Posted: January 17, 2011 | Author: singeraimnyc | Filed under: Tips/Advice | Tags: dance, first dance, introductions, pros and cons, wedding |
For the last few years there has been a trend away from doing the big long introduction line at the start of wedding receptions. You know, the part where the band leader announces all of the bridal party, parents of the bride and groom, flower girls, ring bearers, third grade teachers etc. People have begun to ask me if they really need to do all of that. I say, if you have to ask, then probably not.
It’s one of those things that people do, because it’s tradition, but this is your wedding and it can be as traditional as you want it to be. If you need help deciding, here’s some pros and cons.
Cons:
- The introductions can take a long time. That’s up to an extra 20 minutes between you and your first course!
- You have to get your entire bridal party lined up all over again. At this point they’ve probably had a couple of drinks, which makes them less like the responsible adults that you trusted to stand by your side on this most important day of your life, and more like unruly 6th graders… I’ve heard.
- No one remembers the order they were placed in for the ceremony.
- The bouquet bridge!
- There is no champagne in the staging area…
Pros:
- Photo-ops a plenty.
- One more opportunity for everyone to see how masterfully you’ve outfitted your posse for the event.
- You won’t be totally alone out there when the first dance starts.
- You get a chance to show off your musical taste with another custom song selection.
- It’s a chance to break the ice and infuse a little fun into the room before the first dance.
Like I said, if you have questions about whether or not to do it, you may want to skip, just make sure you run it by your parents first, especially if they are footing the bill!
Posted: June 30, 2009 | Author: singeraimnyc | Filed under: The "Life" Part, True Stories | Tags: barn dance, dance, dance floor, DJ, influential, laptops, lights, Michael Jackson, MJ, music, plastic surgery, sound system, soundtrack, Thriller |
On Saturday some friends of mine threw a party for which I did the unthinkable… I DJ’d, well, MP3J’d. I have to admit, it was really fun. My husband and I brought two laptops, the sound system for our band and some crazy disco lights we were given by a past client to a friend’s barn, which was transformed into a rustic, but posh, dance hall. I got an opportunity to dance, which I never get to do, but I still sang every song (as loud as I could) along with the tracks. It was an amazing moment for everyone to cut loose and forget about things for a night.
Coming just two days after the sudden death of a man who could best be described as a legend in his own time, this party gave me a chance to pay tribute to Michael Jackson, whose music has been influential throughout my life. I haven’t gotten enough of an opportunity to play MJ’s hits live in the past few years. Although, I think that will be changing. Three of my upcoming event clients have asked for tribute sets to the King of Pop at their parties. I’m sad that it took his death for people to rediscover his contribution to the soundtrack of all of our lives, but at the same time thrilled to honor Michael Jackson’s music in any way I can. In the next few weeks and months the events surrounding Michael Jackson’s death will be scrutinized and publicized. Society will, no doubt, be as fascinated by MJ in death as we were in life.
That being said, I’m not going to talk about MJ as a tragic figure. I’m not going to talk about plastic surgery or odd behavior or accusations. I’m not going to postulate on the cause of his death. I’m just going to post my Michael Jackson tribute playlist and let the discussion about his life be one about his music.
I trimmed my list down to one solid hour of the songs that meant the most to me and, of course, kept the dance floor packed – for decades.
- Thriller – Thriller, 1982
- I Want You Back – Diana Ross Presents The Jackson 5, 1969
- Don’t Stop ’til You Get Enough – Off the Wall, 1979
- Billie Jean – Thriller, 1982
- Black or White – Dangerous, 1991
- ABC – ABC (The Jackson 5), 1970
- Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground) – Destiny (The Jacksons), 1979
- Wanna be Startin’ Somethin’ – Thriller, 1982
- Beat It – Thriller, 1982
- The Way You Make Me Feel – Bad, 1987
- The Love You Save – ABC (The Jackson 5), 1970
- Rock With You – Off the Wall, 1979
- P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing) – Thriller, 1982
- Off the Wall – Off the Wall, 1979
- Who’s Lovin’ You – Diana Ross Presents The Jackson 5, 1969
We interspersed this playlist throughout the night in three song sets.
I can think of some tracks to add, what about you?
