what makes it great. In short - keep your ego in check.
Looking at the broader picture, the tough reality is that there are just too many good DJs for everyone to get properly noticed. “Making it” professionally, or even at a semi-professional level, is the result of a number of different factors and often a process of many years - it’s not simply the measure of how good you are. Becoming frustrated about the attention you (don’t) get can really ruin this passion and turn you bitter in the long run… Remember why you started in the first place! DJing is about having fun, sharing music and moments with other people, and escaping from the staleness of everyday life. If you are doing this because you want to be the center of attention, I advise you to find a different passion.
2. Keep a positive spirit
Not getting frustrated doesn’t mean 'stop trying to get more attention and gigs'! For this, the best advice I have is to keep an honest and good spirit - try and keep a positive and proactive mindset and build new relationships with music peers. The fact that it’s hard to get noticed doesn't mean it’s impossible, our music scene is full of amazing people and wonderful things can always be around the corner!
Be it in trying to connect with other artists, labels, or press outputs, don’t be afraid to reach out with your latest release, mix, or just with an honest ‘hi’ and some kind words - the worst that can happen is that they won’t answer you! At the same time, be aware that being patient and respectful of boundaries is key to creating long-lasting relationships. People in the club world can be extremely busy, often working extra jobs just to maintain themselves while focusing on their passion, and/or tired and worn out when attending parties. Being pushy is never a good look!
3 Don’t get too fucked
Ok, ok, ok. Without giving you ‘that talk’ and going over the specifics, if you are playing out more often you most likely noticed how dangerous of a game being a DJ is in terms of substance abuse. Starting with alcohol, staying sober in a party situation is already difficult as it is. If you are the one handling the music for the whole party that can be a nerve-wracking scenario that drinking and drugs are the perfect antidotes to.
Ideally, try and play sober once in a while - or at least watch out for heavy drinking or hard drugs habits. The best advice is probably to search for a balance that works for you. Some long-time DJs become completely sober to handle it, others start taking just 2 or 3 shots every night, while others turn to microdosing or weed-only night rituals. While you also have the party-forever kind of DJs who miraculously keep up their 20s routine for decades, these are exceptions that you really shouldn’t take as examples if you are looking to do this long-term (sorry but Ricardo Villalobos is not a realistic standard). Also important: do not think that because you “can manage” to play under high amounts of a certain substance you are playing well - drugs like cocaine can make you feel like you are playing great although nothing too special is happening.
4 Fuck vinyl-only, trust your guts
A lot could be said about how vinyl-only DJ culture can be kind of toxic and borderline bullying at times - this is not something that I want to discuss extensively in this article, but I think it’s key advice for any DJ to never feel forced to play a certain format just “to fit in”. DJing is about delivering music and creating special atmospheres to craft fun and unique experiences for party-goers. If to do your special thing you need to play three digital-only available tracks, perfectly beat-matched on CDJs, go for it! Of course, the ‘fuck vinyl-only’ title of this section is tongue-in-cheek - if you just can’t vibe with digital formats and fell in love with digging and playing records, you should still trust your guts and go with that (just don’t be asshole about it).
In 2023, let’s stand by this more than ever: music and making people dance should always be the priority and the measure under which a DJ gets judged!
5 Play for the crowds, not for other DJs
This leads to the next point - play for the crowds, not for other DJs! Yes, your more experienced peers might be why you started playing in the first place, and even a word of compliment can mean the world. But in the end, the DJ has to play to make people dance. A room full of indulged, dancing clubbers will be always more important than the way you beatmatch two obscure records that only you know about (IF no one in the room is dancing to them). This might sound obvious, but you would be surprised by the number of DJs that constantly feel anxiously judged by their colleagues in every track and transition.
Explore what works for you, don’t be easily influenced, and always try to click with the crowd you are playing for!
6 Don’t become a trend
It’s a fine line, but playing to make the crowd dance doesn’t mean playing exactly what the crowd expects! I think it was said before that a great DJ plays what people don't know they want to hear. Walking the fine line between familiar and experimental is where the magic happens.
This means that you shouldn’t be afraid to hop on trends when it feels right; it’s no shame to play your favorite pumping 00s tech house bomb if the crowd is just asking for it. At the same time, you should not base your whole set around that vibe just because you get a visible reaction. Yes, you might have a bunch of people going crazy in the front with every drop, but the rest of the club is yawning in the back even when you might not see them. Take risks, they will pay off!
7 Sharing is caring
Closing the list I want to share ever-valid good advice for all DJs, that I feel is more relevant than ever with more and more ‘competition’ out there. Don’t be afraid to share music, tips, and knowledge with other DJs! You might feel like you are giving away your hard-earned knowledge or seeking out tracks too easily sometimes, but just remember how hard it was as you were just beginning your DJing path or you were stuck in an uninspired phase, and how helpful any input was in those moments.
These days it might feel like you are in a competition with all the other DJs to get booked and play the best slots, but if we don’t make our local scenes thrive and grow there might not be good parties at all to compete for in the future. Dance music is by design based on community, and it always will be. If all DJs give in to this type of fear, putting their own success before everything else, the underground dance scene as we know it might not exist in the future.
Happy 2023 and see you on the dancefloor!
Written by Giovanni Bodrato
