DJ Music – Picking the Right Songs
DON'T FORGET – IT'S A PARTY FOR THE GUESTS!
After the formalities have been attended to and the couple have had their first dance, the party really begins – and it is a party – a party first and foremost for the guests. Music selections should be made accordingly. At every reception there will be a divergent mix of people of varying backgrounds, ages and musical tastes. The DJ music that is played during that part of the night should appeal to the wide raging musical tastes of the guests. The importance of this can not be understated and is often lost on couples planning their reception. Picking music based solely or primarily on their personal likes or dislikes can often be a recipe for disaster. So too, for that matter, are music selections based on the personal preferences of the DJ! Although it is very much the couple's day, reception music should very much be about entertaining the guests. Whatsmore it's not just about picking great songs. Some of the greatest songs ever recorded are floor clearers.
DANCEABILITY
Danceability is the main consideration for picking DJ music. The primary concern of the DJ should be to keep people on the dance floor as much as possible. Slow tempo songs, no matter how good they are, are best suited to the wind down part of the night after the wedding couple leaves – or alternatively during dinner when guests are seated. Songs with a very fast tempo or that are rhythmically complicated can also clear a dance floor in a hurry. As a rule of thumb music should be between about 110 and 150 beats per minute. A speed of 120 – 130 bpm tends to work best but you don't want all the music at that tempo or it will become too monotonous.
STYLES AND GENRES
DJs should endeavor to cater for most of the musical tastes of the guests. There should be a mix of styles and genres. Often the temptation for couples is to request music only from the genre(s) of music that they personally like. Alternatively couples may insist that the DJ avoid playing a particular style of music that they don't like. To reiterate, it is a party for the guests and there will be guests that will want to dance to the styles of music that couples may not want the DJ to play.
There will always be 'serious' dancers who will want salsas and tangos etc. Playing such music will keep them happy, but everyone else will desert the dancefloor in their droves as they won't know how to dance to Latin style music. They will also be intimidated by those who can!
Remember, once the dance floor is cleared, it can prove very hard to fill it again. That is why song selections are so important.
GETTING THE MIX RIGHT
Picking the right mix of songs is important. Throughout the DJ dance music part of the night the flow of songs should ensure that different styles and genres of music are joined seamlessly. It is best to try and keep songs of the same style in groups and join those groups with songs that sit between those styles.
CLICHED MUSIC
Some couples don't want what they call “clichéd” DJ music and will instruct the DJ not to play songs like the “Grease Mega-Mix” or “Dancing Queen”. Although this is understandable, there is a good reason why DJs play those songs – because they are popular and people will dance to them. It's important to include a few of the very popular songs but sometimes DJs can be guilty of playing too many of them and being a bit too predictable. It's good to throw in some tracks that are a bit left of centre – as long as people can dance to them. Generally speaking DJ music selections for weddings should err on the conservative side. Some DJs can be too clever for their own good and play unusual, rare and cutting edge tunes that might work in a club, but not at a wedding reception.
DANCE MOVE SONGS
The 'dance move' songs can really divide opinions. Some people love them and some people hate them. My personal views is that there should be at least one or two 'dance move' songs – like 'Nutbush City Limits', 'Timewarp' or 'Y.M.C.A'. 'Nutbush' is a classic example of a song that some people simply loathe, but the fact remains that it is very popular and without fail people will dance it to – especially after few drinks. The key is to not overdo the dance move songs. Some DJs include too many of them. I must admit there are some incredibly tacky dance move songs that I won't play unless I'm specifically asked to (and I can't talk them out of it). The “Birdie Dance” immediately comes to mind.
START WITH A BANG BUT DON'T FINISH WITH A WHIMPER
It is very important to start with songs that are guaranteed to get people up dancing from the get go. It is equally important, however, that the DJ does not play all the best music first and have the momentum wane from that point onwards. After 30 – 45 minutes or so of DJ music there tends to be a lull. People will want to have rest and enjoy a cup of coffee and perhaps some wedding cake. It is during this time that the DJ should play any 'high risk' songs that people may not want to dance to – and maybe some slower tracks. It is also a good time to do the tossing of the bouquet and/or the removal of the garter. I always suggest to couples that these activities be done when there is a lull in the DJ music.
REQUESTS
Taking requests can be risky and most DJs will be reticent about doing so if they think the songs will be an abject failure. People are less likely to ask for requests if guests are up dancing to every song and really enjoying themselves. Even if they don't personally like the songs being played they also don't want to be responsible for breaking the momentum and clearing the dance floor with a song of their choosing. Often DJs will simply say that the songs have been hand picked by the bride and groom and that usually stops people in their tracks!
HAVE FAITH IN YOUR DJ!
If couples have chosen their DJ well they should put faith in the DJ's ability to entertain their guests. Good DJs play music week in and week and and are much better placed to put together play lists than wedding couples. Couples may think that they can compile the best mix of songs for the DJ to play but to be perfectly honest this is rarely the case. Of all the wedding vendors and suppliers it is DJs that couples tend to get most particular with, but sometimes it can be best to let them do their job without too much involvement. Having said all that couples will always have special requests for songs - most significantly the bridal waltz and bridal party entry music as these should always be their choices. To enable some fine tuning couples should request DJ play lists in advance of the wedding and DJs should be open to the alternatives put before them.
Earl Cole
Singer, entertainer, DJ & MC
www.earlcolemusic.com
After the formalities have been attended to and the couple have had their first dance, the party really begins – and it is a party – a party first and foremost for the guests. Music selections should be made accordingly. At every reception there will be a divergent mix of people of varying backgrounds, ages and musical tastes. The DJ music that is played during that part of the night should appeal to the wide raging musical tastes of the guests. The importance of this can not be understated and is often lost on couples planning their reception. Picking music based solely or primarily on their personal likes or dislikes can often be a recipe for disaster. So too, for that matter, are music selections based on the personal preferences of the DJ! Although it is very much the couple's day, reception music should very much be about entertaining the guests. Whatsmore it's not just about picking great songs. Some of the greatest songs ever recorded are floor clearers.
DANCEABILITY
Danceability is the main consideration for picking DJ music. The primary concern of the DJ should be to keep people on the dance floor as much as possible. Slow tempo songs, no matter how good they are, are best suited to the wind down part of the night after the wedding couple leaves – or alternatively during dinner when guests are seated. Songs with a very fast tempo or that are rhythmically complicated can also clear a dance floor in a hurry. As a rule of thumb music should be between about 110 and 150 beats per minute. A speed of 120 – 130 bpm tends to work best but you don't want all the music at that tempo or it will become too monotonous.
STYLES AND GENRES
DJs should endeavor to cater for most of the musical tastes of the guests. There should be a mix of styles and genres. Often the temptation for couples is to request music only from the genre(s) of music that they personally like. Alternatively couples may insist that the DJ avoid playing a particular style of music that they don't like. To reiterate, it is a party for the guests and there will be guests that will want to dance to the styles of music that couples may not want the DJ to play.
There will always be 'serious' dancers who will want salsas and tangos etc. Playing such music will keep them happy, but everyone else will desert the dancefloor in their droves as they won't know how to dance to Latin style music. They will also be intimidated by those who can!
Remember, once the dance floor is cleared, it can prove very hard to fill it again. That is why song selections are so important.
GETTING THE MIX RIGHT
Picking the right mix of songs is important. Throughout the DJ dance music part of the night the flow of songs should ensure that different styles and genres of music are joined seamlessly. It is best to try and keep songs of the same style in groups and join those groups with songs that sit between those styles.
CLICHED MUSIC
Some couples don't want what they call “clichéd” DJ music and will instruct the DJ not to play songs like the “Grease Mega-Mix” or “Dancing Queen”. Although this is understandable, there is a good reason why DJs play those songs – because they are popular and people will dance to them. It's important to include a few of the very popular songs but sometimes DJs can be guilty of playing too many of them and being a bit too predictable. It's good to throw in some tracks that are a bit left of centre – as long as people can dance to them. Generally speaking DJ music selections for weddings should err on the conservative side. Some DJs can be too clever for their own good and play unusual, rare and cutting edge tunes that might work in a club, but not at a wedding reception.
DANCE MOVE SONGS
The 'dance move' songs can really divide opinions. Some people love them and some people hate them. My personal views is that there should be at least one or two 'dance move' songs – like 'Nutbush City Limits', 'Timewarp' or 'Y.M.C.A'. 'Nutbush' is a classic example of a song that some people simply loathe, but the fact remains that it is very popular and without fail people will dance it to – especially after few drinks. The key is to not overdo the dance move songs. Some DJs include too many of them. I must admit there are some incredibly tacky dance move songs that I won't play unless I'm specifically asked to (and I can't talk them out of it). The “Birdie Dance” immediately comes to mind.
START WITH A BANG BUT DON'T FINISH WITH A WHIMPER
It is very important to start with songs that are guaranteed to get people up dancing from the get go. It is equally important, however, that the DJ does not play all the best music first and have the momentum wane from that point onwards. After 30 – 45 minutes or so of DJ music there tends to be a lull. People will want to have rest and enjoy a cup of coffee and perhaps some wedding cake. It is during this time that the DJ should play any 'high risk' songs that people may not want to dance to – and maybe some slower tracks. It is also a good time to do the tossing of the bouquet and/or the removal of the garter. I always suggest to couples that these activities be done when there is a lull in the DJ music.
REQUESTS
Taking requests can be risky and most DJs will be reticent about doing so if they think the songs will be an abject failure. People are less likely to ask for requests if guests are up dancing to every song and really enjoying themselves. Even if they don't personally like the songs being played they also don't want to be responsible for breaking the momentum and clearing the dance floor with a song of their choosing. Often DJs will simply say that the songs have been hand picked by the bride and groom and that usually stops people in their tracks!
HAVE FAITH IN YOUR DJ!
If couples have chosen their DJ well they should put faith in the DJ's ability to entertain their guests. Good DJs play music week in and week and and are much better placed to put together play lists than wedding couples. Couples may think that they can compile the best mix of songs for the DJ to play but to be perfectly honest this is rarely the case. Of all the wedding vendors and suppliers it is DJs that couples tend to get most particular with, but sometimes it can be best to let them do their job without too much involvement. Having said all that couples will always have special requests for songs - most significantly the bridal waltz and bridal party entry music as these should always be their choices. To enable some fine tuning couples should request DJ play lists in advance of the wedding and DJs should be open to the alternatives put before them.
Earl Cole
Singer, entertainer, DJ & MC
www.earlcolemusic.com
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