"How many songs should we pick?" - Part 2

This is part 2 of a 3-part article on the wedding couple's selection of songs played during the general dancing portion of their reception.

Part 1 explained why you should give your DJ as much GUIDANCE about the dance music as you want but keep your "MUST-PLAY" list to a reasonable length.  This part explains why.

If you give your DJ too many “must-play” songs for dancing, your DJ ends up having to “DJ by checklist." Here's what's wrong with DJ'ing by checklist.

• A good DJ plays songs that flow well together, taking into account the tempo, the style, and even how the one song ends and how the next one begins. This helps keep the dance floor filled. If he’s DJ’ing from a checklist, you’ll hear more abrupt transitions between one song and the next, which disrupts the flow of energy on the dance floor.

• A good DJ reads the crowd and adjusts his set lists based on the responses he's getting on the dance floor. DJ’ing from a checklist means reading a piece of paper, not reading the crowd.

• A good DJ tries to fit in some songs requested by your guests right there at the reception. When your parents, your siblings, or your dearest friends go up to the DJ and request a song they really want to dance to, do you really want him to say "No" because his playlist is already set in stone?

• A good DJ, with hundreds of events under his belt, knows all sorts of sure-fire dance music that you, the wedding couple, might not have thought of.  You may know a lot of music, but chances are you don’t know all the musical nooks and crannies your DJ does. Do you really want to pay a DJ to NOT utilize his expertise?

Here are some other things to think about when considering how many "must play" songs to give your DJ for the dancing period.

Sometimes, the most fervent compilers of “must play” lists are guys who are avid listeners but not big dancers. Ladies, do you want your DJ to be playing your hipster husband’s favorite obscure indie bands that he likes to listen to rather than the songs your bridesmaids and girlfriends want to dance to?

Isn’t it fun to have an element of surprise and spontaneity at your reception? If nearly every song during dancing is one you’ve preselected, you’ve eliminated those sparks of surprise and spontaneity.

Your DJ, if he's good at his job, WILL incorporate a LOT of the music you specify but will mix it with other music that seems right for the occasion. If you don’t have confidence in your DJs judgment, or doubt your DJ’s commitment to incorporate your favorites while also satisfying your guests's varied tastes, you should hire a different DJ!

Still not convinced? In part 3 of this series, I’ll reveal a tactic that will greatly increase your confidence in giving your DJ discretion for the dance music while addressing your desire to shape his music selection.