If you were at a mixed age event what would you start off the night with ? I usually start with some form of disco track like boogie wonderland or you make me feel mighty real. Wouldn't mind some ideas from you lot on what else to start off with.

A slow track and then try and build up.

Is that even if you have been playing slowish stuff for last half hour while they are eating?

depending on the event ie wedding normally first dance then another slow one then a classic faster one from 70's or 80's may even try something like beach boys or monkees if age range dictates but anything with a reasonable beat.

I Would try something poppy, Rock Dj, Dance the night away or Shania's Man I feel like a woman. Maybe Chain Reaction or Always Have, always will. They usually work for me.

Ilove the turtles= happy together
the monkees = day dream believer
or for a giggle try the scaffold = lily the pink

Shania - Man....
Robbie - Rock DJ
Frankie Valli - December '63
John Paul Young - Love is In The Air
Louise - Let's Go Round Again
Various - Perfect Day
Sheryl Crow - All I Wanna Do

At weddings i try and play slow after background music but hike the volume up, just a couple of tracks like careless whisper or nikita that people know and are ok for all ages. Then move on to lambada , la isla bonita etc and build up to some cheesy disco. ps remember i am in Norway not the uk.

Barry White - First, Last, Everything.

The 1 for me that never fails.Boys town gang,Cant take my eyes of you.Works every time.
I play it loads

Billy Ocean - When the going gets tough
Barry white - first last
Mavericks - Dance the night away

At kids parties I usually play some pop as guests are arriving, then ......... introduce myself and welcome to ........ etc then...........
Pink - Get The party Started,
followed by some more pop etc. until we get into party games and party dances.

Just thinking about this, when I was a young lad (enough you!!)there was a DJ called "The Wet Wellie Roadshow" who always used to start with The Richie Family-"Best Disco in Town". Everyone knew this was when the real disco was to start!!

Yes especialy the Norwegian versions that Elton and George recorded for the wedding market alone. Norwegian weddings are like Russian weddings, where guests write down and analyze all song lyrics They are very sad and sombre affairs where the dj keeps everybody on the verge of suicide by playing songs with meaningful lyrics like , ymca, man i feel like a woman and macarena I can understand this kind of thinking on a bridal first dance but if you are going to be analyzing every song lyric you play then you are left with bob the builder and theme to the Monkees that dont upset someone somewhere. Now mustnt play jerry lee lewis because he married his cousin, etc etc etc , its a wedding disco not mobile dj tries to save the morals of his guests, People in glasshouses and all that Richard

at lasts nights gig after 3 slow ones first and secound dance for b&g had another slow one as a request for them then went into man i feel like a woman follewed by dance the night away,floor was packed

A few have already been mentioned - Shania and Mavericks for example, but the one that works best for me is Van Morrison's Brown Eyed Girl.

Tracks such as Daydream Believer I'll leave until later when they'll all be singing along. Rock DJ and Barry White are two of my fave genre change/emergency dance floor filler tracks. I'll save them until later too.

None taken sir Richard !

It looks like most of us graduated from the same DJ accademy.....AGAIN!!

If several of us are all coming up with very similar suggestions, I think it shows a certain amount of "harmony" in choices throughout the country.

That Boystown Gang track is a gem, yet I never think to play it and usually use the Andy Williams version.

Anyone ever tried Bob Seger's version of "C'est la vie"? I find it well received, especially after "brown Eyed Girl". Try it!!

One of my favs to start off a night is the Glenn Miller Medley by the John Anderson Big Band..from that into a 60's set and so on

Talking of the Ritchie Family's Best Disco In Town I remember playing that as a US import in the 70's when it first came out!

Shalmar did Uptown Festival which was another early Stars on 45 thing

Must admit that i usually use Diana Ross and Chain Reaction to try and kick start people off their backsides....

However, on Friday night (21st Bday) I tried something completely different.. There were lots of people that i knew there (friends etc) so I thought I would give them something to talk about.... After a slowy (which no one danced to) I hit the mic and put on T-Rex (Hot Love ) and then Dexys Midnight Runners (Jackie Wilson Says )......................!!!

The response was cracking, the whole pub was singing along and tapping away... By the end of Jackie Wilson Says I had half the floor boogie-ing.........

The rest as they say is history!!!!!!!!!!!

Might have to try that one again!!!!!

Splosh

What works well for me is get them all to simply stand up and start to gently sway. I then launch into something like Daydream Believer or Sweet Caroline. Just before the final chorus theres a short instrumental piece this is when I get them to start making their way to the floor.
I follow with a jive, swing the mood, your the one that I want, You can't hurry love etc or somthing like 500 miles, Video killed the radio star, don't stop me now etc.

If the above doesn't work I know I have a challenging night ahead.

John

I usually Start with:
Bob Segar - Old Time Rock&Roll

I have used.....

Queen - Dont Stop me Now!!!!!

Usually goes down a storm, coz I dont think it matters whether your 10 or a 100 years old, everyone knows it........even the younger generation know it now as Mcfly did that appauling cover version of it LOL

Varies with the crowd for me and also depends how long the buffet / background music section of the gig lasts. Common ones i use are

Madonna - Hung Up
Scissor Sisters - Don't feel like dancing
Kool and the Gang - Celebration
KC & The sunshine band - Give it up.

The last three are particularly good as you get a long intro to talk over (I use the album version of Scissor sisters with alternative intro).

I generally go for floorfillers all the way and start off with something like December '63 or Le Freak. As soon as there are a few people on the dancefloor I go for it.

A lifesaver at the moment at any event I have done is the Scissor Sisters. I am sure that will come in handy.

Billy Ocean - Love really hurts without you

Ain't No Stopping Us Now - Edwin Starr

or

Night to Remember - Shalamar

Then maybe into Nolans, Mavericks


Usually gets them up!

but .. Hermes House band- Country Roads, play it as my last track in replacment of Queen- Bohemian Rhapsody... found it very successful!!

[quote]but .. Hermes House band- Country Roads, play it as my last track.... i play this one towards the end aswell normally..... as for starting the show phil collins - carn't hurry love works well on the whole

?????

At the risk of getting my head blown off.....

McFadden & Whitehead, surely


or Luther Vandross, even

I Use this version a lot , a real classic, but check out the version by the Hermes House Band its a great party anthem !



Yep McFadden & Whitehead did the original, and Luther did do a very good cover version !

Contact by edwin starr mixed into Odyssey use it up wear it out goes down well !



Yep McFadden & Whitehead did the original, and Luther did do a very good cover version !

Contact by edwin starr mixed into Odyssey use it up wear it out goes down well !

[
i often start off with something like "you to me are everything' by the 'REAL THING"...often gets people on the floor..its a good cross over type track too, becos it has a kind of soul + disco flavour...everyone knows the words too..

Hiya gang

I almost allways used to start with....

Space oddeysy 2001..........I have a light show set up to go with it, I think looks quite kewl having the scanners doing thier proggys to that music just, seems to set a good atmosphere....

Then I allways used to start with:
Queen - Dont Stop me now

But Just lately I have been using:
Pink - Get the party started

Nick