Guests' requests. Good thing or bad?

[DJ Jules]

I did a 90min kids disco on Fri night for about 120 x 7-11yr olds with about 20mins of solid music inbetween two 30min sets of games and party dances. They asked for most of the top 10, which I played, and they danced to.... none of it. Used my own judgement and stuck on One Direction, Macarena, JLS and all the usual cheesy stuff from the last two years and had a full dance floor and them all singing along. They also asked for a couple of obscure novelty tracks only published on YouTube - which I ignored. Biggest hit of the night - without contest, Macarena. Closely followed by Cha Cha slide.

Last night I did a walk up gig in a small club and we had a hen party in, all dressed in 80's aerobic neon (with a giant inflatable knob) and they immediately asked for "Call on me" so they could do the motions. They, and the rest of the club, then asked for most of the top 20 and danced to.... not a lot of it. Flo Rida, LMFAO, Gangnam style got them up and moving, but then the requests came in for current chart again, which cleared the floor again. My instincts were telling me to head for 80's and 90's feel good cheese (Wham, Grease, Teenage Dirtbag, etc) but the requests kept me on current chart for most of the night (except for a bit of reggae which went down Ok, and a brief burst of 90's trance - again request driven). That is, until the last 15mins when, having given up the will to live, I slapped on a Wham megamix, followed by Grease megamix. Full dancefloor.

With the exception of a few gigs I've done where the guests have had specific tastes and the requests have guided me well (a wedding with a high proportion of Irish family springs to mind), generally, the guests have had better nights when I've ignored the requests and gone with my instincts and this weekend has been a prime example of this. What does everyone else do? And what do you say to guests when you KNOW that the direction the requests are going are going to result in tumbleweed and you're going to ignore them? :D

[BeerFunk]

I try to take names for 'dodgy' requests, and announce them over the mic as a sort of disclaimer. It does annoy me when people make requests and then don't dance... sometimes I feel like saying over the mic "if there's anything you'd like to dance to, let me know", but then, that's not right.

I was asked to base last night's music on modern chart (from the last few years), and it was really difficult! There's quite a lot of dance/club to pick from, but outside that, it's limited. I reckon the last rock floor filler was Sex On Fire, what's happened to rock/indie music?

Basically, I was looking for slow-ish tempo pop to ease people onto the dancefloor, such as Candy, Call Me Maybe, Get Lucky, Troublemaker.... there aren't that many more, really?

[yourdj]

No Fame, get physical or shes a maniac? ;)

[Shakermaker Promotions]

I'd say personally that if guests are actually taking time out to request stuff then it's what they actually want to hear. I get where you're coming from but at the end of the day, I have lost count of the number of times I have said over the mic that I will take requests and nobody has bothered asking.

[ukpartydj]

I've been thinking this same thing recently.
Last weekend I did a prom where the students were asking for lots of chart music, random youtube music etc and none of it went down well at all... blurred lines had about 10 people dancing out of 200!
I had enough of the requests and played cha cha slide - the whole room started dancing, after a couple of tracks some come up and say "play some decent music", catch 22 really.
The next night the ONLY request I got was - blurred lines and maybe some 80's and 90's, cracking night I managed to set the mood and build up the atmosphere without interruption - everybody from 30-60 years old was dancing to blurred lines ... madness!

[safdiscos]

No Fame, get physical or shes a maniac? ;)

This post made me :)
I love the cheese music!

[STEVE HANLEY]

Playlists?? I must admit I'm not a huge fan, but still happy to accept them, along with guests requests. Got a wedding tomorrow in one of the North Easts most prestigious venues. The B&G found out I went to the same House music club as them in Newcastle. So they've asked if I'll do a 30 to 45 minute House/Trance set old skool set. Smiling like a Cheshire cat:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

[DJ Jules]

I was asked to base last night's music on modern chart (from the last few years), and it was really difficult! There's quite a lot of dance/club to pick from, but outside that, it's limited. I reckon the last rock floor filler was Sex On Fire, what's happened to rock/indie music?

EDM = Electronic Dance Music. Apparently the only thing worth selling right now.


Basically, I was looking for slow-ish tempo pop to ease people onto the dancefloor, such as Candy, Call Me Maybe, Get Lucky, Troublemaker.... there aren't that many more, really?

Taylor Swift, Bruno Mars? Yup, but not many more. Where has all the good music gone? :D

Julian

[Excalibur]

generally, the guests have had better nights when I've ignored the requests and gone with my instincts and this weekend has been a prime example of this. What does everyone else do? And what do you say to guests when you KNOW that the direction the requests are going are going to result in tumbleweed and you're going to ignore them? :D

How weird that you start this thread. John (Twinspin) and I did an anniversary function on Saturday, and repeatedly were told exactly what would work, what would get the whole room dancing, etc etc etc. As you may have guessed they didn't. The best results came from what we were choosing ourselves.

While I always welcome requests from guests, they aren't always the most effective floorfillers, sadly.

[paul1404]

I think when people are saying chart music these days there looking for tracks over the past 5 years
I would also not recommend playing current music all the way through cut it after a few mins keeps em more interested
Not all the songs in the top 20 work that great on the dancefloor
As we all know just read the crowd - if a song dont work get rid and move to next !
If dancier stuff is working mix it up with some classics
If rnb is working mix it up with some classics
:) I just find with current music - gotta keep it interesting - cut in and out quickly - throw in some accapella etc

[HeartandSoul]

I think it's a judgement call, between keeping the guests happy, and flying solo. I find that if i have the dance floor full, any requests will be played later on. If it's quiet, play them straight away, they might just hit the spot for the peer group. There are some functions, and we have all had them, when people just don't want to dance no matter what, and after switching tracks a dozen times to find something they will dance to doesn't work, it can be a relief if a few suggestions come forward. Sometimes they work, sometimes they don't, but if you play stuff they ask for and they don't dance to it, there's only so much you can do but at least it's appreciated. I once had a bride whose playlist she provided wasn't working, against my advice before the wedding mind you, but she was determined. I switched to reggae, which the groom asked for on the night, filled the dance floor, she stormed over and insisted I go back to her playlist! told her grooms request and said she didn't care! I did it and cleared the floor, and left her to talk it over with her new husband! I wonder if they are still married?

[musicologydisco]

I think it's a judgement call, between keeping the guests happy, and flying solo. I find that if i have the dance floor full, any requests will be played later on. If it's quiet, play them straight away, they might just hit the spot for the peer group. There are some functions, and we have all had them, when people just don't want to dance no matter what, and after switching tracks a dozen times to find something they will dance to doesn't work, it can be a relief if a few suggestions come forward. Sometimes they work, sometimes they don't, but if you play stuff they ask for and they don't dance to it, there's only so much you can do but at least it's appreciated. I once had a bride whose playlist she provided wasn't working, against my advice before the wedding mind you, but she was determined. I switched to reggae, which the groom asked for on the night, filled the dance floor, she stormed over and insisted I go back to her playlist! told her grooms request and said she didn't care! I did it and cleared the floor, and left her to talk it over with her new husband! I wonder if they are still married?

I had an almost identical situation last year and I happen to know they split up in under 6 months. I thought at the time that it'll be a miracle if they stayed together. She was a :Censored: nightmare!

[PlaySomethingGood]

I have honestly lost count of the amount of times this has happened to me. You get given a playlist which are fairly certain won't 'work' on the night. You try and stick to the clients requests as much as possible but it isn't working. You deviate slightly from the playlist to try and build an atmosphere. After some encouraging signs you fall-back on your experience and better judgement and play what you feel the guests will enjoy. The party gets into full swing with a packed dancefloor :) Cue unhappy client who insists you go back to their playlist (which is full of 'cool' songs designed to create the right kind of 'vibe'). Reluctantly you agree and the dancefloor is cleared in seconds with that hard-earned atmosphere never to return :mad:

I find that this is mostly an issue at weddings and, almost exclusively ones with younger brides. They get their minds set on having the 'perfect' day and have micromanaged every aspect of it. Obviously none of effort is REALLY to ensure that their guests have a great time but merely to create a 'spectacle'. The problem is that, the evening 'do' is the guests opportunity to have a drink, relax and let their hair down. If you micro-manage the DJ to ONLY play music that fits in with your 'perfect' day then your guests won't dance and will go home sober, bored and unhappy. Give your guests upbeat tunes they can sing and dance along to and they will go home drunk, tired and happy.

I believe that a wedding reception is your way of 'giving something back' to your guests who have dressed up and often travelled a long way to spend the day with you (often at great expense). I just wish more brides would remember this when trying to micro-manage the entertainment.

Just my tuppence worth....

[BeerFunk]

I find that this is mostly an issue at weddings and, almost exclusively ones with younger brides. They get their minds set on having the 'perfect' day and have micromanaged every aspect of it. Obviously none of effort is REALLY to ensure that their guests have a great time but merely to create a 'spectacle'. The problem is that, the evening 'do' is the guests opportunity to have a drink, relax and let their hair down. If you micro-manage the DJ to ONLY play music that fits in with your 'perfect' day then your guests won't dance and will go home sober, bored and unhappy. Give your guests upbeat tunes they can sing and dance along to and they will go home drunk, tired and happy.The music dictates whether the guests go home drunk or sober? :confused::D

Apart from that, I completely agree. I've had similar playlists from couples listing tracks like Mumford & Sons, Noah & The Whale etc. They have their place, and some people would like to dance to that sort of thing, but across the piece... it's not going to work :(

[Excalibur]

I think when people are saying chart music these days there looking for tracks over the past 5 years
I would also not recommend playing current music all the way through cut it after a few mins keeps em more interested
Not all the songs in the top 20 work that great on the dancefloor
As we all know just read the crowd - if a song dont work get rid and move to next !
If dancier stuff is working mix it up with some classics
If rnb is working mix it up with some classics
:) I just find with current music - gotta keep it interesting - cut in and out quickly - throw in some accapella etc


I think it's a judgement call, between keeping the guests happy, and flying solo. I find that if i have the dance floor full, any requests will be played later on. If it's quiet, play them straight away, they might just hit the spot for the peer group.

Two excellent posts. Sensible courses of action there.
Re wedding playlists, well that's in some ways a whole different topic. I believe here we're talking about requests from much/most of the audience on the night, rather than an advance playlist from perhaps two people, who may not be considering what most of the other guests want to hear.

[funkymook]

You just haven't managed the clients expectations properly if they're complaining to you on the night that you're straying from the music they wanted - all that needs to be discussed and sorted out beforehand so if you do have to change direction it's not unexpected. (and weaving between the two to keep everyone happy is a skill).

Funny how myself and the others on here who embrace the more alternative/indie style weddings never seem to have these awkward clients or guests on the night - that's not just down to luck!

[Excalibur]

Funny how myself and the others on here who embrace the more alternative/indie style weddings never seem to have these awkward clients or guests on the night - that's not just down to luck!
Obviously. It may be down to the fact that you've actually spoken to someone involved with the gig, rather than merely having the information "Slagthorpe WMC, Friday, 7.30 "

Coupled with the fact that perhaps the folk booking the specialist DJs have done so on purpose, rather than just booking "A Disco ", I'm not flabbergasted by your observation.

[funkymook]

Obviously. It may be down to the fact that you've actually spoken to someone involved with the gig, rather than merely having the information "Slagthorpe WMC, Friday, 7.30 "

Coupled with the fact that perhaps the folk booking the specialist DJs have done so on purpose, rather than just booking "A Disco ", I'm not flabbergasted by your observation.

I'm flabbergasted though - plenty of people hand over 'specialist' playlists to non-specialist DJ's, they appear in the 'another floorkiller list' type threads on a regular basis.

[Excalibur]

I'm flabbergasted though - plenty of people hand over 'specialist' playlists to non-specialist DJ's, they appear in the 'another floorkiller list' type threads on a regular basis.

So because we're not afficionados of a particular genre or style, we're not qualified to do the gig? Two of the most enjoyable and successful gigs I've done in the last six months were where I was given lists I wasn't familiar with. I did my research, bought the tracks I needed, and worked out which tracks in my collection would work with them.
Result? Satisfied customers, in fact one gave me a tip. I may be non-specialist, but that doesn't mean I can't provide a good service at many ( not all. ) specialist gigs.

[funkymook]

I think you missed my original point Peter.

It's easier to convince one person (or two if it's a B&G) before a gig to widen their music choices than to deal with a disgruntled crowd and unhappy client on the night. The aim is to get them to happily agree to accept guests requests that don't fit into their idea of great music well before the event. That's what the 'managing expectations' was about in my post (obviously there are usually still some 'must not plays' but I've never had even the strictest of clients not relaxing enough that I know I can handle most requests).

I have exactly the same concerns as anyone else over alternative etc playlists, every booking I need to have the 'and what about your guests tastes?' chat with my clients - but it's not luck that it's never a problem, it's the way it's approached that makes the difference.

[Excalibur]

I think you missed my original point Peter.


I did indeed, and thanks for the explanation. However, I feel you too have missed one also. I believe this thread is about playing requests from the floor which ought to be fine, ( eg chart music ) but clear the floor. You then go to my beloved Usual Suspects, and fill it. I've spoken of one notable 18th I did, where I played every request to absolutely zero reaction, and once a guest had asked for one cheesy request, which filled the floor, I stuck the rest on, with equal success. School discos similarly. One I used to do, the lads in particular would come up and ask for all the "cool/hip" requests. As is my wont, I played them to total apathy, until the Headmaster would come over and suggest reverting to tried and tested, which would always fill the floor.

[DJ Jules]

I did indeed, and thanks for the explanation. However, I feel you too have missed one also. I believe this thread is about playing requests from the floor which ought to be fine, ( eg chart music ) but clear the floor. You then go to my beloved Usual Suspects, and fill it. I've spoken of one notable 18th I did, where I played every request to absolutely zero reaction, and once a guest had asked for one cheesy request, which filled the floor, I stuck the rest on, with equal success. School discos similarly. One I used to do, the lads in particular would come up and ask for all the "cool/hip" requests. As is my wont, I played them to total apathy, until the Headmaster would come over and suggest reverting to tried and tested, which would always fill the floor.

While I agree with all the points made on this thread about B&G playlists vs guests requests - and the obvious merits of knowing and advising your clients in advance... The above is spot on, my original post was about the situation where even the guests on the night don't seem to know what they like and what they will dance to - and where our experience seems to produce better results than their requests.

It's for those times when 30mins of requests from the top 40 = tumbleweed, whereas Abba = packed dance floor. School disco's and 18th's being prime examples of this, with club nights being an extension of the same phenomenon.

I'm glad I'm not alone :D

Julian

[Excalibur]

It's for those times when 30mins of requests from the top 40 = tumbleweed, whereas Abba = packed dance floor. School disco's and 18th's being prime examples of this, with club nights being an extension of the same phenomenon.

I'm glad I'm not alone :D

Julian

And I'm glad I understood the question! :D:D Oh no my son, you're not alone. No way, no how. ( Apart from the fact that I've got no knowledge of clubs, despite being invited to one on Saturday by a very pretty young lady. :D )

[ukpartydj]

I tend to always ask this question when asking for a playlist - "which is more important, guests dancing or your requested style of music is played".
Making it clear I will always try to do both if possible.

9/10 they will go with guests dancing, I see that as permission to ignore the playlist for a few mins if it will get the guests dancing.

[Jim - Scotland's Party DJ]

I tend to always ask this question when asking for a playlist - "which is more important, guests dancing or your requested style of music is played".
Making it clear I will always try to do both if possible.

9/10 they will go with guests dancing, I see that as permission to ignore the playlist for a few mins if it will get the guests dancing.

During my client meeting I like to ask them how they would like to look back and describe their reception.

The words: fun, a big party, enjoyable etc... tend to spring up which gives a good base to work from if they start asking for Barret-era Floyd and Romanian accordian ballads.

"OK I can try and work with that but if you do want it to feel like a big party, you'll need to cater the music more to your guests." Most folk get the point.

[PlaySomethingGood]

Loads of great points made here. I, personally, really like doing specialist genres at weddings. Even if it's not a genre I'm particularly familiar with I can do my research and, with the client, put together a music selection for the evening.

The gigs I was referring to were the "generic" wedding bookings with no pre-arranged theme/genre but with a client who is insistent on their playlist being used DESPITE knowing/realising that it isn't what their guests want to hear.