My Experience DJing Wedding Receptions
by Paul
Keeping up with current popular music is the hardest part in my opinion. Being raised in the 70's, my taste lies somewhere between classic rock and 80's hair bands. So I had to learn alot about oldies, R&B, dance and country music over the years. You can never let up keeping your music fresh and new (top 40 in all genres). You may not like Hannah Montana or Keith Urban (or whatever the new rage is), but you better have some available because it will be requested at some point. That being said, the DJ is in control of what is being played and must keep the groove running smoothly. You shouldn't slip in an inappropriate request in the middle of your playlist. You want to please the overall crowd, not the one person who wants to hear Metallica while Grandma is out on the dance floor doing the Hokey Pokey. That's not the time to change the atmosphere. Pick and choose these transitions wisely (or not at all). I like to create 3-4 mini blocks of songs in different categories. People at receptions like to dance, take a break, go get a beer, come back, do a slow dance, socialize and dance some more. The music should flow up and down to allow for this kind of interaction to happen. But don't kill the dance floor. If it is hoppin', keep it going. If it is slowing down, step it down a notch until they recharge their batteries, then bring it back up again. One quick story - One of the most difficult wedding receptions I ever did was for an interracial couple (black husband/white bride). The crowd was what you would expect, split down the middle (even in the reception hall) - black on the left of the stage, white on the right side of the stage. I was told to play R&B and Country (go figure). Whenever I played a mix of R&B, the white crowd came to me and requested more country. When I played a block of country, the black crowd demanded more R&B. I couldn't win! Or I thought... After the night was over, I had both sides come up to me and congratulate me for a job well done. They knew the gig was a difficult one and both sides appreciated my attempt to please most everybody. I have recently gotten into mixing some of my own music. Mashups are a fun way to put a twist on music most people already enjoy. It may not be original but it is a personal touch to the DJ experience. But don't over do it. People at wedding receptions want to hear what they are familiar with - maybe not the 12" inch extended mix of the song. So give them what they want. |
