Weddings Tarentella Version and MC instructions.

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DJ Cam

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Oct 20, 2006
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Need some help please?

I haven't done an Italian wedding in about 5 years. I have one coming up.
Most my weddings are of Polish, Croatian, Serbian decent. We have the traditional Polish bridal dance.

What version / artist of the tarantella do you use?

What is expected as the MC for this tradition?
 
If called upon, I typically use the tarantella from Disk Jockeys Vol 1 (Songs for All Occasions). The arrangement is typically HOAKY, but I think that's what people want when they ask for the tarantella.

There's also a version of it on the Platinum Series
 
Thats where I ask the bride and groom to make sure someone that is 100% italian does this

if you only get something wrong - boy you can look bad!!

thats why I am not Italian and never do it!!
 
Well, it went ok... not fantastic.

Most of the problems were the clients. They picked the versions.

Problem #1 They hired a so called band for cocktails and dinner music. They were good at what they did but had no idea about a wedding. Every song had a 3 min pause between, I thought it was tacky if you are hired for music as such it should be non-stop.

Problem #2 The Groom decided he wanted the Italian singer lady to do introductions. She bombed, forgot people, announced people in wrong order, and got names wrong. Not to mention their sound system was about as loud as my main fader on -40db.

Problem #3 They only booked the band til 8PM dinner lasted til 9PM so I continued and the band carried their equipment though people while they were still eating.

Problem #4 The Country Club was over booked, for the wedding and the day they had other parties going on along with normal dinner service. Wait staff was bought in from a service and they weren't as good as the clubs normal staff. They had a 4 course dinner and by the time everyone got though everything it was 9:10 before we had the 1st dance.

Problem #5 The Bride and Groom just didn't care. I played music for the kids for the big 1:30 we did have for dancing. Anytime I played something for the adults they didnt"t dance and it just pissed of the 40 -50 kids that were there.

Problem #6 People bitched about the tarentella, they said the 4 min version the bride and goom picked wasn't long enough it should be 10 min +

The client thanked me many many times and said they couldn't believe how I kept the kids entertained. That being said, I seen them tip the suck band and I didn't get tipped.
 
well you know where thier priorities lay -- not!!
 
Hank Davidson said:
The version you want is by Bobby Morganstein. Amazon.com: Bobby Morganstein Productions: MP3 Downloads

You should also be sure to have "Eh Cumpari by Julius La Rosa"
Click to expand...

I would never play that mangia-cake Morganstein version of a tarantella. There are many different tarantellas, the name of that one is Tarantella Napoletana which of course is specific to Naples. Most areas of Italy have their own region specific tarantella. If you want to play a good version of that song, you need this one: http://italiasempre.com/verita/tarantellacom1.htm
For an MC to do it right, put it on and shut up. :sqerr:

Don't play 'Eh Cumpari' unless you know what part of Italy your guests are from originally as it only goes over well with Southern Italians.
 
maestro said:
I would never play that mangia-cake Morganstein version of a tarantella. There are many different tarantellas, the name of that one is Tarantella Napoletana which of course is specific to Naples. Most areas of Italy have their own region specific tarantella. If you want to play a good version of that song, you need this one: http://italiasempre.com/verita/tarantellacom1.htm
For an MC to do it right, put it on and shut up. :sqerr:

Don't play 'Eh Cumpari' unless you know what part of Italy your guests are from originally as it only goes over well with Southern Italians.
Click to expand...

Thanks,

I'm no, nor do I care to be an expert on non-American music. In fact, I stay out of it almost always.

All I know is that in my 18 years of playing, those two "cheez-mo" songs have always worked well. I have had many folks that line/group dance to the Tarantella and the Morganstein one seems to have the best tempo for it.

In most cases, the Tarantella (these days) is nothing more than an Italian Chicken Dance.


:sqbiggrin:
 
DJ Cam said:
Problem #1 They hired a so called band for cocktails and dinner music. They were good at what they did but had no idea about a wedding. Every song had a 3 min pause between, I thought it was tacky if you are hired for music as such it should be non-stop.

Problem #2 The Groom decided he wanted the Italian singer lady to do introductions. She bombed, forgot people, announced people in wrong order, and got names wrong. Not to mention their sound system was about as loud as my main fader on -40db.

Problem #3 They only booked the band til 8PM dinner lasted til 9PM so I continued and the band carried their equipment though people while they were still eating.

That being said, I seen them tip the suck band and I didn't get tipped.
Click to expand...

I friggin' hate this stuff!! When I was in So Cal, I INSISTED on being the guy to book cocktail bands for the clients if they wanted one. I stressed to them how most bands don't get what weddings are all about and that they would regret having a lousy band.

Most of them got it.
 
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