Day Zero: D-Day

"Alright buddy, your turn is coming up," the man said to Johan Valckenhof, grinning from ear to ear. Johan, or Kids These Days as his nom de guerre went, was standing backstage in the hottest club of the bustling Groningen clubbing scene. The club was packed to the brink with college kids and other party people bouncing their asses off. And he was about to turn his set, the 03:00-04:00 slot. The hottest slot. The owner of the club (which was called Highway Techno Buddha after the owner's old stoner/space rock band and a piece of artwork) appeared to notice his discomfort and excitement. "Don't worry kid," he continued. "You'll do fine. I checked your Soundcloud personally. Your dirty beats and terrifying techno will make them bounce hard. Just play your gig, and get into the flow."

Johan nodded, and went to the booth to set up his own rig while his predecessor was slowly ending her own set. "Hey!" she said, putting down her headphones. "New here?" Johan merely nodded as he rigged his stuff. She grinned. She, too, could see his nerves. "First time as a headline act, first time getting paid?" Again, Johan nodded. Although this time he managed to throw her a smile as he desperately tried to avoid checking her out.

Her set ended, the crowd cheered as she threw them kisses and smiled. "Thanks folks! Put your hands in the air, and wave 'em if you care for Kids These Days!"

That was his cue. He had to adhere to the golden rule: allow no silence, except for at the end of the set.

So he made some noise.

"Come have a beer with me when you're done, ...if I'm still around. If I am, that means you didn't bore me!" she said, throwing Johan a cheeky smile as she poked his yellow '#YOLOSWAG MY PENIS' tee.