| Being a wedding entertainer I see first hand on a | | | | not want to dance to. By allowing the DJ or band to |
| weekly basis how much impact the music has on the | | | | take requests they are able to get direct input from |
| success of a wedding reception. The following article | | | | the crowd. A good wedding entertainer will of course |
| will help you plan out the perfect mix of music for | | | | filter these requests and won't play anything |
| your Chicago wedding reception. | | | | inappropriate, songs on your "Do Not Play" list or |
| First and foremost, the music for your wedding is the | | | | songs that won't fit in with your own personal |
| soundtrack to one of the most important days of | | | | preferences. |
| your life! You should put some thought into it. The | | | | - Remember that everyone may not share your |
| music should be memorable and reflect your personal | | | | taste is music. If you hire a professional band or disk |
| taste and style while at the same time creating an | | | | jockey they should be available to help you plan out |
| enjoyable atmosphere for you and all of your guests. | | | | the music for your reception and incorporate your |
| Even though your wedding day is probably still | | | | style into the day while still playing a good mix to |
| months away you should start making up your | | | | keep all of your guests happy and on the dance |
| request list now. | | | | floor. That is one of the true benchmarks of a great |
| Here are some do's and don'ts for selecting music for | | | | wedding entertainer, understanding and being able to |
| your wedding reception: | | | | incorporate the bride and groom's more eclectic |
| DO | | | | musical tastes into the day while at the same time |
| - Have a frank discussion with your potential | | | | keeping all of the guests entertained. |
| entertainer about the music. They should listen to | | | | - Submit your music lists at least two weeks prior to |
| your input; it is your wedding. You should listen to | | | | the wedding if you are using a DJ, this will allow them |
| their input; they do this for a living. | | | | plenty of time to compile the music and acquire any |
| - Keep a pad of paper handy at your desk and in the | | | | songs that they do not have in their library. If you |
| car and jot down song ideas when they pop into | | | | are using a band you will have to get your requests |
| your head. They will be gone by the time you get | | | | in months ahead of time to allow them ample time to |
| home if you don't write them down right away. | | | | learn and practice new songs that they may not |
| - Play songs that you would like to hear but that | | | | have in their repertoire. |
| aren't great dancing songs during cocktail hour or | | | | DON'T |
| dinner. | | | | - Hand the entertainer a list of 100 songs and |
| - Try to remember songs that were meaningful to | | | | demand that they all be played and in that order. |
| you and your family and friends. List songs that you | | | | Don't laugh, it happens. Of course you should be |
| use to sing along to with everyone when going out | | | | involved in the selection of the music for your |
| for the night or hold special memories for you and | | | | wedding day but if you do this you are severely |
| your fiancee. Dedicate these songs to your friends | | | | limiting the entertainers ability to "read" the crowd |
| and family at the reception! | | | | and play the right song at the right time. A good |
| - Make sure the entertainer is aware of the | | | | entertainer will understand your musical tastes and |
| significance of your dedications and the appropriate | | | | incorporate that throughout the event in a way that |
| people are present when the song is played. | | | | will still keep your guests happy and on the dance |
| - Keep the number of requests at a reasonable | | | | floor. On those few occasions where a bride has held |
| amount! For an average wedding reception you will | | | | fast to her list and her order, they have always |
| be lucky to get 3 hours of full dancing time. This is | | | | come up to me half way through the event and |
| about 45 songs in total or 15 per hour. If you have a | | | | realized their mistake and end up giving me free reign. |
| talented DJ or band they will be able to mix the | | | | You are hiring professional entertainment for a |
| songs together so they flow seamlessly from one to | | | | reason; trust their experience and skill. |
| the other and instead of playing the full version you | | | | - Say I want all this type of music and nothing else. |
| will hear maybe half or three fourths of the song | | | | Some brides and grooms tell me they love Hip Hop |
| before it blends into the next one. This will allow | | | | and that is what they want to hear all night. Take |
| more songs to be played throughout the evening. At | | | | into consideration your guests enjoyment of the |
| MDM Entertainment we structure our music request | | | | evening as well. Don't you want them to have a |
| system in a way that allows the bride and groom to | | | | wonderful time too? Grandma and Grandpa just |
| have their favorites played while still allowing the | | | | might not like Hip Hop. Ultimately it is your night and |
| entertainer some flexibility in programming and for | | | | the entertainer should do exactly what you ask of |
| guest requests, if that is okay with you. Contact us | | | | them but take into consideration the wide range of |
| for more information on how we handle wedding | | | | age ranges and musical tastes of your guests when |
| music request lists. | | | | making up your play list. |
| - Pick songs that you like from different genres of | | | | - Run up to the entertainer and say I want this song |
| music that will appeal to the different age ranges of | | | | next! Again, it is your wedding and they should do |
| your guests. You should want everyone to dance | | | | what you ask but the entertainer has put a lot of |
| and have a great time at your wedding. | | | | thought into the selection of songs to get to this |
| - Play to the older guests early. A good rule of music | | | | point in the evening. If your song fits in with the |
| programming is to play more for the older guests at | | | | current genres being played NEXT is probably a great |
| the beginning then progress into the newer styles | | | | idea. If you are requesting a techno track be played |
| later on in the evening. Everyone likes the older | | | | next and the dance floor is full of grandparents |
| styles of music (Sinatra, Big Band, 50's and 60's, | | | | dancing to swing maybe you could ask that the song |
| Motown, etc) to some extent. If you get the older | | | | be played soon so the DJ has time to progress into |
| guests dancing and having a good time they will be | | | | that genre instead of scaring the living daylights out |
| much more likely to stay the whole evening and by | | | | of the older folks on the dance floor. |
| the end of the night they will be dancing to | | | | If you follow these do's and don'ts and hire |
| everything. If you break out the hottest current | | | | professional wedding entertainment your reception |
| dance music too early in the night it will probably | | | | will be an evening of dancing and socializing that all of |
| discourage them and they might even leave early. | | | | your guests will thoroughly enjoy and talk about for |
| - Allow guest requests. You may not have a good | | | | years to come! |
| handle on what the majority of your guests do or do | | | | |