Q: As a DJ, you are responsible for entertaining a large group of people all by yourself. The music you play is important, but you also need to pay attention to how you act on stage. Don't just stand there hunched over your decks. That's boring. Try to be someone who attracts attention in a good way. Also, learn when to step back and let the group dynamic take over. Use the music to manage the event, driving it forward. Divide different styles of songs into different sections. Play slower, quieter songs at the beginning of the party. Slowly slip into a jazzier groove, and pull out the heavier songs at the end. Above all, read the crowd and notice what they're responding to. Don't play mostly fast songs at a wedding. This will take away from the romantic atmosphere. Don't play mostly slow songs at a gathering of kids. They will get bored fast. Show up to your events on-time and fully prepared. Give each gig your best effort. Have fun with the crowd, but keep your interactions professional and respectful, since you never know who's watching. Straight up, the DJ world is full of scumbags. You want to be that good apple that isn't a part of the bunch. If you're not professional, there are a zillion other guys and gals out there chomping at the bit to take your spot. Working in clubs and the like isn't always a pretty picture. Remember that 95% of the time the majority of the people listening to your music will either be some level of drunk, high, or both. They may give you a hard time on occasion. This has got to go in your ear and out the other. In addition to rowdy or unappreciative crowds, you'll be dealing with shady promoters and technical disasters. Use your savvy people skills to navigate through these issues and let them make you all the better for it. Imagine going to a show (or maybe you already have been witness to this) and seeing a DJ that's busy pushing buttons like he'd rather be hauling rocks. It's terrible. Watching a DJ that doesn't even like their own music is practically worse than a three-piece polka band with earplugs. So make it clear that you're enjoying yourself and the crowd will follow suit. You're totally allowed to go a bit crazy. The more you feel it, the more your inclinations will be spot on. The more spot on you are, the more the crowd wants you back. After all that hard work of taking crap gigs and working with a crap company and modifying on less-than-stellar equipment, it's time to up the ante. When the money is coming in at more than a trickle, upgrade your equipment. The industry standard is the Technics 1200, but you can even upgrade from there. You're looking at a few thousand dollars in the long-run, but you'll make it back and then some. Start figuring out your rates. How much are you worth? You don't want to be a DJ diva about it, but you don't want to sell yourself short. Account for distance traveled, if you're bringing your own equipment, and the general realities of the gig (some are quite clearly better than others). And don't forget: are they feeding you?
A: Build your charisma. Always read the crowd. Be professional. Handle the BS with care. Have fun. Live the dream of working for yourself.

Q: If a person rushes to respond or share their own opinions, they stand in the way of empathy. Hold mock conversations in which one person talks while the other person hears them out completely. Encourage the listener to turn to face the speaker and make eye contact. The listener should be trying their best to understand what the other person is saying, not simply listening to reply. Those learning empathy need feedback to determine if they understand others' messages during communication. Saying what the person said back to them in a different way helps them double-check that they got the right message. Paraphrasing may sound like, "From what I'm hearing, you seem very shocked and upset about the results of your doctor's exam. Is that right?" If the message was not received correctly, the speaker can try to relay it again so that the listener understands. Paraphrasing can also be taught in practice situations to help them feel confident doing it in real-life conversations. Identifying what someone is feeling can be challenging in the moment. To build the skill, start at the end: with the emotion you think the person felt. Then, reflect back and analyze other details, like facial expressions, body language, tone of voice, and the actual words that were said. For instance, if a wife guessed that her husband was angry, she might work backwards and recall that his arms were crossed, he was pacing, he had a sneer on his face, and his speech was overly sarcastic. Noting these details can help her read future nonverbal and verbal cues more easily. Help adults learn empathy by breaking down different scenarios and reflecting on the experiences of the people involved. This may work best by using scenes from popular movies or TV shows. For instance, a scene from a movie may portray two friends fighting. Have two people role-play the scene and discuss what each character may have been thinking and feeling, and what cues help you figure that out. Have everyone start by spending 5 or 10 minutes breathing deeply and generating good vibes about themselves. This might include silently repeating affirmations, like "I am worthy," or simply envisioning giving oneself a warm hug. In subsequent meditation sessions, they can start focusing on a friend or family member. Radiate positive thoughts towards that one person for the full exercisejust for about 10 minutes. After focusing on loved ones for a few sessions, they can then progress to radiating good vibes to a virtual stranger, such as the nice barista at Starbucks or someone they heard about on the news. Loving-kindness helps connect with the deeper human side of oneself and others, increasing a person's ability to feel empathy.
A:
Practice listening without interrupting. Paraphrase what others say to verify understanding. Work backwards to read others' nonverbal and verbal cues. Imagine stepping into the shoes of others. Practice loving-kindness meditation.