losing your focus during a gig
losing your focus during a gig Posted on: 07.09.2013 by Elsie Golis hey all, today something very strange happened to me during a gig. Now I'm a resident and I play like 3-4 times a week and this has happened before but I wanted to ask if it happened to anyone else. Bscly I started the evening smoothly, played good tunes, but then at like 2am I completely lost all concentration, suddenly I didn't know what tunes to pick anymore and when I did finally pick one I just couldn't beatmatch it for shit and no I did not consume any alcohol or any other substances this went on for like an hour when things turned back to normality again, but this almost ruined the evening for me. Has anyone had similiar experiences? | |
| Libbie Orion 09.09.2013 |
Originally Posted by 031999
Gets me goin |
| Lannie Kutay 10.09.2013 |
Originally Posted by samgawthorp
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| nayit ruiz jaramillo 09.09.2013 |
Originally Posted by 031999
I have mentioned before that I take an apple in my gig bag to a lot of my gigs. This was suggested to me by my diabetes nurse. Of course I also have glucose tablets like 'Dextrose' but and Apple is a great way to get a quick natural energy boost plus the natural sugars don't wreck you like Red-Bull which is death in a can (to me). |
| Elsie Golis 08.09.2013 |
Originally Posted by dripstep
Originally Posted by thisisian
Originally Posted by D-Kem
And red bull, lol, I can't drink that stuff anymore because I drank so much of it, it now tastes like catpiss to me. One evening I consumed like 6-8 red bulls, after the sugar effects ceased from the first 2 cans I just had to get more until my hands were just shaking violently haha. No need to mention that I couldn't sleep for 7 hours after my gig. Thank god it was sunday and not another work day. |
| Giselle Giffels 08.09.2013 |
Originally Posted by D-Kem
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| Len Lukawski 08.09.2013 |
Originally Posted by Mojaxx
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| Libbie Orion 09.09.2013 |
Originally Posted by 031999
Gets me goin |
| Lannie Kutay 10.09.2013 |
Originally Posted by samgawthorp
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| Keturah Mcglashan 10.09.2013 | If you want to look bad ass with the apple you could break it in half like this http://www.google.co.uk/search?site=...75.43tgZuS5-8k |
| Lincoln Ehlen 10.09.2013 | I always have a friend near bye to calm me down when that happens. Calms me down real quick and then i get back to having a blast. |
| nayit ruiz jaramillo 09.09.2013 |
Originally Posted by 031999
I have mentioned before that I take an apple in my gig bag to a lot of my gigs. This was suggested to me by my diabetes nurse. Of course I also have glucose tablets like 'Dextrose' but and Apple is a great way to get a quick natural energy boost plus the natural sugars don't wreck you like Red-Bull which is death in a can (to me). |
| Lannie Kutay 09.09.2013 | Dude an apple is kinda a secret weapon, It has just the right amount of sugar and also a little caffeine, and also you look like a total bad ass just mixing while eating an apple. (and also there is no "straight" way to eat a banana, its just not possible hahaha.) Also save up some of your very favorite tracks, for this point. Just to get you interested in the mix again. |
| Elsie Golis 08.09.2013 |
Originally Posted by dripstep
Originally Posted by thisisian
Originally Posted by D-Kem
And red bull, lol, I can't drink that stuff anymore because I drank so much of it, it now tastes like catpiss to me. One evening I consumed like 6-8 red bulls, after the sugar effects ceased from the first 2 cans I just had to get more until my hands were just shaking violently haha. No need to mention that I couldn't sleep for 7 hours after my gig. Thank god it was sunday and not another work day. |
| Yong Aptekar 08.09.2013 | I eat only bananas and nuts when I go rock climbing all day. That would keep you going through a long set |
| Giselle Giffels 08.09.2013 |
Originally Posted by D-Kem
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| Len Lukawski 08.09.2013 |
Originally Posted by Mojaxx
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| Ashanti Andreacchio 08.09.2013 | Sometime on a slow evening not like I forget how to mix just just can't figure what song to play next. But I only 2 evening s a week 4 hour each. |
| Lang Abriel 08.09.2013 | I usually get a drink when this happens, and it happens at almost every gig. When I start throwing in songs with clashing drum patterns I know that I'm off and just need to step back for a second and see how the floor is doing and change up what I'm doing if its not working. |
| Lauretta Ehrhorn 08.09.2013 | Hope you take something to eat for those seven hour sets. It could be a drop in blood sugars that are causing your lapse of concentration. |
| Libbie Orion 08.09.2013 | seems like everyone hit the nail id say its a sign of burnout. This happens to me often becaues not only do i do 2 gigs a week playing solo almost each week for a 5 hour set but i also do two live shows each weekend for my radio station at 2 hours each its a lot of music to prepare and i find doing it at 3 week intervals is good and every so often i just do a ONE hour live broadcast. Pre record it, and program it to play at the right time this way i can just sit down and get away from the music for a bit Keep in mind, doing it over and over for long periods its pretty much like doing a marathon set each week unless you plan on being 24-7 in a K-Hole, your brain is going to at one point say "Dude, im taking a break" |
| Latia Sotak 08.09.2013 | Yep! .....been there as well. I describe this as "hitting a wall". Once you manage to push through it, the rest of the evening usually goes fine. I keep a selection of fairly generic 20 minute mixes. They normally live on my iPad or on CD for backup purposes, but i've also got them in my DJing library as well. If I've hit the wall & i'm really struggling, i'll stick one of these on, grab a drink & just stand back for 10 minutes. I'll also probably do this with my headphones on, but nothing playing through them. ....just to give my ears a rest as well. |
| Hellen Mindrup 08.09.2013 | Maybe you should have had a drink or two.... |
| Yong Aptekar 08.09.2013 | That's why you don't let topless girls stand by your gear. Breaks my concentration 100% of the time, every time. It happens bro, don't let it get to you, your brain is working hard, and probably got tired. Redbull to make you more alert, or a beer perhaps? |
| Elsie Golis 08.09.2013 |
Originally Posted by Mojaxx
Now we just need to find a way to combat this, taking days off is good but you lose the money But I have to admit, I play 7 hour sets, from 10 in the evening to 5 in the morning 4 days a week for little pay (sometimes 3 days if I really need a day off) and people expect you to be creative every single time, it's harsh out there! |
| Larita Smaga 08.09.2013 | I'd also suggest, if you're a smoker, go have a ciggy. Even if you aren't, put a long record on, and just step outside for a minute or two. Sometimes just that brief moment of a different environment and quiet 'resets' my head. |
| Larita Smaga 08.09.2013 | Exactly same thing happened to me a few weeks ago on a Saturday evening
. It was as if I had literally forgotten how to DJ. A really odd sensation! I'd agree with everything Karlos said above though, except in my case it's a sugar-free Red Bull instead of a pint, as I don't drink. Just dive into your 'guaranteed bangers' crate and power through! |
| nayit ruiz jaramillo 08.09.2013 | I don't drink like I used to. I used to drink quite a lot at gigs but diabetes came knocking and the drink had to be cut right down but even now I will have one pint of beer at my gigs usually half way (or a little later) into my gig. If I play a 4 hour gig, I buy a pint on the dot of the 3rd hour. It seems to refocus me, calm me down and is a kinda mental reward. It's only standard pissy lager but it always feel like I deserve it and it gives me a kinda "ok you earned your pint, let's smash this last hour" feeling. Maybe that's just an insight into someone who has had to change his relationship with alcohol but it works for me. I also agree with the 'time off' advice. I dj a lot and I get burn out regularly. I have to take planned time off to recharge and get hungry for djing again. Creativity is zapped by overwork and tiredness and feeling of going around in circles but then I'm doing a lot of weekly residencies. They can be mind numbing anyway !!! Bottom line is , don't expect to bring your 'A' game every evening . Everyone feels like they do a bad gig now and then. It's usually those gigs when someone comes up and says "great set tonite mate". |
| Qiana Castellucci 08.09.2013 |
Originally Posted by SirReal
Did you even read the post? |
| Antonetta Wikel 08.09.2013 | Have one less drink or one less whatever... |
| Hayden Raugh 07.09.2013 | Take a week or so off... I have to do the same very 2-3 months... Just need a break! You always co e back more up for it and probably play better then u did before |
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