Combating nervousness

0:00 This video is all about nerves before a gig

All right, ladies and gentlemen, this video is all about nerves before a gig. Now, I've been DJing since the early 80s, and to this very day, I still get nervous before gigs. I turn up, or prior to, or even sometimes the day before, I start to get that, it's like that sort of feeling you get before you go into the doctor or, you know, you're meeting someone that you haven't met for a very long time, that grumbly sort of tummy feel. I get it all the time, even on the way to the gig, I get it. And you're always thinking in the back of your mind, oh shit, what if they don't like me? What if this, what if that? Have I forgotten this? Oh, have I got enough of this? Have I got the right music? You know, your mind is churning like a bloody washing machine continually,

But it's natural really. So for anyone out there who is starting to become a DJ or is a DJ, you've only been DJing for six months, you've done three or four gigs, or whatever, then don't panic. And you are always nervous before a gig, then don't worry about it because I've been in this industry a very long time and I get nervous to this day. In fact, last Saturday I did a function and I was nervous prior to it. So don't worry. So the first way of overcoming nerves is realising that you're not alone. Now for me to try and explain to you how psychologically you can take away those nerves so that you don't get them anymore is very difficult. In a way, it's very good to be nervous because it means that your mind is more open to any possibility, to anything that may go wrong.

If you walk into a function just fine, brilliant, I've done 11,000 functions, I'll float this one, then that 11,001 function could, I mean the shit could happen and you may think, oh damn, you know? So this video is about trying to explain, first of all, that it is very good to be nervous. And also it's about you realising that you need to get used to being nervous. That's the key. The key is for you to understand yourself that you are nervous, you will be nervous, you will always be nervous, but try and make it a positive thing. So for example, if you go to a function or prior to a function and your nerves, your stomach's grumbling, don't think, oh my God, I'm nervous, oh what's going on? Oh dear, is it going to go wrong? Actually think, I'm glad I feel like this because it's making more

Realisation, there's more realisation about what will happen at the event, what could go wrong, what may go wrong, hopefully nothing will.

2:58 This video, like I said, it's all about coming to terms with your nerv

But if you're open, you're more alive and your brain is working far better than it would be working if you just walked into a function and didn't give jack shit about it. So this video, like I said, it's all about coming to terms with your nervousness. That is the big key. Accepting it, accepting who you are, what you do, accepting how you feel.

I'm not a psychologist, but I'm sure if you did go to see a psychologist, they would possibly delve into what you were doing when you were six months old in a cot somewhere or how it was at school or what did you eat for dinner on the 25th of September 20 years ago. Did that upset you? What I'm trying to say is come to terms with everything around you, come to terms with the fact that you are nervous and take that from something that's going on in your life. Something that's negative and make it positive and be happy that you're nervous because when I, prior to a function, the day before, the morning before, I'm like, oh, is he going to be all right? But I'm thinking more. I'm more thinking, yes, I'm going to channel my energy because my

4:29 This is crucial because people pick up on this big word called vibes

Nervousness has made me channel my energy into the one thing I need to do, which is to make sure this night goes to plan. People are happy. The gear is fired up. The van, the vehicle is going to work so everything is channelled in the right direction instead of nerves. Oh yeah, I've got a gig tonight. Oh, so don't worry about it now. Also nerves. This is crucial because people pick up on this big word called vibes. So when you're at a function and you are nervous, take that information I gave you about. Feet. You're feeling good about you being nervous and try and transmit that to the public, because believe me, if you're behind the decks and people can see your like, then they will. It'll rub off them and they'll start to think this guy's really nervous is he or is he or she?

Sorry, professional are they going to do a good job and then what happens you can sense that they're starting to not be very happy. And then in turn, if you are of nervous disposition or a piss position, depends if you've got a couple of them, then you'll start to feel worse and it's an ongoing kind of thing. You don't want to go down that road. You need to accept that you are nervous. Take it on board and then when you go to that function, just work on it and try and put over to those people that you know what I am here to do a job. I'm going to do a damn bloody good job. Good job for you and then as soon as they feel relaxed, guess what? You will feel relaxed and in turn you'll feel better and slowly the nerves will go because again,

I'm sure a lot of people thumbs up with this or say yes prior to and just before very nervous. Once everything's set up and you get into it, nerves seem to disappear out of the window along comes the music. I hope that's been a help and I will say practice and enjoy. Thank you.

This transcript was produced automatically from the audio of the video and may contain mistakes.