Last weekend I did a party for a communion. It wasn't my best, but I did ok. However, it was a tough crowd. Mostly kids 7-10 years old, then adults in their 40's, and older folks 70+. Add to that it was in a bar/party hall, and they had a pool table and video games. Did I mention that for most of the party, the kids were sliding across the dance floor and into people/tables/my rig?

The hostess kept asking me to 'play something so people will dance'. I played current stuff, the old classics, 'aces', you name it. I think the adults were too afraid of the kids, and no one wanted to tell their kids to stop (they were too busy drinking). Oh, and the guest of honor made me play Good Charlette six times. Ugh.

Anyway, I guess I have three questions:
1. Would you ask the kids to stop running around like maniacs? (I didn't)
2. What would you consider 'current music adults can dance to'? (some other lady asked me that one, she didn't get specific, though)
3. What do you play for 7-10 year olds???

Barney!!! Now that, everyone can enjoy.

-TK

if there was a risk of damage to your gear, i shure would've made an announcement to make them stop. either way, it's irresponsibility on the part of the adults and disrespectful to you.

Yeah, unless they are paying you as much for the gig as your equip costs...then your stuff comes first. I would have said something.

For young adults, I find "Family Affair" by Mary J works great, and for kids that young I would either suggest the "chicken dance", or use some of your stage tape, and tape them to the chairs.

For young adults I'm thinking - stuff from the 90's would work well- LaBouche, salt&pepa, expose', SWV, you get the idea. As for the sliding rug rats and agree you need to make announcement but use those mic skills - remember you can unplug(last resort of course) but it will get there attention and if it don't at least your gear will be safe. For those younger kids try some early Brittany Spear, N'SYNC, Backstreet Boys, if you mix that stuff in and announce who it's for I think it'll fly well for you.

- ircoach

Duckt tape fixes all of mans problems


tell em its a game how long you can stay in one place

....

hehe i know most dont work but the duckt tape might

i have found that playing music at a communion is just not going to cut it, you have to be very very interactive. Play lots of games with the kids, teach line dancers, do follow the dancer, we never do comunions with out at least 1 party motivator, we normally send out teams of 3 to communions 1 DJ, 1MC and 1 party motivator, i've found that when the MC and the motivator are on the floor for the whole event that things run alot smoother.

Thanks guys!

Yeah Blazen, as soon as I wrapped up, I was like, 'I should have bought a motivator.' I think that will be my game plan for the next one.

Kids running around wild is a symptom of them having a lot of energy, but nowhere to focus it. That's an opportunity to for the DJ to exploit.

Kids that young don't really dance much in my experience, but they will limbo for 15 minutes. It's all about games for the kids. Make em go grab mom and dad while they are at it.

Heck - you could have organized some kind of sliding competition judging on distance, artistic impression, degree of difficulty, and most adults knocked over, etc...

You did what they asked you to do, and that's fine. Next time, you will know that sometimes what the customer thinks will happen WON'T.

That intuition comes quickly.

Rgrandia

Hey Billabong I sympathise with you on that job, it sounds like the organiser/mum/whoever failed to communicate with you on exactly what they wanted from you or what they were expecting.

This example clearly shows that if you don't ask the right questions before a job things may not turn out the way you or the customer expect them to. This leads to dissatisfaction for both the DJ and the customer and ultimately loss of business.

Remember no two dances are the same, different people have different ideas on what a DJ is and what a DJ is meant to do. Always try asking the unforseen situation questions of your customers, that way you can both justify a higher fee and get a better idea of the type of a dance you can expect. Good Luck

ROQ

Billa bong,


I did the same thing you did when i did my first communion, did a bunch with just my self and everything went fine, then boom the communion from hell, after that i won't be caught dead without a motivator at communions

LOL HaHaHaHaHaHa...I just love that irony Blazin "communion from hell", makes the kid sound like the devil himself, but probably not far off!

But you're right, you might do one and it is ok then you get that dodgy one that ruins the whole experience.

I donno. Maybe somethin like Do The Conga or the YMCA, get the party pumped. Whatever you did ur best so, I'm sure it was fine. Peace bro.

Thanks everyone for the words of encouragement, support, and wisdom.

My biggest stumbling block is my mic skills. Sometimes I'm afraid to talk, or suggest to people to 'get up and dance', because if they don't, it will be kind of a let down, and I'll look dumb. I have to put away my mental blocks, bust out Mr. Microphone, and hope for the best.

When i first started djing a couple years back i was always afraid to get on the mic and i made one of the most common mistakes, i asked people to do things, your the MC, your in control tell them what to do. don't be nasty about it, but just be in control, for example


instead of saying,

Alright if you guys wanna dance feel free to do so, i'm takin your requests blah blah blah

say this instead

Alright its time to get those bodies movin out there, i wanna see you all up on that floor, We're here to party so lets this party started.


You want to sound like your in control, if you can gain control of the crowd they will do pretty much whatever you say.