Five Pro DJ Tips to staying healthy
A healthy DJ is a happy DJ – so here on some pro DJ tips to keep you going
Being a DJ is not always fun and games, serving as the life of the party can take its toll on your body and mind.
The late nights, long studio prep sessions and overall party lifestyle can be difficult to maintain without harmonizing it with a balanced lifestyle. We’re going to chat about a few pro DJ tips to help keep you at peak performance during your set.
Eat healthy
The idea:
Good nutrition will supply you with the extra boost that you’re going to need to keep you going till the early hours. Proteins, Fibres, Vitamins and healthy fats are what you want – quinoa, lentils, nuts and yoghurt are great sources of protein and healthy fats while fruits like oranges and bananas are a great source of vitamins and glucose for that extra kick.
Drink LOTS of water, dehydration will tire you out very quickly!
Final Thoughts:
Even if you’re in a hurry to get to the event, avoid fast-foods as they have zero nutrition, and if possible swap coffee for tea or even green tea. Teas are much healthier than coffee, they still contain caffeine alongside a host of other nutrients and antioxidants, while coffee has a tendency to cause a “crash”.
Get a Good Night’s Sleep
The idea:
My pre-event nervous brain has a tendency to keep me awake nights before the event. Relax, meditate, whatever you need to do to help you get a good night’s sleep, it’s going to pay off. Try get at least one, if not two, good sleeps before your event. Early to bed – late to rise. You really want to regenerate your battery, before draining the living daylights out of it.
Final Thoughts:
Relaxing ambient music, don’t get too hyped before the event. Save your energy for the performance.
Stay Active
The idea:
On the day of your performance, stay active – but don’t overdo it. Think of how an athlete would prepare for their event, they would start with stretches and move onto more technical stuff. To warm up the muscles and keep the blood flowing. Do some stretches or even yoga, and when you arrive at the event – hit the dance-floor for a bit.
Final Thoughts:
It’s important to warm-up your muscles, especially if you’re an active DJ/performer. You don’t want to nail a muscle pulling off a dance move when you’re in the zone.
Prepare WELL in Advance
The idea:
This pro DJ tip is one that even those not interested in a healthy lifestyle will certainly wanted to heed.
Nothing will stress you out more than finishing up your set minutes before leaving the house, the thought of the looming performance will keep you up the night before, and most probably cause you to be fatigued! Schedule your prep session well in advance, give yourself enough time to prep and practice your set a few times, days before the performance. Give yourself enough downtime in-between to recharge your battery.
Final Thoughts:
They say “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail” and I think nothing could be more apparent with DJing or live performance. Preparation is the key to a smooth performance.
Security
The idea:
Find out if the event has a secure lock-up for your gear, use it. Carrying your gear around on your back will tire you out and may lead to damage if you bump into something or someone. It will also give you the peace of mind to relax and not worry about damage or theft of your gear – in those critical moments before your big performance.
Final Thoughts:
Security is a concern for South African DJ’s and performers, look after your equipment and take the time to find out about secure lock-ups.
Conclusion
Everyone has their own routine!
This is what works for me, it may or may not work for you. Try it out, adapt it, find your own “healthy DJ” routine – it has its benefits both short and long-term.
Remember, these pro DJ tips are just some ways to stay healthy and stay focused on the job at hand – which is to make people dance and entertain them.
