In your journey as a DJ, you'll find yourself in moments where life doesn't create the optimal conditions internally, or externally before or during your gigs, but there's a variety of powerful mindfulness techniques that you can utilise to help you overcome challenges so that you can perform to the best of your ability.
Take the picture above, for example.
A short while before this performance, I was sick with nerves and pre-menstrual.
It had been stressful getting everything ready for the gig, and I'd been running around getting my kids ready for a weekend away.
I was absolutely shattered from very little sleep the night before, and my senses were overwhelmed as I'd fully immersed myself in the (many) other performances around the festival site before my gig.
The truth is, I'd neglected my needs and had not left quite enough time to rest before my performance.
If you find yourself in a similar situation—whether it's daily life pulling you in different directions, family matters needing your attention, or the relentless demands of work making you feel overwhelmed before you even hit the stage... take the time to make space and breath.
My secret weapon is using mindfulness and meditation techniques to tap into the incredible power of presence.
Presence is what transformed that performance into an enjoyable experience, despite all of the challenges leading up to it.
And guess what? You can harness the power of presence too, especially when you're feeling frazzled but know you need to step up and deliver.
How To Build Mindfulness And Focus As A Female DJ
Mindfulness is like a muscle, you need to use it so that it can develop, grow, improve, and strengthen.
There's multiple different ways to build mindfulness and access the state of presence, here are just a few of my favourite ones:
1. Guided Meditations
You can find plenty of free guided meditation on YouTube. They are especially helpful if you're a beginner to meditation, but they're also great for seasoned meditation practitioners too!
You can find long meditations, but also 10 minute meditations on YouTube. The shorter ones are great if you want to ground yourself in a quiet space prior to your performance.
2. Yoga And Breathwork
Practising yoga with a certified instructor is a great way to develop meditation and breathwork techniques that can help you access presence—even when you're on the go and you don't have the time to step on the mat or listen to a guided meditation.
Simply taking a few deep breaths and consciously creating some mental space prior to your performance can make all the difference in how you approach your set.
3. Exercise Or The Gym
You can exercise without mindfulness, and with mindfulness. But learning to move with mindfulness is really powerful, because it's not easy!
If you can tackle moving in the gym with mindfulness, you're strengthening this skill so that you can use it to calm and centre yourself before your set and during your performance too.
4. Playing An Instrument
Perhaps you already play an instrument, but if not, playing instruments such as strings or drums can really help to build focus, concentration, and mindful presence.
Why not try out the Djembe drums or acoustic guitar to help build your ability to be present in the moment?
5. Walking In Nature
Walking meditation and gratitude is another great way to build your ability to be present, and full of love.
Whether you walk alone, with your dog, or with your family getting out in nature and soaking up your environment can help you to appreciate the present moment, and all that life has to offer.
Closing Thoughts...
Amidst all the distractions life throws at us, performing is a golden opportunity to fully immerse yourself in the present moment.
It's a chance to connect with both the music and your crowd, which can help you to leave behind all of your worries and stresses.
As performers, one of our main missions is to help our audience temporarily forget their troubles and lose themselves in the music too, even if only for a short while.
Your music is a gift to both yourself and your audience.
For me, the key to getting through a challenging performance—whether the challenges are external or internal—has always been embracing the present moment entirely.
I love to reconnect with my passion for music and remind myself that, right here, right now—there's literally nothing else that matters.
Performance and playing can become a musical meditation within itself—a state of flow in the present moment.
As you step up to those decks, remind yourself to be in the here and now... Shift your focus to you, your music, and your crowd. I promise you; it will make all the difference in the world.
Hope this helps,
Sophie x
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