Tips for djing a wedding reception

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"That said, nobody wants the wedding party to go straight from the reception to the divorce courts, so your humour will need to be pitched just right. You want ..."

Being the DJ for a couple on their happy day may seem like a fun gig, but you should retain your professional approach- after all, the couple are paying for the entertainment you provide. The likelihood of things not running smoothly increases if you haven't planned your set. Learning to anticipate your audience will help you succeed.

1. Reflect the Crowd

   • While you’-ll want to play a variety of music, your choices should reflect who's in the crowd. Weddings tend to include a mix of people of various ages, so you need to please a few different groups. Play some classic hits for those older guests, as well as a few of the latest chart successes to please some of the younger people in the audience. A mix of styles will help to get more guests out on the dance floor and enjoying the music.

   Check in Regularly with the Couple

   • Don’-t go into the gig without having an idea of what your clients want. Point out the considerations involved via an interview beforehand. For example, query how loud they want the music to be, whether there are certain songs they don’-t want you to play, and whether they want any music during activities such as the evening buffet. Also ask if there are special songs they’-d like played, and inquire as to roughly what age many guests will be. A wedding reception attended by many people in their 20s may react well to a playlist containing a lot of modern music, for example. The couple may ask for your advice on some of these issues, so be prepared for their questions, too.

   Party Songs

   • The hippest tracks in your collection have a place, but don’-t forget that well-known party songs are often a welcome addition to any reception playlist. These are the tracks that people of all ages will recognize and dance to, especially after a drink or two. Tracks like “-The Twist”- are also accessible for families to get on the floor and dance together, something that many guests will appreciate.

   Don’-t Over-Accommodate the Couple

   • You should have an idea of what the happy couple expect from their reception DJ, but don’-t be a slave to their every desire. If the couple are requesting track after track of heavy metal, for example, explain ahead of time that this approach probably won’-t go down well with everyone at the reception and suggest a more balanced playlist instead.

   First Dance

   • The couple will want to choose their first dance, but ensure they’-re aware of the considerations surrounding this song. If the track is overly long, it can get awkward for guests, so ask them to either reconsider their choice or ask that they allow you to cut down the running length ahead of time. If the couple can’-t decide, you could suggest that they select a few songs that you could mix together.

   Entrance Music

   • Some couples will want a formal entrance to their wedding reception, and you’-ll need to provide music for this. Again, talk to the couple about the choice of track here. Suggest altering the tone, especially if you’-ve been playing a chilled-out track as background music prior to the entrance. Get them to consider the lyrics, too- if their chosen track is more about loves lost than happiness, try an instrumental version instead.

Source: www.ehow.com

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