My Secret Superpower
Although many times it's been the bane of my existence, I've realized having ADHD is actually very helpful as a DJ. You read that right.
It allows me to think in a non-linear way. I can pay attention to everything all at once, but still be hyperfocused on what I need to be. During weddings and events, there are greater forces at work. It’s easy to look at guests as a monolithic entity and decide they are all the same, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Every guest is an individual that has likes, biases from life, and unique experiences from past events. The couple and planner have been single-handily selecting every detail of this day for the months leading up to this moment. However, a guest walks in and is experiencing it all for the first time. They are taking in a space they have likely never seen, looking at all the impressive florals and lighting, finding their table, thinking about getting a cocktail, etc. As the night goes on, their focus shifts to the people. They are deciding who they want to talk to, when they want to dance and trying to share a special moment with the happy couple. Add in cocktails and their priorities shift again.
It’s easy to take for granted how much and how quickly things shift throughout a wedding day. Keeping this all in mind when making decisions as a DJ is really important. I can’t stress this point enough. For instance, I was recently DJing a wedding and the energy was lively. The crowded dance floor was feeling the music and even the bride herself was tearing up the dance floor. Some may have considered this the perfect moment to play the brides favorite song. However, I noticed servers carrying plates of cake out to each table and the guests beginning to eye the delicious dessert. I knew the guests were going to want to break to enjoy the cake so I held off until after everyone has indulged and returned to the dance floor. It’s the tiny details like this that you have to be mindful of to make sure everyone has a great experience. Some might argue ADHD makes it harder for me to do my job, but I consider it one of my secret superpowers.