Does anybody have any advice on people standing behind you while you’re doing a show? This bothers me a lot because I like to keep what I do behind the decks private unless it’s authorized media like photographers and the like. I put a lot of work into my sets and I’m a competitive person so I don’t like when people are standing right next to me or behind me watching my every move. Not only that but I move around a lot on stage and interactive with the crowd and find people getting in my way. This is usually a resident dj at a bar or club. I tell them beforehand but maybe I come off as a prick because they look at me with a crappy look. I’m about to go buy some privacy curtains or something because it’s annoying. There have been several times people have even tripped over cords and ruined my set completely . Stop being nosey and go away. I can’t be the only one that has this problem or is bothered by it but I can’t find any topics like this on the net. So what do you guys do? Strategically place equipment so it’s an obstacle course? Hire security? Thanks guys and gals
You - “Oh hey are you staff”
Person - “No”
You - “Ooohh you may want to watch it, staff just busted a few people for sneaking in to the dj booth”
In this situation you are creating a fictional danger while acting as a friend, “looking out for them” as it were.
You - “Hey guys, I need you to be really careful! Somebody tripped over a cord last week and the music totally stopped! Everybody booed at the person who did it! I would hate for you to be that person! haha!”
In this situation you are creating a fictional setting in which they could potentially be embarrassed. No one wants that.
But i will say you need to get used to this kind of thing if you are going to be playing in local clubs.
Tough spot… I usually play at smaller venues lately, so I set my rig up in a spot that is kind of difficult to walk in and out of. The most annoying part of what you speak of is when those individuals try to hold conversations with you while you are working.
All in all, it is one of the many annoyances you will have to find creative ways to deal with. Agee 100%, though… it is difficult to do when you are trying not to come off as a prick..
If you are a good & well known dj, people will probaly respect or fear you more while you dj.
Show some attitude or they will not know who is the Putin of the djbooth
…there’s a difference between being competitive and being a prick (I just use the word you’ve used on purpose). What you do isn’t magical, there’s no hidden voodoo magic in what we do (a bit but you get what I mean). It doesn’t mean anyone can do it or as good as you on the other hand and it’s not because someone watches you that he would steal your mojo. And it’s an artistic kind of activity so there’s so much to that than your tracks, your software, your tools, whatever..there’s your tastes, your culture, your intelligence, your years of doing that, and so many other factors.
So my point is here draw the line for the good reason(s) if you don’t want to have people around or just near you because of safety that’s totally fine and reasonable (and that’s actually necessary, I hated when people thought it was okay to pull off my headphones because they wanted to say something to me when I was mixing). You have to protect yourself/ your need for personal space/ the flow of your set/ the integrity of your system.
But on the other hand don’t try to convince yourself it’s because of that you don’t want to have people around because the real reason is you are un-confident and unsafe with yourself/your skills/whatever or just a total dick. I’m not talking about you here personally, just generally speaking about the subject, I’m not judging you.
That said, you’re the one who decides so whatever your choice, that’s the good choice but expect to live with the consequences (is that bad? whatever you do/say in life people will misunderstand you/see you as a prick anyway - and they may be right also). Not need to feel that guilty about it.
My only advice would be to concentrate on the positive so yeah why not have a security person/ a friend/someone to care of that for you if you feel it’s a problem. I used to mix a lot with a friend of mine and he cared about dealing with the bugs when I was playing and I was doing the same for him in turn when we were not playing back to back sets.
. Stop being nosey and go away. I can’t be the only one that has this problem or is bothered by it but I can’t find any topics like this on the net. So what do you guys do? Strategically place equipment so it’s an obstacle course? Hire security? Thanks guys and gals
