Halloween marks a new era, so to speak.

[xiane]

In case you haven't caught on to what I've been hinting about over the past few months, my Halloween gig at cville_umlaut is marking the end of one era and the beginning of another.

I'd been a bit burned out on DJing at clubs for a while before I moved up to B'more - it was getting increasingly harder for me to get excited about what was going on with The Dawning, and I felt like it showed. Not that The Dawning and the people who make it up aren't awesome, but I wasn't happy with where it was being held, and I felt very hemmed in by the restrictions given to us by Outback Lodge. They have to protect their bottom line, but getting pre-empted by frat parties and not being able to book bands at will was really difficult for me, and I felt like it hurt attendance a lot, too. There were other factors, too - the wind was taken out of my sails when we lost the building bid for Transmission, definitely. And I was feeling sicker and sicker from the smoke I had to inhale every week, to the point that it was taking two to three days to recover from every Saturday.

Cryptkicker was a breath of fresh air for me - a venue where we could spin what we wanted, with no pressure... it was ratty and rough and a lot of fun. I don't think it was destined to last much longer than it did, despite how much I wanted it to continue. It has a special place in my heart, though. The Dawning fulfilled some huge dreams I'd had; Cryptie was another version of that dream.
After years of being a club DJ, though - the ride's over. I LOVE it, you have to know - I love the feeling of hitting the mix just right, of watching people light up as they hear the songs grab hold of them and drag them to the floor. I get high from hearing people cheer when I get the song they all wanted to hear, or when people come up to the booth to thank me for making them dance, or to ask me what that artist was... but I can't breathe afterward, guys. I feel like crap for days after. I can feel the toll that the club takes on me, and it tells me that it's time to retire from regular gigs and let younger people step up to bat.

So what does this mean? Unless you're booking for a smoke-free club, I can tell you with a sad face that I won't be DJing there. I'm pretty much done, it seems. I might do an occasional Dawning gig, because that's my heart home... but honestly, that's it. I can't even GO to clubs much anymore, it kills me to be there. Just catching someone's secondary smoke makes me feel sick these days.

So. If you want to hear me spin one last big hurrah... please come to Umlaut in Charlottesville on Halloween. If you have another non-smoking function where you'd like a DJ [like Witches' Brew], I'm your girl. Other than that... I love you all. Dance for me a couple of times, would you?

Expect some promised events with Radio Xiane that have sat on the back burner to come to pass. I need an outlet somehow.

Comments

[boadiccea.livejournal.com]

That's exactly why I quit DJing - the toll it took on my health was too much. And I do miss it, but I don't miss the way I felt for days afterwards.

Much love to you - I know this wasn't an easy thing to do.

[mmymoon.livejournal.com]

We're going to be really sad to miss you, but... weekday club nights are just NOT feasible for us anymore. :/ Honestly, our kind of last big Xiane hurrah was... last Halloween? No, two Halloweens ago, when the Dawning was on the actual night of Halloween.

God, how time flies by.

Eras change... Cory and I sometimes mope about missing the way things were, but you know, we all had a pretty good run. Or rather, a good shaking of our asses. ;9

[xiane.livejournal.com]

I remember you saying something to that effect some time ago, and I nodded to myself sagely. I knew it was coming eventually... and honestly, I've hardly DJed this year, so why not now, when I'm turning 40 at the end of the year anyway?
I love the Witches' Brew gigs for the very reason that they're smoke-free. Their business is up in the air right now, but I'll gladly DJ anytime they ask, at least.

Thank you for the support and love. This was definitely hard to say.

[xiane.livejournal.com]

I'll come to your house some day and have a DJ party just for you two, and your family if they want.

That Halloween was possibly the best club night of my life. It was AMAZING. :)

I miss you guys.

[eure-maum.livejournal.com]

:( I'm gonna miss your last dig cuz of money and where it's at and because of all the drama going on. You better do podcasts or let me get teh Radio Xiane programs after they air since I don't know if I'll have net where I'm moving too.

And whatever happened to my cds??? :P

[xiane.livejournal.com]

Absolutely, you're 100% right. As always. :)

My head's been here for months, but I just had to SAY it out loud. That was tough, and it'll be hard when I get nostalgic. But it is for the best for my health... and now I'm focusing my energies to new [or in some cases, old and neglected] projects and horizons. Huzzah!

[xiane.livejournal.com]

And as always, I love YOU YOU YOU.

[xiane.livejournal.com]

Haven't made them yet. It's been really hard to get in that room and DO anything, the Squeege destroys everything when I go in there and I can't keep him out. They're coming, I promise. I *have* to burn CDs for Umlaut, so I can burn things for you at the same time.

I'm going to figure out this podcasting thing, I promise. *hug*

[crossbonesdj.livejournal.com]

You, my dear, were one of the people that got me to start spinning...so rest easy in knowing you have inspired others.

Now that I'm smoke-free myself, I now understand how much it can hurt your head and throat being in a smoky club. Since I'm only spinning about once or twice a month, I'm OK for now, but it might become a problem down the line.

As always, you're staying true to YOU and that's most important!

[inefficiency.livejournal.com]

We could just, y'know, eat the cat.

[xiane.livejournal.com]

Sometimes he makes that seem very appealing. :D

[elizablessing.livejournal.com]

I'm in the same spot...smoke wise.

Its so hard to go out and enjoy a club or show now for me. My smoke allergies have gotten worse in the past year. I had to go to the emergency DR like 4 times last year for severe sinus infections from smoke.

Its sad to feel like I cant go to clubs or shows because of it. I tried wearing a face mask once...but it didnt even work at all.

I love the Satellite Ballroom b/c of the no smoking but unfortunately there are RARELY shows there I want to go to. It seems like now, the only shows I will go to with smoke tend to be BM shows, of course.

It also sucks that me and another girl at work have bad smoke issues...we need inhalers, etc. But, does that stop my boss from smoking inside before we get there? OF COURSE NOT! So every day at work for a few hours is bad for me...even just the smell of someone's house where they smoke outside but sit on the couch after...gets to me. Also, sitting at traffic lights with my windows down and someone smoking near me...gets to me. LAME

Its sad we have to sacrifice...

IF people want to smoke, I'm TOTALLY fine with it...but its not fair that some people CANNOT eat out, go to shows, etc b/c of it. It doesnt hurt them to go outside...it hurts us for them to stay inside...one of my friends had cystic fibrosis...she couldnt even go to a restaurant b/c there MIGHT be someone near her smoking..she would die...

[xiane.livejournal.com]

Halloween night. [is a tuesday, I know that sucks]

I'll be in B'more sometime on Thursday 10/26, and I'll bug out sometime that Sunday. I'll be in Cville from Sunday until the day after Halloween.

[xiane.livejournal.com]

That's totally how I am these days, absolutely. Just smelling it on someone after the fact makes me sick to my stomach, and the residual smoke in a place can *still* lay me out.
I'm all about smokers having some rights, but when it infringes on my right to just walk down the street and breathe, it really starts to bother me.

I think the last show I went to was In Tenebris at Dracula's Daughter. And that was not too crowded, so it was bearable inside... but I still felt "hungover" the next day. How crappy is that? I just want to go support the bands I love. :(

That's okay, we'll look young and healthy when all those smokers are lookin' like beef jerky. :D [sorry, smokers on my Flist! I love you, but it makes your skin age!]

[elizablessing.livejournal.com]

(I'm all about smokers having some rights, but when it infringes on my right to just walk down the street and breathe, it really starts to bother me)

YES! EXACTLY!

[xiane.livejournal.com]

I think it's even harder on people who used to smoke, then quit. Hopefully you'll be able to hang in there for a while. I'm really glad you've really taken the DJ thing to the amazing heights that you have. You love the music, and it shows.

Keep making 'em dance, sister! :)

[xiane.livejournal.com]

Some of them just don't get that, though. "I can't smoke anywhere now!" Dude, I've been forced to breathe in your smoke for AGES. Smoking indoors is unfair to everyone who depends on air. Outside, I can at least manuver around you... hopefully... but damn, even then it makes me sick if I get a whiff. They never understand that it isn't about "Oh I just don't like that" but actually it's "Hi, your habit makes me feel like I'm going to DIE, thx."

O_O

Infuriating. I try to be cheerful about it, though.

[megdalyn.livejournal.com]

... I wish I could be there for your last hoorah! I miss your spinning.

[xiane.livejournal.com]

You can give me my DJ methadone!

*shakes head, laughing* Sometimes I *DO* feel like a dirty DJ addict.

Maybe I need to make an icon for that.

[xiane.livejournal.com]

AND. Forgot to say that I would be PROUD to break the ban for ANYTHING you're involved in. As long as I get to DJ with you.

[xiane.livejournal.com]

I just miss YOU. Hope everything's going well for you right now!

[xiane.livejournal.com]

If those are the ones I'm thinking of, you really would be close to Marm! That neighborhood's pretty nice, and you'd be close to a lot of stuff without being right up IN it, so to speak. Let me know if that happens! I'll try and spot 'em out when I'm there to verify the closeness, but I'm pretty sure I know which ones those are.

Wooo!

[megdalyn.livejournal.com]

Well there's that too... maybe when I go up to VA in December I can stop in NC for a day or so.

[eure-maum.livejournal.com]

No!!! No eating the cat!!!! :P

[eure-maum.livejournal.com]

Coolio. Just wanted to remind ya since I know when life gets hectic, you can forget things.

By the way, can you put one of the leftover dream pillows to the side for me so that when I can afford it, I can buy one off of you.

Which reminds me, I so did not take my vitamins this morning. :/ Woke up too late to take anything but my antidepressant.

[eure-maum.livejournal.com]

I am in the same boat as you. Thankfully my family respects me and smokes outside. I have bad smoke allergies and when I was little and didn't take care of the first sysmptoms (bad cough) it could lead to bronchitis and then pneumonia. Hence why I rarely go out to the clubs anymore except for concerts I want to see....and why you see me usually head the other way from smokers so I don't get a direct breath of the smoke.

Wish there would be more non-smoking venues. It be nice.

[eure-maum.livejournal.com]

*cheers you on* I hate the smell smokers leave behind. Hence why I banned my brother from smoking in my car which lead me to the mess I'm currently in.

[paisli.livejournal.com]

Move to Denver.. all of our clubs are smoke free ;)

[jdavyd.livejournal.com]

Eh, i don't see what the big deal is. you suck anyway ;-p

[xiane.livejournal.com]

BUT I SUCK BETTER THAN ANYONE YOU KNOW!


... wait.

:D

[xiane.livejournal.com]

Lucky BUTT! :D

I've never even BEEN to Denver! How do I know it even exists?

[paisli.livejournal.com]

Ah.. you got me.. it doesn't.. I'm just a figment of your imagination.. you big freak.. imagining friends!!

[jdavyd.livejournal.com]

Woo.

i'm not ashamed to say: it moved.

[xiane.livejournal.com]

If you were a figment of my imagination, I'd imagine you HERE. Not over in non-existent Denver, of all places!

Damn right I'm a freak. :D

[jukebox-heroine.livejournal.com]

so, i'm a deejay. and i am a pretty heavy smoker too. and i also like your business, so i can't say that i'm with you on this one. ;) BUT :
1. wait for the smoking ban in the district to go into effect. this year. then come play for us. i demand this. :D
2. when can i see you while you are here??

[shocktrama.livejournal.com]

Is this a new thing? Because I remember smoking all the times in clubs when I lived there.

[paisli.livejournal.com]

Yeah.. it happened around the beginning of June or July.. it's good and bad... I dont' smoke, so I enjoy not having to feel like hell the following day.. but at the same time.. the clubs seem empty because everyone is always on the patio smoking. It doesn't seem to have deterred people from going out though.

[seeliespright.livejournal.com]

I know exactly what you mean.

I've basically stopped coming to the Dawning after you left, only making it once every few months or so. The last time I went - oh, say, a month ago, I came home feeling terrible and felt awful for the next week. I think my Dawning days are over, and possibly those at clubs altogether too. While smoke hasn't been a problem for me at other clubs, I think my days of dancing at all are over because the toll on my body is too much.

I am planning on making it Umlaut Halloween night since it's always the best when you spin and I don't see you anymore. Though, I may not be able to stay the entire time. Are you going first; and if not, when are you spinning?

Keep me updated about when you'll be free to hang out between Sun and the day after Halloween.

If I get to make it, my Halloween costume will be the awesomest evar this year. ;o)

[sleepwalks.livejournal.com]

god i miss you so much. i was just talking to maria the other night about how i wished i could see you that weekend, and in cville on halloween.
<3.

[laggardluminati.livejournal.com]

It breaks my heart that I can't go see you at Umlaut.
I'll be 18 in a year and some months...

[stripey-girl.livejournal.com]

Wish I could be there! You'll have to come up North again sometime, we have smoke-free clubs in NYC!

[mmymoon.livejournal.com]

AWESOME.

We miss you, too! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triana_Orpheus <- Everytime I see her on Venture Brothers, she just totally reminds me of you and I miss you. XD

[redzshadow.livejournal.com]

Oh, I AM GOING TO BE THERE!

[wanderyng1.livejournal.com]

Wow...well then I will do what I can to make the night kick major ass.