How can a DJ make the dance floor “the place to be”?

A seasoned DJ can pack a dance floor if he is a true professional who can read a crowd and select tracks fitting for those for whom he has been compensated to entertain.  Chemistry among the guests and an “I want to dance” attitude also play strongly into how much dancing there will be at any event.  Certain frequencies and bass volumes will subconsciously drive people to the floor, however, some guests require more work to motivate them to dance.  In this event, a good DJ will have to rely on his or her expertise to get people to dance.  Smaller crowds are usually more of a challenge when it comes to dancing, but on the contrary, I have found that during these instances, a small crowd provides me with an opportunity to connect on a more intimate level with the guests, sometimes giving me unique emceeing opportunities and simply the enjoyment of watching a few couples enjoy closeness on the dance floor because of that “special song” I rolled out. 

For wedding receptions it is ill advised to instruct your DJ not to play mixers to include the Cha Cha Slide, YMCA, etc…   Without question, you may hate these songs, but for reasons unexplainable to mankind, they have a way of moving people to the dance floor “the hook” and once on the floor, a professional DJ will keep them planted.  On the contrary, a professional DJ will gladly honor your “do not play” list and will respect your wishes concerning the play list.  When thinking about music for your wedding reception, take your guests into account and think about what they might enjoy based on the age range of who will be in attendance.  Most couples want all of their guests to get caught up in the celebration and all will want to listen to music that will appeal to them.

During a typical 4-5 hour wedding reception, a DJ will bump between 70 and 85 songs and if your DJ has a good genre of music to include the top tracks from yesterday through today,   someone is going to dance.  The DJ you retain should be willing to accommodate requests and your guests will appreciate that.  Try to avoid micromanaging every song your DJ is to play and instead, place trust in their judgment to promote a format that will please your guests.  Being a DJ may appear easy to the onlooker, but it truly is a difficult job as it is impossible to please everyone.  Permit your DJ to experiment with the crowd and discover what really gets them going.  When working with my clients, my goal is to be an extension of who they are by planning accordingly with them for this very special occasion, their wedding day.  

Hire a professional, not a novice who thinks he can get the job done.  A professional DJ will want to create an unforgettable experience for you while a “Hack” or “Novice” DJ just wants a paycheck.  Every market is saturated with DJ’s these days and anyone with an ipod and set of speakers considers themselves a DJ.  This couldn’t be further from the truth as a professional DJ wears many hats to include business ethics, salesmanship, broad knowledge of music, interpersonal skills, speaking & presentation, planning and so much more……….  Before you retain the services of a DJ for your special event, arrange a meeting with the DJ and before you sign an agreement, establish mutual comfort levels and have a strong conviction you have chosen the right DJ for your event.  After all, your DJ will make or break your celebration; period. 

 

Most commonly delivered by the Best Man & Maid of Honor, the wedding toast is a public speaking opportunity, that if done correctly, will WOW the guests and honor the bride and groom. Infusing humor into the toast that is in good taste is also suggested if you have that spin.
Tips to Deliver a Great Wedding Toast

1. Duration- 3 – 5 minutes per speaker is a good standard and if more than two speakers will address the mic, keep this on the lower end of the range.  A solo speaker can extend a little beyond this range.  Speeches that are too short appear as “off the cuff”, while long winded speeches seem self-indulgent.  Extended speeches (prior to dinner) also delay the meal for which the caterer may have been keeping warm for some time.  
2. A Roast is tempting, but make it a Toast- Keep any humor and poking fun at the bride & groom light hearted.  Reserve the embarrassing stories for the bachelor and bachelorette parties. 
3. Use humor to break the ice- Put yourself and your audience at ease by opening with a joke, then get into the heart of your toast. A toast I will always remember was one in which the brother of the groom and best man opened with a story of his obsessive compulsive brother, the groom. As a younger man, the groom checked the stove multiple times to ensure it was turned off before leaving the house.  From under the table, the Best Man retrieved a small toy stove with all knobs pointed to the off position.  As you can imagine, this generated quite a response from the guests and set the stage for a smooth delivery of the toast. 
4. Rehearse your delivery – Prepare an outline (a) Opener – Introduce yourself and describe your relationship with the bride & groom, (b) include a joke, (c) (best man) direct some comments toward the groom (maid of honor) direct some comments at the bride.  (d) discuss how their relationship together is greater than the sum of the individual parts, and offer some advice and words of wisdom (e) ask the guests to raise their glass, and offer a brief toast such as "May your love be strong enough to survive the times and old-fashioned enough to last forever. Given the outline you have prepared, create content for these sections and rehearse until you have a well polished speech. Be sincere in your words and success will be yours.  
5. Hold the Microphone Correctly –The majority of mics used at wedding receptions are Cardioid Unidirectional Microphones. They are sensitive to sounds emitted from only one direction (your mouth).   Position the microphone towards your mouth but not touching it, about an inch away. Speak clearly and in a firm, clear voice and the microphone will perform well. Don’t shout or hold the microphone too low.  Most DJ’s will adjust the volume accordingly to take into account, these missteps, and/or for the soft spoken. 
6. Have your glass poured and on deck- Be prepared to raise your glass when you ask guests to raise theirs.  This may sound like a no brainer, but I have observed a speaker on more than one occasion scramble for their glass, quite embarrassed.