I have found a lot of variables to affect the dance scenario...the geographic location of the reception (rural area or metropolitan area), the lifestyle of the attendees (are they party people or people who never go out), the age group (centered to a majority or spread evenly among several generations), the time of day (people dance later, not in the afternoon or early evening as much), the brightness/darkness of the room (dark rooms get more dancers), whether the bar is open or cash (open bars always generate more activity than a closed/cash bar scenario).
When I experience participation issues, these are the first variables I look at. Sometimes you just get lucky and get people who are looking for a party, and that makes it easy to deliver...other times you get a room full of people that the party found, and you have to work harder. Sometimes, it just wont happen, and we have to accept that.
I did a reception heavy to folks in their 30s-50s not long ago, and a handful of people wanted to dance, and when they stopped dancing, I played a format of kick ass music that I thought they would enjoy listening to while talking/drinking. Not a dancer on the floor, but EVERYONE was happy, and I got SOO many comments about my selections, as well as requests.
You just never know.
When I experience participation issues, these are the first variables I look at. Sometimes you just get lucky and get people who are looking for a party, and that makes it easy to deliver...other times you get a room full of people that the party found, and you have to work harder. Sometimes, it just wont happen, and we have to accept that.
I did a reception heavy to folks in their 30s-50s not long ago, and a handful of people wanted to dance, and when they stopped dancing, I played a format of kick ass music that I thought they would enjoy listening to while talking/drinking. Not a dancer on the floor, but EVERYONE was happy, and I got SOO many comments about my selections, as well as requests.
You just never know.
