It's the year 2025, or Year 5 aC (after Corona). Corona is still present and existent, but humanity is now largely under control, and severe or fatal cases are rare. Society and politics constantly talk about coming to terms with the past, but let's be honest, nothing will actually happen in that regard. However, so that I can finally put this matter to rest for myself, personally and psychologically, I'm writing this blog post…

Celebrate:

On March 14, 2020, I played what was, for the time being, my last wedding of the year. The pandemic was just beginning, and the number of deaths attributed to or involving the coronavirus was steadily rising. (The interaction of the virus with other illnesses or pre-existing conditions remains unknown to this day.) A vaccine wasn't even a consideration; nobody knew what was going on (how could they, it was a novel virus), reliable tests weren't yet available, and everything was becoming increasingly strange. At that last wedding, I contracted COVID-19, and it wasn't a mild case; I almost ended up in the hospital, as we would say today. It wasn't the only time (three times in total), despite vaccinations in the years that followed, and I still deal with the after-effects to this day. From lung function tests every three months to asthma training and the slight psychological stunt that can only be resolved through therapy, perhaps… I don't want pity for that, but it would be enough if the two negligent couples at whose weddings I was infected again in 2021 and 2022 were at least made aware of it, and perhaps their conscience (if they have one) would simply make them realize how negligent and selfish they acted back then, and that I am paying a price for it which still affects my quality of life today…

Humanity:

Unfortunately, my belief that humanity, consideration, and empathy come far behind personal egoism, the "me first" mentality, and self-promotion was confirmed. After the outbreak of the pandemic, many people around me did a complete 180, revealing their true intentions and nature. Of course, I changed too, and even though I didn't really consider some regulations and rules sensible, I still adhered to them to avoid harming myself or society.

After the first lockdown in 2020, I created a website (musik4muenchen.com - now defunct) for my self-employed artistic network to gain visibility during those uncertain times. While the site did generate some inquiries for the various contributors (in whatever form, since it allowed direct contact with the artists), it was rather disheartening to see the lack of unity and the fact that no one seemed to care when I took the website offline in 2024. Over time, various groups quickly formed, each staging their own events, primarily to present themselves as movers and shakers or lifelines. None of these groups ever managed to unite an entire industry, or even a significant portion of it. In fact, groups and individuals were often deliberately excluded, which, in turn, gradually led to a situation in 2025 where, more than ever, the industry was mired in infighting and rivalries. Long-term thinking has never been the strength of the human species…

Justice:

When the first lockdowns came, the government very quickly launched emergency financial aid programs. I have to say that this worked out well for me, as I've been offering card payments as a DJ since 2015 and therefore always had, and still have, proper bookkeeping. However, many DJs who do it as a side job, meaning they were in regular employment with a contract, also applied for and received the emergency aid. This begs the question: WHY? Clearly, the government couldn't even begin to grasp the swamp of undeclared work and tax evasion that had grown over decades in the restaurant and mobile DJ industry for weddings and birthdays, so they simply handed out the money without checking the legitimacy of the claims. Some restaurateurs, with the help of resourceful tax advisors, even used the Corona emergency aid to modernize their entire establishments without any verification of necessity. And the permanently employed artists and DJs (in other professions) were laughing all the way to the bank. 

It quickly became clear, however, that the state would eventually investigate and demand repayments. But to this day, this chapter of the pandemic is not yet over because court rulings are still pending, and frankly, I have little hope that Justice, blind in both eyes, will suddenly regain her sight and rectify the financial damage these greedy and ruthless individuals have inflicted on society (because the money is now desperately needed) and restore even a shred of justice to this divided (and unfortunately justifiably so) society…

Company:

At the beginning of the pandemic, the divisions in society weren't as deep and wide as they would be five years later. Initially, people were stunned, shocked, and uncertain. But as more and more rules, measures, and regulations were introduced, society became increasingly divided. Not in black and white, though, but in a much more nuanced way. In my circle, there were wedding planners who, after years of good collaboration, suddenly stopped responding, even after multiple attempts to contact them. Or there were venues who, to put it mildly, couldn't care less about the DEHOGA (German Hotel and Restaurant Association) guidelines at that time, and whose disinfectant dispensers were merely dummies to create a false impression during inspections. Every behavior was closely observed, yes, even by me (travel or vacation was a no-go for me at that time, but not for many others, and did it do you any good besides make you feel cool? NOPE). Depending on how the other person assessed the situation, a decision was made as to whether or not one wanted to have further dealings with them. This continues to this day, and yes, it applies to me too, because I refuse to acknowledge facts; conspiracy theorists, windbags, or other no-brainers no longer have a chance with me.

That was just a tiny glimpse into my social bubble, and anyone who had to come into contact with the unknown outside world during the pandemic, even just for shopping or a walk, has certainly had many experiences that made them shake their head…

Understanding:

One aspect that became less and less important the longer the pandemic lasted, even for me. I understood every client who didn't want to celebrate under restrictions and regulations, because there are times to celebrate, and this wasn't really one of them. Nevertheless, the few celebrations that did take place were, with the exception of two (see above), conducted with all necessary precautions, and everyone still had fun and enjoyed a successful event. ( And it also provided a brief respite from all the pandemic madness.)

I was already aware in 2021 that things couldn't continue as they had been after the pandemic, but many still haven't grasped this. As a result, I no longer understand some requests, and there are simply certain aspects of events that I can no longer handle in the way I did before the pandemic. I understand that some people live in their "everything was better in the old days" bubble and want to maintain that way. (This is clearly evident in client playlists, which since the pandemic seem to consist almost entirely of 90s songs or tracks that are suitable for relaxing on the sofa at home, but not for a party.) Unfortunately, these are no longer my clients, because I want to develop professionally, musically, and personally.

In times of climate change and increasing traffic on our roads, I don't think it makes sense anymore to ship 120-150 people, including service providers, to another country for a wedding. Sorry folks, those days are sadly over, unless you have the necessary cash, in which case it's more fashionable to celebrate "like it's 1999"... Now, which of the streaming algorithm lemmings recognized that little line of text from this classic song...? 

Trust:

A great deal was destroyed, including in my own life. That's why cooperation or even collaboration is currently difficult in Germany and always involves many discussions and explanations. Interestingly, people in other countries have recovered from the Corona crisis faster and better than we have here. This may be because other countries drew a line under it more quickly and are now cooperating again without reservations or resentment, which is still difficult here. 

It's not easy for me either, because I've withdrawn from all DJ groups and only work with a few colleagues I still trust on a limited basis. When you're in a DJ group where you're the only full-time DJ and music producer, and the rest of the members have well-paid, permanent positions at DAX-listed companies or similar, and you can't expect a fair distribution of gig requests, you simply have to (and here comes one of my favorite phrases) make the painful reassessment of the situation and turn your back on the whole thing… Bye Bye Motherf*****s…

New beginning:

It quickly became clear to me that, even though I would have liked it to, things couldn't continue as they were before the pandemic. There are various reasons for this, some of which I've described above, but there are also changes originating from people, politics, and society. From noise regulations in EU urban areas to fewer weddings among the younger generation and their changing nightlife habits, things simply can't go back to the way they were before the pandemic.

As a DJ, you have to reinvent yourself, explore new avenues, and seize new opportunities to make a good living again, like you did before the pandemic. Simply hoping things will get better won't make them better. I believe we won't have reached the bottom of the economic trough by 2025, as Germany is systematically falling behind on many fronts. Only those who can adapt will survive, and I've been pushing forward with my own development, shedding unnecessary baggage to create space and capacity for new things. 

New things don't always have it easy in Germany; I've already come to terms with that. If the rest of the country finally mothballs all its fax machines and adapts and opens itself up more quickly to new technologies and circumstances, we have every chance of leaving the last five years behind us and, with renewed courage, confidence, and hope, making this world a better place than before Corona…

Are you in…?

PS: A huge thank you to my life partner for always pulling together during these times... ILY...