By the last few months I started feeling more and more of selling on my gear and quitting. I would leave myself just the monitors so I could still produce if I wanted to.. The thing is, its not the brick wall per say, looking back 3 months ago and now, I have still progressed, made new connections which are worthy keeping and getting more and more gigs and play what I want to decent amount like minded crowd… So I don’t know why these thoughts are going into my mind, right, before I was bored because I had simple setup and had a hunch to improve, got more gear - kept me happy for a while… Now my live setup is traktor, ableton, maschine, 2 f1’s and db4 mixer. So with all them gigs coming in, connections improving, perfect live setup with endless possibilities so why I’m unhappy? I can’t figure it out myself… Oh, had a kid 3 months ago, if that helps.
It’s easy to get burnt out. Happened to me. Took a really easy for a while. Glad I didn’t sell my gear as getting the bug back now. Have a rest mate, especially since you just had a kid.
A couple of people I know who have gone through similar spells got right back into it again after a little session we had round mine just playing vinyl on 2 turntables and a basic mixer, with some mates and a few beers. For them it was just a case of DJing having got so far removed from what they started with it was as if they’d forgot what it all boiled down to- playing quality tunes to people and having fun.
Within a few days after this session they were back to their usual self and having more fun than ever (using all their digital gear) but we still make a point of now & again getting a few mates together and playing nothing but classics on a couple of TTs.
I’m certainly not suggesting this is the case for you (I would imagine recently having a kid would be a big factor!), but it’s something to at least consider. At the end of the day it sounds like you are doing great in terms of gigs & contacts etc so unless it is becoming a real chore I would be looking at ways to make it enjoyable again rather than sell up and pack it in.
Think about what got you into it in the first place? What gave you the rush of enjoyment when you first started?
Think of those things and see whether it’s a case of something having changed that means you are no longer experiencing those feelings, or whether it is external factors that are affecting your attitudes towards DJing meaning you perhaps need to re-assess how you balance things in your life for a while?
Either way, don’t sell it all up without taking several months to think things through- a lot can change in that time and you might find yourself back here contributing to the “gear you regret selling thread”!
I go through this all the time. I have been DJing for about 8 years and I take breaks quite often. I have also been one of those DJs that never really wanted a residency for that very reason. I like to DJ when I want to not when I have to. Since I don’t do it as my day job it makes that choice a bit easier.
First off youre going through one of the biggest changes in your life bar none. At three months your little guy or girl is pretty much latched to the missis and you can still convince yourself that life is pretty much the same as it was sans kid. That’s going to change FAST and you probably know that already - it’s kinda looming in the back of your mind. Big changes like that are hard but as you start to fall in love with him/her (it dont happen over night) you’re going to come out the other side a bigger person with a whole lot more to bring to whatever creative work you’re into.
When my daughter came into this world I basically quit music all together - not saying you should. I was actively producing, working with other artists in my town, starting to get emails back from labels etc. but none of that mattered anymore. It felt like a distraction from the whole experience of being a parent for the first time. Then 2 years later when she was talking and walking and was a little person, I started again, and I may have lost a lot of momentum in the scene but it felt like I was doing the best work I had ever done - and the best part… watching her dance to my beats. There’s no better compliment that your own offspring sayin - “Daddy, I like this music!” it just melts the heart. Now she’s almost 4 and we go out to daytime parties together and she’s lighting up the dance floor, and I’m as happy with the work I’m doing as I ever was.
Im in a slump at the minute…the depressing thing for me which is making it worse is hearing all the sub par DJs getting work here when I’m out…the standard is hitting rock bottom bar a handful of DJs.
Take some time for yourself and your family, especially your newest addition. I think we’ve all been here in this mindset at one point or another. One thing you should not do as I have done was not sell all your gear. You’ll more than likely get back into it again when things settle down.
I had the same thing, until i recently “opened my mind up” at a music festival. New concepts of mixing just popped into my head, i began to enjoy genres of music i had not liked before, ideas just started flowing like mad. Step away from the decks and just let the music move you. Crate digging can REALLY burn you out too, I recommend just listening to other dj’s mixes, grab songs you like from there.
I’ve been hearing this alot lately. My advice is that you should quit DJing. There are too many DJs in the world right now. There are too many people that are inspired and would love a chance to take your spot. You should just let the people who are “feelin it” mix the music. Stay home and watch your babies. -Tough Love from the D!
I gave up DJing in about 1998. Disillusioned with how the whole House scene had gone. I listened to AOR and Classical for about 12 years and then found Traktor and that there were some phenomenal tunes. Would love to play out in a bar / small club again, but at 46 feel a bit past it to pass it off
This is the most stupid thing I have ever read here…
Ignore this fool. Just take a break. Listen to mixes of ALL genres (as 031999 said). When I went to Mysteryland, I listened to a lot of dubstep, trap, and moombah that I normally wouldn’t listen to, and got a bunch of new ideas on mixing.
