New York DJ

When we meet to talk with clients about music for their event, often the first thing we notice is that they've already dejectedly decided the music they really like and want to hear won't be able to be played at their event.

It may be a designer in a fashion show thinking that the music she wants to use for her fashion line will be too ethereal a sound to keep the audience interested. Or a couple who loves moody acoustic indie pop but thinks it would be too much of a downer to play a little at their wedding Or an organizer of a corporate party who worries that the employees won’t dance because they tend to like raw Southern hip-hop and their bosses wouldn’t. Whatever the case, whatever the event, it seems this kind of unfortunate premature musical censorship is everywhere.

It often comes from a good place of common sense or consideration, like an organizer at a art opening knowing that prospective buyers might not want to hear his beloved deep cuts of ‘70s classic rock all night long. But some of our clients’ decisions that their favorite songs or genres won’t work comes not from a good place at all, but instead from having met with conventional, unimaginative DJs that tend to work for bigger, more cookie-cutter DJ companies. We’ve heard from these clients that some of these DJs have told them straight up that the only way to get a party movin’ is to play disco all night.

Whatever the reason for clients' doubts in the music they love, one of the first things we tell them – no matter what their event –  is to open up their mind, revisit their CD collection or iPod, and make their “dream list” of songs they want to hear, with no censoring allowed. Put anything in you would love to hear. Not only does it make the process of selecting music easier, but also more fun. It will get you excited about the possibilities of hearing this music, as opposed to nixing songs right away and feeling frustrated that the soundtrack to the event is already not what you would like.

Now, will all these "dream songs" end up making the cut when the event arrives? Sometimes many of them do, sometimes they don't. But what always happens is that when we see these “dream lists” and talk a bit with the client to see what music is most important to them, we can then use our experience in knowing what of these songs will work given the mood that is wanted at the event, as well as what kind of guests will be there, and what kind of structure the event will have. Then we can suggest which songs to keep, which to think about not using. For example, a pair of melancholy indie songs at the more sedate moments in a wedding can feel absolutely right and even moving. So can a set of obscure hardcore punk during the more boisterous moments of a corporate party. And even a little experimental progressive rock can enhance the feeling of an art opening, if played at the right time.

By far, many more of the songs you really want at your event then you ever think you can play are actually able to be fit in, but not only that, they can be made to add to the atmosphere of the event. But to do it, you have to begin by letting the DJ know what you really want to hear. And if that DJ looks at your list, smirks, and says something about how you can't have a party without having "the Y" on your list, well, you know the time has come to find a different DJ.

"Do you want to hear disco at your event?" we often ask our potential clients.

Just hearing the question makes many clients we meet with cringe. They’re thinking, of course, of the most tired or embarrassing disco, like "Y.M.C.A." or "Play That Funky Music" and don’t like to think of their events having to feature such predictable music.

Now, we also often also meet with clients who are comfortable with mainstream disco being played at their event, but we understand that there’s those who wish to stay away from it. However, because in our years of DJ-ing events we’ve seen how disco works as one of the greatest musical icebreakers around – its crisp studio production, easy-to-dance-to beats, and iconic songs are very effective at getting all kinds of guests to get up and dance – we’d like to both defend it a bit and offer some suggestions as to ways to include it in your event but yet also steer you clear of Boogie Clicheland.

Despite much mainstream disco being overplayed, some of it still works magic. There are anthems like "Stayin’ Alive" that, despite it being played more than McDonalds has served customers, continues to pack the dancefloor and up the energy at most corporate events or weddings – it’s a song that somehow puts all ages of people in a fun mood, from those in their 60s to those in their 20s. But some of the disco that we find works best are not purely disco songs, but are of other genres that have a disco feel mixed in, like Earth, Wind & Fire’s "September," or hits from Michael Jackson’s disco-influenced classic album "Off the Wall," and even the synthpop of the first Madonna album and New Order’s enduring New Order 12" single "Blue Monday."

Another way to lead into disco is to include more current songs that hearken back to it – from Daft Punk’s late ’90s club anthem "One More Time" to many of the more hip songs of the last few years, such as tunes by the Scissor Sisters and last summer’s pop-punky "Shut Up and Let Me Go" by the Ting Tings. These newer songs all have a disco influence in their beats, synths, guitar riffs,and sometimes even vocals. Of course, there are some for whom no evidence will change their opinion of disco as beginning and ending with the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack and therefore to them the genre will always be cheesy and undesireable. But hopefully some will consider these aforementioned songs as a way to not think of disco as perpetually uncool, or at least as a way to be more open to including disco in your event if you know the guests will want it.

Finally, instead of listing off familiar disco classics to play at your event that most of us know already, here’s a few disco songs that we think are accessible and great but aren’t at all played out. The first, Firefly’s "Love (Is Gonna be On Your Side)" is one you’ve likely never heard but has an excellent groove and euphoric chorus; BBQ Band’s sexy jam "On the Beat," might be recognizeable; and the synthy, tropical-feeling "Give It Up" by KC’s (yes, that KC) you’ve defintely heard, but likely not in a long time, and we think you’ll be glad you finally are again.

Have a listen to all three: