I am preparing to head off for a holiday party that I'll be DJ'ing tonight. Yes I am a DJ. A mobile DJ. I perform at Weddings, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, Corporate events, and general parties of all types. Basically I can be had, for a price, to play music anywhere. A lot of work goes into each event. For an average 4 hour holiday party I will put about 10 hours during the week, and 7 hours on the day of the event with preparation, travel, loading, unloading, re-loading and returning home.
When I am getting ready for a party it seems that the same feelings always seize me. Anxiety, and nervous anticipation first and foremost. Anxiety over the possibility of forgetting a critical piece of equipment or information. The nervous anticipation is identical to the feeling I always experienced when taking to the stage either to perform in a play, or to sing with a band. Both of these were my passion in my youth, both I have sworn off, something I will delve into here at a later date I'm sure. These feelings take complete control of me and to countermand them I have learned to exercise the same routine on "gig days."
There's the constant checking and rechecking of my paperwork, song lists, and directions. What time does the event start? I need an hour to set-up without a light show, and two if there is one. Then there's the travel time to the location, always with a buffer for the unexpected. I add an extra 15 minutes for every 30 minutes of travel. That's extreme but it has saved me on many an occasion from construction delays, accidents and unforeseen detours. Equipment needs to be loaded, and accounted for based on the size and scope of the party. Most times I am required to wear a tuxedo. I have several so I have to try and match the tux to the party. Taking a closer look at my tux for missing buttons, tears, oh and "odiferousness". A smelly DJ is a DJ who makes no friends. Finding my dress shoes (which always seem to go missing on days when I have to work.) and making sure I have dress socks can consume and hour. I have forgotten my socks on several occasions and this means I have to use black gaffers tape (special tape that doesn't leave a residue and is 6" wide) to cover my sweat socks. Not comfortable especially when it grabs the hair on my legs. What music have they requested, do I have that? I know my collection very well but it's impossible to have everything. Last minute trips to the music store for a CD containing one track that I had overlooked have diminished over time, but occasionally I still miss one or two. I go over all of the items above and more repeatedly, almost from the moment my eyes open on gig days. My brain is a whirlwind and my stomach a knot. A thorough shower, careful shave, and it's into my set-up clothes. You never wear your tux to an event. That will guarantee that you either smell like a locker room, or end up covered in filth. The anxiety builds as you drive. I go over the event in my mind. What I will say, when, and how. Inevitably the event has an aspect that I had not anticipated but I try to cover all the bases in my visualizations. Then there's the load-in, set-up, system tests, re-test, and finally....SHOW TIME. Then and only then does the experience, and the God given talent kick-in and wash you with some measure of peace.
Even after 10+ years of full-time DJ'ing I still feel this way. I think I might panic if I didn't have this experience. There's a comfort in the consistency, even if the feelings themselves are uncomfortable.
Update: The gig was a success for the client but a snoozer in my professional opinion. I was micro-managed every step of the way. People just won't believe you when you tell them that the song they insist be played next will clear the dance floor until it has, in fact, cleared the dance floor. One of my new speakers kept cutting in and out. Grrrrr! I had to call Mama to bring me one of the spares from the studio. She did and so she is (once again, and always) my hero!
