If you’re having a wedding or a party then music is a given. You wouldn’t question having alcohol or food at a reception so why would you not have music? The ability to enjoy and appreciate music is such a basic human tenet that it makes sense to celebrate your big wedding day or birthday with some expertly executed music.
Enter the DJ. Disc Jockeys don’t just stick on a playlist and call it a day there. In the same way that record producers are hired for their taste to guide the process of creating a record, DJs are there to not only play tracks but to guide the mood and energy of the night, from some polite background music, eventually to a fever pitch when all the merriment and drinks are showing their effects.
There is an art to being a good DJ. The perception that social media has pushed forward is very much that a headphoned DJ sits behind his/her/their decks twiddling knobs and faders and bouncing up and down. There certainly is a bit of the performance element and it’s definitely great to have some interaction with the crowd but what the Dj is really there for is to read the room and amplify the mood. If the crowd’s energy dips in reaction to a track choice then transition into something a bit more mainstream or energetic. If 70% of people go to the bar then there might be another not so well-known track played before they drop a banger that hauls everyone back to the dance floor with their new beverage.
DJs will also know what tunes to play and when - if you end up having a great DJ then you’ll be singing along to a tune that you can’t name or remember where you heard it but it will be a banger nonetheless!
Good DJs create and build a progression over the course of the night, maybe starting with lower energy or slower tracks and building them up over time. They not do this in a totally linear way by taking the tracks back down again for a bit to allow for the crowd to nip to the bar for a refill. A DJ can work requests into their setlist and make the transition between disparate tracks like Africa to Cotton Eyed Joe feel natural rather than just slamming the two together.
In short, having a good DJ is pretty essential, regardless of whether they come with your band, as a standalone DJ or with a sax player (or even the sax player himself)!
Nick Pike Sax provides Sax and DJ services so do get in touch if this is of interest to you!
Nick Pike Saxophone
A talented and versatile saxophonist, Nick plays iconic pop, funk and soul songs reworked with his unique touch. Nick Pike Saxophone is available throughout London, Essex, Surrey, Hampshire, Sussex, Kent and Berkshire. Book now >
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