Clean Dance

To establish a clean dancing atmosphere, the right music is the fuel in the dancing engine.  First read Know When to Play a Song to get a feel for our music selection methodology.  This will help this section to make sense.

Appropriate dancing can be uplifting and fun. However, inappropriate dance can be demeaning, uncomfortable, nasty and in some cases physically painful.

Dance style should not allow or encourage full body contact or intimate positions with the dance partner. For example, during a ballad or slow dance, partners should use the standard ballroom dance position as opposed to the contemporary slow dance position. In ballroom dance position, the girl’s right hand is held by the boy’s left hand, the girl’s left hand is placed on the boy’s right shoulder and the boy’s right hand placed on her back on or between her shoulder blades or small of the back.

At events, we charge the chaperons to do this work – that is making sure dance partners do not use the contemporary slow dance position where the girl places both hands around the boy’s neck and the boy places both hands around the girl’s waist. This encourages full body contact and is not conducive to traditional ballroom dance steps.

As the event host or the DJ, we pay special attention to how the participants dance. We understand:

• Dance style should not include sexually suggestive body movements.
• Dance style should not include touching private areas of the body.
• Dance style should not include “chicken rides” or “piggy-back” rides (especially boys carrying girls).
• Dance style should not include body slamming or “mosh pit” or “Break-dancing”. Other than the physical danger to the dancer, the venue has serious liability issues with these dance styles.

So, how do you control a crowd to get the correct response or dance style and what if you have zero support?  There are two things you can do.  First, pay attention to how they dance to certain songs and stop playing that type of music.  If songs are promoting dangerous dance styles from “show-offs” you need to kill that song.  Getting a boo from the crowd because you chose safety is better then everyone taking a knee while the ambulance pulls that player from the field.  Second, is education.  Teach them how to dance.  We suggest instruction either an hour before the event start (and invite new dancers to this instruction) or events where proper dance technique is taught, separate from the dance.

You will be surprised at how quickly local dance studios will jump at the opportunity to teach youth how to dance in groups.  Most often at a lower rate then expected.  In addition, the participants at dance studios will be thankful for the opportunity to dance with their peers and even can help to chaperon.  It becomes a win/win to tap this group for support in education and attendance.

If music is the fuel for the event, the participants and their ability to dance is the engine.  You cannot hope to have a clean dance without clean dancers and this will not happen unless you teach them.  Leave a comment if this helped you or if you have suggestions to share.

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There is more strategy to handling music request then you would think.  To start there are a few rules/ standards you need to have in place before you event starts.

Our rules/standards are:

• No songs that reference Drugs, Sex or promote Violence
• The DJ can only play music that came with him
• The participant must provide the lyrics of the song from a credible website prior to requesting a song listed as unclean or not on the list
• The Host of the event is the only person who can override the rules/standards within reason

 That last one is important, so I will start there.  When providing an event, you have to remember that you are a part of the event – not the event.  It is a wedding, it is not a DJing. The bride and groom did not gather all of their family and friends for you.  This is likewise for any other event.  Therefore, if the bride or groom or “host” requests you to do something that is within reason, you do it.  Try to talk them out of Karaoke, request that they don’t ask for “that” song, but it is their event and they undoubtedly override.

With that said, before the event starts, identify who is writing the check or is in charge.  That person becomes the overriding power.  This will come into play in a moment.

Setup a table on the side of you (so the participants are not between you and the dance floor).  On the table, present a list of pre-approved songs for participants to request from.  Have an 8.5×11 piece of paper to write down request (no post-it notes).  Have extra pens/pencils on hand.  You will get a flood in the beginning of the event for songs.  I have two pages with lines drawn for name, artist, dance style and name of the person requesting the song.  When a participant comes to me and starts into what they want to hear, I point to the paper and say “if you don’t write it down, I’ll forget.”

I do this for several reasons. 

• Provides an event request history
• Provides a pool for songs to pull from
• Identifies who is requesting multiple songs
• Keeps they participants away from talking to me
• Reduces duplicate requests

Don’t get me wrong, I like interacting with the group.  But I have to manage my time at an event.  From setup to tear down, I am working non-stop to keep each part of the event moving.  By occupying the participants in this way, you get the information you need and they get to play a role.

When a person is pushing for a song which is not clean or not on the list, I ask that they provide the lyrics on their smartphone.  At a moment that is convenient to me, I review the lyrics with the person, one on one.  I like to do this to show that I care and pay attention.  I have found, at times, I mess up.  The song really is clean.  Most often, it is not and the bad lyrics are found in the third verse.

During the event you will hear “I have the CD in the car” and “Can you play it off of YouTube?”  My response has always been “we only play music that we came with.”  When they push, ask them to write it down and you will review it for purchase for the next event.  Most often, the participant will try to leverage the event or people at the event with “it’s our song” and “the Bride would love it.”  This is where the override comes into play.  Do not state there is an override person.  You go to that person and make the request.  Their job is not to take your job as the music filter; however, if it is true, that the host will remember the event forever because you let the host choose, you win either way, because they made the choice.

Close the request table 30 minutes before the event ends.  Change the paper on the table and leave the pens/pencils.  As a former teenager who needed the pen for a phone number – I can attest to the need to have those out – that may be your next wedding you loaned that pen for.

Understanding your strategy for taking requests will help your event to feel under control while allowing the participants to take part in the way the night develops.  Leave a comment or share with a friend.

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I just moved locations, from Texas to Massachusetts.  In preparing to DJ a dance here, I visited an event – to get the feel of the music.  At the event, I noticed great music, played at the wrong time.  Here is some general DJ instruction to help have a solid event.

When doing a dance for the general public, it’s important to remember:

1. They don’t all like the same music as you do
2. They don’t all dance at clubs
3. They might actually like to slow dance to get to know someone

With this in mind, knowing when to play songs will help you to keep the floor full.  Pay attention to which songs, when you play them, motivate people to get up and dance.  Lead with those.  Next play songs that keep them up.  If you start to loose the floor, change style. Preferably  never play more then two of the same style in a row.

To keep things simple, I look at my music styles like this:

• Fast – songs that have a steady beat that you dance to
• Slow – songs with a slow beat that you can easily follow to slow dance to (includes waltz) (floor reset)
• Novelty – Songs that are old, but everyone knows them or will dance a specific way to them
• Line – Not country line dancing, but any song with instruction or there is a known line dance.  I clump this with novelty.
• Disco
• Swing
• Country – mostly slow and swing songs unless your group knows how to two or tripple step.
• Latin – so many styles here, stick with pop hits
• Other
• Sing-a-long – when you play this, everyone may jump around and sing, or they may just sing – but they are really not dancing.

To play the right song at the right time, you have to mix these formats.  I build sets 1-1, 2-1, 3-2,3-1.  With the first number representing anything except a slow or sing-a-long.  If I was running a 2-1, fast to swing to slow, line to fast to slow.  If I was running a 3-2 I would play fast to fast to disco to slow to sing-a-long.

You are really looking for the right mix.  If you cannot keep your floor full, you are failing, change style and adjust your mix.

I have done a dance of all latin or all country.  The key was understanding the music and dance style within that group.  For example, country dancing has two/triple step, swing, cha-cha and slow.  I followed the same set pattern and had success.

Knowing when to play the right song also means saving the best stuff for 2/3′s of the way through the dance.  People don’t show up till mid way, so you have to have the party jumping when they walk in, but if you played your good stuff, you will get a request to play it again – so just hang on to that Harlem Shake or whatever is hot.

Think about it, right after a slow song, you are already on the floor, then ‘that’ song comes on, you are going to stay.

The party should be jumping towards the end, when everyone is there, so save your good stuff.

Closing out is just as important as the mid point jam.  You need to have a good song you have saved for last.  This keeps everyone there till close and it helps them to remember your performance.  After your last set, time the end of the night to have at least one slow song.  I try to get two in when possible, it tappers off the night nicely.

Knowing when to play a song is just as important as knowing which songs motivate everyone to dance.  Good luck at your next event and leave a comment.

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