before the dance official starts I usually go to each table to check them over to see which table had the most right...most guests want to know anyway....the winning table is awarded drink tickets for the most right
DJs involvement at Class Reunions?
- Thread starter Cesar
- Start date
before the dance official starts I usually go to each table to check them over to see which table had the most right...most guests want to know anyway....the winning table is awarded drink tickets for the most right
What I've learned from my limited experience with reunions...
I have only DJ'd one, the planner lived out of state so I never met with her in person. She had some activities planned like a drawing and some other things which were left vague. That unraveled on the day of when she realized everyone was drinking, dancing, and having a good time and it didn't need any further meddling. So, I just played popular dance music and a bit of classic/corny stuff from the 90's (Ace of Base, Spice Girls, etc). It was a hit and she was very pleased.
Last year I attended my 10 year reunion...for which I had secured a friend of mine to DJ for only $300. Then the venue informed us we couldn't have a DJ...so the planners just put mix CD's on the house system with corny stuff from the 90's. Both of these happened to be class of 1997 reunions.
If I do another reunion I would like to try to get more involved in planning some activities...ask the planner to give it some thought and then meet to go over the details. I think it would be fun to do some games, stunts, trivia, a slideshow...something extra to make it a little more interactive. That being said, just like at weddings sometimes the best thing you can do is stay out of the way and let people visit!
I have only DJ'd one, the planner lived out of state so I never met with her in person. She had some activities planned like a drawing and some other things which were left vague. That unraveled on the day of when she realized everyone was drinking, dancing, and having a good time and it didn't need any further meddling. So, I just played popular dance music and a bit of classic/corny stuff from the 90's (Ace of Base, Spice Girls, etc). It was a hit and she was very pleased.
Last year I attended my 10 year reunion...for which I had secured a friend of mine to DJ for only $300. Then the venue informed us we couldn't have a DJ...so the planners just put mix CD's on the house system with corny stuff from the 90's. Both of these happened to be class of 1997 reunions.
If I do another reunion I would like to try to get more involved in planning some activities...ask the planner to give it some thought and then meet to go over the details. I think it would be fun to do some games, stunts, trivia, a slideshow...something extra to make it a little more interactive. That being said, just like at weddings sometimes the best thing you can do is stay out of the way and let people visit!
Cesar the problem with this type of post is there are so many different types of djs.
A professional DJ like yourself or I would know our limitations, styles etc. A gameshow dj may be the guy to do the trivia, if the committee for a reunion, typically comprised of a group of people, decided they wanted a game show dj than the guests would have to be upset with the committee if they didnt want total trivia or what have you.
Granted, a good, and professional dj would be able to work to the crowd and the hiring committee.
But wouldnt professional be more of a reference to a dj companies business style, ethics, appearance, and ability to adapt to whatever surroundings they are thrown into more so than if they have a dolly.
A professional DJ has to walk the very thin line between client and guests and err in favor of the guests.
Cesar what if you were hired to do a reunion, they made up a trivia sheet of school questions and even after your urging wanted you to do it, would you refuse because you know it would bomb?
I would ensure the majority of the guests were having a great time with whatever they perceived they should be doing at the party however the lady who cut the check is going to come ask about the trivia questions
Wouldn't a professional dj who wanted to save face say something to the effect of:
" Okay, the reunion committee has prepared this trivia game so..." and then play the game putting the burden of blame back on the committee?
Then you have to factor in what if the trivia is gag trivia and the now 37 year old successful business woman doesnt want her husband to know in 1988 she was the classr oom slut, but the joke trivia is in there, what do you do then?
I think the professional dj actually scratch that I KNOW the professional DJ can adapt to all these situations and provide a "great time" to be had by the majority of the guests.
Kyle
A professional DJ like yourself or I would know our limitations, styles etc. A gameshow dj may be the guy to do the trivia, if the committee for a reunion, typically comprised of a group of people, decided they wanted a game show dj than the guests would have to be upset with the committee if they didnt want total trivia or what have you.
Granted, a good, and professional dj would be able to work to the crowd and the hiring committee.
But wouldnt professional be more of a reference to a dj companies business style, ethics, appearance, and ability to adapt to whatever surroundings they are thrown into more so than if they have a dolly.
A professional DJ has to walk the very thin line between client and guests and err in favor of the guests.
Cesar what if you were hired to do a reunion, they made up a trivia sheet of school questions and even after your urging wanted you to do it, would you refuse because you know it would bomb?
I would ensure the majority of the guests were having a great time with whatever they perceived they should be doing at the party however the lady who cut the check is going to come ask about the trivia questions
Wouldn't a professional dj who wanted to save face say something to the effect of:
" Okay, the reunion committee has prepared this trivia game so..." and then play the game putting the burden of blame back on the committee?
Then you have to factor in what if the trivia is gag trivia and the now 37 year old successful business woman doesnt want her husband to know in 1988 she was the classr oom slut, but the joke trivia is in there, what do you do then?
I think the professional dj actually scratch that I KNOW the professional DJ can adapt to all these situations and provide a "great time" to be had by the majority of the guests.
Kyle
It all comes down to what the client wants... if they want something they get it... If they want Bill the Class Pres. to handle it great, if they want me to handle it great..
It is about what they want, not what I want....
It is about what they want, not what I want....
I think that to be a professional DJ you have to know your crowd, be open to what the client wants and do it better than you thought you could, and be over 5' 5" tall.
Sorry, I'm in late on this conversation, but what does height have to do with anything? :sqconfused:
Whatever the client requested and I agreed upon is usually what I end up providing.
(It doesn't take a committee to figure that one out.)
(It doesn't take a committee to figure that one out.)
I've always had better luck getting a dancing crowd at 20+ reunions, my best ever was a 45th reunion, all 50's music, loved it.
Cesar : Seems folks haven't delved into the make up and psychology of a class reunion.
The first imperative question asked is will there be spouses and guests or just classmates? The one with guests is approached very differently than the one without. The one with guests/spouses will need more audience involvement techniques while the one without will need non-verbalized focused musical mixes.
Guess the answer is yes...and no.
My best was a 50th (graduating class of 400, nearly 70% still living and most came...from everywhere). Went an hour overtime.
Hardly anybody left early. (Wasn't sure if it was because they didn't want to or simply couldn't.)
The first imperative question asked is will there be spouses and guests or just classmates? The one with guests is approached very differently than the one without. The one with guests/spouses will need more audience involvement techniques while the one without will need non-verbalized focused musical mixes.
Guess the answer is yes...and no.
My best was a 50th (graduating class of 400, nearly 70% still living and most came...from everywhere). Went an hour overtime.
Hardly anybody left early. (Wasn't sure if it was because they didn't want to or simply couldn't.)
Cap,,, if it was a 50th,,, I am guessing they didn't leave because the bus to the retirement home hadn't shown up yet.. LOL
Cap
Thanks for the great post.
Another question I always want to know is what type of music I am to play and for what time periods so I don't have to deal with the old guy that comes up when people want to dance and says thats not music from our graduating class year.
P.S. Cap are you 68 years old? LOL
116
Thanks for the great post.
Another question I always want to know is what type of music I am to play and for what time periods so I don't have to deal with the old guy that comes up when people want to dance and says thats not music from our graduating class year.
P.S. Cap are you 68 years old? LOL
116