Weddings New dj needs help making a playlist

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I would only add one more thing at this point

If you find a genre that fills the floorgo with it for awhile. Dont come back to it later. Now is when the time is right moving away from it could lose the crowd for the remainder of the evening even if you came back to it later.:sqwink:
MC Johnny Cruz said:
Top notch response here! Great experience shows here.
This is good advice for anyone!
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MC Johnny Cruz said:
I am not ashamed to say but I HAVE DONE THAT!!!!
(well, kinda ashamed...)
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What if the decorative colors were hues of reds and orange? LOL You mean to tell me that my 100' orange extension from the Home Depot won't fit in? :sqerr: Black will stick out like a sore thumb won't it?



Ahhhhh! I know the answer, buy every color they make, just in case, eh? LOL
 
Oh, I'll start by helping the rest of you out with reading this. Let's try to give this guy some help. If there are any DJs here from New Jersey who would be willing to help someone out, perhaps even mentor them, this person sounds like a good potential candidate, if he's interested in getting into this seriously. :)



I'm not a professional DJ or anything but I have a lot of DJ equipment that I picked up here and there. I rip CDs onto iTunes or download songs from there. I started out with all this as a hobby to keep myself entertained. :sqbiggrin:

Anyways, I've only played at a few parties for friends of mine, basically backyard parties for a bunch of drunks; I played some hip-hop and club-style music. It worked out pretty well; I didn't get any complaints. But here's my issue: my best friend is getting married in August and asked me to come set my equipment up and DJ his wedding reception for 5 hours. I have no clue where to start making a playlist for it, what order to put all the songs in. I've never done a wedding reception, just mainly a few backyard parties, but he begged me to play for him. Like a sucker, I agreed.

I know that it's not going to be a huge crowd or anything and they all know that I'm not a pro at this, so I'm not stressing about messing this up. I was just wondering if somebody already had a 5-hour long playlist set up that they wouldn't mind me using. Now, my best friend and his fiancée are around my age, about 25. They mentioned to me that they want a little bit of hip-hop music blended in to go along with the older stuff for the families. I just don't feel right playing hip-hop music at a wedding for a young couple and a bunch of older people. It seems like an odd mix of music to me. I figured that I could start off with love songs and some slow dance music, and then pick up the beat a little bit, playing some rock for the older age group into dance music like the Electric Slide, Cotton-Eyed Joe, Macarena etc. Then, move on into the younger generation with tunes like the Cupid Shuffle, the Cha-Cha Slide and then into some club music.

If anybody would be able to help me make a playlist that will last about 5 hours for the reception, I would greatly appreciate it. Like I said, I'm kinda new to playing in a professional scene with a rented hall and everything, so I'm all ears to any advice that anybody would be willing to give me.

Thanks for your time....Jon :sqconfused::sqconfused:
 
ODJT Person Of The Week

Yeahhhhhhhhh! Ducky wins the award for stepping up to the plate to help an aspiring DJ. Way to go!!!!!!!!!:sqlaugh::sqlaugh::sqlaugh:
 
I was not mocking you, seriously. You took the time to rewrite the message for all to read, not many would have done that! Thanks! Seriously,a little lightheartedness, "yes".... mockery "no"
 
ahoustondj said:
I was not mocking you, seriously. You took the time to rewrite the message for all to read, not many would have done that! Thanks! Seriously,a little lightheartedness, "yes".... mockery "no"
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I nixxed that post...thanks very much.

I do agree that folks should fall in and write in English on this forum, with all the bells and whistles, proper punctuation, grammar, and capitalization. It helps to make things easier to read. Perhaps that should be included in the ToS for this site? Well, as best as possible anyway. I mean, not everyone on this forum is an American, but perhaps a note against using texting shorthand constantly is in order. :sqconfused:
 
CrazyJon said:
ok well im not a professional dj or nething but i have a bunch of dj equipment that i picked up here n there n i upload cds onto itunes or download it from there. i started out with all this as kinda like a hooby to keep myself entertained lol. anyways iv only played at a few partys for friends of mine which was basically a backyard party wit a bunch of drunks playin some hip hop and club style music. worked out pretty good i didnt get any complaints...
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OK, Jon, you're a hobbyist DJ that has been playing for friends and family. That's cool. Many of us start there. I did.

You seem to have a good reputation because people liked what you did at the parties at which you played.

CrazyJon said:
but now heres my issue my best friend is gettin married in aug and he asked me to come set my equipment up and dj his wedding reception for 5 hours and i have no clue were to start making the playlist for that and what order to put that in, iv never done a wedding reception just mainly a few back yard partys here n there but he begged me to play for him so like a sucker i agreed
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Your buddy must have seen you play or really trusts you. Did you tell him that you've never worked a wedding before? I am guessing yes because begged you. I've been there and done that as well. The first wedding I ever worked was by the seat of my pants and I relied on remembering weddings I had attended as a guest. So we're on the same page here as well.


CrazyJon said:
i know its not gonna b a hudge crowd or nething and they all now im not a pro at this so im not stressin bout messing this up
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OK, so they all know you haven't done a wedding yet.

CrazyJon said:
but i was just wondering if somebody allready had a 5hr hour playlist set up in order that they wouldnt mind me using.
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OK, we'll get to that in a moment.

CrazyJon said:
now my best friend and fiance are around my age there only 25 young to be gettin married i know but he just came home from iraq n shes pregnant at the momment. they also mentioned to me that wanted a lil bit of hip hop music blended in to along with the older stuff for the familys. but i just dont feel right playin hip hop music at a wedding for a young couple n a bunch of older ppl seems like an odd mix of music to me. i figured i could start off wit love songs and the slow dance music n then pick the beat up a lil bit n play some rock for the older age group into dance music like the electric slide cotten eye go macarena etc and then move on into the younger generation with like the cupid shuffle the cha cha n then into some club music. so if anybody would be able to help me make a playlist that will last about 5 hours for the reception i would greatly apriecate it like i said im kinda new to playin in a professional scene in a rented hall n everything so im also open ears to any advise anybody would be willing to give me....thanks for you time....Jon:sqconfused::sqconfused:
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OK, you have some good ideas there. Here's what I would do:

Sit down with both of them and maybe some of the older guests that will be present and find out what kind of music they like. The older folks are probably going to throw out some stuff from the 40's through the 80's and your friends will be in the 90's and into this decade. You'll probably get some Funk, Disco, and maybe even Big Band. If the older folks throw out "In The Mood", "At The Hop", "Rock Around The Clock", and such then you can use a mix called "Swing The Mood" by Jive Bunny.

If you've been playing Hip Hop and Rap all the time then throwing in stuff like Shout, Brick House, and so on for the older folks might seem strange but let that go. You are there to try to please everyone, young and old alike. Run with it.

If you don't have the older stuff then that's going to cost you some bucks on eBay, Amazon, or such.

Also, your entire reception is not going to be playing music. Here's some of the things that happen at a wedding.

1. Introductions (Music)
2. Grand Entrance (Music)
3. First Dance (Music)
4. Blessing (maybe, maybe not)
5. Toast(s)
6. Meal (Background Music - something good for digestion. Most of my clients go for Rat Pack (Sinatra, Martin))
7. Father/Daughter Dance (Music)
8. Mother/Son Sance (Music)
9. Garter Removal (Music)
10. Garter Toss (Music)
11. Bouquette Toss (Music)
12. Cake Cutting (Music)
13. Open Dance (Party down - Lots of music)
14. Farewell Dance (Music)

1 to 3 are going to take about 10 minutes. 4 to 5 another 10. 6 is about an hour. 7 & 8 about 10 minutes. 9, 10, 11, and 12 about 10 minutes. 14 will take about 5 minutes. So, we are looking at about and hour and 45 minutes of formalities. There may also be a cocktal hour prior to the introductions for which you will play background music; most of my clients pick instrumental love songs or light jazz. That will be an other hour of time eaten away for a grand total of two hours and 45 minutes. So, you will only really need a play list of about three hours to be on the safe side.

So, how'd I do on the help-o-meter?
 
Jon Tuck said:
If you find a genre that fills the floorgo with it for awhile. Dont come back to it later. Now is when the time is right moving away from it could lose the crowd for the remainder of the evening even if you came back to it later.:sqwink:
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agreed Jon
I just know that you can only milk one genre for so long...
and you usually run out of genre's before the nite is over.
thats why I tend to "go back"

Crazyn Jon...
where in Jersey are you?
I'm across the river in PA
but we still may be miles apart!
 
Randy A said:
Jon...if you'd care to go back and edit your post to create some punctuation so that we could read it, you may get some more help. It's hard to help those that appear to be a 15 year old kid talking on IM, here on a professional dj site. ;)
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oh ok i apologize
 
An approach I use to mixed-aged crowds like that (ie a LOT of weddings) is to start the dancing segments off with slow-to-mid-paced slightly older and more recognizable musics.

50's oldies-80's, etc. Do some slow dances up-front or in the first couple hours too. The logic behind this approach is that some of the more reserved, laid-back, and older guests, as well as couples, who might not stay through the whole thing or be inclined to dance that much will be more inclined to dance to this older/slightly more subdued music that they are used to and feel comfortable with.

Then, as the night progresses, ease into newer stuff, more upbeat stuff, work in some harder stuff if the crowd wants it - then towards the end of the night when its just the B&G and their friends hanging out, you will most likely get to play some of the hip-hop you were talking about.

There are no rules, and this guideline is just a suggestion - you'll come up with your own programming methods as time goes by.
 
I meant that dont leave a genre too soon if its working early

I used to use a three song change over into the next genre. I now use heavy hitters if they seem lively to start from all genres including fairly current to capture as many as possible and then when a genre seems to bomb I would not go there unless requests came in from that area after the fact. This slims down my remiaining nights format. You radio guys understand that one lol. Anyhow I am now in free flow with a variet of genres mixed together and have had even more success with all crowds compared to trying to use the patented methods of proper genre to genre switches.:sqwink:
Ausumm said:
agreed Jon
I just know that you can only milk one genre for so long...
and you usually run out of genre's before the nite is over.
thats why I tend to "go back"

Crazyn Jon...
where in Jersey are you?
I'm across the river in PA
but we still may be miles apart!
Click to expand...
 
GoodKnightDJ said:
OK, Jon, you're a hobbyist DJ that has been playing for friends and family. That's cool. Many of us start there. I did.

You seem to have a good reputation because people liked what you did at the parties at which you played.



Your buddy must have seen you play or really trusts you. Did you tell him that you've never worked a wedding before? I am guessing yes because begged you. I've been there and done that as well. The first wedding I ever worked was by the seat of my pants and I relied on remembering weddings I had attended as a guest. So we're on the same page here as well.




OK, so they all know you haven't done a wedding yet.



OK, we'll get to that in a moment.



OK, you have some good ideas there. Here's what I would do:

Sit down with both of them and maybe some of the older guests that will be present and find out what kind of music they like. The older folks are probably going to throw out some stuff from the 40's through the 80's and your friends will be in the 90's and into this decade. You'll probably get some Funk, Disco, and maybe even Big Band. If the older folks throw out "In The Mood", "At The Hop", "Rock Around The Clock", and such then you can use a mix called "Swing The Mood" by Jive Bunny.

If you've been playing Hip Hop and Rap all the time then throwing in stuff like Shout, Brick House, and so on for the older folks might seem strange but let that go. You are there to try to please everyone, young and old alike. Run with it.

If you don't have the older stuff then that's going to cost you some bucks on eBay, Amazon, or such.

Also, your entire reception is not going to be playing music. Here's some of the things that happen at a wedding.

1. Introductions (Music)
2. Grand Entrance (Music)
3. First Dance (Music)
4. Blessing (maybe, maybe not)
5. Toast(s)
6. Meal (Background Music - something good for digestion. Most of my clients go for Rat Pack (Sinatra, Martin))
7. Father/Daughter Dance (Music)
8. Mother/Son Sance (Music)
9. Garter Removal (Music)
10. Garter Toss (Music)
11. Bouquette Toss (Music)
12. Cake Cutting (Music)
13. Open Dance (Party down - Lots of music)
14. Farewell Dance (Music)

1 to 3 are going to take about 10 minutes. 4 to 5 another 10. 6 is about an hour. 7 & 8 about 10 minutes. 9, 10, 11, and 12 about 10 minutes. 14 will take about 5 minutes. So, we are looking at about and hour and 45 minutes of formalities. There may also be a cocktal hour prior to the introductions for which you will play background music; most of my clients pick instrumental love songs or light jazz. That will be an other hour of time eaten away for a grand total of two hours and 45 minutes. So, you will only really need a play list of about three hours to be on the safe side.

So, how'd I do on the help-o-meter?
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that really helps me out alot and thanks for the advise and boost of confidence and yes i do have a wide range of music as far as hip hip, club music, dance music and classic rock and a few oldies i pick up a few songs here and there and usually whatever i dont have i make a list of and i give it to a friend of mines u uses limewire were he can download music for free and have him burn it onto cds and i just upload the cd into my itunes library because i use my laptop to play my music. i have a 4way channel mixer and anmplifier with 4 yamaha speakers and a few lights and a mic
 
gee if ya give us your address perhaps some here might could just email all their music as well. Your method is illegal enjoy any repercussion it brings you.
 
Jon Tuck said:
I used to use a three song change over into the next genre. I now use heavy hitters if they seem lively to start from all genres including fairly current to capture as many as possible and then when a genre seems to bomb I would not go there unless requests came in from that area after the fact. This slims down my remiaining nights format. You radio guys understand that one lol. Anyhow I am now in free flow with a variet of genres mixed together and have had even more success with all crowds compared to trying to use the patented methods of proper genre to genre switches.:sqwink:
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i live in thorofare right next to woodbury its about 15 mins away from the walt whitman exit 21 off of 295 S
 
CrazyJon said:
that really helps me out alot and thanks for the advise and boost of confidence and yes i do have a wide range of music as far as hip hip, club music, dance music and classic rock and a few oldies i pick up a few songs here and there and usually whatever i dont have i make a list of and i give it to a friend of mines u uses limewire were he can download music for free and have him burn it onto cds and i just upload the cd into my itunes library because i use my laptop to play my music. i have a 4way channel mixer and anmplifier with 4 yamaha speakers and a few lights and a mic
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CrazyJon,

Do you realize that using Limewire is illegal? If you are going to run a DJ business, you need to be able to prove that you own every song in your collection, whether you buy it as a CD in a store or download it from online. If you are going to use MP3's, I recommend downloading from Amazon. Most songs are 99 cents each, and Amazon provides you with invoices. Also, they keep an order history on your Amazon account.
 
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