Your Questions: What To Do When My Practice Session Sucked?

Phil Morse | Founder & Tutor
Read time: < 1 min
Last updated 6 April, 2018

Frustrated DJ
DJing getting you down? Practice sessions frustrating you? Don’t worry, it’s normal. Here’s what to do about it.

Digital DJ Tips Platinum Group member Aaron writes: “Just had one of those ‘ugh, that sucked’ practice sessions where nothing felt right, nothing flowed, and so on. Got me wondering: How do you push through such moments? Do you keep after it? Take it as a sign to rest for a bit?”

Digital DJ Tips says:

This happens to all of us. DJing consists of five broad areas: Gear (the geeky bit), music (the raw materials), techniques (where you struggled today), playing out (the bit where it all comes together), and promoting yourself (the bit that lets you do more of the previous bit).

If you’re not feeling it in your practice sessions, the answer is to concentrate on one of the other areas for a while. Learn how to use a new bit of gear, or experiment with setting your gear up in a new way. Go and grab some new music, getting “lost for a day” in discovery. Book yourself a gig, especially one that takes you out of your comfort zone somewhat. Work on your website, or your online promo, or your social media.

Any of these things will give your creative batteries time to recharge, and also expand your thinking, while at the same time, push your DJing forward. When you come back to practising, you’ll be refreshed and ready to go again. Promise!

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