Humans or robots? A look at the human side of the DJ life

In a world full of social media posting as a way to be seen to be ‘living your best life’ and an industry full of politics and pressures, I take a look at the other side of the DJ journey. The side that is not always visible to the everyday raver. I look at the human side of being a DJ.

‘Journey’ is a word that I dislike using when it comes to the DJ life as it is subjective to an individual but it is the easiest way to explain the process an artist follows to climb each step of the proverbial ladder.

Often you will see an artist posting ‘announcement’, ‘new gig just in’ ‘big support for my latest track’ or a similar status headline. At face value, the perception is always one full of positive notes. An audience will often think that the artist or producer is ‘smashing it’ as a result. This idealism is a wonderful thing and should not be discouraged. 

The story behind these announcements paints a very different picture and is often full of struggles, politics and issues that are not visible to the naked eye, and often take their toll on the person in a detrimental way.

Let me explain.

There is definite pressure for the modern-day artist to be seen, with an ‘expected image’, and have an engaged audience. 

OPINION – The importance of social media as a promotion outlet has turned the DJ selection choice into a popularity contest.

Now, this may seem like quite an easy application for a DJ – but not all artists have the ability to build their brands through these platforms. The constant need to appear active on social media and drop gig announcements or track releases causes an immense amount of pressure and can negatively affect mental health.

The dramatic results of the above can lead to life-shattering consequences. Anxiety and stress are the most common. In severe cases, these expectations can drive an artist into depression. Many do not get the opportunities that they deserve. Talent does not shine through and tokenism takes over.

Tokenism is a worrying factor in itself. Whether this is in the form of being a female DJ and facing different challenges to their male counterparts, age, or not having the right numbers on social media. Hypocrisy hits deep. The age-old rule that ‘talent equals the right person for the job’ has been thrown out of the window.

This leads to several knock-on issues.

Let’s look at some of the demands placed on a DJ.

1. To be seen as in demand
2. To be technically flawless with every performance
3. To promote and drive ticket sales constantly
4. To have the right ‘image’

These are worrying demands. Let’s get this right. Some have skills that others do not. Many do not have a particular personality set to perform these acts. Does that make them any less talented or valuable? No.

Being in demand will push the bookings to the next level. How this is achieved can often lead to an abundance of negative energy. Why should the way you look accelerate your status as a DJ? The constant push to have a social media ‘image’ is draining and damaging.

Pressure is not something to be taken lightly. Well, let me back up. There are different kinds of pressure. Pressure you put on yourself and pressure others put on you.  

The pressure I want you to pay attention to is the pressure you put on yourself. It should not be taken lightly. For a second, forget about everyone else as it does not matter who they are. One thing I know about DJs is that they obsess to no end on the littlest details. They are often perfectionists and their own worst critics.  

Sometimes it can be a vortex you get sucked into, a never-ending loop of questioning and doubt, and that’s just what can happen in your studio or at your gigs!  

Pressure can manifest itself in many ways, from obsessing to full-blown anxiety. Guess what? This is perfectly fine! It’s ok to have standards and push yourself, and it’s ok to get a little nervous before a gig. The problem arises when the pressure is so paralyzing that you are not moving forward, unable to get out of your head, or being relaxed enough to get into the flow.

You have to maintain perspective in the face of pressure.

Handling pressure is one of the biggest tools in your DJ arsenal. Remember the openness of your mind and your heart directly affects your creativity. The point is to pre-empt pressure before it becomes so acute that it gets twisted up and tangled in a situation. Stay ahead of pressure. Stop procrastinating, work out ideas as soon as you have them, be organised, and reduce distractions. If you have your internal pressure valve on balance you will be able to handle the other kind of pressure, the pressure from others.

The other side of the pressure comes from the expectations placed on the artist. This is far harder to negate and causes many of the issues laid out in this piece. Industry strategy pushes the need for targets, which leads to often wild and unrealistic expectations slapped onto a DJ workload.

This feature is not for me to preach and offer an Alcoholics Anonymous style advice service or formula for success. I feel that it is important to make visible the behind scenes objectives that can lead to mental health strains and confidence issues, some of which can be extreme in severity.

Every success story someone sees is made up of, probably dozens of failures. 

These failures are in the background. The constant need to promote positivity on social media platforms cause smoke and mirrors with visibility. What an individual sees in a post does not tell you the full picture. The ups and downs behind the hour after hour of graft that a DJ or producer have are not visible but certainly, take their toll.

DJs will then try to look for ways to counteract and compensate. An obsessive focus on another artist’s route may be taken, which also causes unwarranted stress.

ADVICE – Your journey, your story is your own. Focus only on yourself and piece together the jigsaw in your own time. Work on your goals at your own pace. Every second you try to imitate or worry about the speed of others’ rise is momentum taken away and wasted on your track to success.

I cannot stress the next part enough. Take time out. Always look back and recognise your achievements and how far you have come since the beginning monologue. It will give you perspective.

Politics play an important role in the strategy of becoming a top DJ in the modern era. These politics come in all forms. Types of politics encountered include – self-image, unrealistic promotion expectations placed on the artist, exclusivity whilst performing, line-up billing status, and certainly to be flawless in execution of everything. This is not a human trait. We are designed to make mistakes. 

The problem with these expectations is that they can cause critical issues, including something that I want to touch on. Anxiety.

The lowdown on anxiety: Feelings of anxiety are born from worry and fear. These can be normal responses to certain situations. 

Anxiety is a common yet secretive issue that is far more widespread than you think. For example, you might worry about a job interview or paying a bill on time. These feelings can give you an awareness of risks and what you need to do in a difficult or dangerous situation. This reaction is known as ‘fight or flight’.

Your brain responds to a threat or danger by releasing stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol. Even if the danger is not real, these hormones cause the physical symptoms of anxiety. Once the threatening situation has stopped, your body will usually return to normal.

Imagine playing a gig, and you cannot interact with people as a result of the immense pressure placed on you to perform. In some instances, DJs refrain from being creative on the decks, for fear of making a small mistake.

Part of the joy of being a DJ and a raver is listening to sets that are NOT seamless, or flawless in places. The treat here is listening to how it is fixed. It makes the profession human, raw and full of authenticity.

For balance, it is only right that we look at what creates the expectations and pressures. 

Some will argue that it is part of the job. In all careers, there is an element of pressure. Is the DJ and producer life radically different, or warrant a play against the rules? Probably not. Every profession brings a certain amount of stress, that is what we are paid to handle. 

The DJ industry is no different. The scene is saturated, and it’s super-hard to compete and climb the ladder. To succeed there needs to be a certain amount of strategy and implementation to hit targets. However, the problem with our industry is that it starts at the very top. 

The big brands rule the roost and the politics then filter down to the grassroots level just to be able to compete. Change needs to come from the top. The upper echelons.

Awareness needs to be pushed forward regarding the issues caused by the pressures. Social media attitudes need to change. The emphasis on ‘living my best life’ is an atrocious bravado that cannot and should not be sustained.

We have to remember that DJs, producers, and all involved in the music scene are human. 

Confidence issues, deteriorating mental health, anxiety and depression are all a result of unrealistic expectations and perceptions placed on an artist’s head. Industry politics, social media and the constant need to be noticed and develop the craft can cause real damage.

Next time you see an ‘announcement’ on social media, support that post. What may seem an insignificant move to you, could in fact be a significant win for the post owner. That post could be born from hour upon hour of work, or failure after failure. You will certainly help to alleviate the personal issues that have been hidden from the naked eye.

I will end with a quote.

“Making mistakes is better than faking perfections”