| You've spent a lot of time and money planning your | | | | volume has to be at a level where it competes with |
| wedding or special event and have decided to have a | | | | the conversation of the guests. If you've ever sat in a |
| cocktail or reception hour where guests can mix and | | | | restaurant where all you could hear was a bass drum |
| mingle, chat with each other and enjoy a beverage or | | | | beating and few notes here and there, you'll know |
| hors d'oeuvres. This hour can be one of the most | | | | what I mean. |
| important because it sets the stage for the rest of the | | | | This brings up another important point. During a cocktail |
| event. | | | | or meet-and-greet hour the volume of the music is |
| In the case of a wedding some guests have come | | | | extremely important. Ideally, you want music that gently |
| from out of town and may not have seen each other | | | | wafts throughout the room enhancing the ambiance |
| for months or maybe even years. Two established | | | | and mood of the event. You don't want music that's |
| families are blending creating a whole new family and | | | | too loud and has lyrics that compete with the |
| many guests won't yet have even been introduced to | | | | conversation of the guests or you'll find folks avoiding |
| each other. And guests who see each other | | | | one other, going outside to talk, etc. |
| frequently will still want to connect and chat. Any | | | | Occasionally I work with an event planner who |
| event, wedding or otherwise, will have guests who | | | | chooses the cocktail hour music herself (or himself) |
| want to meet, reacquaint, network and get to know | | | | and insists on that being played. Sometimes she will |
| one another better. | | | | actually burn a CD of music and give it to me. Usually |
| Providing folks with a comfortable area where they | | | | it's nice music, too, like Frank Sinatra or something |
| can mix and mingle will set the stage for a warm, fun | | | | similar which is great to listen to... in the right situation. In |
| party later on in the evening as they become more | | | | almost every occasion of guests coming up to the DJ |
| familiar with their surroundings and the other guests in | | | | booth to offer the suggestion to turn the music down, |
| attendance. The music you play, and the way it's | | | | the music being played is music with lyrics. No matter |
| played, will have a profound effect on the success of | | | | how nice that music is it's just not optimum to talk over. |
| your event. Nothing evokes emotion in people like | | | | On the other hand, rarely do I have guests complain |
| music... and you want those emotions to be positive. | | | | when I play very light jazz or classy, upbeat |
| As an experienced DJ, I'd recommend you shy away | | | | instrumental music that's soft, pleasant to listen to and |
| from music that is sung. In other words, avoid music | | | | gentle on the volume. Most often a few guests will |
| that has lyrics. I've discovered over many years of | | | | stop up and say, "Thanks for not blasting us out with |
| performing that when people are talking, music with | | | | music at the cocktail hour. The last wedding we went |
| lyrics usually provides unwelcome competition to | | | | to the dj played so loud we couldn't even hear |
| conversation. If you've ever sat in a restaurant with a | | | | ourselves talk." |
| large group of people all shouting and talking across | | | | Now, of course, it's certainly acceptable to play a tune |
| the table, the music playing in the background may not | | | | or two (or three) that has some special significance to |
| have mattered much. But if you were in an intimate, | | | | the bride and groom during cocktails and I'd encourage |
| quiet situation where you really wanted to | | | | that. It helps set the mood and can enhance the event. |
| communicate and hear and be heard, you know how | | | | But as a general rule I'd opt for instrumental music. |
| annoying loud or poorly chosen background music can | | | | While no rule is ever right for every event, and |
| be. | | | | exceptions certainly exist, I'd most often choose |
| While it may at first seem that you can merely turn the | | | | instrumental music for the cocktail hour at your next |
| lyrical music down,it's simply a given that to understand | | | | event. |
| the lyrics and distinguish what the song is means the | | | | |