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Playing Background Music

As a DJ, if you're hired to play background music you don't want to be the center of attention. The particular situation might call for you to play music that doesn't ask the people involved to dance, or party, but instead merely acts as part of the environment, enhancing it, but not calling attention to itself in anyway.

Background music can sometimes be a bit of stumbling block for the most experienced DJs; after all, who got in this business to be ignored? But instrumental music or even production music can be quite appropriate for long stretches of time between events, say, a wedding or an art event, for example, so make sure that you have a wide variety to choose from and some idea of how to select good unobtrusive (often non-vocal) music.

One great place to start is to take a look at classical music. You'll want to stay away from anything too loud or heavy (Wagner's Ride of the Valkyries or Beethoven's Fifth Symphony can mostly be discounted for these purposes right away!) you should also keep an eye on the speed at which the music is played.

Remember, you're helping the set the environment of the event. Something that is fast, even if it's quiet, will make listeners feel keyed up and uneasy. Take a listen to the works of Baroque composers. Baroque composers (such as Antonio Vivaldi, Alessandro Scarlatti and Georg Philipp Telemann, to name some more popular figures) used a more stern and less embellished mode of musical communication that is mild and soothing.

For something a little bit prettier, that might be appropriate before the dancing at a wedding, for example, you can take a look at the chamber music that was written by the musical geniuses Joseph Haydn and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. You'll find that this music is more energetic as well as more lyrical, but that they are still fairly restrained as well.

If you are trying to find pieces of background music that will suit something for the winter holidays, you can find some milder Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky that might be appropriate, but don't underestimate the works of more contemporary groups. The modern group Trans-Siberian Orchestra might be appropriate, depending on the venue, but it can also be a bit intense. Look for familiar songs that are not necessarily cloying (so don't go for Musak versions!). Check out traditional songs and for an added twist, think about finding them in languages foreign to your own. This makes for an excellent backdrop.

When you are looking for new background music to play, one of the best places that you can look is Napster. Take advantage of the ability to explore the playlists of other users and if you find a piece that you enjoy, you can see what music that other people thought would fall into the same genre. Remember that as a DJ, one of the best things you can do is listen to the music yourself and form your own opinion of it. Even music that is quite mild at the beginning can change as the piece goes on, so make sure you are familiar with even your background music selections.

When you are selecting music for any occasion, do your best to make sure that it suits. You need to know how to DJ for all occasions. There are plenty of options available to you in terms of good background music, so make sure you explore them all!

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