I Could Not Have Said It Better

The following is an article by Pittsburgh DJ Tracy Painter dealing with the art of making the playlist. If you're one of our upcoming brides or grooms, this could be helpful:

                         The PLAYLIST...and how to trust your DJ.


Since most of our couples are really concerned with avoiding "cheesy" songs...and most of them want to include their favorite songs and artists...creating a playlist makes a lot of sense.

The Do Not Play List lets your DJ know the songs you don't want. And a requested song list tells him the songs that are important for you.

Now, it's a great idea to include your favorite tunes in your wedding reception. It's an easy way to make your wedding even more personal and meaningful when you hear a song that makes it really feel like YOUR day.

But here's where it gets tricky...

You can't "make" your guests dance to the music you choose any more than you can "make" them have fun.

Even if you've chosen the coolest songs in the world...if you're guests don't respond to them...you're stuck with an empty dance floor.

DJs have different ways of dealing with the playlist question. Some of them only allow couples to request a limited number of songs, so they still have the flexibility to keep the party going. Others will play anything you want.

Personally, we encourage our couples to be as involved as they like in the music selection...BUT if given a very long list of Must Play songs we HAVE to play...the dancing may suffer.

It all hinges on the songs on your list. If they are classic, familiar and easy to dance to, everyone from Grandmam to the kids will dance to them. But if they're more eclectic or if you have a very traditional group, it might not fly.

What we find works best is to have a Do Not Play List of "forbidden" songs...a list of songs you'd like to play, including Must Plays...and combining that with our experience of reading the crowd to maximize the dance floor. We play all the Must Plays and as many of your other requests as possible while still keeping the dance floor packed.

Which brings me to the second piece of the equation...TRUST.

If you're going for the best of both worlds, you need to trust that your DJ understands you and gets your wedding vision. Otherwise you can't let go of your list and trust them to do what's best for your party and for your wedding.

So what do you do?

First, choosing the right entertainer is EXTREMELY important. We've already covered that, but you need to feel understood. Talk to him about how he will handle your request list...and what he will do if it isn't working.

Second, decide what's most important to you. Is it important for you to hear EVERY song on your list? Or is it more important that your guests are dancing all night long?

Chances are you can have BOTH, but one must have priority.

If you're concerned that your requested songs might not work to keep people dancing, ask your entertainer for his professional opinion. He should give you an honest assessment based on his experience. He's a professional...and he's good at what he does. TRUST HIM.

At the same time, it is YOUR wedding and YOU are paying him to play music. If you want to dictate every song that's played...it's your right. Just know that the dancing may not be as good as it could be.

We prefer to talk as much as we need to with our couples to reach an understanding about what songs will and will not be played. There is a way to work in your favorite songs...even the non-danceable ones...AND keep your guests having a good time...in a way that feels right for you.

Thanks for spending the time with me learning how to make your wedding reception unforgettable.
Good luck with all your plans!

Tracy Painter