Written by Styles Davis
With COVID restrictions easing up around the world, the nightlife industry is opening up, and DJs are returning to club booths. To support the DJ community, we’re publishing tips, tricks, and advice for DJs who are navigating their return to the workplace.
#BackToTheBooth
I’ve been DJing professionally in bars and clubs throughout Los Angeles for over 20 years, but since the pandemic, a majority of my gigs have dried up. While I used to spin four to six nights a week, in the last two months, I haven’t spun anywhere but my bedroom.
Last Tuesday, I got a text from a club-owner asking if I could play on Saturday from midnight to close. He was expecting a huge night and had sold out all his tables to some big spenders, including a few celebrities and athletes. On top of that, a well-known rapper was booked to perform just after midnight. I accepted the gig but honestly didn’t prep beforehand, thinking I could just wing it like usual.
When I was DJing six nights a week, I was on top of my game musically, but I was also prepared for any technical situation that could come up. I became so comfortable in the DJ booth that nothing could phase me, whether it be a wonky turntable, finicky RCA, or unruly guest. I had seen it all and could adjust on the fly to save myself in any circumstance. But it had been months since I last spun, and as soon as I entered the booth, I realized that I was out of my element.
The club had CDJs, so I naturally packed a few Serato Control CDs and a USB with the Serato control tone. But when it came time to switch over with the opening DJ, I noticed that the CD drives weren’t working. “No problem,” I thought, “I can use the USB port to load the Serato control tone.” I plugged in my USB only to find that it wasn’t formatted correctly and couldn’t be read by the CDJ. I struggled to move quickly, and with only 30 seconds left on the switch out song, I could feel the beads of sweat start to build on my brow. Thankfully the opening DJ found a spare USB and let me borrow it just as his last song finished playing. In hindsight, I should have brought other options to switch over, including an RCA cable for my phone.
When it rains it pours
Usually, I would use my own USB cable to connect from the mixer to my laptop, but as we rushed to switch everything over, I decided to use the club’s cable. As I connected from the mixer to my computer, I noticed how worn the cable looked and how it didn’t fit snugly into my USB port. No more than thirty seconds later, my Serato disconnected, and the music shut off completely. With everyone looking at me, I realized that it was the club’s faulty cable, and I quickly grabbed mine to swap out. I executed the maneuver, but the process resulted in 20 seconds of dead air, and the crowd started to moan and groan. Any DJ that has experienced this situation knows that every second without music drags on like an eternity.
With the cable swapped out and the music back up and running, I was finally getting into the mix. But now I was on tilt, sweating bullets, and of course, had forgotten my trusty hand towel and water bottle. As the booth started to fill up with drunken guests requesting the latest TikTok viral hits, I was furiously wiping sweat from my head and desperately looking for a waitress to bring me water. Instead of giving my best, I was distracted by circumstances that I could have avoided if I had been more mindful about my prep.
At 12:30 a.m., and with my nerves finally calming and confidence creeping back, it was time for the rapper to perform. DJs who have performed with an artist at a club know it can be hectic and unorganized without a stage manager, and this club didn’t have one. So, as I was DJing, the rapper’s manager approached and said, “We need another mic.” I was now trying to flag down the club owner or manager to coordinate this while still trying to maintain the dance floor and energy of the crowd. Usually, I carry a spare mic in my bag for this exact situation, but I hadn’t packed it. Why didn’t I check for it before I left? It was a simple oversight that has now thrown me off my game. Finally, the manager showed up with a second mic and we were able to get the performance off relatively smoothly.
What are you gonna play next?
The final monkey wrench in my night came from a dreaded song request. A barrage of girls kept appearing in the DJ booth and showing me tracks on their phones. I politely ignored them the first few times but, soon the club owner came over and asked me to oblige. The requester had brought a ton of people for her birthday and was spending a fortune on bottles. I reluctantly accepted and asked what song she wanted, to which she replied with an obscure, viral track from 2013. I told the owner I didn’t have it, hoping that would send him away, but he insisted I try to get it. Luckily, I had Beatsource connected and was able to find the track and work it in the mix. Needless to say, it didn’t go over well (except for the girl and her friends) and I quickly mixed out and spent the rest of the night building the energy up.
At the end of the night, I was greeted with cheers and thanks for rocking the party, but the damage had already been done to my ego and soul. I felt terrible about the night, knowing that you’re only as good as your last gig. The crowd didn’t feel disappointed, but I did. I knew I hadn’t given my best, and I had nothing to show for it but empty accolades from drunken patrons. However, with all negative experiences come opportunities for growth, and in retrospect, it felt good to have my ego put in check.
I’m sharing my experience with the DJ community hoping that other DJs don’t face the same situation. As DJs return back to the booth, it’s important that they set themselves up for success, and hopefully, my experience will help DJs stay ready for any circumstance.
TL:DR – Don’t leave home without these items in your DJ bag. They will keep you prepared for situations that may throw you off your game.
- USB with Serato Control Tone (formatted correctly for use with CDJs)
- Switch over media. Have options! USBs with preloaded music, an RCA cable to connect your phone, Beatsource, etc.
- Spare microphone. You never know when you’ll need it.
- USB cable. Don’t trust club cables! Bring your own trusted supplies.
- Water bottle. DJing is like a sport, and that makes you an athlete, so stay hydrated without relying on someone else.
- Hand towel. Don’t turn your tees into sweat rags. Trust me; this is a working DJ’s best friend!
