The Kid , The DJ and The Fall .

Remember this story from “The Bigger Picture” ? Link .

A 19 years old kid got a job in a popular Club in KL .

He was working closely with the club’s house DJ . Let us name the DJ , DJ SASSY . DJ SASSY is a popular one . Everybody loves him , everybody knows him . SASSY was making 5 figures a month . Have loads of friends and one night stands . He was THE BOMB . THE CELEBRITY .

The kid and the DJ worked at night . The kid was trying to keep things professional . Treating his job as a job , nothing personal . BUT , In the morning , DJ SASSY would call him up , asked the kid for lunch . Go jalan jalan at shopping center to lepak . Doing nothing . JUST CHILL OUT . The kid thought he was into some gay hooking up shit .

Being open minded , the kid talked to DJ SASSY to find out why the hell is he asking him for a date? Then, after DJ SASSY open up , he realized . DJ SASSY’s celebrity lifestyle was lonely . People kiss his ass , hung out with him , because they want to be seen with him , or get free invites to the club VIP , chicks dig him for his money , his friends are not true friends .

DJ SASSY was just trying to make a GENUINE friend .

Today , i want to continue the story .

Prelude.

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It all started out with a club . The club’s next door competitor started with a new concept , they hired a Bongo player to compliment the Club’s DJ . Imagine DJ + Bongo . Interesting? The Club wanted to compete . They thought of a different concept which was a DJ + Guitarist . They were hiring .
The kid went for the interview and he got the job . They called him the “Guitar boy”.

They gave him a small stage (previously used by professional dancers) that could only fit ONE person . His job was to SOLO OVER the RNB tunes and work together with the DJ . The Kid needs to be good in identifying keys . He practiced his hearing everyday .The DJ don’t know shit about a Key of the song , whether his tunes are in A minor or G major , once he changed the kid gotta follow up and move the pentatonic box . There , the kid met DJ SASSY .

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DJ SASSY is the type of DJ that draw crowds to club , people will go “hey ! DJ SASSY is playing here tonight , lets hang out there ! “ .When he worked , it was always full house . He was one of the TOP DJs in KL that commands up to 4 digits per night .

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.they kid had to wear this on the stage.

The kid was supposed to be “the entertainer” ..they made him dress up ,  to look like anything on MTV . His dress code was “funky” .And the pay ? It was HIGH and GOOD .The kid started out with RM150 a night , then upgraded to RM250 ..and they were talking about RM400 a night if he continues next year.

The kid wasn’t humble .

Imagine this . Kid was 20 years old , studying in a local university . Going to clubs 3-4 times a week , getting PAID 4 figures a month . Working for 3-4 hours a NIGHT . Had free flow of drinks , knew every single bouncer along the street and they would let his friends in . He had access to VIP ROOMS for almost every club along the street . He get discounts , free parking , meet new people , meet chicks , CLOSE WITH THE HOUSE DJ AND MANAGER …he was having something , every 20 years old guitarist would kill for . He was on his way to build a very successful music career .

But the kid blew it.

THE FALL .

DJ SASSY had a little bit of DJ Celebrity Ego in him .

On the first day , the kid was playing really really LOUD . He was the spotlight . People were noticing the kid more than DJ SASSY . DJ SASSY told the kid to tone down , and yeah it was the kid’s first day and he wanted to be nice . So he did what he was told .The Kid and the DJ are best buddies. After work , they would lepak in the mamak till late . The truth is , Inside the kid’s heart , he wanted to be the GUITAR HERO and SOLO IT OUT . He wanted to be the next club celebrity. But he knew his place ,  DJ SASSY was the Star , not him . For the rest of the performance , he kept low profile and play simple fill ins and funk tunes to add spices to the song . His volume was average , he tone down and there weren’t any solos anymore .

The thing about a club is , the DJ and the manager are pretty much THE GUYS WHO RUN THE WHOLE THING . They are there everyday . You see them everyday . On the other hand,  The club owner , is a WHITE guy who comes in , once a month , or twice in a month . He is probably a lazy investors who just pump money and let things run by itself . He don’t know ANYTHING about how the business runs . He just calls the shots and be the big BOSS everyone has to obey .

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One fine day , he came to the club and he saw the kid. After the kid played for a session ,  He immediately called the DJ and the manager out , and SCOLDED THEM . He said , he didn’t want some backing crap playing , he wanted some SOLO and SHOWMANSHIP like JIMI HENDRIX *the way he describe it . The boss actually liked the kid , he knows that he was told to tone down . The boss thought the kid was really talented and he wanted to keep him.

He called the kid out and talked to him personally , about changing the kid’s style and playing a JIMI HENDRIX SHOW IN the club .The first thing that came to the kid’s mind was , if he was going to do that , he might OUTSHINE DJ SASSY again and it might affect his relationship with DJ SASSY .It wouldn’t be good for DJ SASSY’s career too . He cared about him, because DJ SASSY was his good friend and DJ SASSY found the KID first . You see , the kid is the type of person who will appreciate people who helped him and people who are nice to him. He grew up in an environment where nice people are treated nice , and bad people suffer the consequences.

So he was at a situation where , he had to choose . There weren’t any win-win situation (because that boss did have a point )

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It was , his good friend , DJ SASSY that he sees EVERYDAY or , the CLUB’s BOSS that he met the first time …The kid knew that the decision was big , he thought about it . Being the 20 years old rockstar attitude kid , along with his personality . He chose DJ SASSY .

The kid told the boss , i quit .“I want to be that super star u want me to be , but i rather NOT PLAY , i don’t want to harm my good friend .” He blew it off . The Boss got pissed with him. 2 weeks time , that DJ quit playing for that club because he had problems with that boss too .What he did , whether right or wrong , he didn’t know . Some of you may think it was right , some of you may think it was wrong .

Basically , the question is , who would you choose ?

Your immediate boss , or your bigger boss ?
Auditors ? your clients , or your shareholders ?
Musicians ? Your band mates , or your producer ?
Lawyers ? your clients , or the LAW ?

My point is , sometime in life , we get into unwanted situations such as this one .If you can make it a win-win situation , great . But there are times , you just have to PICK A SIDE . Situations like this , will piss one off , and will make the other one happy .I want you to think of potential conflicts that you may face in the future . Think carefully, and make a wise decision .

TODAY

That club is known as one of the highest paying clubs in KL . This year , The Kid found out from a friend , the same BOSS that he pissed off is actually a big shot for EMI music (his day job). He was involve heavily with BIG ARTISTES such as Jac Victor .

He asked himself .What if he didn’t quit ? What would it be like ? Guess he will never know..He and DJ SASSY tried to keep in touch after the incident ( they got busy ) , and it didn’t work out .You know what they say about KL people ? Friendship never lasts . And it is true . The kid hasn’t heard from DJ SASSY for so long . He is probably on tour , up there . And the kid ? failed to succeed in the music industry because of his decision .

Sometimes , it hurts to think about it . In life , you meet the right people that will get you where you want , but because of the wrong decision , the opportunity went away . So close yet so far .

3 years have passed . The way the kid sees it today , he didn’t pick DJ SASSY. What he picked was , his little ego .He wanted to show the BOSS , I do not need you , and “the real talent is ME” , he can get better offers once he left .He rather look cool in front of DJ SASSY and to piss his boss off than to have everything. But he was wrong . he knew that his so called brother friendship wouldn’t last . He had everything , the best job , the best pay , the dream ..and he let it go to feed his ego .

So think , which one is worth it ? To say something , or make a decision that will satisfy your EGO , for the short term .Or to give in a little bit , but you know you gain more in the long run .

Learn how to appreciate what is valuable for you . Sometimes , you say you want to STAND UP for yourself . There are things you think is wrong and you will NEVER give in . Be careful , is that what you really believe in ? Or are you standing up for your ego ? Or worse , to please people that don’t matter .