Transition : Bar + Club DJ to Weddings + Private Events

Weddings is a totally different genre with the added “challenge” that it’s an absolute one-of and somebody’s “best day of my life”. Very little room for error. It requires way more mic use, entertainment work and the prep work is decidedly different. It involves talking with the bride and groom and/or wedding planner or master of ceremonies about the way the night is going to be set up. And adapting your set to it. I usually do very little prep work for weddings. It’s useless trying to anticipate what will happen as you don’t know the crowd. Being thoroughly prepared by knowing your collection inside out, ready to grab the mic and actually call people to the dance floor, all stuff that helps get you going.

Also at weddings people will not have seen each other since the last wedding (or funeral) in the family and there is a lot of desire to talk. I always look at the faces, tapping feet and bobbing heads and at the bride & groom to measure the mood. It only gets really bad when everyone sits on a chair watching you expectantly, but frankly that has still to happen.

More generally speaking, private functions are significantly different from residencies where people come (primarily) to dance. At private functions they come for another reason and may or may not be inclined to dance. And you may have to search for the genres that get a reaction from the crowd. Usually there are a few people (usually younger women) that are itching to dance. Nothing wrong with catering to them first.

There are books written on the subject, but I hope this helps some.

The hardest thing about weddings is to pretend you like the dreck you have to play and have a good time.

Weddings are different to Clubs.. Even if they are not dancing, they may well still be enjoying themselves – the other issue you have at weddings is that many of them are the only time some family members will get to see each other and they will spend a long time just chatting to each other and generally catching up..

I DJ’d a night on monday for my regular gig – but we had been off for a couple of weeks – this meant that the first 20 mins or so, people just chatted.. After everyone had caught up with each other, the dance floor was packed until we finished 3 hours later.. I call that a successful night – I knew that would happen and the music I played reflected that. I put background music (but still danceable) on for the first 20 mins and then I slowly increased the volume.. Sorted.

bob6397