Dancing...or not

[Shaun]

All too often dj's make the mistake of thinking that the dance-floor has to be busy all night for the event to be succesful.

Not all crowds are dancng crowds though!. A lot can be established from reading the body language of the guests. Feet tapping, faces smiling, heads-a-bopping and happy chattering between guests can all be indications that they are enjoying themselves.

The old saying "the only time families get together are at weddings and funerals" is true in many cases. A lot of the time guests may not have seen each other for years and just want to "catch up on old times". So don't be dismayed if you're dance-floor is not packed.

Seasoned veterans will know this anyway, but I thought I'd mention it as a point of reference to people that are just starting up. :beer:

[Corabar Entertainment]

Yes - can be the hardest thing to get across to new DJs we have had over the years.

There have been a number of times that people have come up to the DJ and apologised that not many people were dancing, but everyone enjoyed themselves, the music was fantastic, etc etc, but that people hadn't seen each other for a long time, etc, etc.

Like you said, you have to keep an eye on the audience to see if they are enjoying themselves even if they are not dancing. Mind you, even at those events where this happens, it is rare that it lasts the entire night: once people have caught up a bit, and had a few drinks, they usually get going on the dancefloor - even if it is only for the latter part of the evening! :teeth:

[Paul James Promotions]

Agreed.

There have been times when it appeared to be an un-enjoyable night, but guests have come up and thanked me for a great night.

Then i've had nights where nobody has said a word, but the floor has been full or night.

[dj andy allwood]

as soon as the drinks get into there system normally after 9 then they normslly get up lol

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

I agree with most of the above statements.

AS long as you've done your job in the most professional way possible, then you shouldn't worry.

[Have a disco]

As a Club DJ and disco DJ I can see both sides of this problem

In a club you are rated on the amount of people in the place dancing and drinking, you can be hired or fired, for not completing the owners requirements at a blink of an eyelid. Even if you have played a blinder you could still have not done enough. Its a dog eat dog world in a club enviroment, your easily replaced if you do not do as paid

In a private party you are there to entertain maybe a handfull of people to 200+ people at a range of events you would never meet normally in a club, each has to be read differently, and Many a time I have played my heart out only to get a handle of dancers up, but still been told by the hirer that they had a great time and even been apologised too for the lack of dancing in the end you are just providing a service to the customers needs

[dj andy allwood]

i just play a different song from different genres til i get it right plus i have a lot of mastermix cd's where old songs are mashed up with new songs and most of them make people smile which is a good thing and its funny when there waiting for the words of the tune then all of a sudden different vocals come on ha ha tricked them lol

[Have a disco]

I take each night wether club or disco as a personal challenge to get at least 50 - 75% dancing in the night as an overall total but you can soon figure out a crowd within 10 - 15 tunes, but even that can go pear shaped sometimes. Sometimes its just a reason to catch up on the gossip with the relations, and have some music in the back ground, till the last hour. once they are lubricated up with plonk ready to dance then its non stop til night end

[dj andy allwood]

yeah then they normally say one more song one more song cos by then there up for a party lol

[Corabar Steve]

and Many a time I have played my heart out only to get a handle of dancers up,

Is that like a pride of lions or a gaggle of geese?