Help please.

[little al]

The venue I normally work at has just sprung me a suprise, they misheard the client and instead of a 40th its a 14th :( I don't usually do kids parties so I am at a loss to what they might want. I don't know if they want games at this stage but want to be prepared. I am guessing they are too old for pass the parcel, musical bumps etc. Also what music would the average 14 year old girls party require? I am not going to duck out of the gig even though I want to as I honour my word. The gig is only 3 hours, 7:30 to 10:30. Any advice would be extreamly grateful.

Alan.

[Excalibur]

At the risk of tempting fate, I'd say that as long as the guests are mainly girls, these gigs are a doddle. You'll get requests for all the current chart and some tracks which they consider " cool ", but you'll more than likely fill the floor with Macarena, Cha Cha slide, Gangnam and similar.

Lots of lads and there'll be more requests for R&B type bilge, less dancing, and more running about. Hope this helps.

[little al]

Yep Gangham, cha cha and Macarena are a given, but will only take upo 15 minutes lol. Are one direction still cool? What other bands are cool at the moment I am actually hoping its going to be a mixed aged family crowd, but the early finish leads me to believe it won't.

[Imagine]

I concur with the aforementioned from my learned colleagues.

Gangnam, Cha Cha Slide, Macarena all work.
Also (from someone who seems to do a lot of these at the moment).

Frozen - Do you wanna build a snowman / Let it go (there's a techno remix of that one now)
Livin' on a Prayer
Final Countdown
Happy

One D is normally a given.....but they don't all like it
The slower stuff like Sam Smith, Jason Derulo works well too.

Games - not normally....although I have been known to get the limbo dancing kit out in the past

Basically depends on if they're mainly girls (it'll be a good gig), mainly boys (they won't dance), or a mix (can be hard work)

Enjoy :)

[Benny Smyth]

Yep Gangham, cha cha and Macarena are a given, but will only take upo 15 minutes lol. Are one direction still cool? What other bands are cool at the moment I am actually hoping its going to be a mixed aged family crowd, but the early finish leads me to believe it won't.

Is contacting the client not an option?

As for games and such, forget about them. If you're not a children's entertainer, then don't attempt it. You're a professional DJ, so just do that. :)

[velocityroadshow]

You'll probably find 14 year olds won't want games. Or, when I used to do 13th birthdays they didn't.

However, games are a good way to break the ice, Musical Bumps is a bit old, so the following always used to go down well:

The Mummy Game,

Three teams of 4. Each get 3 toilet rolls, one person gets wrapped up. Get one of the parents to choose the winner and throw a load of glowsticks out. Even get a couple of the adults involved.

Theres' a suggestion but see what the client wants.

[Imagine]

Something I seem to get asked for quiet a bit at these ones now is the Dance Off.

Basically they get themselves in a circle in the middle of the dance floor, then take turns to go to the centre and throw some moves for a few seconds before handing the floor over to the next person.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Don't do games....I have a 14 year old son and he would die if you started playing the mummy game or similar...:daft:

[Imagine]

Don't do games....I have a 14 year old son and he would die if you started playing the mummy game or similar...:daft:

I did forget to mention with the dance off thing....you have to let THEM initiate it ;)

[DeckstarDeluxe]

At the risk of tempting fate, I'd say that as long as the guests are mainly girls, these gigs are a doddle. You'll get requests for all the current chart and some tracks which they consider " cool ", but you'll more than likely fill the floor with Macarena, Cha Cha slide, Gangnam and similar.

Lots of lads and there'll be more requests for R&B type bilge, less dancing, and more running about. Hope this helps.

I've had a recent teen party where it was 90% girls and they wanted the bilge that you refer to. Stuff that made me feel very uncomfortable playing to as their parents were present.

Like any gig go prepared (make sure all recent chart stuff is downloaded and you're familiar with) and just work the mic. Action dances I personally avoid unless it's a request.

[DJIanScott]

'R&B Type Bilge'...........oh dear. The usual UKIP-supporter attitude to modern black music, from DJs who are more comfortable playing Black Lace and 70's glam rock.
If it's the R&B tunes with obscenities and suggestive lyrics that you wish to avoid, then say so.....but don't paint all R&B with the same sweeping brush stroke.

[DeckstarDeluxe]

'R&B Type Bilge'...........oh dear. The usual UKIP-supporter attitude to modern black music, from DJs who are more comfortable playing Black Lace and 70's glam rock.
If it's the R&B tunes with obscenities and suggestive lyrics that you wish to avoid, then say so.....but don't paint all R&B with the same sweeping brush stroke.

Hold your horses there. You're moaning that we are painting the current "R&B" genre with the same brush yet you just assume that we are some sort of Dave Doubledecks UKIP supporting type DJ?

Just because someone doesn't like a style of music doesn't give you grounds to throw all sorts of assumptions against them on a public forum.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

'R&B Type Bilge'...........oh dear. The usual UKIP-supporter attitude to modern black music, from DJs who are more comfortable playing Black Lace and 70's glam rock.
If it's the R&B tunes with obscenities and suggestive lyrics that you wish to avoid, then say so.....but don't paint all R&B with the same sweeping brush stroke.

He wasn't doing anything or the sort and you shouldn't be referring to anything political either.

[musicology]

I'm voting UKIP and R&B is total pants! Neither have anything to do with race.
Back on topic. Def no games. They'll want modern chart stuff broken up with action dances and try Greased Lightning, The Twist, YMCA. You'll be bombarded with requests all night anyway so just keep slapping them on and it'll all be over before you know it!

[Corabar Steve]

Most of it is bilge though isn't it‽

:sj:

[funkymook]

I think it's unfair to single out Mary J like this....

[Excalibur]

'R&B Type Bilge'...........oh dear. The usual UKIP-supporter attitude to modern black music, from DJs who are more comfortable playing Black Lace and 70's glam rock.
If it's the R&B tunes with obscenities and suggestive lyrics that you wish to avoid, then say so.....but don't paint all R&B with the same sweeping brush stroke.

Hmmm. Undoubtedly I'm more comfortable playing Black Lace and 70's Glam Rock, but since todays teens don't want that, I find I have to play what they want. On many occasions I have found that playing their requests results in total apathy, and they're only asking for it to appear cool.

As to profanities and risque lyrics, well we've had those for many many years, but it appears to me nowadays that songs rely on foul language and misogynistic lyrics to the exclusion of any craft and substance. Before you get the impression that I'm a prude, I have no problems playing tracks containing swearing, as long as there's a good reason for it, and to the right audience. That's never a bunch of teenagers.

My politics? I'm tempted to say " Somewhere to the right of Genghis Khan ", but that would be facetious. And a joke. :D Whatever line I follow can not be deduced by my taste in modern music, and neither is it relevant or permitted on here, so that's the end of that.

I'll plead guilty to the sweeping brush strokes, as that's what I posted. Whether I meant it in all seriousness, well that's another matter entirely. ;) No matter what era or musical style you can think of, it's not possible for it all to be brilliant, nor for it all to be rubbish. I love the 70s to bits, and by heavens there was some execrable stuff released in that decade.

Time for one of my favourite quotes: " I disagree totally with what you have said, but I will defend to the death your right to say it. "

[Corabar Steve]

Hmmm. Undoubtedly I'm more comfortable playing Black Lace and 70's Glam Rock, but since todays teens don't want that, I find I have to play what they want. On many occasions I have found that playing their requests results in total apathy, and they're only asking for it to appear cool.

As to profanities and risque lyrics, well we've had those for many many years, but it appears to me nowadays that songs rely on foul language and misogynistic lyrics to the exclusion of any craft and substance. Before you get the impression that I'm a prude, I have no problems playing tracks containing swearing, as long as there's a good reason for it, and to the right audience. That's never a bunch of teenagers.

My politics? I'm tempted to say " Somewhere to the right of Genghis Khan ", but that would be facetious. And a joke. :D Whatever line I follow can not be deduced by my taste in modern music, and neither is it relevant or permitted on here, so that's the end of that.

I'll plead guilty to the sweeping brush strokes, as that's what I posted. Whether I meant it in all seriousness, well that's another matter entirely. ;) No matter what era or musical style you can think of, it's not possible for it all to be brilliant, nor for it all to be rubbish. I love the 70s to bits, and by heavens there was some execrable stuff released in that decade.

Time for one of my favourite quotes: " I disagree totally with what you have said, but I will defend to the death your right to say it. "


:like:

[little al]

Blimey I didn't mean to start an argument!! Thanks for all the non political replies :beer1:

[DazzyD]

Blimey I didn't mean to start an argument!! Thanks for all the non political replies :beer1:

If there was ever a thread OP that I'd be certain would be tame and not result in verbal fisticuffs then this would have been it! Just goes to show what I know!! :eek:

[Benny Smyth]

My political stance is simple: don't trust anyone who has their steak well done.

[Imagine]

My political stance is simple: don't trust anyone who has their steak well done.

:like:

The rarer the better :)

[Shakermaker Promotions]

Everyone has their own tastes and preferences when it comes to music (and steaks!) but come on, bringing politics in to it and even worse, insinuating racism because someone has described their dis-taste for a particular genre as 'bilge' is a bit OTT in my opinion.

Back on topic though and I'd personally go with the flow. As said already, make sure you're clued up and up to date with the current chart stuff and chart stuff for the past few years.
I don't do many children's parties (by choice actually as I still get a few enquiries for them) but I don't mind taking on teen parties.
In my experience I have found that in general the girls are more interested in dancing to their favourite songs especially at say (example) a 13th or 14th. They may still be children in our eyes but they like to be treated as young adults. I know that may sound a bit strange but again, in my experience and at the parties I have done for that age, the girls are generally more maturer than the boys.
I think it's been mentioned already but the boys (sometimes anyway) seem to prefer to run around and stick together.

It's just the way the charts are at the moment in that they are filled with 'bilge' no matter what genre but the 'kids' seem to like it and at the end of the day they should get what they want just the same as any other customer.

[Imagine]

Everyone has their own tastes and preferences when it comes to music (and steaks!) but come on, bringing politics in to it and even worse, insinuating racism because someone has described their dis-taste for a particular genre as 'bilge' is a bit OTT in my opinion.

Back on topic though and I'd personally go with the flow. As said already, make sure you're clued up and up to date with the current chart stuff and chart stuff for the past few years.
I don't do many children's parties (by choice actually as I still get a few enquiries for them) but I don't mind taking on teen parties.
In my experience I have found that in general the girls are more interested in dancing to their favourite songs especially at say (example) a 13th or 14th. They may still be children in our eyes but they like to be treated as young adults. I know that may sound a bit strange but again, in my experience and at the parties I have done for that age, the girls are generally more maturer than the boys.
I think it's been mentioned already but the boys (sometimes anyway) seem to prefer to run around and stick together.

It's just the way the charts are at the moment in that they are filled with 'bilge' no matter what genre but the 'kids' seem to like it and at the end of the day they should get what they want just the same as any other customer.

:agree:

[velocityroadshow]

Know your charts from the past few months, One Direction, party songs that type of thing. I know on some forums as well other DJs post playlists so try having a look around at what they have played. I don't do teen parties anymore but that type of music always used to work for me when I did.

Ask them beforehand as well. If you ask a 14year old for requests they'll probably fill your whole night haha. Use that as a starting point.

[mattydj50]

From experience, I think you'll find that they will know their music and you will be inundated all night with requests (for bilge and non-bilge) from them and the hard part will be trying to keep a flow from the different stles wanted.

I had a 9 year old recently ask me for anything by the Eagles!!

Just make sure you've got the clean versions of anything potentally "adult".

[little al]

I don't know what I was worried about, I had 100 early teenagers bouncing for 3 hours solid, even the boys, it was a great night.
Thanks for all your advice.

[Excalibur]

I don't know what I was worried about.

Neither do we. :D Glad it went well for you.