🎵 Music Knowledge is the Single Most Important Asset of a Wedding DJ
Just how important is music knowledge for a wedding DJ? I say the most important. Read why.
While writing this article, I realized that being a Great DJ does not start with music knowledge. It starts with being good-hearted. You must care about the success of the event for your couple and their guests.
What does being good-hearted mean as a DJ (or wedding pro) at a wedding?
Being in the moment. Be aware of the volume of the music throughout the venue, being aware of your attitude, being aware of how you and your product/service look at the event. Consider the wedding day from the perspective of the couple and guests at all times.
Being kind and considerate to others. Connect with other vendors at the wedding and help them have a successful event.
Play music that will make the couple and guests happy, not what you want to hear.
Just because you have been doing something a certain way and you know it works, doesn’t mean a couple wanting to do something a different way makes it wrong. However, if you know it will have a negative outcome, guide the couple to a more joyous path.
OK, now on with the show!
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Why Is Music Knowledge So Dang Important?
Making Suggestions to Couples
Building a Playlist from a Few Songs
Building a Playlist from a Library of Songs
3 Song Rule
Taking Requests
Making Suggestions to Couples
Couples often rely on their DJs (and wedding pros) to guide them in selecting songs for their wedding. This is a chance for DJs to showcase their prowess and help their couples - and be seen as a hero.
Example: If a couple is having a difficult time picking a song to play when they are introduced into the reception hall, the DJ can shine. The DJ delves into their preferred style of music (Hip Hop). Then, the DJ discovers the couple went to high school in the 2010s and loves music from that era. The DJ then offers the song “All I Do Is Win” by DJ Khaled. Mic drop!
Assistance can be made by the DJ to the couple to help select music to create a desired theme. I think more importantly the DJ works with couples to incorporate their favorite music into their wedding day. In addition, the DJ will build a playlist with their music knowledge that will entertain the majority of guests.
Playlist Building
Typically two scenarios commonly transpire between a DJ and a couple planning their music. 1. The couple gives the DJ some song ideas of music they like and some songs they don’t want played at their wedding and 2. The couple gives the DJ hundreds of songs to play.
Building a Playlist from a Few Songs
When a couple gives the DJ liberties in music selection, they are entrusting the DJ will set a desired mood and experience for the wedding through their music knowledge.
As an example, if the couple loves the 2000s alternative rock and pop-punk, they expect the DJ to be fluent in those genres and hits to pack the dance floor.
Thus, the DJ plans and organizes the wedding playlist with hits from the desired decades and music styles. However, the DJ must also think about the couple’s guests too. The DJ must contemplate other genres’ songs that will mix well with the primary desired genre.
Planning the playlist is when music knowledge plays a big part.
In the above scenario - What songs will be played by Fall Out Boy, blink-182, Avril Lavigne, Good Charlotte, etc? The 2000s also had boy bands Backstreet Boys & *NSYNC. Girl phenoms Christina Aguilera and Britney Spears. Dance tracks by Usher, Sean Paul, and Rihanna. Music from icons Eminem, Beyonce, and Jay-Z. etc…
What are on the couple’s do-not playlist?
All of these music selections are considered when planning a couple’s wedding day playlist. Even though the playlist is well thought out, changes can and will be made throughout the event.
That’s for the dancing part of the reception. What about the remaining time?
Many couples only consider music for the dancing part of their reception. DJs must also give thought to music playing as guests arrive and during the meal. This is the perfect time to incorporate the couple’s personality!
Besides the wedding ceremony, DJs must review what will be played from the time the reception doors open until the “party starting” dance hits. This is the time to play more upbeat songs. The couple could also choose to have a themed playlist too like a yacht rock theme to Disney theme songs. (Depending on the itinerary in your area, dancing may take place at any moment. The DJ may play dance tracks if the opportunity arises.)
Either way, what songs will be played to produce a desired mood? Will the background music consist of EDM vibes, a mix of many different genres and eras, or will it be based upon the couple’s eclectic music tastes? Timelines vary but this could be up to a two-hour planned vibe-setting playlist!
There are pluses and minuses to both a long list and a short list. The shortlist creates a level of unexpected excitement for what the DJ will play. However, not only must a DJ’s music knowledge be on point, but so must be their ability to read the room (Article about reading the room coming next week).
Building a Playlist from a Library of Songs
The worst thing a couple could expect from a DJ is to play a playlist exactly from their list of songs for the reception. Setting a specific vibe from a playlist takes organizational music talent. I like to think of music sets in 3 song groupings. Listening to 3 completely unrelated songs could confuse guests as they would never “get into the music”.
An example would be to play “Every Morning” by Sugar Ray to “One Headlight” by The Wallflowers to “Only Wanna Be With You” by Hootie & The Blowfish as a 3 song set for dinner. They do not have matching BPMs (Beats Per Minute) but they are from the same genre and have the same vibe.
Playing Sugar Ray's ‘Every Morning’ to Amy Winehouse's “Rehab” to Rihanna’s ‘Umbrella’ does not set any type of consistency and would only create confusion in the listeners’ minds.
Having music knowledge is required to organize any playlist to create a desired mood and outcome. It is also needed to fill in gaps when necessary.
I prefer the longer lists in some cases because the wedding playlist can be more personalized to the couple. However, I would also want the understanding that the order of the list is left to the DJ. Plus, the DJ must use their judgment to change things up during the dancing portion of the reception to play what gets everyone dancing.
To keep a good flow, DJs must always be thinking ahead. That’s why I follow a three-song rule.
3 Song Rule
The 3-song rule is to know what the next 3 songs will be played. Not only a 3 song rule but 3 songs that go together to create a desired outcome - mood, vibe, mixability, and dancing.
Let’s say the couple and all of the wedding party like 1990s dance music. The first song played for dancing is C+C' Music Factory’s “Everybody Dance Now (Gonna Make You Sweat)”. Now, what are the next 3 songs to play? Remember, be thinking 3 songs ahead!
While I do think BPM and key are important, I don’t think it is as important as playing the right songs at the right moments. If only looking at Key and BPM, I could play Black Box’s “Strike It Up (Hardcore Remix)” and Spice Girls’ "Wannabe”.
Knowing that the most important wedding attendees (the wedding couple) are huge 90s dance music fans. I would be leaning more toward playing Amber - “This Is Your Night”, Robin S - “Show Me Love”, and CeCe Peniston - “Finally” as follow-up tracks for the couple and mass popularity for the guests.
Another point of musical knowledge playing a role is when one of the songs has many dancers leaving the dance floor. Then, the DJ must quickly transition into a new song. But what song? That depends on the response guests had to music up to that point.
To be prepared against surprise is to be trained. To be prepared for surprise is to be educated. ~James Carse
The hardest wedding I ever DJed musically was a wedding in which the couple’s favorite music was James Taylor, Bonnie Raitt, Peter, Paul & Mary, Carly Simon, and Bob Dylan. Many songs suggested were not considered music for dancing in my mind.
So, if you have a packed dance floor to “Something To Talk About” by Bonnie Raitt, what are the next 3 songs? Without looking up BPM, the first 3 songs that come to mind in a similar genre and vibe are “Proud Mary” by CCR, “Honky Tonk Woman” by The Rolling Stones, and “When Will I Be Loved” by Linda Ronstadt. What would be your 3?
Create 3 song sets that go together, whether a theme, vibe, era, genre, etc. Challenge yourself to pick songs that will ignite excitement from guests.
Be prepared by creating your favorite 3 song sets and see how everyone reacts - particularly during cocktail hour and dinner so that you are mentally prepared for the dance party set. (Reading the room)
Taking Requests
Every wedding is unique. However, one thing is certain. Many guests only go out for special occasions, such as weddings, a few times a year. This may be the only time they socialize with family and friends and dance!
Every wedding pro should know the popular wedding songs of all time. Why?
Guests don’t get to hear the greatest songs of all time very often. They go crazy when they do hear them. Even though wedding pros may hear “September”, “Can’t Help Falling In Love”, and “I Wanna Dance With Somebody Who Loves Me” 100 times a year, guests may not have danced to the songs since sometime last year or the year prior.
Taking requests can be the ultimate challenge to your music knowledge - particularly during dancing.
When getting a song request:
You must determine the song’s danceability.
If you will play it - when will it “fit” into the mix?
Who is physically requesting the song (the wedding couple’s requests are always played)?
Don’t fall for the bride told me to tell you to play tricks.
Guests can give you an idea of what they will dance to with requests. If the DJ is playing classic rock and pop music and only a few guests are dancing. Then, a guest requests a two-step song. It would be worth it to take a chance to play one - “Most People Are Good” by Luke Bryan.
This is why I think it is always a good idea to take requests at weddings. It not only helps hone your music skills but also gives DJs an idea of what will work within a specific audience - and what songs are trending.
In conclusion, take the time to learn the popular music for weddings and plan out your wedding playlist(s). It will only help you to understand what music works in specific scenarios. If you need a jumpstart, check out my book, the Wedding Songs Planner.
Looking to stay up-to-date on tools to make your DJ business more successful? The Future DJ newsletter will help you know all of the latest releases in software and inventions to make your life easier. Plus, be aware of weekly workshops to enhance your music knowledge.
The Wedding MusicLetter is a reader-supported guide to wedding music, industry insights & meetups. Both free and paid subscriptions are available. If you want to support my work, the best way is by taking out a paid subscription.
Next up is the talent of reading the room.
Cheers!
Matthew Campbell, founder of My Wedding Songs