Welcome to a series of only-just-slightly irreverent but hopefully informative articles written by me: Jon Paul – Wedding Singer, Host & DJ.
This time (to quote Pete Tong) “we continue.....”
Yo-Yo’s & No-Go’s – Are They Having Fun Yet? (Part II)
Following on from the FIRST PART of this article >>[HERE]<< we continue to look into how evening events – and audiences – “work,” examining why groups of people do or don’t dance and why.
It’s worth reiterating that just because people don’t immediately dance on that square wooden thing, it *doesn’t* mean they’re having a miserable time. To re-use my own phrase: “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it dance.” Unless it’s a pantomime horse, naturally.
It’s worth reiterating that just because people don’t immediately dance on that square wooden thing, it *doesn’t* mean they’re having a miserable time. To re-use my own phrase: “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it dance.” Unless it’s a pantomime horse, naturally.
Also as I’ve previously said, good planning is paramount to help assure successful events. Some faux-pas that hinder the hearty-party, however are:
Mistake #1: You’re Rushing ‘Em.
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| Pop Will Eat Itself. But the buffet food won't/ |
Most guests actually want to eat during the buffet you’ve paid for and laid on.
While I do see guests continue to dance while others stand in line, if everyone’s cleared out of the room to eat, they can’t be on the dance floor at the same time.
I have had the occasional bride rush up 4 minutes after the buffet has opened, and bark
“Quick! Put something louder and faster on! No-one’s dancing anymore!”
“Quick! Put something louder and faster on! No-one’s dancing anymore!”
I do however resist responding in full-on “guest on Rikki Lake” mode...
“Oh no you di’n’t...Er: hal-lo? That’s might be ‘cos they’re-a where the sandwiches are?! Girlfriend – they’re wantin’ vol-au-vents, not ‘Voulez Vous’.” J
“Oh no you di’n’t...Er: hal-lo? That’s might be ‘cos they’re-a where the sandwiches are?! Girlfriend – they’re wantin’ vol-au-vents, not ‘Voulez Vous’.” J
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| "Quick! They want to re-start the entertainment!" |
To be blunt, realistic expectations are important for clients here – although the evening is the less formal part of your wedding there is still a certain flow and order than is de rigueur (= the done thing)... often expected as a natural order of events. They acts as triggers for guests to react in a particular way.
I’ll say again: you will know your friends and family best but discuss this with your entertainer.
Notwithstandingly, I will say that when guests choose to stay for my performances (as a singer or a DJ) over-and-above the offer of free grub, it’s a real confidence boost, for sure!
Mistake #2: In your music planning, you’ve already exhausted guests.
We always recommend starting the evening with more laid-back (but not boring!) music, as assaulting guests’ senses from the outset with a barrage of high-volume & high-energy music will likely have the opposite effect many imagine.
Guests (especially older ones) will back off from the outset, or they will peak too soon and lose interest later in the evening, when the party should be getting a glow-on.
I often speak with clients about the “shape” of the evening – taking guests on a journey, so to speak.
In other words, Pro-entertainers should know when to put our proverbial foot on the gas. If you have hired a pro, while the final choices for the night are yours, you have also hired all of his (or her) expertise to call upon – so call on it.
Artists - think about your song-choice in building to a full dance floor. Without resorting to playing tracks from ‘Now That’s What I Call Retirement Home Songs Volume 4’ an experienced entertainer can build to a massive finale from even smallest, most subtle opening, if that’s what’s needed.
The background music you play and the flush of the lighting, even before you step on stage, will help affect positive reaction when you start your performance. J
Mistake #3: In your music planning, you’ve already bored guests.
We always recommend starting the evening with more laid-back music, (am I repeating myself here?)
but if this plays for *too* long it can make starting the party harder, later on. A night’s entertainment should “grow”, with some appropriate ‘dropping back’ to accentuate the impact of key moments – like a rollercoaster ride or a good movie – that “journey” thing again.
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| The Long Dark Cocktail-Hour of The Soul. |
This is especially true when guests are normally dancers but they’re being kept on a leash by seemingly endless ‘lift musak’ – even when their favourite tunes are finally played, they may have lost their party spirit.
I once entertained at an August wedding some years ago where the bride was enjoying the sunshine on the terrace so much she kept telling me to just keep the light background music going, as “nobody wants to dance yet” (ie she didn’t).
In the meantime I had requests for floor-fillers and party anthems piling up from frustrated guests. When the sun eventually set (after 10pm) the bride reluctantly agreed to skip the light fandango with her new husband, after which her guests were also allowed to dance. The floor was thin...more than a few guests had left already.It was a difficult night for me, as guests then needed a lot of nurturing to rekindle their interest. (But I’m SUCH a hero it worked out alright in the end!)
In essence, couples might again consider the suggestions of the expert they’ve hired: if (s)he’s on the 20th time suggesting your first dance be played, perhaps you’ve not noticed guests leaving like (s)he has.
In other words, Pro-entertainers should know when to put our proverbial foot on the gas. I often talk to clients about the ‘shape’ of their evening……
(Yep – repeating myself like my very own Granny.)
Mistake #4: There’s not enough variety in your entertainment schedule.
Two hours of happy hardcore might be OK for a 21st Birthday (and even then…. :-/ sheesh) but a mixed guest ‘demographic’ (eg ages and backgrounds), will get bored with the same style all night, especially if they’re the mix of ages and tastes you typically get at weddings.
This is particularly true if clients have insisted entertainers ‘do not play’ anything other than their personal pre-selections and then most people want something different to this. Your day – yes – but I recommend a degree of flexibility for the sake of your guests and therefore party success.
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| "By the 3rd hour of Leona Lewis songs, Gary was close to breaking point." |
I once had a bride forbid ALL forms of R’n’B, and then fly off the handle at songs she even thought sounded like R’n’B (but weren’t) – songs that 95% of her guests were requesting and dancing too. Another demanded purely her list of obscure 70s & 80s funk (which I was loving!) but again it cleared the floor.
It is the bride and groom's perogative of course to stipulate what they love and avoid what they hate...but some flexibility -is a fabulous way to make a party a success without entirely compromising a couple's "vision" or style.
As a solution, we often suggest “increments” of styles or eras, which will at the very least “rotate” dancers who like different types of music, but not stray too far from the music you love.
As a solution, we often suggest “increments” of styles or eras, which will at the very least “rotate” dancers who like different types of music, but not stray too far from the music you love.
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| DEVASTATED. "But I thought EVERYONE *loves* wall-to-wall Norwegian Death Metal!!" |
A great memory of the night for everyone is a admirable target to work towards...not many of the guests going home early and complaining: “tsk! they only played that Emo stuff that *they* like... all night!”
AGAIN - it is “your day” *of course* and you are paying the proverbial piper.
When I am hired to provide entertainment for a party *of course* the final choices are my clients’ and I will play their choices and to the best of my ability... BUT equally I feel a part of my pre-event service is to be candid about the path being set upon.
Feedback I receive from many happy clients tells me than most couples even value this expertise. I am fortunate that most of my clients want to share their happy occasion with a range of their friends and family.
Next time – we will discuss some Hard Uncomfortable Truths about why and how events can splutter and stall, and consider some ways a Professional artist can over-come issues & ‘reignite the night’. You read the final section of the article >>[HERE.]<<
But for now:
Take care….and have fun.
Jon Paul
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Jon Paul offers unparalleled live and DJ’d entertainment solutions, including free consultation on which services would suit everything about your wedding’s style, size and budget!
Visit our main website for some ideas or contact Jon Paul to start your personalised entertainment planning.
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