Life Lessons from the Deejay Booth

Disc Jockeys are storytellers, historians, innovators, and curators. They put music front and center. They can take you back in time or put you in the future with unreleased tracks on mashups in away you never heard before. But beyond music, there are a few live lessons I’ve gained from both observing and being a DJ.

1. Do the prep work and have a solid plan, but leave room for spontaneity. 
   If you’re giving a presentation or planning a family vacation, there are the types that will prepare every single detail while others wing it. Be prepared with the outline and important details but leaving some room for spontaneity because often that is where the magic happens.
   
   
2. Innovation mostly happens through incremental improvements and risk taking. 
   There are actually very few original ideas in our world, and that’s okay. Most DJs are playing other people’s music old and new, but the good ones chop it up, combine them with other songs, remove some elements of a song and highlight others. It’s okay to borrow ideas and content (legally) and add your own “spin” on it. These incremental ideas no matter how minute or trivial may spark inspiration in your audience so share them.
   
   
3. It is important to play.
   You’ve seen performers young and old. They are incorporating play and movement into their life. Be vulnerable, be silly, share joy around you when you can and are able, and most importantly, incorporate some play into your routine. Connecting with your inner-child is a reminder of your true self and all the possibilities there are for you.
   
   
4. You’re going to make mistakes, deal with it.
   You can plan the perfect set, the perfect speech, the perfect plans, and something is bound to go wrong, big or small. During my first public DJ set, I accidentally hit the pause/play button with my wrist during exuberant motion. Silence. Silence is the cardinal sin of being a good DJ. Not everyone is going to notice your mistakes or remember them, so laugh it off, learn, and move on. If you’re not making mistakes, you’re not pushing yourself or learning.
   
   
5. Do things for yourself, but also do it for others. 
   Creating experiences or content for others feels good. Personal achievements are rewarding, but doing something bigger than yourself gives purpose. Even the smallest gestures go a long way. 

Although you’ve probably come across variations of these points in every self-help book or motivational speech, it’s cool to draw lessons from all walks of life and relate it to your own experience. The “My DJ Story” podcast interviews DJs about their journey, their craft, and lessons along the way. Catch my episode and others on Apple and Spotify.