Sobriety Series | episode 4 | clarity

What’s up everyone? Welcome back to my sobriety series! Today we’re going to be focusing on DJ gigs! I was just thinking about how many DJs I’ve met who have been sober. I’ve been DJing over ten years. I think I know of two DJs who have been sober.

DJs can drink! I’m not talking about physically. As a DJ, you  receive an unlimited bar tab (or some tab), you get checked in by staff members, and people want to make sure you’re having a good time and enjoying yourself. Not drinking as a DJ, it’s just unheard of. 

The only two sober DJs that I’ve met are DJs, Loczi + Enferno. These guys are national acts, renown DJs, that travel a bunch. It was so cool for me see that. 

What!? These cats can literally order ANYTHING they want from the bar and they’re drinking Redbull? 

Back then I pondered the possibility of just drinking Redbull for my DJ sets. It was attempted many times, but that just didn’t work. I wanted to have a good time and I always felt like I had to drink in order to have a good time. Or I had to drink for others to have a good time. That’s the biggest reason I was drinking. I felt pressure to be more. I have to remind myself that I’m enough and that my set is going to be FIRE without booze! In fact, it’ll be better. 

I just finished playing my first in-person quarantine gig. Yes, we all wore masks. During my set, one thing I noticed were triggers. Sometimes I can get easily triggered by song requests or if some fool is just hanging out, watching me for like ten minutes, with no facial expression. Dude, what’re you doing!? Typically I could get triggered by those types of interactions, but everything was fine.  I was less reactive. 

I also have really bad ADD, especially when I’m DJing. Someone can request a song and I can almost instantly get distracted and forget which song they wanted to hear. I know, it’s awful right? It happens too often. But without the drinking in the equation, my memory is restored. I have more clarity and have my wits about me. I also completely remember my night and how it went. I’m getting used to these perks.