DJ Gig/Set routine/superstition

Hey, jw if you guys have any routines before a gig, or superstitions?

I know its silly but I have a few of my own...

I always restart my comp before a gig, at least an hour before. Windows can sometimes randomly restart and a pop up shows up saying 'restarting for updates' and then your heart drops cause you only have like 15 seconds to react haha.

I also always connect each controller or midi fighter in the same port. Idk why, I just dont like switching them up. Plus i think my Asus has some 2.0 USB and some 3.0 USB and thatalways makes items finnicky.

I make an emergncy playlist on my spotify on my ipad, incase shit happens, I always have that to fall back on.


I get to my gig (in this case its my Saturday, im the resident there on saturdays, been there for almost a year, so this next part needs to be on ur own judgement)... but I get there about an hour early just to have one or two drinks. In this case just beers for me. I dont always recommend drinking, but I find 1 to 2 before I start is a nice way for me to relax a bit. I've been at this spot for a year so I'm comfortable here.

And then from there I just start...

Curious as to what you guys might have..

111 views and no responses? are there really that many bedroom DJs.. or am I the only loser who does this kind of stuff.

yeah I'm resident at my strip club. I always restart the computer my windows computer before a set too.. i do the same with my mac though. I'm super comfortable gigging so I just drink when someone buys me a drink.. for the fun of it ha.

I ALWAYS have a backup device. Don't learn the hard way, people!! Doesn't matter if you have a mix cue'd up no your phone, have SOMETHING as backup

i get a beer

Get fast food.

Dunno if this counts, but I always re-copy my entire library from my PC to my laptop before each gig. I also always take more cables/gear than I need, just in case something with my usual setup goes wrong (ie, one of the channels/inputs on the house mixer/soundboard blows and I have to hook things up differently). I also NEVER trust house equipment, which means I'll always show up with either a full-fledged controller with balanced outputs, or a modular setup with my own mixer. I also take my entire library along on a USB stick just in case something went wrong with the copy procedure and something got corrupted on the way over.

@ OP: set windows to update manually. just a thought.

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Originally Posted by mdcdesign

Dunno if this counts, but I always re-copy my entire library from my PC to my laptop before each gig. I also always take more cables/gear than I need, just in case something with my usual setup goes wrong (ie, one of the channels/inputs on the house mixer/soundboard blows and I have to hook things up differently). I also NEVER trust house equipment, which means I'll always show up with either a full-fledged controller with balanced outputs, or a modular setup with my own mixer. I also take my entire library along on a USB stick just in case something went wrong with the copy procedure and something got corrupted on the way over.

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Hey yea, I guess I labelled the thread incorrectly... Instead of superstitions, I should have said "procedure" or something.. Preparedness nonsense.

Idk, I've always had a bit of an anxiety issue in my life and a lil bit of OCD too so I'm always thinking something can and will go wrong. It's not a bad mentality but sometimes it comes overbearing and I catch myself doubling checking my luggage 2-3 times before I leave the house lol.

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Originally Posted by johney

i get a beer

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I clicked on this thread to write exactly what you have written.

Let's see... well since I am at a transitional point in my life (finishing university), I move around a lot, and thus play gigs at new venues more than I return to old ones. Before I play a night, I'll introduce myself to security, the bartenders, and any other workers in order to get on people's good side and make connections. Just like you said, turn off computer beforehand, check to see that I have enough RCA and XLR cables to plug into whatever mixer the venue has, and plug the same controllers and boxes into the same ports every time. Oh, and I always setup the same way: X1 on the left, VCI-300 in the center, VFX-1 on the right, and laptop 45 degrees to my right

Oh, and my pre-gig song is Ride of the Valkryies!

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Originally Posted by dayvue

Let's see... well since I am at a transitional point in my life (finishing university), I move around a lot, and thus play gigs at new venues more than I return to old ones. Before I play a night, I'll introduce myself to security, the bartenders, and any other workers in order to get on people's good side and make connections. Just like you said, turn off computer beforehand, check to see that I have enough RCA and XLR cables to plug into whatever mixer the venue has, and plug the same controllers and boxes into the same ports every time. Oh, and I always setup the same way: X1 on the left, VCI-300 in the center, VFX-1 on the right, and laptop 45 degrees to my right

Oh, and my pre-gig song is Ride of the Valkryies!

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hahah thats awesome. glad to hear someone does the same port thing too lol.

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Originally Posted by johney

i get a beer

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this

I come an hour before to setup and run a sound check.

Carry extra cables/ backup USB stick with just in case. I have all my data backed up in another laptop too. though I like your iPad solution better.

I talk to staff and DJs around because if anything goes wrong, they will come and help you. A beer always helps.

2 Wild Turkey nips on the car ride over, show up 1/2 hr ltr then I wanted to, and when I get there I freak out for 5 mins looking for wires I think I forgot to pack.......typical gig for me

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Originally Posted by manchild

2 Wild Turkey nips on the car ride over, show up 1/2 hr ltr then I wanted to, and when I get there I freak out for 5 mins looking for wires I think I forgot to pack.......typical gig for me

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Hahaha that really hot nervous feeling that takes over ur body when u realize u forgot somethin, like a 1/4" audio plug.

I try to generally not have an overly sensitive/stressful day before the gig(if you can somehow control these things ... to a certain extent) ...

A light meal (loads of fruits is usually my go to)

Silence or calm music before a gig.

Setup before-hand with soundcheck if possible, with minor variations if necessary.

I always setup the exact same way:
-the order of things on the table
-the order in which I get things installed and plugged is exactly the same every single time.
This has gotten as far as having everything in my bags in the same spot(kind of) every single time. Including the way I hold the bags, flight cases, load-in load-out. All "very" precise hahah. The idea is to make the whole process as time efficient as possible. I am always amazed at how some people struggle and aren't efficient with all this even after having done it a hundred times.
The general efficiency in load-in load-out etc comes from having worked a lot with sound system installations in the past and when doing trucks unloading you get these kinds of habits very quickly. blah blah blah.

1-2 drinks (and more during the set itself).
dj
enjoy
party
profit.

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Originally Posted by manchild

2 Wild Turkey nips on the car ride over, show up 1/2 hr ltr then I wanted to, and when I get there I freak out for 5 mins looking for wires I think I forgot to pack.......typical gig for me

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haha yessss. this always happens to me. I keep a list of items that should be in my bag(s) so that I take everything to, and from, the gig. I feel like Santa.. makin a list, checkin it twice.

I always think I forgot something though.

Go to the bathroom. Standard.

^good one. had a few mid-set toilet runs myself

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Originally Posted by manchild

2 Wild Turkey nips on the car ride over, show up 1/2 hr ltr then I wanted to, and when I get there I freak out for 5 mins looking for wires I think I forgot to pack.......typical gig for me

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We aren't the same person no?

-Go to the bathroom at least 2x
-Prepare everything with my mental checklist
-Leave
-Come back 5 minutes later having forgotten my headphones, recognizing my mental checklist isn't all that great at all
-Leave again
-Panic and think about what else i could have forgotten
-Show up 10-15 minutes late
-Make up random apology to club owner, make him smile
-Do my gig, although using the club's backup cables, since of course i took the broken ones with me.
:P

Have tequila shots with the sound guy!

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Originally Posted by johney

^good one. had a few mid-set toilet runs myself

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I'm Type 2 Diabetic. Over an average 4-5 hour set i'll have 5 or 6 pisses :(

average 4-5 hour set? that's a marathon, at least for me, i'm used to 1-2 hours

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Originally Posted by johney

average 4-5 hour set? that's a marathon, at least for me, i'm used to 1-2 hours

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really?

anytime i DJ its at least 4 hours

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Originally Posted by johney

average 4-5 hour set? that's a marathon, at least for me, i'm used to 1-2 hours

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Yeah but I do a lot of High Street clubs. Every one is 4 hours minimum.

In fact this Easter I did 6 nights in a row totalling about 35 hours. I have tonight off and then I have 3 nights until I get another night off.

This is the work load of a man that is getting married in 6 weeks and needs the money.:crying:

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Originally Posted by Karlos Santos

Yeah but I do a lot of High Street clubs. Every one is 4 hours minimum.

In fact this Easter I did 6 nights in a row totalling about 35 hours. I have tonight off and then I have 3 nights until I get another night off.

This is the work load of a man that is getting married in 6 weeks and needs the money.:crying:

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thats awesome though man. I currently DJ on Saturdays and sometimes a Thursday here and there. I got myself a full time job with salary and benefits at the age of 24... but Id quick if I can get 4 permanent gigs a week... id make less money but thats enough money for me for now to focus on my music and survive.

i play mostly nights when you have 3-5 other DJs usually so it's about 1-2 hours each

Same here

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Originally Posted by johney

i play mostly nights when you have 3-5 other DJs usually so it's about 1-2 hours each

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damn. ive yet to play with other DJs.. i wish i could just do a 1-2 hour set. Question thats off topic.. I'm gonna start another thread though so this doesn't get thrown off. hope u can chime in..

< try to get on time at the venue
< have a talk with the promotor
< say hi to the dj who's playing at that moment
< drink some beers
< 10 minutes before i have to play, i go to the booth to install my stuff
< I play, drink some beers, dance, have fun
< after my set, I relax and drink some more beers