I'm a bit of a collector of track lists, requests, first dances, etc. But, in all my time DJ'ing and armed with many lists I've never managed to find that elusive, all-encompassing first track after the buffet for the average wedding/family birthday party. I think the nearest was Scissor Sisters' I Don't Feel Like Dancing, but even that was better left until the floor was at least getting busy.

I've noticed a number of DJ's start with Chain Reaction whilst others opt for Abba. What do you tend to use, or is it different every time? If it is different every time, what do you go for - something modern about 100-120bpm specifically for the girlies? Maybe an old favourite to get the auntie's up? Do you pick out one particular age group - young, middle or old?

I'm just curious! I expect most of you will talk about reading the crowd and all that nonesense

Chain Reaction is a fairly safe bet for a family party

If you played Chain Reaction as the second track...what would you've played before?

READ THE CROWD!

Seriously though, I always find it difficult to work out when they have finished munching and whether i am leaving it too long or not long enough. Firstly I will try and get a speech or happy birthday cake out of the way straight after the buffet. That means that grandma can clear off and get curtains drawn.

If no speech, then I gently ramp it up over 2 or 3 records usually a bit of 70s disco, Celebration used be my signature track (cheesy I know).
I tend to go with the age range of the birthday person
For an 18th I would go for something by Rihanna maybe
For a 30th / 40th, something from the 90 dance scene, possibly Living Joy - Dreamer or Corona - Rhythm of the Night
For a 50th / 60th, Abba - Mamma Mia probably.

Not real floor fillers any of them really, but enought to start to get people up. I used to play in 3s and 1s. 3 floor fillers, then 1 less so, so they can rest grab drink etc. This worked ok, but now I am starting to go for all floor fillers in the last 2 hours to really get them going so they don't want to sit down. They will always drift at some point but usually the big tunes mean they come back quickly.

If there is a speech, i usually have a floor filler lined up as this marks a good end to the eating and the start of the dancing. I have to say though, this is often wasted as people are something just not ready to dance. Perhaps they are letting the food go down or just not drunk enough.

EDIT : ... and if it's a 13th, anything from the charts. Last week it was Saturdays - Just Can't Get Enough.

Good point. Timing is everything

Thats what my wife keeps telling me

If it was a Wedding, whatever the requested first dance was

CHA CHA SLIDE!!!

Free Glo Stik / Bracelet (good quality) for everyone taking part.


Cheesey ....I know.

Effective ....you bet!!

Do you know, I might give this a try:

• Do you lead the dance, exbut., or are you 'too busy' dishing out the Glosticks? ;)
• How often does it work/fall flat on its face?
• What do you tend to play after...another cheesey dance track (Whigfield, 5,6,7,8, etc.) or does it depend on who's dancing?

Maybe I'm too self-critical but I think the first track after the buffet is the most important track of the night. I take on board that some people will be too stuffed to dance and others will be too sober, but we all have nights where the floor fills as soon as the lights go out and that first track is played. I want that EVERY night!

Those nights tend to be the best.

I have got my first gig on the 29th of august a wedding reception, i know its abit of a way off at the moment but i am having trouble finding some background music for while they are eating any ideas would be greatly appreciated but as for first song they have requested
always bon jovi as there first dance then after that i was going to play congratulations cliff richard followed by celebration kool and the gang. then abit of 70's disco, some rock abit of dance like basshunter and scooter, once they are abit tipsy then out comes queen we will rock you, come on eileen, cha cha slide, opps upside your head, ymca, timewarp, macerena, cotton eyed joe, pop in an oak, 5678, grease megamix, jivebunny thats what i like, reet petite. then near the end of the night slow it down with maxi priest and shaggy i believe, flying without wings, if tomorrow never comes, will mellors when i need you then the final song new york new york.
its sounds good in my head and when practising lol.

It's your first gig and it's a wedding!
You obviously like jumping in with both feet.
When you say you are trying to find background music for when they are eating, when is that?, is it for a buffet break in the evening or is it for a traditional wedding breakfast at an all day event?
Have you spoke to the B&G to ask what they want? some just want easy listening, so want something classical others may want something like swing or big band. If they have given you a playlist you can also use this time to play some of the undanceable tracks.

As far as the music that you have listed and when you are going to play it I think you need to be a little more flexible, what I would advise is research what tracks go together well and try to group them into small groups, for example all the cheese you have listed don't play all at once, that way if you kill the dance floor (which will happen, it happens to all of us) you still have something in reserve to get them back.
Also remember that at a wedding you have to cater for people from 5 or 6 year olds right through to pensioners, quite often at the beggining of an evening or during the buffet you can shove some tracks like bob the builder, postman pat and shaun the sheep on to entertain the toddlers, believe me parents love it when you keep the little un's busy for a while.

One bit of advice is also to find out any songs that they DONT want playing, there is nothing worse that putting on a track that was the brides late fathers favourite, or a song that some people love and others hate with every bone in their body (you'll never walk alone for example).

Jim

nice one jim thank you. yeah i guess i am glutton for punishment lol. the background music i mean is for when the guests first start to arrive for the reception right through till they have finished the buffet and finish as the speaches start.

Well BIGBEN its like this.


Write off the first 90 mins b4 the Buffet.They don't expect to dance then....however 50% of the time if I sling on a well-known Motown (Needle in a Haystack or similair) the 40's brigade might get up.Warm them up with a few sing-a-long ..clap -a- longs (Shang a Lang or similair) during this period too.

As they are finishing the trifle get the Bride and Groom up for their favourite pre-arranged song.Invite the other couples to join them 1/3 of the way the song...follow this with one more smoochie.

.......Straight into the Cha Cha Slide / Glostick trick....It never fails.Follow this with Gimme Some,Macarena etc.....But don't use all your Party Dances up at this point.....

Then the best advice I can give you, is to see if there is anybody here willing to let you tag along with them for a Wedding which they are doing. Seeing first hand how these things run is better than anything you may have read or assume. Better still go to a few of them if you can, as no two weddings are alike and as you say, you still have plenty of time to sort something out.

Thanks 'exbut'. I'm cool before the buffet; like you, I quite often try hard to get people dancing. I always play requests at this stage, too. I will give the Cha Cha a go and report back!

Heres what I do.

I get the Bride and Groom (B&G) in the middle of the room (sometimes I'll do this in the middle of seated area, it will depend on the venue layout)and get the crowd to gather around them.

I take the line with the audience that the B&G have been such great hosts feeding you now it's time to say thanks as a group so gather around them (trick here is to have a chat with a few of the guests during the buffet and have them ready to get right up, once a few move more will follow). Maybe run a backing track while they gather.

Once everyone is in place have them give the B&G a few cheers etc, a number of options from this point,
1. verse and chorus of congratulations/ always look on the bright side etc and then into open dancing with your scissor sister/chain reaction/Abba (something safe). Sure some will sit back down, but if you've judged correctly you should be off to a great start.

2. Simple sing-a-long get them to holds hands/arms around the shoulder and into your sweet caroline/new york new york/ daydream believer etc. When it's over explain that was just to warm them up and into your uptempo songs.

3. Do an partydance -bit (no law that says the macarena/cha cha slide/can can etc has to be done in a straight line).

4.Come up with something new and let me know.

Point is by getting the crowd off their chairs first as per above your establishing the eating is over, time to party.

The above won't suit everybody but if you are happy with the mic and interacting with audiences give it a go if nothing else it shows your keen to get the event going again.

John

You'll be fine....its obvious you care...and you can't teach anybody to be like that.


Assume you have a Glo stick provider.....DON'T use the Poundstretcher ones.They are dull and split.

Actually, I'm down to my last unopened pack of Glosticks...but they're out of date, by a couple of years! Any supplier recommendation would be welcome!

Put The Glowhouse in Google.......Its the first one.


Their boxes of 100 bracelets are good enough quality.Wrapped Glo-Stix for the fellers!!

Just chucked 1000 glowsticks away only three days ago.

Never use them.

As for starter Rich, try Prawn cocktail or melon.

nah mate, for a wedding we always had the bride an grooms first dance straight after the buffet, and used that to coax people up, you know, "if you would like to join your bride and groom on the dance floor, they would love to see you...." next thing you know you have twelve couples up dancing, its then that you swiftly arrange a nice round of applause, and away you go, ..... with maybe "the ace of spades".... or "smack my bitch up" ha ha only joking, but you get the idea???........maybe a smurf classic........ the birdy song?????....where am i?? NURSE??????

I played a family gig the other night and found Tavares "Don't take away the music " went down a treat for the first track after the buffet had finished.