Do you guys ever feel like...

[Drewbdo]

• 60th birthday party Friday night,
• wedding 10 AM Saturday,
• 40th birthday party Saturday night,
• hit a local club after to network and see a buddy spin,
• breakfast and church with family Sunday morning,
• military duty Sunday afternoon,
• "40 hour real job" 7AM-4PM Monday... with a nap in my car at lunch time
• hosted karaoke Monday PM,
• "real job" Tuesday,
• started hosting a new bingo gig at a local restaurant Tuesday night... needed a nap at lunch, but practiced with the bingo software
• slept like a log last night...
• back to real job this morning... way too early
• lunch with wife and one child today
• lunch with other child tomorrow

To the OP, for now, this is my life. I'm still the new guy in this area, so I don't have the name recognition yet that the more established guys have. I keep the "real job" for the stability and benefits (I am the sole bread-winner in our family). The big dog DJ companies in my area call this little Chihuahua DJ when they are over booked because they know I'm hungry and will do a great job for them.

However, I do get exhausted and tired. Sometimes I just want to chill out. Saturday, I had an hour between finishing the wedding, and needing to leave for the 40th birthday. My house was in between, so I went home and played an X-Box 360 shooter. My family was gone for the afternoon, so I cranked up the sound system and relaxed.

What are your goals? I know mine, and that helps when I want to quit DJ-ing. Those goals can help give your extra endurance for that long haul.

[rotoitiman]

All the time.

I can't remember HOW many times I caught myself after a tough gig driving home at 2am saying "WHY do I do this???"

But after about two days the feeling goes away.

It just SUCKS if you are saying that on Friday when you have another gig on Saturday!

LOL - Same here. I find if for a have a crap sleep the night before, it just makes for a very, very long night. But I think about the disposable cash and my daughters braces and my mrs new lounge etc etc the feeling quickly goes away.

[Divercity]

Exercise more.

[Nick_EventPro]

Exercise more.

+1. If you're in shape it makes this so much easier. Still hard lugging equipment around late nights no doubt, but doesn't take as much of a toll on your body.

[DJMC]

My solution? Lighter equipment + Superfeet (shoe insoles).

[frankwite]

My solution? Lighter equipment + Superfeet (shoe insoles).

+1!!!

I've downsized like nobody's business and in the process of selling my 15' powered speakers to then pick up some 12's. The ns7 stays put these days. Honestly I wish that I could get away with some 10' speakers.

FYI I'm in great shape, but I couldn't care less about the setup, travel and breakdown.

[Sween]

Yes. Stay in shape. I'm not perfect but I hit the gym about 3 times per week. I ran 10 miles on Sunday.

Yes. Lighter/Less equipment is good. (Although sometimes you can't help it)

My problem is the late nights coupled with loud music and an excess of energy... I get home at 1am not tired and then want to eat something... at 2am I try to go to bed and toss and turn for another hour (or two)... and then my kids are up at 7am and I had a crappy night of sleep.

[rotoitiman]

Yes. Stay in shape. I'm not perfect but I hit the gym about 3 times per week. I ran 10 miles on Sunday.

Yes. Lighter/Less equipment is good. (Although sometimes you can't help it)

My problem is the late nights coupled with loud music and an excess of energy... I get home at 1am not tired and then want to eat something... at 2am I try to go to bed and toss and turn for another hour (or two)... and then my kids are up at 7am and I had a crappy night of sleep.

Same situation here. But Im not complaining - I get home usually at around 2-3am - ears still ringing, mind highly strung. I usually lie on the couch and watch the recorded sports game that I missed (dang it) as it takes a good hour to wind down. Then its up with the kids as I feel guilty for being away that Saturday night. But the fun times and money is just to good to let go.

[Djmike209]

What about reconsidering your setup? I worked for a company years ago that had a simple set up. It was about a 30 min set up 15 min take down. When I bought my equipment wanted it MY WAY and ended up with a hour set up and about a hour take down.

Long story short we are back to the 20-30 set up and 15 min take downs.

[rotoitiman]

What about reconsidering your setup? I worked for a company years ago that had a simple set up. It was about a 30 min set up 15 min take down. When I bought my equipment wanted it MY WAY and ended up with a hour set up and about a hour take down.

Long story short we are back to the 20-30 set up and 15 min take downs.

20 - 30 minutes setup? Takes me that long to take my equipment out of the van lol.

I think about my setup all the time, and how I could reduce it down. But part of my "client attraction" is my light show (Full DMX, with some uplighting and moving heads) and it is a HORROR to setup and cable management. I think if I did away with DMX and moving heads, I could cut my setup time by half. But I am not sure how many clients I would lose.