when the dj isn't feeling it

[DJ_Francesca]

latly many times when I play I just dont seem to get into it.. like where Im not really feeling it and i know it can be heard through my playing... a certin energy is lacking at least thats How i feel it is... like i might play good songs but like bla is the energy and it seems to go no where..

maybe its a phase or I feel like maybe its a time issue.. Up till now I mostly played 6-8 hour sets and these sets that I dont seem to play well, have been an hour or 2.. some djs tell me i should just be able to turn it on, but I seem to need time to get into it like at least an hour or two before Im like there at the point where Im feeling it and the energy builds and then Im playing how I like to play......and i cant seem to just turn it on....
maybe in time I'll get use to it and will learn to get into it quicker but so far it hasnt been happening...
anyone else experience sets that you just dont get into for some reason.????

[Jamie 3:26]

latly many times when I play I just dont seem to get into it.. like where Im not really feeling it and i know it can be heard through my playing... a certin energy is lacking at least thats How i feel it is... like i might play good songs but like bla is the energy and it seems to go no where..

maybe its a phase or I feel like maybe its a time issue.. Up till now I mostly played 6-8 hours and these sets that I dont seem to play well, have been an hour or 2.. some djs tell me i should just be able to turn it on, but I seem to need time to get into it like at least an hour or two before Im like there at the point where Im feeling it and the energy builds and then Im playing how I like to play......and i cant seem to just turn it on....
maybe in time I'll get use to it and will learn to get into it quicker but so far it hasnt been happening...
anyone else experience sets that you just dont get into for some reason.????

Hey Lady!!!

Everyone goes thru this...especially if they are constantly working.This is one reason many seasoned jocks do pre-programmed sets,so they can always sound on,so to speak.

The hardest thing for me at one time was being able to pla yan entire nite,instead of a 1.5-2 hr. bang set,which I was used to.Took me some time to get used to it.

I understand ya ....

[dj c-los]

i remember seeing this local DJ play at a spot not long ago. I walked in and it was pretty packed. People were dancing.
When i made myself over to the DJ booth to say "whats up," homeboy was sitting on a stool djing. he looked bored. ha ha

i think he just DJ's at too many spots and it's all the same to him.
you too?

[84KingStreet]

I've been in the disco and it happened to me (us). Sometimes DJs f*ck with you. I heard Love & Happiness mixed w/ Sledgehammer for about an hour.
One night the friggin DJ stopped the music to play the WEDDING MARCH....

[D J 1 3 8]

this is why I often prepare at least a short set, so that, if need be, i can start off not thinking about it much and playing some shit I already planned out, then find my groove naturally. I usually don't even need it, but it's a nice safety net for when you get flustered and just can't seem to find it.

[84KingStreet]

DJs get into the groove by surprising the twirlers with sweet, oscure Classics.
TOT was so fierce: He played I Get Carried Away on one mix and Lets Make love Tonight on anutha. Surprise me.

[DJ_Francesca]

i remember seeing this local DJ play at a spot not long ago. I walked in and it was pretty packed. People were dancing.
When i made myself over to the DJ booth to say "whats up," homeboy was sitting on a stool djing. he looked bored. ha ha

i think he just DJ's at too many spots and it's all the same to him.
you too?

no never too many...

[ambrosio dinero]

Yeah this happens to all djs. But I recommend that you stop djing for a week or two or maybe even a month if you can. This will give you chance to rest your ears and revive your creativity.

[AD]

latly many times when I play I just dont seem to get into it.. like where Im not really feeling it and i know it can be heard through my playing... a certin energy is lacking at least thats How i feel it is... like i might play good songs but like bla is the energy and it seems to go no where..

maybe its a phase or I feel like maybe its a time issue.. Up till now I mostly played 6-8 hour sets and these sets that I dont seem to play well, have been an hour or 2.. some djs tell me i should just be able to turn it on, but I seem to need time to get into it like at least an hour or two before Im like there at the point where Im feeling it and the energy builds and then Im playing how I like to play......and i cant seem to just turn it on....
maybe in time I'll get use to it and will learn to get into it quicker but so far it hasnt been happening...
anyone else experience sets that you just dont get into for some reason.????

i know exactly what you're talking about and here is the solution.

-set one night aside for you to play/experiment with your records.
-have one or two (depending on your tolerance) 22 ounces of premium ale such as chimay, trader joe's brand or a fine wine.
-smoke a little of the best that mother nature has to offer (aka herbage)
-let your natural instincts take you where you need to go. explore your records, experiment with mixing them, and get inspired. when you re-discover your music with your new patterns for mixing them, take that to the next party and let loose on the dancefloor.

having a couple of drinks to loosen up always helps me, but i don't recommend blazing it up before you're about to mix. it can get ugly.

[Chris Chase]

I find that I can usually tell when a DJ finds their groove in the set. The 2 hour bang sets are ok and some DJs can throw it on at the drop of the first track and they are off! Personally, I like to hear a DJ really unfold their sound in their set and at least 4-5 hours is needed for that. The crowd feeds off of the energy of the DJ and the DJ feeds off of the energy of the crowd. If the DJ is not feeling it, then the crowd will probably pick up on that. What you could do for the shorter sets is to take about 30 of the best, most banging, energetic tracks of today and program something with them. That way you always have something to work with if you are not feeling it.

[DJ_Francesca]

some times i do a shot or two but i cant really drink much and play or i tend to get into my own head and go off on tangent...that no one but me will appriciate... definatly cant puff more then one toke or you will be dancing and all of a sudden I will stop the song thats playing out loud... so i dont really smoke and play...

i played preprogramed sets when I was doing my first club years ago and it didnt work for me, cause i'd play record one two and well I didnt feel like playing what was suppose to come next... so that lasted two or three weeks..

I dont know i just havent been playing as well as I can and its begining to fustrate me....

[The White Shadow]

No one is playing their best all the time. I'd say that playing your very best is rare because everything around you has to be great as well..the sound, the right crowd, the vibe in general. Do you feel you have all that where you play DJ Francesca?..cause if not you might wanna look into getting gigs that will make you more happy about playing. Part of all that is what a DJ is there for of course, but you can only go so far if the crowd wants something totally different from what you're about...also since you don't play pre programmed sets, which is good imo..programmed sets become boring real quick for the DJ and the crowd if it's the same crowd for more than a couple of nights, switch the records you bring often. Bring about 50/50 of music you know will work and music you don't even know well yourself and test it out. Should make it more exciting...could be just a passing phase too.