Opportunism in the DJ scene

Opportunism is an assumption that claims that human beings are generally self-interested and that they will take advantage of others and/or circumstances when possible. However, sometimes people don’t act opportunistically while they had the chance to do so. In my ECON490 class we discussed different reasons why this happens, such as good citizenship, unethical behavior and the fact that a lot of people are patient. The reverse, so that someone takes advantages of you, can also happen. In my following example of opportunism this was also the case. Moreover, I could also act opportunistically but I didn’t.

After graduating at high school, I chose to take a gap year instead of going straight to university. My brother, who is two years older than me, did the same two years before and went to Cambridge in England. So I followed his path and lived for 6 months in Cambridge too. The main reason why my brother didn’t go to university after graduating was because of my dad. He pushed him to learn the English language, explore the world and develop himself. Reluctantly he went to Cambridge alone and attended the language school Kaplan, but of course after the first days he knew that he would have the best time of his life. Thus for me the choice was very easy, I wanted to go there too and so did I.

During my first weeks in Cambridge I got in contact with a guy called George. George was a club owner and organized, especially international student, parties at other clubs. I got in contact with him because one of my hobbies is DJ’ing and producing music. When we met he asked me to DJ during a night in his own club and of course I wanted to. The first time that I DJ’ed was on a Tuesday night and George immediately knew that I could DJ quite well so he asked me to DJ more often in the future. And because I found George a good guy, I was happy to DJ more often in his club. Thus I started to DJ every Tuesday and Friday nights in his club and sometimes on Mondays or Thursdays in other clubs where he organized the international student party nights.

I really loved DJ’ing all these nights during my time in Cambridge, however I could have act more opportunistically. For my work as a DJ, George didn’t pay me. This was not a big deal for me, because I wasn’t in Cambridge to work and earn money. At that moment I was fine with just getting some free drinks and free entrance to other clubs. However I had the chance to act opportunism but I didn’t. I could claim more than what I was receiving from him. I could put pressure on him and threaten him to not show up during a night that I usually DJ’ed. He wouldn’t have a direct back up for that and I knew that. Nonetheless I didn’t do that, I didn’t act opportunistically while I had the chance.

            Not only could I have act more opportunistically, I could also stop the reverse of it, thus not letting them take too much advantages of me. I could refuse to DJ at more parties if I didn’t get compensation for example. During the nights when I was DJ’ing, the club was always pretty crowded, especially with international students. I assume that my different music style compared with the standard ‘radio-music’ house DJ’s, was one of the reasons for that. George wanted me to DJ at more international parties in different clubs and this was an honor for me. However, I could refuse that and take the risk of waiting for an offer with more compensation.

And why didn’t I act opportunistically? I think that the main reason is my personality. I am not that person who asks money for his class notes or summaries, and so didn’t I ask money either for my work as a DJ. Besides, once started DJ’ing more frequently without getting paid, I couldn’t just claim out of nowhere that he had to pay me. And again, I wasn’t in Cambridge to work and earn money, I was there to attend a language school and to develop myself. Thus, I was pleased with the free drinks and other privileges. Secondly, I was patient and thought that the good things would come out if I just waited and it kind of did. I received more and more privileges during my time in Cambridge and before I went back to Amsterdam, George got me a very nice present. Another reason was that I didn’t want to take the risk to loose everything in the DJ scene that I had built up. Acting more opportunism could probably lead too less DJ nights for me. In my opinion, the last two reasons can amount to the same thing, which is the main reason: personality. I think that personality plays a big role in the field of opportunism, especially when there is physical contact with the other person. When you see each other at least twice a week, it is hard to act opportunistically all the time.

Looking back at my time in Cambridge, I don’t regret that I didn’t act too opportunistically. I had the best 6 months of my life and one of the reasons for that is the fact that I could DJ in all the clubs. I made a reputation and made many connections in Cambridge. Furthermore, I had so many amazing nights that are unforgettable. I still have contact with George and I’m still grateful to him that he got me into the DJ scene in Cambridge. Even if I received some money for the work as a DJ, it wouldn’t change my time in Cambridge. I know I could act more opportunistically, but if I did it could also be a tipping point what could have led to not such nice memories of my DJ career in Cambridge.