Here at Confetti we understand that budgets are tight. Increasingly we see wedding couples go down the DIY route when it comes to music: hiring a professional sound and lighting kit and then sharing the DJing amongst friends. But becoming a wedding DJ isn’t as simple as it looks. Andrew Whyatt-Sames from yourocktheblock.com guides you through the marriage set minefield.
1. Park your ego at the door
Remember that your musical taste is yours alone. If you are inviting only ten of your closest friends who used to go clubbing with you, then you can get away with hardcore dance music all night. Real weddings aren’t like that. You’ll have guests from all over the demographic spectrum; try and stick to popular tunes that they will know.
2. Ensure there’s something to keep the kids busy
Parents will love you if there are a few ‘Bob the Builder’ or ‘High School Musical’ type tunes in the mix in the afternoon to act as a focal point for the kids to race around and dance to. It can be a long day for the little ones: why not give them some fun?
3. Like it or not, people love cheese
Yes they do. Even if you don’t. Of course there is extreme cheese like ‘The Birdy Dance’. I am not suggesting you go there, but in my experience, Wham, Abba, Mavericks and the like have a universal appeal and they get people dancing. Your guests are entitled to dance to a tune they like. You might even entice certain self-conscious men onto the floor with the right tune. Google ‘Party Music’ or ‘Floor Fillers’ to get some ideas.
4. Fit the energy level to the situation
The wedding breakfast needs chilled music. A lot of people have travelled a long way to be there and they will love to talk over the food. You need unobtrusive tunes – no beat – in order that you provide a nice atmosphere and don’t intrude on the conversation. When you start the evening, save the floor filler to a bit later when people have indulged in a drink or two and are a bit more relaxed. Keep your powder dry and hit ‘em with the big tunes a couple of hours before the end.
5. Group genre records together
Create four or five tune clusters of music, grouped by genre. Dancers don’t like to chop and change too much or they will get frustrated. A typical half hour would be made up of some up-to-date pop music, some dance tunes and then some disco classics. Think in ten to twelve minute chunks and bolt the genres together that work well. An example would be going from rock ‘n’ roll into some latin music like ‘La Bamba’ and so on.
6. Always keep a belter for the end
This is what people remember – if they weren’t too drunk. ‘New York, New York,’ by Ol’ Blue Eyes is always guaranteed to get your guests linking arms and swaying precariously around the dance floor. It provides a natural ending too, signalling to your guests it’s time for them to hit the road so your minions can tidy up while you head off to the wedding suite.
Andrew Whyatt-Sames is the owner of yourocktheblock.com, a sound and lighting company in Northants and surrounding areas that provide complete wedding and events packages (disco lighting and sound systems) – all your guests have to do is plug in their mp3 players.
Yourocktheblock.com specialise in providing set packages for your ceremony. Their experts will set up your wedding system, configure the lighting and ensure that all your guests have to do is play the right tunes on your wedding day. Call them for a free consultation.
