Fascinating Prom Reqeusts

[Albatross]

I'm doing a Prom in early May. In prep for the gig I set up a request intake form so that kids could submit their songs before the dance. That way I don't have to take any during.

It's early, they must have just shared the link... but I haven't heard a single song they've requested so far. I'm turning it into a Spotify playlist if anyone wants to follow along with what high school kids are asking for right now...

 

[steve149]

Just be careful of the ones that the kids name to "push the limit" ..

 

[djtaso]

I can already tell where that playlist is going.... same as every one of my sweet 16’s. It’s when I see this that I ask them if they want a crazy rave dance party or if they just wanna stand around and sing all their fav rap songs... they all say crazy rave dance party... to which I explain I’m gonna have to limit these type of requests or play em during dinner to which they totally get. Their list isn’t so bad though... yet... just make sure u got clean versions lol

 

[steve149]

Also, given the shelf life of these "songs" .. many may be out of favor by May and maybe April .. thankfully ..

 

[djtaso]

Also, given the shelf life of these "songs" .. many may be out of favor by May and maybe April .. thankfully ..

This is actually VERY true... unless it’s a song that’s huge and has some staying power like gods plan or bodak yellow... the rest are just that weeks filler songs... by next week they found 10 other songs to replace them.

 

[Albatross]

I can already tell where that playlist is going.... same as every one of my sweet 16’s. It’s when I see this that I ask them if they want a crazy rave dance party or if they just wanna stand around and sing all their fav rap songs... they all say crazy rave dance party... to which I explain I’m gonna have to limit these type of requests or play em during dinner to which they totally get. Their list isn’t so bad though... yet... just make sure u got clean versions lol

I love that response. Cause honestly, they haven't suggested a danceable tune yet. I'm happy to look for remixes and find a cool way to play some of this trap stuff... but I'm not going to pack a bunch of floor killers together. It's like 2.5-3 hours of dancing tops at this Prom. It needs to be quick hits and high energy.

 

[rickryan.com]

Prom playlists are usually pretty varied from school to school, at least the ones I work. This year, I only have 2 on the books, both repeats from the past several years. I apparently lost the one from my hometown.

 

[Albatross]

This is the first prom I've booked direct in probably 10 years. I did one last year where I was DJing for another company and had fun with it. But oddly enough this request came in from that same school I worked with when I was DJing in high school - but none of the same people are on it. Looking back at the photos from that time crack me up....

I'm a very different DJ at this point, and despite being older, I think I'm much better qualified to play this kind of event after all of the club DJing I've been doing.

It'll be interesting to say the least!

 

[Valerie Hicks]

Do you always initiate song planning this far out? I don't typically send any dance planners out to high schools until about 4 weeks prior, and expect basic song information to be received by 10 days prior. This gives the broadest input from the group without one bunch relentlessly pushing their particular flavor (usually the rap or harder rock crowd).

 

[sonic-vision]

dance planners out to high schools until about 4 weeks prior,

Yep! I also cut off requests two week before event.

 

[Albatross]

Do you always initiate song planning this far out? I don't typically send any dance planners out to high schools until about 4 weeks prior, and expect basic song information to be received by 10 days prior. This gives the broadest input from the group without one bunch relentlessly pushing their particular flavor (usually the rap or harder rock crowd).

I created the intake page albatrossdc.com/annandale - and just provided it to the client so that they could distribute when they wanted to. It wasn't a conscious effort to do it early, but they were excited about the students being able to add their input.

 

[DJ Ricky B]

I don't know any of those artists except Migos, LOL

I may have downloaded those songs on Promo Only Rhythm monthly, but never play any of that stuff, and don't even look at those songs.

 

[Valerie Hicks]

I created the intake page albatrossdc.com/annandale - and just provided it to the client so that they could distribute when they wanted to. It wasn't a conscious effort to do it early, but they were excited about the students being able to add their input.

thanks. was just curious. I've had schools want it early as well on rare occasion too.

 

[DJKLEEN]

Yes, they want nasty hip hop music! It just doesn’t make a good dance. I choose alternative and progressive dance and some trap!

 

[dunlopj]

Ross, you called it fascinating as in Mr. Spock. I call it yuck.

 

[prodjay]

I am also about a month out from my first Prom of the year and expect the request list to be filled out by only 1 or 2 students not input from a wide range of students.

Maybe we can start a list of what we think is appropriate.

 

[Albatross]

I am also about a month out from my first Prom of the year and expect the request list to be filled out by only 1 or 2 students not input from a wide range of students.

Maybe we can start a list of what we think is appropriate.

I made the name a required field in the form so that I'm trying to capture that. They could certainly make it up, but they don't necessarily know why I'm asking for it. So I'm hoping that keeps one student from dominating my list.

 

[DJ Bobcat]

We're just a couple weeks away from the beginning of Prom season here... and what appears to be an almost certain teacher walkout. I wonder how (if at all) a walkout will affect Proms?

The teachers are demanding a $10,000 pay raise, and restoration of the cuts that were made to the education budget. They say they hadn't received a raise in 10 years. Oklahoma has been in a budget crisis for 3-4 years, and failed to pass a budget last year, even after a special session. The legislature is split and uncompromising. They've been unable to agree on (and pass) any revenue raising bills, so State agency budgets just keep getting cut. As a former State employee, I know that NO agency has fared as well as education. While all other state agencies got cut 2, 4, 6%, education didn't get cut until this year, and then it was less than other agencies. And no State employees have received a raise in the past 10 years... it's not JUST teachers.

But if the teachers walk out, will the Proms go on? With NO teachers, schools will shut down. Perhaps parent volunteers will fill the void to make sure the Proms go on... I dunno??? It will be interesting to see what happens. A walk-out could negatively impact a lot of businesses... except the Day Care business... But having to start paying for Day Care for an EXTRA month and a half, is going to hit some parents in the pocketbook hard.

 

[Handinon]

I can already tell where that playlist is going.... same as every one of my sweet 16’s. It’s when I see this that I ask them if they want a crazy rave dance party or if they just wanna stand around and sing all their fav rap songs... they all say crazy rave dance party... to which I explain I’m gonna have to limit these type of requests or play em during dinner to which they totally get. Their list isn’t so bad though... yet... just make sure u got clean versions lol

Do any of us feel we have a moral responsibility not to play music where 1/3 of the playlist has to be redacted? If music is a reflection of the society we live in, what does this say about our young people?? And no, the parents often do not know better.

The teachers are demanding a $10,000 pay raise, and restoration of the cuts that were made to the education budget. They say they hadn't received a raise in 10 years. Oklahoma has been in a budget crisis for 3-4 years, and failed to pass a budget last year, even after a special session. The legislature is split and uncompromising. They've been unable to agree on (and pass) any revenue raising bills, so State agency budgets just keep getting cut. As a former State employee, I know that NO agency has fared as well as education. While all other state agencies got cut 2, 4, 6%, education didn't get cut until this year, and then it was less than other agencies. And no State employees have received a raise in the past 10 years... it's not JUST teachers.

""There have been many changes in recent decades, however, "When I first started teaching," Armijo says, "parents were behind you one hundred percent. When you called home they would take your advice. They'd come to school if there was a problem. When I was teaching, you could always find one parent at home. Not anymore"

Armijo likes the four-winds concept of his youth. He says a school has four sides: the students, the parents, the teachers, and the community. "And the parents are not holding up their part anymore. I think home has gotten away from the parents."

Armijo also thinks the new generation of teachers, however, has to share in the blame. "When I retired in 1987, the superintendent said , 'He always wore a coat and tie to school.' Today teachers wear sport shirts. If their first class is at five past eight they arrive at eight. When I had an eight-thirty class I would be in the classroom at seven, opening the windows to get the air circulating, preparing the lessons. If you did an excellent job on a paper I'd make a small, complimentary remark, to be encouraging. Today, so many teachers don't take the time.""

That is a direct quote from Tom Brokaw's excellent treatise "The Greatest Generation" printed in 1998, 20 years ago! The only thing that has really changed is that there is now consideration for arming some teachers with guns!!

Luis Vittorio Armijo was the son of a Spanish Basque father and an Apache mother. He grew up in conditions children today would consider "camping". He served in WWII and was part of a ground support team for the Enola Gay on Tinian Island. After the WAR, he, like thousands of others, took advantage of the GI Bill and went into Education.

 

[aguilas583]

The Spotify charts are fairly good. Not all inclusive, but definitely solid. I browse this before dances to see if anything has come up lately, and to verify the current top songs.


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