DJing and confidence issues.

[iambullet]

The advice here is pretty much spot-on. I've been doing a few gigs so far and no matter what, the first 2-3 tunes my hand is shaking so much I can't put the needle on. It's fucking embarassing but you get used to it. My friends know and make fun of me. What helps is confidence really. When I'm calm and mixing at home I can do it and am really good at it. So what I said to myself is: You can do it, no need to get nervous. This doesn't mean the initial shaking shit goes away, but I know "Well, in 2-3 tunes you'll be doing alright!" and that basically is it.

What I think is really important is to show you're having a good time. Nothing kills the mood as much as a top-notch DJ that doesn't look at the crowd, doesn't jump around and doesn't show he's actually having a blast. This is a must. So many people pick up good vibes from the DJ that this is essential. I know it is hard not to get caught up in mixing because you need to concenctrate, but at least glance into the crowd with a big smile from time to time, show you enjoy what you see and have a good time.

One last advice: Practice mixing with both ears. I'm a right ear headphones, left ear master guy and when I first was forced in a setup the other way round I was about to die, I couldn't match shit, so I had to rely on like 3 minutes of beatmatching to not play out freight trains and after the gig I was sweating as I had done a marathon, felt horrible. I still haven't practiced the other way round yet, but everywhere I play out I make sure the monitors left. Not very professional but at least I can avoid another torture set

[JFK]

I once did a live gig where I set up a clip to activate, but I was really sweaty and accidentally hit the stop button. Not just stopping a single clip, but ALL of the active clips. Silence. But instead of looking embarassed, I put on a huge smile and let the silence sit for a second or two (felt like an eternity), then started a drum beat for 4 beats, then purposefully stopped it again. Repeated it a few times, and then built everything back up - and everyone in the crowd thought I did the whole thing on purpose as a huge breakdown and they went wild.

That is a masterstoke Mr Matty P!!! Cool, calm and collected. Respect.

[Sharmaji]

A lot of good advice in here...

...something I would add, is to know that things go wrong. Not just to be beginners - to EVERYONE. If you know this - then it is easier to deal with in the moment, because the fact is: often times what you think is a devastating mistake, most people will miss anyway. Keeping your cool helps keep your secret.

I once did a live gig where I set up a clip to activate, but I was really sweaty and accidentally hit the stop button. Not just stopping a single clip, but ALL of the active clips. Silence. But instead of looking embarassed, I put on a huge smile and let the silence sit for a second or two (felt like an eternity), then started a drum beat for 4 beats, then purposefully stopped it again. Repeated it a few times, and then built everything back up - and everyone in the crowd thought I did the whole thing on purpose as a huge breakdown and they went wild.

OH yes, i've done this-- though not with as-inventive as a save. I'll tell you this tho, at a good gig, if the music stops mid-song-- people cheer. Do it right and no one will know that it's not a mid-tune wheelup.

[marshy]

You should have a typical rewind sample on a button at all times! If anything goes wrong and the sound stops, just whack on the reload sound and everyone will think it's on purpose!

Joke, but i guess it could work ha.

[Disco Nutter]

A couple of gigs in a row I was using a mate's laptop with Ableton Live. It crashed everytime at least once or twice. Put a smile, shouted "aaaaahh shit happens", restarted and played the next track. Wouldn't say anyone minded it

Jason

[back2onett]

I'm just a bedroom DJ so I don't know about that but when I was playing my first shows in a band I used to get serious shakes, it wasn't even proper stage fright I was just subconsciously scared shitless of playing in front of a crowd. All you've got to remember is that if you're being asked/given the oppurtunities to do these shows then it means people want you there for your music they're not expecting any drama or some grand performance, they just want to see/hear your skills so just keep cool and do what you do best.

good luck (if you haven't already done it)

[majiika]

Become a ninja at mixing, do b2bs with your friends A LOT, throw yourself out there as much as possible .. and the fear will subside

[kidlogic]

I absolutely love playing in front of people, to the point that a lot of the time when Im playing at home Ill throw stickam or ustream up just because.

That said, Im not immune to the shakes once in a while if its a big or important show... Ive had trouble hitting the first groove from my hands shaking so badly. The worst thing for me though is the wait before hand - I get really impatient and anxious (in a good way) to get up there... jumping up and down, pacing, chainsmoking cigs - not from nervousness but to try to make the time go faster.

The worst part of playing live for me is that its usually over too quickly. There's only been a few times where Ive called another DJ over to take over for me because I'd been spinning too long at a house party or whatever - usually only if my feet hurt or if I feel Ive missed out on the whole party cause Ive been behind the decks all night...

[press]

i absolutly have this problem. Ive turned down alot of bookings just because i dont like to deal with the nerves i get before a set. I really should start playing out more i know i dont suck but i hate being that nervous. But for now im cool with making beats putting them out there and watching the crowd reaction when im around to see peeps drop my stuff.

[_boring]

the best thing to do IMO is plan out to bring like 50-60 tunes (i usually burn 2 copies of 5 cds for a gig) and have each cd be a different style of dubstep, or have a theme ie. hip hop remix's etc. and make sure all the tunes go together but also have their own unique addition to the set. also try to make sure the tracks mixdowns arent too wild next to eachother as well.

basically DONT BRING TOO MANY TUNES. make them count.

[ninjadog]

All this talk of dj'ing is getting me stoked to go do some scrathing. The advice here is so good. All I can just say is relax and play what you know and like.
I remember my first set in front of people. It was just a house party but I was still nervous as fuck. There were some other dj's around and a bunch of hot chicks and I was kinds stressing if they will like my tune selection...I felt at ease when one of the dj guys was diggin my first tune, I played some sugar hill gang next and all the ladies got up and danced, I felt on top of the world. After that it just went really good and I noticed people care about the music way more than how you mix and dont seem to care much about scratching either.
I still get a little nervous when playing to crowds, but after a few minutes I forget I'm nervous or something and just have fun.

[hayze99]

I can't tell you guys how much of a booster this is. I've got the same problem. I won't play out because I'm mortified of fucking up, even though I know I'm pretty cracking at it.

[iambullet]

The fucking up part is easy: If you would say you can beatmatch really good if you're home, you can do it in the club, so no need to worry. If you can't, don't go into a club. Yes, club settings are usually harder (the sheer volume might be confusing at first) but you and your ears get used to it. Fucking up happens to everyone. If it is just a "normal" freight train sound, cut over, smile, shit happens. It is true most people don't notice. I've been to parties where the DJ was and is utter shite regarding mixing, people still throw their money at him, the selection and overall vibe is okay! The people that notice are DJs themselves and they better shut the fuck up because they know it can happen to them, too.

I think I once even lifted the wrong needle and horrible stuff like that. Another time the needle contacts weren't clean and I had a complete bass loss on this side. Or my headphones wouldn't work anymore (well, extremly low volume) etc. etc. Playing out in clubs usually goes wrong one way or another, as long as the music is playing, everything's fine.

[JFK]

Its all good experience man.... Do it, fuck up, thats how you LEARN.

On my second ever gig i spent 30 minutes mixing without headphones cos I thought the mixer was fucked. Turned out I had the phones plugged into the fucking mic socket. Ive never felt like such a tnuc, but Ive NEVER done it since.

Like the man said the only people that notice are other dj's.

[majiika]

Its all good experience man.... Do it, fuck up, thats how you LEARN.

On my second ever gig i spent 30 minutes mixing without headphones cos I thought the mixer was fucked. Turned out I had the phones plugged into the fucking mic socket. Ive never felt like such a tnuc, but Ive NEVER done it since.

Like the man said the only people that notice are other dj's.

hahahah ... classic!

yeah, you're gonna have to face the fact that you may, and probably will, fuck up in front of heaps of people.

my first gig was at a local club, they had an allen & heath mixer which i'd never seen before .. spent a good 10 minutes adjusting the master volume knob thinking it was my headphones volume, that was quite embarrassing!

i think once you stop worrying about messing up you actually do STOP messing up, in my experience anyway

[Astral]

Got my first gig with my girlfriend tomorrow. I'll let you all know how it goes...

[vries]

Hahaha, now you're just making it sound dirty. Out of sheer curiousity though, I must've missed the part your gf plays in this?

[phrex]

If you can play that shackleton track that you love AND get people dancing AND make eye contact w/ that hottie across the room and thus get her friends to dance, you win.

i fucked plenty of mixes because of the hottie across the room.

[upstateface]

If you can play that shackleton track that you love AND get people dancing AND make eye contact w/ that hottie across the room and thus get her friends to dance, you win.

i fucked plenty of mixes because of the hottie across the room.

[_boring]

the best thing to do IMO is plan out to bring like 50-60 tunes (i usually burn 2 copies of 5 cds for a gig) and have each cd be a different style of dubstep, or have a theme ie. hip hop remix's etc. and make sure all the tunes go together but also have their own unique addition to the set. also try to make sure the tracks mixdowns arent too wild next to eachother as well.

basically DONT BRING TOO MANY TUNES. make them count.

ALSO, make sure each tune counts means....dont have a ton of the same kind of tune in the bag, have a few of the same kinda of tune but you dont want to be playing the same vibe/sound all set.