Members gruvjack Posted May 24, 2006 Members Share Posted May 24, 2006 I've been at it for about 15 years now...going on 37 this year. I've done venues and gigs of all sorts: clubs up to 2,000 people, mobile gigs for weddings, sororities, classic rock, blues, country western, alternative rock, raves and gentlemen's clubs (ok, titty bars to some of y'all ). My health is not what it used to be (as confirmed by doctors last year) and I've been asked to quit drinking and smoking; maintain decent hours (no late nights) and avoid environments with high SPLs. Unfortunately, my current lifestyle revolves around such criteria. If possible, I would like to go into live PA rental and maybe a small recording studio. I've always been about music ever since I can remember. No sense in giving it up for a mundane 9 to 5 job that will eat my guts out. I'll always love the craft and the music that is so much integral to it. Sure, there are guys like Grandmaster Flash and Masters At Work that are doing well in their 40's but these cats are established and are in arenas that cater to them well. Not so in my case. It's just that I feel that I need to step back and go in another direction...maybe like how an aging athlete tends to go into coaching or management. For the record, this was not meant to be a sob story to gain sympathy points. I feel that there may be some of you out there that may harbor similar thoughts. Some others are getting started and may wonder what it could be like at the other end of a DJ career. Let's make this a discussion. Anyone wanna add thoughts or comments? Step on up, brothers (and sisters, if any). V. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Marko Posted May 24, 2006 Members Share Posted May 24, 2006 Considering the knowlege I've witness you display, you can likely go into many facets of the music industry. Recording, providing, whatever. I wonder, though, if there'd be a market somewhere for you to TEACH what you know. I teach a craft at a Career Tech. school, and I often thought how good it'd be to have a vocational program dedicated to Sound, or some related to mixing, DJing, recording, whatever. We have a multi-media program, but that's not the same. With all the zillions of kids out there who want to learn, do they have such classes? They teach musical instruments everywhere, but I've never seen classes for DJing, SR, mixing, etc. Maybe private lessons or something... you have so much knowlege to share and there are sooo many people looking to get into this. Just a thought. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Marko Posted May 24, 2006 Members Share Posted May 24, 2006 Not to insult by stating the obvious... If you cut the drinking & smoking down, got plenty of rest and used earplugs, couldn't you continue? After all, you're probably going to have to address drinking, smoking, proper rest whether in that atmosphere or not. I do realize, though, that the atmosphere can be a great hinderance to corrective behavior... Just another thought. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Marko Posted May 24, 2006 Members Share Posted May 24, 2006 . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members 6ftabovsealevel Posted May 26, 2006 Members Share Posted May 26, 2006 If you do call it a day in the business, please don't be a stranger around here. The knowledge base and decorum of this board is already in peril... If you can fill the void that quitting as a dj would leave with something like live pa or a studio, considering the health issues it sounds like a good idea. I don't know how long I'll be at what I do (which is far from professional), but when I'm done with it it will either have changed shape fifty times or will be completely replaced by something else. And it doesn't really matter what that something else is as long as it keeps my musical itch completely scratched. That's the only reason I dj, and I see no reason why that couldn't be displaced or naturally evolve into something else as age, health, finances, and a million other things may dictate. In that way it makes a lot of sense to me that enabling other people in a studio or renting the gear that you've used to make your livelihood could be equally rewarding for a guy like you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members wysiwyg Posted May 27, 2006 Members Share Posted May 27, 2006 Egyption Lover (what is a DJ if he can't scratch, what is an MC if he can't rap) http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=45628181 is getting BACK into DJing (UJA). The pics from the limo with the 40 pound cell phone look like he was on some serious blow. Maybe you just need a little break. Maybe you should set limits on your consumption at gigs (2 beers / drinks, etc.) drink plent of water. Don't smoke. Like a club that has a funky sound system / sound guy, there are work arounds. If you give it up totally, you'll miss and then you'll have to rebuy the gear you sold. Be selective of your gigs if you must. Do other things like the others have suggested. Do more weddings than titty bars. Go into live sound. Do lessons. I love DJing when I have done it (even my daughter's graduation last year). I started way late (35) and gigs are getting scarcer and scarcer for my "genre" (80s, rock, metal). Just when I want to sell everything, a little voice in my head says don't. BTW, what is an SPL? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members 6ftabovsealevel Posted May 27, 2006 Members Share Posted May 27, 2006 Originally posted by wysiwyg BTW, what is an SPL? Sound Pressure Level. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members gruvjack Posted May 31, 2006 Author Members Share Posted May 31, 2006 Hey, thanks for all the replies, guys. I was about to post a reply a couple of nights ago when the power went out. I've been swamped with work and family drama lately. In response to Mark C. Hinge, Teaching is not really an option for me. I've got the patience but it takes a special gift to be a an effective instructor. I've tried to train some people in the past but there are crucial points that I cannot seem to get across to some people. It's just not me. The health aspect of it is under serious consideration. I've been seeing an internal specialist who put me on a weight loss program. We'll be monitoring my blood sugar and cholesterol levels. I've cut down on smoking, drinking, sugary stuff and red meat ({censored}, I love a good juicy steak!) and been hitting the park for walks and shorts bouts of jogging. I really can't see myself in smokey clubs much longer and so that has to change, non-negiotable. 6ft, You've described my sentiments exactly. That desire to rock out on the decks comes from the music and excitement which can be translated into sound and studio rental. I've already been collecting gear for those exact purposes. I've got a nice compressor coming soon and I'm about to purchase a Crown amp and Yorkville speakers wysiwyg, I'm pretty sure about this. Ideally, I would just have decks and a mixer in a private room and jam whenever I feel like it. It all comes from the same source: the love of the music. I can definitely see that you're into it for the same reason. Thanks for the words. V. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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