10 Ways to Keep Your Dance Floor Packed
1) Make Sure Your DJ Has A Plan: Your DJ should have a plan of action in
regards to programming music, transitioning songs and “changing it up” when
things aren’t working. Anyone can play
music. You hire a DJ to read your crowd
and adapt to what’s working “in the moment.” They should also be skillful in
making smooth transitions from song to song.
The last thing you want is a packed dance floor that clears every time a
new song comes on. Make sure your DJ can
explain the strategy they have to keep your crowd on the floor.
2) Make Sure The DJ & The Bar Are Near
The Dance Floor: Believe it or
not, the layout of the room really makes a difference whether people are going
to dance or not. Some rooms have a
portable bar and there is flexibility for its location. It’s extremely difficult to keep an energetic
dance floor when the bar is in a separate room.
The DJ needs to be near the dance floor because the level of the music
will increase during the dancing part of the evening. You want your dance floor to be fun and
energetic but still have other parts of the room where people can talk to each
other. The bar and the dance floor are
the 2 most popular spots. Why not put
them close together!
3) Don’t Feel Pressured to Pick Every Song: Give the DJ a general idea of what you like
and avoid trying to “Pre-Program” the evening.
You never know how your crowd is going to react. Allow some area for improvisation on the DJ’s
part. Don’t feel like you have to pick enough music to cover the entire
evening.
4) Variety: You have a variety of guests so it only makes
sense to have a variety of music to keep as many people interested as
possible. When you’re picking music for
your event try to think of who is on your guest list. Choosing a mix of different genres including
slow songs usually ensures that your guests will feel welcome and “included” in
your celebration.
5) Involve Your Friends and Family in Selecting Requests: Usually, your friends
and family know a lot of people in the room.
If they are out there dancing, they tend to draw others to the dance
floor. Get some input from them on what makes them want to dance. Remember, a dance floor full of
people is a lot more inviting than an empty dance floor.
6) Look Online and ask your DJ for Music
Suggestions: Billboard.com,
iTunes home page and local radio station’s websites are great resources to see
what’s currently hot. Your DJ should
have something that gives you guidance in selecting music as well.
7) Keep Your Guests Entertained: Everything should “flow” during your reception. There should never be a “lull”
during the evening. Your guests will
generally stay longer if they’re not bored.
You should always make a timeline with your DJ and rely on them to keep
you on track. The more your guests are
entertained, the more likely they will hang out and dance.
8) Participate: Make sure you dance! Everyone came to see you and they tend to
conjure wherever you are. Bring them to
the floor!
9) Invest in some Flip Flops: Women like to be comfortable when they
dance. A basket of flip flops (in
assorted sizes near the DJ) is a great gift to your guests. It definitely keeps the crowd at your
reception longer and the women really feel appreciated.
10) Ask People To Dance: Make people feel special by asking
them to dance with you later. You’ll
have an opportunity to make your way around the room after dinner. Just a brief comment like … “I hope to see
you on the dance floor later … “ is all you need to plant a seed. Good Luck!
Article by John DeVergilio www.jdentertainment.net
