Planning for Old Benny

[Benny Smyth]

So I've been having a bit of a ponder over recent months about what to do with myself after I take my headphones and launch them off a bridge (no ceremonial 'hanging of the headphones' for me!). I've always said that once I hit 45, I will be putting an end to my DJ career as I want to get out while I still enjoy it, and I really want to avoid the possibility of turning into that DJ who's had their 100 songs of doom that have worked perfectly fine for the last 30 years, and there's no reason why they shouldn't be working today and it's the audience that's the problem because they don't know what good music is...

That means that I've got just over 13 years left. My overall retirement plan/pipe dream is to retire to Spain and I'm going to start working towards that. Recently, one of the services that I freelance for as a broadcaster was looking for someone in a management role and I went for it, and subsequently got it. In fact, I've been doing the job since November and I'm actually really enjoying it. The plan in life for now is to do something similar to what Wayne did when he got back into DJing - the 'proper' job pays for real life whilst the DJing will pay for itself and anything on top of that will go into savings and/or pension funds.

It'll obviously reduce the number of gigs I do a year but, to be honest, I can afford to do that as it means that the DJing will no longer be responsible for paying to have a roof over my head and food on my table. In the grand scheme of things, I think that I'll actually be better off and if I am able to turn over at least £20k a year from the DJing, that should leave me with a sizable next egg in 13 years.

Chances are that the Spain thing won't happen, but I'm gonna give it a damn good go.

#WeekendWarriorBaby! ;)

[Excalibur]

I've always said that once I hit 45, I will be putting an end to my DJ career

:Laugh::fp:

I said that as well. :confused:

[Imagine]

The plan in life for now is to do something similar to what Wayne did when he got back into DJing - the 'proper' job pays for real life whilst the DJing will pay for itself and anything on top of that will go into savings and/or pension funds.


Ahhhhhh Benny, Benny, Benny.....that was the dream several years ago. Alas things are possibly about to turn on their head in Wayne's World.

Whilst the original plan was indeed for the disco to fund the pension pot....the full time job is looking more and more flaky by the day. Of course, the bosses haven't actually "said" anything, I'll be the last to know of the plans for fear that I jump ship and leave them up the proverbial without adequate means of propulsion (it's very, very complicated)....but the signs are pointing to me being out of that particular job by next August at the very latest.

So why haven't I jumped ship whilst I have the chance? Why should I?

I now work from home, I'm being paid a full time salary and there's very little "work" to do....I'd be daft to go looking for full time work at the moment. It's also giving me a LOT of time to work on building up the disco business which will exceed 20k turnover this year. I'm more than happy to carry on DJing until I drop...I love it with a passion I can't explain (yes...there's "those" gigs we wish we didn't have to do but hey-ho)...and I actually get bored with having nothing to do (always have, always will). I was brought up to be a grafter and really can't stand being idle. I've never been the sort that can just chill in front of the telly or lay on a beach....it's really not in my DNA.

What will I do when the time comes and the full time job disappears? Certainly not go back into full time employment for another boss that's for sure. I've had a taste of freedom now in working from home whilst developing my own business. I like it....a LOT. Maybe I'll become a contract programmer (although at 46 suspect I'm probably a bit old for that game now), maybe I'll go and do something part-time for Tesco/Sainsbury to fit in with the DJ side of things, or even become a Teaching Assistant at the local comprehensive....who knows?

I've never wanted to be rich in terms of money...I have everything I want with my family. The dear lady works full time and the mortgage is only a couple of years away from being paid off. The kids are both independent now....how many trinkets can you need? Life is about soooo much more than money in my book....so long as we've got enough to live a comfortable life, I'm a happy bunny...even if that means I expire doing something I love.

[mattydj50]

:Laugh::fp:

I said that as well. :confused:

After two retirements, mine restarted at 43. And I've been busier than ever since.

[Excalibur]

The dear lady works full time
:approve:;)


After two retirements, mine restarted at 43. And I've been busier than ever since.

You win. I only retired once. :)

[DazzyD]

I'm coming out of "retirement" tonight for one night only. It's my mam's 60th birthday bash and why spend money on a DJ when I still have all the kit? A DJ is not top priority tonight as it'll be more like a family reunion early on so Mr Robot DJ (Automix) will be paying us a visit with me ending the night when they're up dancing. My family like dancing... a lot!!

Wayne, you said you will continue til you drop. Can I just put a thought out there? Maybe you'll take it on board, maybe not. Say you did go "until you drop". Imagine you've a full diary of bookings and you are getting physically, and mentally, tired. And that you do, indeed, "drop". How many clients are you likely to let down? Covering the odd gig here and there is fine but what about a year's worth? Or more? My exit strategy was always to make a date, while I'm still fit and healthy, to stop taking bookings then just complete those booked in already. That way, there's less chance of people being let down should my health and fitness deteriorate.

Of course, life is life and it didn't work out that way (at the moment, anyway) because family comes first. But I can see myself returning as the DJ King Of Cheese sometime in the future when life settles down and stops being the utter chaos that the last year or so has been! Only time will tell!!

[ckpr2]

I gave up DJing in my early 50's.
Just became too hard work shifting gear around.

I started my own software company and that has provided well for me instead of DJ-ing.
I still have a day job.

[Imagine]

I gave up DJing in my early 50's.
Just became too hard work shifting gear around.

I started my own software company and that has provided well for me instead of DJ-ing.
I still have a day job.

The other way round from me then (we may have to talk at some point ;). ).

I feel at the tender age of 46 that I'm now too old for software development (I can't keep up with it to be perfectly honest). Although maybe if I was doing it for myself........that might be an option for next year when my current full time job disappears.

As for the DJing, it gives me a buzz a bit like some sort of drug....I enjoy it too much to give it up.

[ckpr2]

The other way round from me then (we may have to talk at some point ;). ).

I feel at the tender age of 46 that I'm now too old for software development (I can't keep up with it to be perfectly honest). Although maybe if I was doing it for myself........that might be an option for next year when my current full time job disappears.

As for the DJing, it gives me a buzz a bit like some sort of drug....I enjoy it too much to give it up.

Most of the time there is little pressure writing software.
The software I sell is quite mature but I still get the odd bug or improvement to do.
For new software its easy to pick it up and drop it as I feel like it.

As for DJing I miss the buzz too.
Even with the best intentions things can go very good or very bad.
Fights break out and the odd glass comes flying your way.
I liked it best when I was a teenager DJ with lots of girls to chat up.
With the DJing the girls come to chat to you and you dont have to chase them so much.
Too old to pull the younger women now.