As someone who provides entertainment for a crowd, there’s no doubt that I love seeing a packed dance floor.
Watching people dance, laugh, and have the time of their lives as their favorite songs play, is incredible. So, getting guests out of their chairs and shuffling their feet is definitely something I focus on.
But it’s not the only thing. And believe it or not, it’s not the most critical thing I concentrate on during your reception.
Let’s be honest; anyone can run through a popular music playlist and have wedding guests dancing. But a professional DJ who’s genuinely passionate about the work will understand that there’s more to it than that.
Friends, today I’m pulling back the curtain and giving you a peek at the top three things I focus on during your wedding reception to ensure your celebration is unforgettable.
1) Setting the Tone
It’s super important to set the tone in the first half of the night.
And that comes down to this…
Guests have seen their fair share of good and bad live entertainment, DJs included. Because of this, when you go to a wedding or a restaurant to hear a DJ or live music, you naturally have a wall up, even if you don’t know it.
That’s because your subconscious mind is asking, “Is this DJ or band going to take care of me? Are they going to play music I like and can relate or connect to?”
More often than not, people experience lackluster DJs, so their guard might be a little more heightened when they show up at your wedding.
This is why it’s so important to set the right tone from the very beginning. How do we do that?
- Stage presence
- Body language and attire
- Maintaining 100% class
- Adjusting our energy levels to match the audience we are serving
2) Dinner Music
Dinner music is such an overlooked segment of the wedding because we often think of it as a moment to relax and enjoy the food and conversations, which is true. But the energy still has to align with the end goal of the night. So dinner music is a great opportunity for us to start warming guests up without them even realizing it.
We’ve heard from many couples that event dinners drag out because the energy dies. And this is why we really dial it in with the dinner music. and mix live most of the time.
When we curate a dinner playlist, we think of the vibe that we’ll create for the dance floor, along with the songs we will play. Then we go one or two steps below that vibe and curate songs that get people feeling good.
If we can get guests tapping their feet, bobbing their heads, singing at their tables, and wanting to dance before they are “allowed” to, we know we have done our job, and this crowd is ready to go.
3) The Three Types of Guests
There are three types of people at your wedding that I think is important to focus on:
The Dancers: They will dance to anything and everything. The music still has to be good, of course, but they love getting up and getting down on the dance floor – no matter what is playing.
The Skeptics: These folks are a bit shy or not big into dancing, but they will dance if one of three things happens:
- They see a friend or family member out on the dance floor.
- They hear a song they recognize (these individuals don’t often dance to songs they don’t know).
- The energy is contagious enough for them to feel left out but inviting enough to join, even if they don’t know the song.
The Sitters: These individuals won’t dance no matter what we play. They love good conversation, a good drink, a good cigar, or simply enjoy people watching. They may not be on the dance floor, but in their own way-they are having a good time!
Our job is to determine from the moment guests arrive for the ceremony what category they are most likely to fall into. Then, we’ll continue to read the crowd and keep our fingers on the pulse and the overall energy in the room.
The result is a dinner that doesn’t drag on and a reception that keeps everyone entertained.
Beyond the Big Three
All three of these focus areas are truly important to keep in mind to build an epic playlist and keep guests engaged throughout the celebration. But, what’s even MORE important?
YOU!
Your wants and needs are my number one priority. Because the truth is, if I don’t listen and deliver on what you want from your DJ and this experience, then what the heck are we doing here? So, if you’re ready to create an experience that starts with you and ends with the party of a lifetime, let’s connect.
COMMENTS