Wedding crowd pleasers...help related

PrimeCutsLtdPrimeCutsLtd jersey fresh 2,632 Posts
edited December 2008 in Strut Central
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???

  Comments


  • DeeRockDeeRock 1,836 Posts
    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

  • 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.

  • nzshadownzshadow 5,518 Posts


    Lots of Motown




    Lots of Motown




    Lots of Motown


  • batmonbatmon 27,574 Posts

  • PrimeCutsLtdPrimeCutsLtd jersey fresh 2,632 Posts
    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.

  • CBearCBear 902 Posts
    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.

  • UnherdUnherd 1,880 Posts
    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



  • 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....

  • 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

  • luckluck 4,077 Posts
    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).

  • 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.


  • 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.

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

  • 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."

  • PrimeCutsLtdPrimeCutsLtd jersey fresh 2,632 Posts
    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_dLthe_dL 1,531 Posts
    i try to avoid doing weddings but Al Greens Lets Stay together never ever fails
    ever.

  • FatbackFatback 6,746 Posts


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

  • FatbackFatback 6,746 Posts



    Jazz early in the night and during dinner.


    DivShare File - Prestige OG MONO MIX.mp3

  • DeeRockDeeRock 1,836 Posts


    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!!!
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