After DJ'ing ....

[DeesKo]

ESPECIALLY if you're playing a non-closing slot....

Anyone else ever find that its hard to communicate with people verbally after you step away from the turntables ?

Not that you're all gassed up or full of yourself or not wanting to talk to people, or tired, but like, even someone you WANT to talk to, a good friend or something... you just feel akward trying to verbally communicate with people ?

I've been noticing this a lot lately, its almost like I get SOOO mentally consumed with record selection, of thinking in that mode, of thinking in musical terms, thinking about the direction of the crowd, the night, the songs or whatever, like I get sooooo caught up in that that it takes me a while to get my mind wrapped back around the idea of chatting with another human being afterwards.

I've noticed it moreso lately because I'm playing an opening slot, which requires me to build up, but not giving me the "wind down" time you get when closing a night... its just weird.

I feel like an idiot (don't say it) sometimes because people are talking to me and I almost can't keep a conversation.


Peace

[FK]

Originally posted by DeesKo:
ESPECIALLY if you're playing a non-closing slot....

Anyone else ever find that its hard to communicate with people verbally after you step away from the turntables ?
Sooo on point! ..but what about while playing?

I remember one event in Japan where it got so unbelievably intense and deep that I couldn't speak at all during the party. Sort of felt like the guy in 'Altered States' regressing to a more primitive state. But no trouble at all playing, quite the opposite.

Hopefully the Music was doing all the speaking?! :D

FK

[simon b]

There's a about an hour period about a half hour after I'm finished, when I'm "coming down" from the adrenaline rush where I can be very irritable, if someone is stressing me....I really need to be able unwind in complete peace.

[ October 14, 2003, 05:37 PM: Message edited by: simon b ]

[And]

Originally posted by DeesKo:
ESPECIALLY if you're playing a non-closing slot....

Anyone else ever find that its hard to communicate with people verbally after you step away from the turntables ?

Not that you're all gassed up or full of yourself or not wanting to talk to people, or tired, but like, even someone you WANT to talk to, a good friend or something... you just feel akward trying to verbally communicate with people ?

I've been noticing this a lot lately, its almost like I get SOOO mentally consumed with record selection, of thinking in that mode, of thinking in musical terms, thinking about the direction of the crowd, the night, the songs or whatever, like I get sooooo caught up in that that it takes me a while to get my mind wrapped back around the idea of chatting with another human being afterwards.

I've noticed it moreso lately because I'm playing an opening slot, which requires me to build up, but not giving me the "wind down" time you get when closing a night... its just weird.

I feel like an idiot (don't say it) sometimes because people are talking to me and I almost can't keep a conversation.


Peace As a dancer only ... I have my own weird version of this ... ;)

[erd]

I may not be the best conversationist after having palyed, but I can only think of one evenning where I was too occupiedwith music to speak.
Theo Parrish back in 1999 in an old warehouse type of location just blew me away.

Peace.

Gerd

[Jolyon]

I played from 8pm til 3am the other week with only two half hour breaks and i found it impossible to talk to anyone during the breaks...and afterwards...but I think it's due to concentration more than anything and feeling drained afterwards...people don't realise how tiring playing records can be sometimes!

[Jolyon]

Originally posted by simon b:
There's a about an hour period about a half hour after I'm finished, when I'm "coming down" from the adrenaline rush where I can be very irritable, if someone is stressing me....I really need to be able unwind in complete peace. yep...and the worst is if people are coming up asking you about records or thanking you etc. and you just feel zoned out and knackered!

[roki]

I'm feeling this post...

I generally don't talk much as well... On the occasions where I've been engaged in conversation I come out with utter shit. My words get jumbled and I can't finish a sentance graemlins/stupid.gif

roki

[Nege]

Originally posted by Jolyon:
...people don't realise how tiring playing records can be sometimes! word!

[beaniboy67]

lol.
i played in a a band for years.
we played all our own material and most of the gigs were support slots for touring bands.

i no exactly what you are feeling .i felt like this after every gig and sometimes before it too.

I think you build yourself up and you are that focused and honed in on what you are goin to do or have just done that other people are distractions.

people come up and speak to you and it seems impossible to hold a conversation.I usually spoke a lot of mumbo jumbo and found it hard to communicate with other people before and after gigs.

i also felt that people would want to chat about all sorts of boring and un intresting subjects.

this made me feel like saying "yo you talk sum shiet cant you let me just focus on playing my set instead of talking about youre mums new dog you twat"

lol

i dont think its being ignorat its just the mental state you are in!!

well thats what i usually tell myself lol :D

[ October 15, 2003, 07:41 AM: Message edited by: beaniboy67 ]

[darrow]

Deesko...very interesting post.

I've had the same feeling and done my own self-analysis and come up with at least one or two conclusions about myself, some which might not be looked upon too well, but whatever...

I don't have a feeling of closure when I'm the opening DJ and when I step down (or away), I'm not ready to join the ranks of the dancers and wall-flowers.

When my time is up, I am not ready for my time to be up. I don't want to leave the turntables. I don't want to stop playing. I don't want to let go of the build-up in energy (my own and/or the crowd's) that seems to just be starting.

I'd rather see it through. I'd rather continue the journey. In fact, maybe I also want to stay in control. (I'm still thinking about this last statement)

In any event, when it's my time to go and I'm standing around, I feel anxious, antsy, incomplete, and distracted. It takes me a bit too get back in balance. Sometimes, I head straight for the floor when I'm done, lose myself in the music for a bit and then am able to talk and pay attention to what people are saying to me.

I wonder if I had ALWAYS opened and never had a taste of the post-opening experience, if I would feel that way?

[mdpm99]

Great thread.....

Yes, indeed one get's lost in the music i.e. shedding of one's ego and purrrrrrhaps for a moment, becoming one with the universe via a state of grace.

In previous posts it was discussed about "re-entry" being sometimes the difficult and always the most important. One has to land back on their feet gracefully and it ain't always easy.

It is also important for "some" DJ's to understand that this is not just happening to them and when they finish their musical journey the uptmost respect must be given to others so that their re-entry is also graceful. I have seen the horror of a given situation(s) where suddenly in the middle of a record and at full volume the music stops and the lights come on full blast.

Keep in mind if the journey is really on a high plateau than chances are that what is being played is orginating from a higher power that we are all part of and that which is bigger than all of us.

d

[ October 15, 2003, 08:57 AM: Message edited by: david mancuso ]

[mdpm99]

Originally posted by Nege:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Jolyon:
...people don't realise how tiring playing records can be sometimes! word! </font>[/QUOTE]I find this to be true (providing one has rested well and prepared their journey as much as possible) WHEN a sound system is out of wack. When the sound energy is good so is your energy at a higher level.


smile.gif

d

[mdpm99]

Originally posted by darrow:
Deesko...very interesting post.

I've had the same feeling and done my own self-analysis and come up with at least one or two conclusions about myself, some which might not be looked upon too well, but whatever...

I don't have a feeling of closure when I'm the opening DJ and when I step down (or away), I'm not ready to join the ranks of the dancers and wall-flowers.

When my time is up, I am not ready for my time to be up. I don't want to leave the turntables. I don't want to stop playing. I don't want to let go of the build-up in energy (my own and/or the crowd's) that seems to just be starting.

I'd rather see it through. I'd rather continue the journey. In fact, maybe I also want to stay in control. (I'm still thinking about this last statement)

In any event, when it's my time to go and I'm standing around, I feel anxious, antsy, incomplete, and distracted. It takes me a bit too get back in balance. Sometimes, I head straight for the floor when I'm done, lose myself in the music for a bit and then am able to talk and pay attention to what people are saying to me.

I wonder if I had ALWAYS opened and never had a taste of the post-opening experience, if I would feel that way? Greetings

Perhaps one could make the transition by doing a couple of one and ones. You play one and they play one.....and do this a couple of time allowing a peaceful and musical transition. It also brings out the best of musicanship in us.

d

[Jamie 3:26]

I usually end up with drool on my chin,sitting in a chair rocking.

[mdpm99]

Originally posted by JAMIE 3:26:
I usually end up with drool on my chin,sitting in a chair rocking. graemlins/conf44.gif

[darrow]

Originally posted by JAMIE 3:26:
I usually end up with drool on my chin,sitting in a chair rocking. you've got it bad. icon_rofl.gif

[mdpm99]

Originally posted by darrow:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by JAMIE 3:26:
I usually end up with drool on my chin,sitting in a chair rocking. you've got it bad. icon_rofl.gif </font>[/QUOTE]Is this thread shifting into something else? Please help me out here. I was finding people expressing some very personal and intimate feelings that we too often cannot vent and the next thing you know is someone is drooling on themselves.

Or maybe it is just me ?? biggrinangel.gif .

d

Strawberry Fields Forever.......Beatles

[ October 15, 2003, 09:30 AM: Message edited by: david mancuso ]

[Jamie 3:26]

Hey man,sometimes I am so in a zone,it takes me a second to come back.So seriously,sometimes I will end up sitting rocking in a chair.

[mdpm99]

Originally posted by JAMIE 3:26:
Hey man,sometimes I am so in a zone,it takes me a second to come back.So seriously,sometimes I will end up sitting rocking in a chair. Got it.......

icon_rofl.gif

d

[MCarnet]

Playing is definately an emotionally and physically draining experience for me. I experience everything from intense frustration to an indescribable happiness!

Has anyone ever been on the verge of tears? This happens to me more often on the dance floor, but it has happened a couple of times when I have played...that is the best!

great topic! smile.gif

[Jamie 3:26]

I've actually been so in a zone where I just either stand around or just look like a damn zombie.My brain has to change back to it's normal state.I may seem distant to some,but I just have to get back into reality.

Some folks do not understand it...

[DeesKo]

Re: talking during a set

I can definitely feel a difference in my immersion in the music if I'm talking while playing. I don't know if that translates to the crowd or not, if they can tell, or whether it makes a difference or not, but I definitely feel a huge difference. I do find it hard to concentrate if someone is holding a discussion while I'm playing, but I think that's normal.


Re: playing in a band

I could only imagine the intensity of that, and I'm sure the wind down from a long set would be even more extreme.

Re: Darrow & control

I completely understand what you're saying about seeing a night through, and the arguement within myself about whether its a control/ego thing, or some truly pure artistic desire... I like to think its the latter.

Re: David M. & re-entry

I couldn't agree more, bringing a night to a close is ESSENTIAL to having people go home with their soul feeling good.

The idea of the spiritual side of playing records is also interesting. I'm not specifically religious so to speak, but I do believe in someTHING surrounding us, an energy or life force so to speak, and sometimes you're in sync with that, sometimes you're not.

I've also noticed a huge difference in the reactions/energy from a crowd based on how I feel or act while playing.. ie, if I'm in a good mood, singing along with the songs, grooving etc people seem to get more into it than if I'm in a bad mood... its a weird thing but has really furthered my belief in that other "something" surrounding us in this world.

Peace and thanks everyone for the reassurance that I wasn't just insane.... at least because of this one thing. smile.gif

Peace

Rob