Work isn’t just “play” as a tour DJ
Being a booked and busy entertainer in 2022, after the COVID-19 kept us indoors for nearly two years, is a blessing. Gone are the days where people assume that being in the entertainment industry is as glamorous as Old Hollywood suggested. We can thank the rise in Behind the Scenes content, documentaries, and social media for that. But there still seems to be a lack of understanding that entertaining is work, even when you’re in a destination city.
As Moonchild Sanelly’s tour DJ, I’d known for about a year that we’d embark on a European tour this year, performing for thousands and getting the opportunity to extend our creative networks to a global scale. However, it was a day that never seemed to come, what with the schedule conflicts. Some of our destination cities include Amsterdam, Berlin, Paris, Glastonbury, and many more. Alas, God’s timing was right, once again, and the date was set. Before the tour, I hadn’t visited almost all of the countries we’d perform in, I had no clue what to expect, but in all honesty, that’s precisely how I preferred it. I enjoy learning by doing, getting lost before finding my way, and improving through my mistakes; and boy, did I make mistakes!
I’ve been overseas before but the tour was the very first time, of what I hope to be many, setting sail on a professional tour to numerous countries in a set timeframe. I was gobsmacked, I tell you. I found that waiting, traveling, administration and waiting make up about 50% of the trip. I always say that my best moments never make it to social media, often because it’s the last thing on my mind when I’m in them. The times I was intentional about and successful at getting a good video or picture were in between hours of grueling travel, time spent networking or entertaining at various events and bold attempts at getting some rest and alone time.
People jokingly say “I want your life,” or “take me with,” which is understandable. Not only is international travel, particularly to Europe, a massive privilege, it’s a guaranteed feast for the eyes and a blessing considering the state of affairs in South Africa. At the same time, it’s important to consider the labor, sacrifice and physical investment it requires to go on a tour in this way. What goes online is merely the tip of the iceberg. Let it be known, the experience of tourists is very different to that of someone at work.
That being said, I couldn’t be more grateful that my work granted me access to spaces I wouldn’t have walked into without hassle had I just been a tourist. I’ve had first-hand exposure to all kinds of international creative processes while adding my voice to global culture in my own unique way. I don’t take the attention I’ve gained from the “right” people and places I’ve encountered for granted.
Professional international travel has invigorated my life and enriched my career. Now, with the contacts I’ve made, things I’ve seen, and spaces I’ve occupied, it’s time to put in the work. Hopefully, I can travel back to Europe as a tourist and enjoy it in leisure and style.
