Hopefully, this'll be the first of many similar threads. Its simply a bit'o'fun but one that could help newbies, and the seasoned DJ alike.

Heres the scenario...

You're a mobile DJ, at a wedding reception, all the usual age ranges eg: 5 to 75...you've played the kids records, awarded the prizes for musical statues, musical bumps etc and you've exhausted all the kids that were running around, hurling themselves at your lightscreens, running and sliding across the polished dancefloor into your speakers, and swinging each other around by the ankles, until an "accidental" lack of grip sends Little Timmy hurtling onto the yet to be filled, buffet table...

The Bride and Grooms first dance ("ma na ma na" by the muppets!) has just been played, and you've got a full dancefloor of couples, to the two follow-up smootchies that are just coming to an end.

On goes "Atomic Kitten: The Tide is high"

What would you (virtually) play next?


Now this is intended as a "rolling" topic...eg: Each person replies to the previous persons suggestion...(not 395 answers to what to play after "Atomic Kitten: Tide is high")

GO !!!

now to act as devils advocate


what if you would not play atomic kitten

Maybe a little sugababes, Round Round...

QUOTE (BigE @ Jul 7 2003, 11:05 AM)

Maybe a little sugababes, Round Round...

After the Sugarbabes...Hmmmm Robbie Williams - Rock D.J

...may be interesting for Gary to be the "Virtual Dancefloor" and report back the current Dancefloor Reaction at various stages of the thread

Being able to read the dancefloor and your audience's reaction, is all part of music planning, along with with what track follows what. So would make an interesting thread!.

Dancefloor fairly full when Atomic kitten and suga babes came on.

When Rock DJ started, some of the younger dancers went back to seats, but were replaced 30 seconds later by slightly older dancers eg: 25~30 year olds.

Mainly girls on the dancefloor, and not a handbag in sight!

Rock DJ is has one minute remaining....

Whats next?

QUOTE

When Rock DJ started, some of the younger dancers went back to seats, but were replaced 30 seconds later by slightly older dancers eg: 25~30 year olds.

hmm, so we've played a few from this decade but nothing more than 5 years old as yet; don't want the oldies to feel we're gonna leave them out, and have them start whinging to the bride, so let's mix in Stayin Alive-Bee Gees...

QUOTE

so let's mix in Stayin Alive-Bee Gees...

...and switch the mirror ball on...

Hmmm decisions, decisions...I'm so tempted to up the tempo slightly to Amii Stewart - Knock on wood, or should I try a few more classics and bung on Rose Royce Car Wash??

I think i'll play it reasonably safe for now and try Billy Ocean - Love really hurts without you

Ok, floor has cleared.....

Just kidding....the floor is now predominantly 20years + and 75% full.

I'm going from Billy Ocean....to Chain Reaction...either the Diana Ross version...or maybe announce the Steps version, to give the younger members of the audience a name that they've heard of.

So, Chain reaction it is....one of those strange records thats about 130bpm, but doesnt sound that fast.

Think i might try a little ABBA next, WATERLOO....

Well i would play the nolan's i'm in the mood for dacing next!! i like this game!

So we've played the Nolans....I'm going to go with Kelly Marie - feels like I'm in love for the next one

Next.......?

Bearing in mind the attention span of guests - mixing records (straight BPM) could offer a variety of choices.
So I'll throw in a Ben Liebrand version of 'December 63' by Frankie V.

With a little upping of the pitch then...The 90's version of "Hot Chocolate: You sexy thing" (also Ben Liebrand remix - so nips in pretty nice)

Quick mic over about "Its a family show, so no Full Monty's fella's, ....... unless the brides mum says so..."

audience reaction: (danger, danger!)

Two possibles...(at least)

1) some fellas start taking their shirts off (lets say the kiddies have gone to bed)...the rest of the fellas dash off the floor so's not to get dragged into the fray. Some females stay and watch, whilst other females dash back to tables for camera's etc..returning with a flash ready camera, ready for a flash.

(normal comments during the instrumental bits..."would the bride like to assist?", "Well fella's this tune is a 12 inch...but I'm not sure about ....(SSHHZZZ mic failure)"..."Is that an -outty- navel? No? oh you had your boxers off already did you? Sorry..it looked like a outty...")


or


2) everyone just carries on dancing...


Place your bets... I think its option 2 at this stage...the evenings still early...

I'm moving this to the D.J Chat section for two reasons:-

(1) Hidden down here it doesn't get the attention it deserves. It also has great relevance to those starting up - to give an indication of a suitable family function playlist and music "programming".

(2) It will give Gary a wider audience for his humour

incidentally, I've now moved on from Hot Chocolate (I would have been tempted to play it as part of the Full Monty Megamix released by Mastermix a few years ago). I am now playing The Village People - YMCA

So What would YOU play next??......

Next up . Wham Im Your Man

From Wham to.....Weather Girls Raining Men (84 version) or is it too early?

You are now getting complaints from some of the younger audience wanting new songs they can dance to ;)

Also older ? people wanting something to jive to ...

Who are you going to cater to first ?

hey mate us Bud boys at the bar want some Prodigy Got any White stripes??

unless one of the bud boys was the groom then... "No sorry, Prodigy is good stuff, but we dont bring it to FAMILY occasions."



OK...startling (but not un-expected news) ... The manager of the venue comes over to see you (bearing a pint, if you're lucky!) and tells you that the buffet will be served in 20 minutes and that the Bride & Groom have asked for background music for 30 minutes whilst the guests natter and munch...

So...do you....

*) Just keep em dancing for 20 minutes at top speed.

*) Gradually slow things down to a "natural" stop in 20 minutes time

*) Or..10 mins of fast, and then 10 mins of idleing down? or something inbetween...???



"What yer playing next matey?"....

Keep em dancin for 10 mins faster stuff
Disco Inferno
or Candi Staton Young Hearts
Barry White 1st my last
Then to some slower latino into buffet

Right after the buffet wake em up with Boney M -Brown Girl In the Ring and then move onto Think- Aretha Franlkin

The "background music" gave you all the time you needed to play all those requests that you'd had in earlier, which are "fair" songs, but impossible to dance to....eg: Bohiemian Rhapsody, Christine Aguilara: Fighter, all hte ones that are too slow to dance properly to, but too fast to smootch to.

During the buffet a few teenage/early 20's dropped requests off for "Anything modern mate" and a slightly more helpful request of "Any dancey charts"

A low uptake of dancers on the floor directly after the buffet unfortunately. Maybe their little tum-tums are full.

Out goes an announcement of "In about 10 minutes time we're heading up to some chart tunes, including some requests that came in during the buffet. But right now..."

After Aretha Franklin, on goes..."The Mavericks: Dance the night away".

55% full floor, slowly rising.

Next Tom Jones - "Sexbomb" - slowly building up to the chart stuff (Try and gauge the reaction to easing them into the cheesy chart stuff before launching directly into any dance stuff).

I would probably bang on Reach by S-Club after Tom Jones and then go in to a DJ Sammy number which would bring you up to date and so give you the chance to play the all time classic which is currently in the charts called................................................................ next!!

umm i think I would have to throw some sonique feels so good in there too, then possibly going back to the newest chart stuff would be Beyonce crazy in love Next ??????????

I think a slight change of direction here for the 35 to 50 year olds that are getting slightly 'merry' and play a bit of Rainbow - Since you've been gone. It's a great way to have a chukcle at the way they glide to the beat of the song.

And as we are in the want to dance and sing era, and the Grooms mother is called eileen............... a bit of Dexy's Come on Eileen

Okay if rainbow worked them maybe try Bryan Adams - Summer of '69 followed by Bon Jovi livin on a prayer - have to be careful though - these can either fill the dancefloor or clear it depending on the audience!. Bryan quite a safe bet, so i'll play the track and see what the reaction is

from there i would play the monkey's im a beliver!! but to be honest i would not have played ymca so eairly but each to there own!! next.............

O.K. so we assume that the dance floor is filling nicelyand keeping with the rock theme, play Ben Liebrand's ZZ Top mix followed by Blues brothers - Everybody. (gives people a chance of a breather and brings the next set into play). Works everytime!

Ok so now they are hot its time to drag the oldies on the floor so I reckon Chris montez Let's Dance followed by Little eva Locomotion and smoothly into Tight Fit Back to the 60's

Is the attention span drifting, or did I see the virtual catering manager rip her skirt when she bent down to pick up a sausage?

Anyway - family interaction - OOPS UP has go to be spun!!!!! Let's see the boats on the floor and granny(87yrs) at the front (hmmmmfffff - bucket)

he he he i love it
perhaps we should network a live gig one night

Followed by that old favourite the Conga.............. " Now all the ladies put your hands in the pockets of the guy in front of you"..........."What do you mean he has a hole in his pocket madam"? "Sir"! "I say Sir Pleeease stop smiling like that"!!!

Why not write a book and Title it "The Virtual DJ's Lovers Guide to Young and Old Dancers at a 4th Dimension Wedding"?

QUOTE

and granny(87yrs) at the front (hmmmmfffff - bucket)

Ooops and granny has her Legs Open, not a pretty site so time to quickly move on.....

Whilst we (and them) are in the party mood shall we dig out Jeff Beck - Hi Ho silver Lining and maybe a Rolling Stones Track?? - Brown Sugar could be a floor filla

It would have to be "Brown Sugar" as "Satisfaction" was part of the "Back to the sixties/tight fit mix".

Depending on the ages of people on the floor, If "Brown sugar" was going down all right and was attracting an "older" dancefloor, then "lets twist again" (with a seamless loop on the middle couple of chorus/verses, just to see who's pacemaker/duracell batteries runs out first...

If its a younger (eg: Under 45's ish), then I'd grab my fake guitar, don the long rockers wig (word on head backwards) and hit "Rocking all over the world".

Well if at this point you're gonna start acting the fool.............followed up by Bay City Rollers Bye Bye baby into David Bowie Gene Genie

Ok then, tons of old old stuff here, but very little charts, so gotta bring it back up to date, but not immediately.

Time to show off your light show to the fullest, whack on Frankie and Relax. How you get it back to the 90's and 2000 plus is your job.

Please not too much smoke!

Darren

MMMPPHHMM 'ang on a minute....

I've been trying to get my Diving mask, snorkel and "Titanic" rubber ring off, since the rowing boat song finished.

OK, on goes...Black Box: Ride on time

and off go the 5 or 6 girls who were part of the hen night screaching along to the beginning screams/singing...

WAAAAAAAA AAH Waaaaaaaa ah wa wa wa waaaaaaa ah etc etc....


Oh, oh cap'n....there might be trouble ahead.... theres a couple, in their mid 40's, having a slow dance in the corner of the 75% full dancefloor...

75% versus One couple....Hmmmm

The 75% win, but something more sedate might be needed soon, but not for a few records. So probably an announcement hinting that we'll be giving them a chance for a breather in a few records time...(even if we dont until the end)...

I've just played slow tracks for 30 mins during the buffet, and also whilst the guests where arriving, so I don't think i'll be playing any smoochies yet..maybe extend the "Er ion section" at the end and play a few more slowies than I'd originally planned! .

Hmmm is it time for another party section??...Katrina & The Waves, Walking on Sunshine?....Weather Girls - Raining men?. maybe not yet - i'll keep these in reserve, in case the return to the charts doesn't work.

Darren mentioned heading back towards playing some chart stuff, so I'll settle for a 90's ex-chart track and play M-People - Movin on up

I'll see your "M People" and raise you a "D-lite: Groove is in the heart".

I fancy a little LOVE SHACK!!

Love shack, into James Brown - I feel Good, into, Commitments - Mustang Sally, into, Blues Brothers - Sweet Home Chicago, into Blues Brothers - Shake Your Tail Feather, into Everybody

Alt version:-

Love Shack into, Stones - Brown Sugar, into Free - All Right Now

enuff with the party music already, this is gonna be driving some people crackers (me n Ian included ), a lot of the 20 somethings are pulling their hair out, even some of the 30 somethings are partied out. From Blues Bros - Everybody we're gonna go into Liberty X - Just a little, and from there let the girls shake their thang by playing Christina A - Diirty, and then onto...

thanks eskie,

Nelly's Hot In Here
to Ja rule living it up
to The Source you've got the love
to Kariya Let Me Love You

Mary J Blige - family affair

to keep the speed up a bit...

to Prince-kiss and james brown -sex machine then Rick James-Superfreak and onto ?

ROFL This 'function' was only for a few hours and is now well into the next day having been an all nighter!!

Into.................Martha and the Muffins Echo Beach