Janika Tenn: 10 Tips for Surviving Miami Music Week as a DJ

Few weeks in dance music hit quite like Miami Music Week. The city turns into a non-stop blur of pool parties, late-night warehouse sessions, rooftop takeovers, and chance encounters that can turn into real opportunities. For DJs, it’s equal parts adrenaline rush and endurance test. 

Estonian-born, London-based DJ and producer Janika Tenn knows the drill. Over the past few years, she’s been quietly building serious momentum with emotionally driven house productions and releases on labels like Nervous Records, Stress Records, D4 D4NCE, and Armada, along with collaborations with house legend Todd Terry.

She’s also just dropped a new single, “Mystified,” on her own Tenn Tonik imprint, a smooth deep house cut featuring Penny F that leans into warm grooves, clean production, and a soulful vocal that lingers long after the drop.

With another Miami Music Week around the corner, Tenn is sharing ten practical tips she’s picked up from navigating the madness as a working DJ, from managing your energy and planning transport to keeping your USBs backed up and knowing when to skip the afterparty. Consider it a quick survival guide from someone who’s learned how to move smart when the whole industry lands in one city for a week.

1. Don’t Try to Do Everything

Miami Music Week is chaos in the best way. You’ll get invited to ten things a day and suddenly feel like you need to be everywhere. You don’t. Pick the rooms that make sense for your sound and the people you genuinely want to see. FOMO is real, but burnout is worse. I’ve learned that being fully present in the right room is far more powerful than making a quick appearance in five.

2. Have One Clear Intention Before You Land

Before you land, know why you’re there. Are you pushing a release, testing new music, or building relationships? When everything feels loud, clarity keeps you focused. When I’ve gone in without it, I’ve ended up exhausted and distracted instead of productive.

3. Don’t Chase. Align.

The right conversations feel easy. If you’re forcing your way into a space, it’s probably not your space. Focus on the rooms where your energy actually matches. The conversations that are meant to happen usually feel natural, not strategic. Miami has a funny way of connecting you with the right people when you’re not trying too hard.

4. Plan Your Transport Like It’s Part of the Gig

Traffic during Miami Music Week is wild. A 15-minute ride can turn into an hour, Ubers disappear, and bridges can get blocked. Leave early. Always. There’s nothing cool about arriving stressed to your own set.

5. Keep Your USBs Backed Up

Have backups, and backups of backups. This is not the week to discover your only USB is corrupted. I travel with at least four copies and cloud backups just in case. Peace of mind is worth more than packing light that week.

6. Dress for the Reality, Not Just the Photo

It’s humid and sweaty outside, but most venues can feel surprisingly cold once you’re inside because of strong air-conditioning. Bringing an extra light jacket or layer in your bag can save you from standing behind the booth freezing during long sets. Choose breathable, comfortable clothing and shoes you can actually play and move in.

7. Protect Your Ears

Long weeks of loud monitoring can catch up with you fast. Good ear protection isn’t unprofessional. It’s about career longevity. Your hearing is part of your instrument as a DJ.

8. Protect Your Energy Like It’s a Headline Slot

You cannot run at 100 percent for seven days straight. Take breaks. Skip an afterparty if you need to. Eat properly, sleep when you can, and drink water between drinks. By day four, your body will either thank you or betray you. One night off can make your next set much stronger.

9. Say Hi to People You Respect

Everyone is in town. Artists you’ve followed for years are suddenly standing next to you at a pool party. A simple “I loved your set” goes a long way. You don’t need a pitch, just be genuine. Miami is one of the few weeks where those small moments can actually turn into something later.

10. Follow Up While It’s Fresh

You’ll meet more people in one week than you do in three months. If you had a good conversation, send a message within about 48 hours. After Miami, things move fast, and those moments can fade, so it’s worth turning good conversations into momentum while they’re still fresh.