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Self Care & Avoiding Burnout for DJs & MCs
DJ & MC Self Care
During peak seasons, DJs and MCs often face long hours, multiple events, and physical as well as mental demands. Self-care is crucial to maintain energy, enthusiasm, and performance quality. Here are some practical tips:
1. Plan Your Schedule Wisely
- Pace Yourself: Avoid overloading your calendar. Leave room for breaks and downtime between events.
- Prioritise Recovery Time: Block off time for rest and recovery after particularly intense weekends.
- Set Boundaries: Learn to say “no” when your schedule is full, even if it’s tempting to take on more gigs.
2. Stay Physically Healthy
- Hydrate: Bring water to every event and stay hydrated throughout your performance. Dehydration can cause fatigue and affect your performance.
- Stretching & Movement: Take short breaks to stretch or move around during long gigs to prevent stiffness.
- Sleep: Aim for quality sleep, especially after late-night events. Consider power naps if you have back-to-back gigs.
- Healthy Eating: Pack healthy snacks (fruits, nuts, protein bars) to maintain your energy. Avoid too much caffeine or sugary foods that may lead to energy crashes.
3. Mental and Emotional Well-being
- Mindful Relaxation: Practice mindfulness, meditation, or breathing exercises to calm your mind after an event.
- Positive Reinforcement: Celebrate your wins. Positive self-talk helps keep spirits high during a busy period.
- Disconnect: Schedule time to disconnect from work (social media, emails) to recharge mentally.
4. Delegate and Automate
- Outsource Tasks: If possible, delegate non-essential tasks like social media posting, admin work, or post-event follow-ups.
- Use Tools: Use planning and automation tools for music prep, invoicing, and communication to reduce workload.
5. Stay Organised
- Pack Essentials in Advance: Have your gear and backups ready before the event to reduce stress on the day.
- Create Checklists: Use checklists to ensure nothing is forgotten, from equipment to outfit, to snacks, reducing the mental load before events.
6. Seek Support and Community
- Talk to Fellow DJs/MCs: Share experiences and challenges with others in the industry. A strong support network can help alleviate stress.
- Connect with Family/Friends: Ensure you’re making time to connect with loved ones, even during peak season, to keep your emotional balance.
By incorporating these self-care practices, DJs and MCs can sustain their energy and ensure they’re performing at their best during the busiest times of the year.
Recognising & Avoiding Burnout
Recognising the signs of burnout is crucial for DJs and MCs, especially during peak seasons, to avoid long-term negative effects on health and performance. Burnout can affect both physical and mental well-being, so here’s how to identify it and ways to address it:
Signs of Burnout
7. Physical Signs
- Chronic Fatigue: Feeling constantly exhausted, even after rest.
- Frequent Illness: Lowered immune system leading to colds, headaches, or other health issues.
- Sleep Issues: Difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or feeling unrested even after sleep.
- Body Aches and Pains: Persistent muscle tension, backaches, or headaches.
8. Emotional Signs
- Irritability: Feeling more easily frustrated or irritated by small things.
- Feeling Detached: A sense of disconnection from work, colleagues, or even clients.
- Loss of Enthusiasm: Once enjoyable work starts to feel like a burden.
- Cynicism: Negative outlook towards events, clients, or the industry in general.
9. Mental Signs
- Difficulty Concentrating: Struggling to focus on tasks or make decisions.
- Forgetfulness: Missing deadlines, forgetting equipment, or important details.
- Indecision: Feeling overwhelmed by choices or decisions that used to be easy.
- Decreased Performance: Noticing that the quality of your work is declining.
Addressing Burnout
10. Acknowledge the Issue
- Recognise and accept that you are experiencing burnout. Denial can prolong the problem and worsen symptoms.
- Speak openly with trusted colleagues, friends, or family about what you’re feeling.
11. Take Time Off
- Prioritise Rest: Schedule time off between gigs to recharge. It might mean saying no to new bookings temporarily, but it’s crucial for long-term health.
- Unplug from Work: Completely disconnect from work-related activities (emails, social media, event planning) during downtime to give your mind a full break.
12. Re-evaluate Workload and Practices
- Delegate: If possible, delegate tasks such as administrative work, sound checks, or setup to others.
- Automate: Use software to streamline tasks like invoicing, contracts, or playlist curation, reducing manual workload.
- Balance Commitments: Reassess your schedule and avoid overcommitting during peak periods.
13. Seek Support
- Professional Help: Consider talking to a therapist or counsellor who can help you manage stress and emotions.
- Peer Support: Join DJ/MC communities or networks where you can share experiences and get advice from others who understand the pressures of the job.
- Mentorship: Reach out to mentors or industry veterans who can offer guidance on maintaining balance.
14. Practice Self-care
- Exercise Regularly: Physical activity helps reduce stress and boost energy levels.
- Mindfulness/Meditation: Engage in mindfulness or relaxation techniques to help reduce anxiety and keep your mental state in check.
- Healthy Eating and Hydration: Prioritise nutritious meals and proper hydration to maintain physical health, even during busy times.
15. Rediscover Your Passion
- Reconnect with Your Why: Remind yourself of the reasons you love your work. Reflecting on past successful events or fulfilling interactions with clients can reignite your passion.
- Diversify Your Interests: Engage in hobbies or creative projects outside of work to bring new energy and excitement to your daily life.
16. Set Realistic Goals
- Avoid perfectionism by setting achievable and realistic goals for each event or task. Break larger tasks into smaller, manageable ones to avoid overwhelm.
17. Review and Revise Your Routine
- Work-Life Balance: Ensure you are maintaining a balance between work and personal life.
- Regular Check-ins: Periodically assess your mental and physical state to catch signs of burnout early. Adjust your routine if needed.
By recognising these signs early and taking proactive steps, DJs and MCs can prevent burnout from spiralling and maintain a healthier, more sustainable approach to their careers ensuring continued success and longevity.
This post was contributed by Serge Olivieri. Serge is an Accredited Member of the Alliance and currently serves on the DJAA Committee, is based in Sydney, New South Wales and runs DJ:Plus! Entertainment.
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Why Should DJs & MCs Attend Beat Mix On The Gold Coast In August Each Year
DJs and MCs should attend Beat Mix on the Gold Coast in August each year for several reasons:
Networking opportunities: Beat Mix is a great opportunity for DJs and MCs to connect with other professionals in the industry. They can meet and network with other DJs and MCs, as well as industry experts, event professionals, and other key players in the wedding and event industry. This can lead to new business opportunities, collaborations, and friendships that can benefit them throughout their career.
Professional development: The event will feature a variety of workshops and seminars led by experienced DJs, MCs and industry experts. These sessions will provide DJs and MCs with valuable insights and tips on how to improve their skills and take their careers to the next level.
Exposure: Beat Mix is a well-known event in the industry and it attracts a lot of attendees from across the country. By attending the event, DJs and MCs will have the opportunity to showcase their talents and gain exposure to a wider audience, which can lead to more bookings and increased visibility for their business.
Product & Equipment Showcase: Many companies related to DJing and sound production will showcase their latest products and equipment in the event. It is a great opportunity for DJs and MCs to learn about new and cutting-edge technology and see how it can benefit their work.
Location: Gold Coast is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Australia, known for its beautiful beaches and lively nightlife. Attending Beat Mix in August each year will allow DJs and MCs to enjoy the best of both worlds – professional development and a chance to relax and enjoy the beautiful weather and scenery of the Gold Coast.
Overall, Beat Mix is an excellent opportunity for DJs and MCs to improve their skills, network with other professionals in the industry, and gain exposure for their business, all while enjoying the beautiful location of the Gold Coast. For ticket information, visit www.beatmix.com.au
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OneMusic: What Do I Do? What Do I Need?
The aim of this post is to somewhat clarify the situation following the establishment of PPCA and APRA AMCOS joint venture, OneMusic and the impact on Disc Jockeys.
First some basics, Copyright is a federal law governed by the Copyright Act (1968). The Act exists to ensure that people who make creative content (musical, literary or dramatic works, and sound recordings and films) are able to protect their content. When someone creates a piece of music (or a piece of text, a graphic, a photo, a film or anything else that is protected under copyright laws), a whole system of legal rights and obligations comes into play. These rights and obligations outline what someone can and can’t do with the material.
There is generally more than one owner of copyright in any given musical track. The composer who wrote the music owns copyright in the musical works. The lyricist who wrote the lyrics owns copyright in the literary works. The artist who performed the music owns copyright in a sound recording of their live performance. Finally, the maker of the recording (typically a record company) owns copyright in the sound recording.
The different types of rights in any given musical track are referred to as Mechanical & Performance Rights.
In Australia there are a number of organisations which manages and licences the Mechanical and Performance rights;
APRA (Australian Performing Rights Association Limited) administers the “performance rights” and is the collecting society which collects and distributes licence fees for the public performance and communication to the public of musical works (including their lyrics) on behalf of its members (composers, songwriters, music publishers) and other copyright owners, including overseas affiliated societies.
AMCOS (Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society) only grants licences to reproduce the musical work, and the copyright in the recorded version of the musical work, i.e. the “mechanical rights”.
Prior to 1997, APRA & AMCOS were two separate organisations. In 1997, they formed an alliance and became APRA AMCOS and now is a music rights organisation representing its members plus grants licenses to play, perform, copy, record or make available their members’ music, and then distribute the royalties back to those members.
ARIA (Australian Recording Industry Association) grants licences for the reproduction of the sound recording (“mechanical rights”), where it is authorised to do so, and distributes the fees it collects among individual sound recording copyright holders (usually the record company/label).
PPCA (Phonographic Performance Company of Australia) grants licences for the broadcast, communication or public playing of recorded music (such as CDs, records and digital downloads or streams) and music videos (“performance rights”).
OneMusic is an APRA AMCOS and PPCA joint licensing initiative launched in 2019 and offers joint public performance licences so there is no longer any need for separate licence agreements and invoices from PPCA and APRA AMCOS (“performance rights”).
Rights Owners Performance Right
Mechanical Right
Songwriters, Composers and their Publishers APRA
AMCOS
Recording Artists and their Record Labels PPCA
ARIA
What does the OneMusic initiative mean for Disc Jockeys?
With the introduction of OneMusic, the onus to have a public performance licence to play recorded music in public has been shifted to venues (clubs, pubs, restaurants, community halls, councils, cruise ships, function, convention & conference centres, places of interest, activity & amusement, cinemas, schools, live adult entertainment and much more). The only time a DJ would require a separate public performance licence is if they are also the promoter of an event.
- If a DJ uses music on original, legally purchased CD’s or Vinyl i.e. no digital music, they do not require any other licence to comply with the Copyright Act.
- If a DJ uses digital music whether purchased in digital format or by “ripping” from legally acquired CD’s or Vinyl, then a reproduction licence is required. This was also the case prior to the introduction of the OneMusic initiative and nothing has changed here.
In short, OneMusic simplifies public performance requirements only (“performance rights”).
But doesn’t every DJ use some form of digital music?
Unless all your music is in the format mentioned in 1. above, then to be completely legal, you require a licence to cover the mechanical rights in your music. As mentioned above AMCOS administers the copyright of the musical work and ARIA administers the copyright of the musical recording – a licence covering the mechanical rights is available from AMCOS and information and rates for a Casual Blanket Licence can be obtained by contacting medialicensing@apra.com.au. For the mechanical rights administered by ARIA – Application Form Licence for Reproduction of Sound Recordings, can be found at https://aria.azureedge.net/documents/Reproduction-Licence-Application-Form-Updated-11.03.14.pdf.
I hope that you now have a better understanding of the copyright requirements and clarifies what is required in regards to the music you use at your events.
Post Script
The DJAA has negotiated a Licence Agreement to cover both the “mechanical rights” of AMCOS and ARIA at a far more favourable rate and additional inclusions, however whilst the intent was to negotiate a licence which would be available for all DJs, APRA AMCOS have restricted the availability of this licence to DJAA Members only.
The DJAA wishes all DJs who desire peace of mind in regards to complying with copyright requirements and protecting their business, the opportunity to also be able to obtain the negotiated licence. Accordingly, the Committee held a Special General Meeting in early 2019 and Members voted on amending the Constitution and removing the requirements that many had stated, were a barrier to becoming a member and created a General Level membership. There are no requirements for this level of membership other than abiding with the Code of Conduct, Code of Ethics and any Guidelines set.
Not only have the requirements been removed from the General Level, but becoming a General Member could not be easier, just click on the following link “Join DJAA as a General Member“, select whether you wish to pay monthly or annually, complete the form to create your account and process payment – that’s it!! Simple. You are then officially a DJAA Member and as a member eligible for the special priced DJAA negotiated Licence ?
This post was contributed by Serge Olivieri. Serge is an Accredited Member of the Alliance and currently serves on the DJAA Committee, is based in Sydney, New South Wales and runs DJ:Plus! Entertainment.
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It Starts With Us
Mitch Taylor who presented at our 2018 National Conference in Adelaide, writes about his experience in attending the DJAA National Conference “It Starts With Us” in the latest issue of Disc Jockey News. For information on the 2019 DJAA National Conference and to purchase tickets, head to www.djaa.org.au/nationalconference.
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What Frequency Do I Need For My Wireless Microphone?
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What’s Been Happening At The DJAA Lately?
The last few weeks have been a busy time for the DJAA!
May 22nd 2018 – QLD ABIA Awards Night
On Tuesday the 22nd of May, over 30 Winners of the 20th Queensland Annual Bridal Industry Awards were invited to the stage to accept their award at the exquisite Victoria Park, featuring the magical views of Brisbane’s cityscape.
Winners from the DJ & MC categories included:
Wedding DJ – DJ RHINO
Wedding MC – G&M Event Group
Ceremony Music – Michael Eotvos Music
June 12th 2018 – DJ TAKE OVER NIGHT – Mon Komo Hotel
We had our first QLD Social Night where we invited DJ’s across Brisbane for free, to come along to our Take Over Night where any DJ could jump on the decks and play a 10-15 minute set and show off their skills. We had just over 10 DJ’s play with a variety of music from R&B, Psy Trance, House and more. With approximately 40 DJ’s coming along from Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, we also had 2 DJ’s travel from interstate in NSW & VIC to come along as well.
Special thanks to…
BJ’s Sound & Lighting
We also must give a big thanks to BJ’s Sound & Lighting, they came along to show their support with some hot products & new gear available, and also gave out a $500 Hire Voucher along with a 10% discount when your mention the DJAA when hiring from them. They also showed off their new SPARK machine, which is a giant sparkler used for events such as Weddings.Mon Komo Hotel
Thanks to the Mon Komo Hotel for allowing us to use their function room and DJ area on a Tuesday night.Bradley Kjeldsen
Thanks to Brad from DJ BRAD for supplying some gear & equipment, along with organising and promoting the event.
June 18th 2018 – DJ Social Catch Up – Kurrawa Surf Club
Steve Bowen, Peter De Wever & Serge Olivieri were headed to the Gold Coast for the 2018 ABIA Designer of Dreams Awards night and asked for local DJs interested in catching up for a drink and/or meal plus chat about all things DJ!
It was a great night to catch up with friends & family over some good food and drinks.
June 19th 2018 – ABIA National Designer of Dreams Awards
On Tuesday, the 19th of June at The Star Gold Coast, wedding businesses from all around Australia flew in to celebrate the prestigious 9th National ABIA Designer of Dreams Awards.
To qualify as a National Finalist or Winner, a business is required to receive high quality ratings & reviews over the past 4 consecutive years. The standard of these industry awards continue to motivate business owners and team members to strive for better in setting standards for the Australian Wedding Industry.
Winners from the DJ & MC categories included:
Wedding DJ (VIC) – DJ PeterD Entertainment Plus
Wedding MC (QLD) – G&M Event Group
Ceremony Music (SA) – Music by Pearl
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Making Use of Technology – Responsive Marketing
We live in an amazing time. Technology has really made the world smaller as we are able to instantly communicate in real time across the globe. All those childhood dreams of one day having a video phone like in the science fiction movies has actually come to pass!
When we wind the clock back and consider the marketing of days gone by, it was non-responsive, one-way communication. Marketing in print media, television, radio and billboards are all one way. It is a place to get your message out, but is not responsive. There is no real effective way for the person seeing the advertisement to respond quickly and easily.
Fast forward to today with online marketing (especially social media), and we have a wonderful opportunity to embrace responsive marketing. Here is where we can advertise and encourage almost instant two-way communication between the seller and the buyer. This is something that marketers in the past would have only ever dreamed about. (Check out the story of Edward Bernays if you want some real inspiration when it comes to effective marketing. What he could have done with responsive marketing would have been incredible).
Even though we have this gift of responsive marketing, it is all too common to see people still stuck in the mindset of one-way marketing. Pushing their message out without taking advantage of the fact they could actually build a conversation with the potential client. It is not surprising as responsive marketing is so new that a mind-shift will probably take a generation to truly be embraced and used to its full potential. Dave Evans, co-founder of Digital Voodoo, a well respected marketing company in the United States said “to truly persuade, you must engage”. When it comes to social media, two-way communication really is the heart of the entire reason for the existence of
social media.It is not uncommon to see a potential client mention they want to hire a DJ on a Facebook forum, only to have the post quickly filled with one-way advertisements. This is one way of advertising and may work well, but consider the power we have been given and take the opportunity to start a conversation with the potential client. Ask a question, give advice, make a comment … whatever it takes to start that two-way communication. These strategies will have you stand head and shoulders above the rest who just pasted their usual advertisement on the post as it shows you actually took the time and care to read what they want and tailored a well thought out response.
This post was contributed by Nik Edser. Nik is an Accredited Member of the Alliance and an ABIA Award Winner, based on the Gold Goast in Queensland. He currently holds a position on the DJAA Committee and together with his wife Natalie, run NikNat Entertainment. Nik not only provides MC & DJ services but also offers a live music option.
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Thank You
As I sit at my local coffee shop for my regular daily coffee watching the commuters head up this busy road to work, one per car, rushed and unsmiling, it serves as a daily reminder of how truly fortunate I am to be able to do what I love for a living.
I have the power to create wonderful memories and experiences with people, build relationships, create links between others and feel truly great about doing this as I grow as a human being.
I give thanks for this regularly.
One of my favourite things to do is drive to nearby Mount Cootha and hike the mountain.
As I reach the peak I stomp my feet and as my left foot hits the ground I say THANK and as my right foot hits the ground I say YOU! I continue to do this as I walk.
I give thanks for my amazing twin boys, My family, my beautiful Edi, my good health, my amazing group of friends, for my ever expanding skill set, my good judgement, and on it goes. I keep thanking until I can’t think of anything else to thank for. This practice lightens my load and brings a smile to my face every time. It makes me feel fantastic, so much so that it has now become a regular part of my hiking routine. Important: It matters not who you give this thanks to, it may be to a higher order, the universe, your God or whomever. What matters is the loud verbalisation of those words ~ THANK YOU.
One of the things I constantly give thanks for is my ability to continue to do what I love for a living.
THANK YOU! to everyone who has helped me along this journey.
This post was contributed by Brent Officen. Brent is an Accredited Member of the Alliance based in Brisbane, Queensland and runs Decibels Entertainment servicing Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and beyond. Brent also offers Live Music, Photo Booth and complementary services.
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Important Things To Remember To Make Your Event Unique To YOU
With so many people getting married these days it is so easy to just fall into the trap of doing what everyone else is doing.
As a supplier to the industry for over 30 years I have seen many businesses and trends come and go.
Yes, there are certain facets that should be followed in a wedding, but you can also add your own little touches to these to make them your own.
Reaching out to not only couples getting married but also industry suppliers, I hope this article inspires you to open your mind to hopefully creating a new trend that will continue into the future.
So what next?
Well the first thing you need to find is suppliers that you totally trust as without that trust you won’t be able to let go and become creative. Once trust has been established, you may find that your supplier will ask you what you have visualised or dreamt of for your day and can then advise you on what has worked in the past and what they feel may not work or come up with alternatives that you have not thought of.Just a couple of ideas:
Ceremony: instead of doing what they have always done, walk down the aisle, vows etc. Sign the register, then walk up the aisle as newlyweds consider:
Walking down the aisle, stopping at the entry of the ceremony and allow everyone to look at the bride, then continue the walk, then instead of proceeding to the signing, have your officiant announce you as the newlyweds and after everyone has conveyed their congratulations, then take care of the paperwork.Reception: Try doing a Parent Dance and consider including the Mother of the groom with her son and then go into your first dance as a
couple.If there are kids at the wedding maybe look at doing some kids entertainment such as balloons or magician plus consider having drawing and colouring in books and also allow the DJ to play some kids music for the kids to dance to.
There are many other ways to make an event unique to you so keep an open mind and ask your trusted suppliers if they have any ideas to help you.
This post was contributed by Peter De Wever. Peter is an Accredited Member of the Alliance who currently serves on the DJAA Committee, is based in Mornington, Victoria and runs DJ PeterD Entertainment Plus servicing Mornington & Melbourne areas and beyond. Peter also offers Photo Booth and complementary services.