Tips for Picking Music for Your Event

Everyone knows that the music often makes the party; in the same token the music can ruin the party. There is nothing worse than an empty dance floor when it clearly is meant for some grooving. Picking the music for your event is a crucial piece for any event planner. There are so many different options and it seems virtually impossible to know which one will be the most successful. However, Social Betty has some tips to help make the impossible, possible:

1. Always start with what type of music supplier you want. Figure out if you want a live band, a DJ, a karaoke machine, or Uncle Phil mixing on the iPod. Once this is figured out you have cut your list of possible people down to a fourth of what it originally was.
2. Get references from friends, family, coworkers, online reviewers, and the venue. People love to give advice on services that they have previously used, so use that in your favor. It saves time and heartache of wondering about the final outcome.
3. If you go with a band or a DJ make sure to ask questions. See if they take requests, do they know how to play (or have) specific songs that you will be looking for, will they be the actual people there, will they want to eat, are there extra fees for time overage, what will they wear to the event, have they done similar events, and so on are all acceptable questions to ask.
4. Ask your guests for requests before the event. On the invitations simply include instructions for people to include 2-3 songs on their RSVP (best for DJ and iPods). This takes out a bunch of the guess work and insures that everyone will hear a little bit of music they like.
5. Make sure the music provider has an event schedule with times. It is important to make sure the music is playing (and not playing) at the proper times. Providing the schedule should alleviate “Baby Got Back” coming on in the middle of the first toast.
6. If there are songs you DO NOT want played make sure to speak up. If you don’t like the Chicken Dance, you don’t like the Chicken Dance.
7. Ask the venue questions about sounds systems and the dance floor. You always want to make sure they have what you need and that the music provider knows what they are walking into.

Have fun and bust a move!

Social Betty