JBAR4 (30/06/24)

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I have yet another thing to add to the starting-your-DJ-set checklist, alongside the likes of:

- checking the filters aren’t on
- checking the crossfader is off
- checking the CDJs aren’t in reverse
- checking the turntables are plugged in
- checking the tonearm weight
- etc

This new thing threw me for a loop for at least a minute at the start of my set at Pbar this past Sunday morning. I’d lain down for a nap around 10pm, got up at 1.30am, faffed so much while preparing to leave the flat that I had to sprint for the tram, went to the wrong tram stop only to witness the tram crossing the street perpendicularly behind me, walked back to the flat to do some cat-cows for my back while waiting for the next tram, went out again and finally caught the tram, arrived at Bergs around 3am, put my stuff in the DJ booth, got a gin and tonic, had a few preparatory wees and generally got myself psyched up for playing, when the opening DJ, Katy, told me it was her last song. She pointed at the record on the turntable and indicated it was the whole side: “You’ve got loads of time!” she said. Great, I thought, giving her some space to pack away her records and take her plaudits.

I was just plugging my USB in when Katy turned around next to me and started using the isolator on the V10 to cut the bass from the record. It was already ending! I guess it was playing on 45 and wasn’t cut that close to the centre label, actually finishing about an inch short. I too was caught short: I still hadn’t decided what to play first but the imminent silence forced a decision.