Wedding crowd pleasers...help related

PrimeCutsLtd

So my buddy awhile ago asked if I could dj his sister's low key wedding reception. I'm like "I don't know, it's not really my area of expertise, What would she pay me... yadda yadda yadda" Well he just left a message on my phone saying that the reception is next friday the second!?!?! I never really committed but whatev... If I'm going to do this I might need some help from the soul strut massive. What are some crowd pleasers? It would help if I knew his sister and her tastes. Also I know this thread has been discussed several times on here. Pointing me to an old thread would be helpful as well. I was asking my buddy how much should I charge? He said $500, just on the pain in the ass factor. If i would charge that much couldn't they get someone who actually does this for a living. I figure cocktail hour / dinner I can pretty much handle. But dance fever time??? What if they don't want to hear hip hop? I know what I'd like to hear but what about grandma and the rest???

DeeRock

What will the main age group be and their nationality? These factors make a difference. For real corny cheesy mainstream (The Wedding Norm!) You can do a google search and find a list of the top 100 popular wedding songs of all time. It's a bunch of b.s. like Dancing Queen and Y.M.C.A but if that's what the crowd wants then you should provide as it is their day after all. You should consult with the bride and groom and see what THEY want. Weddings are some of the most difficult gigs.

Good Luck

Jonny_Paycheck

Bring a GRIP of 80s and early 90s hits. Anything from Culture Club to Bobby Brown or even Nirvana

Bone up on soundtracks to popular movies and TV shows from the last 10 years that white people love (so key! Every time a couple gives me their requests it is invariably half of the soundtrack from Garden State or Scrubs or The Royal Tennenbaums)

Bring a couple disco records for the older folks, mainstream hits not P&P or whatever

Lots of Motown

Maybe some classic rock like Bruce (after all this is NJ is it not)

Some recognizable hip-hop from the 90s

You'll be fine. Play snoozy jazz for cocktails and mellow rock & soul for the dinner (eg Sade, Van Morrison, Dylan, Flamingos, whatever). Dance Party USA when Becky gets drunk and Ralph ties his necktie around his head.

nzshadow

Lots of Motown

Lots of Motown

Lots of Motown

batmon

PrimeCutsLtd

thanks for the help... It just sucks that the bride hasn't even called me yet. Oh well. Not looking forward to e-digging overplayed songs of the last three decades.

CBear

Get a list from the bride of any must have songs, and her requests for first dance, father daughter dance, grand entrance, etc. Remember, she's the one you ultimately need to please.

Unherd

thanks for the help... It just sucks that the bride hasn't even called me yet. Oh well. Not looking forward to e-digging overplayed songs of the last three decades.

Cosign on everything Jonny said, here's a decent (and sort of corny) start for your e-digging that I saw this morning and added to my microvawe crates in anticipation of similar upcoming gigs, although it is at 160kbps...


Part 1

Part 2

djkingotto

Bone up on soundtracks to popular movies and TV shows from the last 10 years that white people love

because even when black folks get married they want what white people love....

i joke!

mowtown is a good bet though. i actually had some older people at a wedding ask for new versions of old songs so, any of that mowtown re-edit shit is gonna smash em.

also don't forget,
another one bites the dust
groove is in the heart
pyt, billy jean, rock with you and whatever mj you can fit in the bag or library
love fool by cardigans
back in black
i love rock and roll

and on and on....

DJ_WubWub

Heres a list from my wedding dj site (stolen from someone but all work dance wise in Australia)

cosine on MJ I think i did an hour long MJ section at my last wedding from ABC,iwant you back etc to can you feel it, plus thriller etc

Kool Gang- Celebration
Bryan Ferry -Lets stick together
Blues brothers- Shake a Tailfeather
Ac/Dc- You Shook Me All Night Long
B-52's- Love Shack ,Rock Lobster
Abba -Dancing Queen
Sister Sledge- We Are Family ,He???s the greatest Dancer
Commodores- Brick House
Bee Gees- Stayin' Alive
James,- Etta At Last
Outkast- Hey Ya!
Village People- Y.M.C.A.
Beatles -Twist And Shout
Temptations- My Girl
Righteous- Brothers Unchained Melody
Wild Cherry- Play That Funky Music
Jackson, Michael Billie Jean ,Thriller, Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough
Lauper,- Cyndi Girls Just Want To Have Fun (AAAARRRRGGHHHHH!!!)
Armstrong, Louis What A Wonderful World
Kc & The Sunshine Band -Get Down Tonight
Checker, Chubby The Twist
Romantics What I Like About You
Prince Kiss ,Cream, 1999,Little Red Corvette
Queen Crazy Little Thing Called Love ,We Will Rock You
Franklin, Aretha Respect,I knew you were waiting for me,Sister are doing it
Gaye, Marvin Let's Get It On ,Sexual Healing
Isley Brothers Shout
Young M.C. Bust A Move
Madonna Holiday
Weather Girls It's Raining Men
Queen Another One Bites The Dust
Labelle Lady Marmalade
Beatles I Saw Her Standing There
Madonna Like A Prayer
Four Tops I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)
Sledge, Percy When A Man Loves A Woman
Digital Underground The Humpty Dance
Jet Are You Gonna Be My Girl
Prince Let's Go Crazy
Sade By Your Side
Morrison, Van Moondance
Deee-Lite Groove Is In The Heart
James, Rick Super Freak (Part 1)
Gap Band You Dropped A Bomb On Me
Salt-N-Pepa Push It
Bee Gees You Should Be Dancing
Soft Cell Tainted Love
Savage Garden Truly Madly Deeply
Temptations Ain't Too Proud To Beg
Bangles Walk Like An Egyptian
Wang Chung Everybody Have Fun Tonight
Madonna Vogue
U2 With Or Without You
Gaye, Marvin Sexual Healing
Joel, Billy Just The Way You Are
Abba Take A Chance On Me
Stray Cats Rock This Town
Chicago You're The Inspiration
Bee Gees Night Fever
Peaches Herb Shake your groove thing
Kinks-you really got me
Stones -Miss you
Soft Cell- Tainted Love
NEw Order Blue Monday

luck

You should consult with the bride and groom and see what THEY want.

Of highest importance.

My brother's wedding featured more than one specific polka (a deep-seated family tradition on her side).

Controller_7

play enure - calabria

it's got good energy and makes people happy. The little squaky sax will get people hyped.

the more well known the better. People just want to geek out and have fun.

CousinLarry

That list is solid. I did 8 weddings in the last year and the formula I always use that works well is:

Jazz early in the night and during dinner.

Right after dinner motown and classic oldies.

80's (stuff on the list above will work)

More current stuff at the end of the night. By current I mean pop shit from the last 10 years.

It does help to talk to the couple and see what they want, but it sounds like that might not happen. See if the place they are having the wedding has wifi, then you can download any requests you don't have from iTunes. No matter what though, if the bride and groom don't dance you will have a hell of a time getting anyone else to. Good luck.

CousinLarry

Oh and throw in some slow dance songs throughout the night.

ariel_calmer

although it is at 160kbps...

Must be a tough crowd if they demand high bitrate.

"Yo stop the music... I can hear some digital artifacts and can't hear all the rich overtones in them e-toms."

PrimeCutsLtd

well... I'm out. My buddy slacked so much much, his sister decided to hire a wedding dj. I can't believe she actually put him in charge of getting a dj. (non-reliable related) Now a small part of me would of liked to do it. Oh well. Thanks for the help anyway.

the_dL

i try to avoid doing weddings but Al Greens Lets Stay together never ever fails
ever.

Fatback

I had to upgrade my personal liability insurance because of the shit that goes on during this song.

Fatback

Jazz early in the night and during dinner.

DivShare File - Prestige OG MONO MIX.mp3

DeeRock

I had to upgrade my personal liability insurance because of the shit that goes on during this song.

Dropped this at the Casino last week and the girls went ape shit!!!