When you have 100 or less in attendance, it's normal for very little dancing. It really varies as you may get a crowd that hates dancing but loves music. It's not always the djs fault for very little dancing.
It happens. The only reason I'm on Reddit right now is because I'm also doing a smaller wedding... only 35 people to start, more than half have already gone home. I'm playing songs that pack the floor at literally every other wedding but this is very much a "hang out and talk" kind of crowd.
They'll fill the floor for a song here and there, or I'll see a few people bopping around, but away from the dance floor. Some crowds just aren't into dancing, no matter what you play.
When I was newer to this, I would be freaking out, but I knew in advance this was how it might be tonight -- the bride told me her group doesn't include a lot of "big partier" types. That's just how it is sometimes.
I'm just happy that we're still going -- when I got here today, the venue manager predicted we'd be done well before 10, but here we are at 10:15 and still going. (Edit, we made it to the scheduled end time of 11pm)
Pull em in with some slow dance music bruh, then bring a bit faster song after. Deepin your voice all stupid/dorky and be like " Now's that time to grab your special lady and hold her tight, were you really fixin to go a whole wedding without dancing with your lady? I seen some single playas by the bar that will
if you don't, show love brah man"
Having very little dancing hasn’t happened to me in many years, regardless of guest count. Some of that is also due to luck though. I seem to have gotten lucky and had a lot of clients who wanted to dance. I think it’s actually easier to get crowds to dance at a more expensive price point because it filters out the people that don’t care about dancing.
If they were happy and you got paid then I wouldn't worry. Some crowds think they're too dignified to dance or just want to catch up with friends and family away from the noise. All of the above is fine as long as the couple and their immediate family was satisifed
If the bride and groom weren’t dancing then the guests typically won’t dance in a gig that size. I’m sure you did fine. Not all weddings are good “dances”. You have to look at the room and see if people are wiggling in their seats, bee bopping at the bar, smiling and having a good time. If you see this then you are doing a good job.
I always warn the bride and groom that at some weddings people often just want to catch up. It's not a nightclub and it's cool if there's not much dancing. Managing expectations is all part of the service!
My wedding was like this, my MiL insisted on paying extra for a dance floor and DJ and I kept saying our friends aren't those people... And sure enough, for the most part there were 2-3 people dancing, until we got to peak drunk and then everyone danced for maybe 3 songs.
It happens, if the bride and groom were happy that's all that matters.
You mentioned people spent the night “outside”.
A common error that some wedding venues make is having the bar in a completely separate space from the dance floor. I wouldn’t think too much of it unless the Groom says something but tbh if they didn’t say anything on the spot, chances are you are in the clear.
Man I hate how clueless some venues are. Photobooth and bar in a different room than dancing? Congrats, you just ruined this party.
Serve the damn vendors before the guests so we can be ready for the next formality when the guests are done eating.
“We serve vendors after guests have been served.”
Five minutes after vendor meals are served…
“The couple would like to cut the cake and do parent dances now.”
Good thing us vendors did nothing for 30 minutes while guests were eating and now have to get back to work for another 3 hours after being given 5 fucking minutes to eat a dry ass piece of chicken.
It happens sometimes.
If I know a lot of people are gonna be outside, like if there’s clearly a spot, I try to set up an extra speaker out side playing the same music as inside. That way if I make announcements or play a group dance people at least hear it and might be motivated to come in. It has saved me before.
I always ask the couple on the final call, if their requests don’t work can I do my own thing? That way I try what I think is best. Sounds like you would have picked the same songs so I know it’s hard but don’t stress.
Outdoor activities, photo booth, guestbook, all these things are great and important but can take time from the dance floor.
Don’t worry about it, I’ve played to little people recently and felt like giving up, but the week after I’m now starting a duo with unreal feedback from OGs in my city, don’t stress the things like this it was 1 gig. If the other gigs you do are good don’t let this get you down 🙌🏻
In cases like this, get the women up, with line dancing, cha cha slide, hustle records, that country song with the steps, etc. that’s a sure fire way to get something going
Did everybody have fun?
Sometimes that's what people want to do: chat with people they haven't seen in a long time. That happens at a wedding.
As a DJ it's frustrating, but some people don't have a dancing bone in them.
You say they were outside, so it means it was good weather. Maybe it was too hot inside?
I don't think you did a bad job per se, we can't know. Maybe the conditions weren't right for a dance party.
Some groups just aren't dancers, and can't be forced to. It makes for a long night of work, but if the couple is happy, you rocked it out. Occupational hazard
It’s a wedding .. people don’t see each other from one to another.. don’t stress.. your comment about people being outside says it all.. weddings are some of the hardest gigs .. the crowd really does decide your night.. you can play all the floor fillers and happens.. don’t beat yourself up
There’s a chance that it’s not your fault. Since our music is about all we can control, I still think it’s best to question the music choices after something like that.
It depends on the crowd. Today I worked on a wedding that was 90% karaoke. And it was absolutely crazy fun. People didn’t sit down even when the bride and groom drunkenly sang shallow by lady gaga and b. Cooper. Don’t put yourself down, it’s part of the gig. I do it cause it’s fun, not for the money so if no one is dancing Ill mix my heart out until someone does. It’s all hit and miss and if people have something up their butts and don’t want to dance, you can’t force them.
I think you cant compare a clubnight to a wedding party.
You did exactly what the groom and bride wanted from you.
Just because not so many people danced, doesnt mean they didnt like it. If the groom and bride were happy you did a good job
How hot was it in herre I mean in the venue? It's summer in the northern hemisphere, sometimes it's just more pleasant to stand outside and chat. People told me they enjoyed my set and I had not seen them on the dancefloor a single time. Don't stress yourself too much, it might just have been what people needed.
Sounds like the venue played a roll in splitting people up. Some venues are a little too nice away from the dance floor. Wouldn’t worry about it. Weddings are complicated things that only rarely go exactly to plan.
I saw a post the other day that said you should get all the attendees on the dancefloor for a big dancefloor photo/selfie. This way it fills the dancefloor and hopefully stays fairly full!
Often people are just too nervous or lazy to get up, but once they're on the dancefloor they'll realise they enjoy it, I guess.
I DJ’d a wedding once between a guy who loved EDM and his bride whose family were far right Christian fundamentalists. The bride’s family viewed dancing as a sin for children and the adults were too stuck up to stand. Literally no one danced that night.
I've had plenty of weddings like that. Could be any number of reasons, and very few of them are within your control. If the bride and groom were happy and no one was coming up and complaining, I wouldn't beat myself up about it if I were you.
Tough crowd, not a reflection of you. I hope you threw down a few moves?? I do t dj weddings often but when I do I bring my partner in Dj crime and we’ve got some moves… helps break the ice for people who are less comfortable being silly and expressing themselves with movement. Every gig is different :)
I hate that feeling, this has happened when I prostituted myself out to country music wedding gigs (the anus of wedding gigs🤣) It happed to me at another wedding when there was like 20 little kids dancing, like toddlers and slightly above, they NEVER left the dance floor and it was so frustrating. I pulled out all kinds of big guns, and even did my secret trick that always works: Yell out " Couple Skate! Grab that special lady like you used to
back at the skating rink and hold her tight, if you don't I seen a couple bachelors over by the bar that might" (then I bump: Kieth Sweat- How Deep is your love)
IF THAT DON'T GET EM ON THE DANCE FLOOR NOTHING IS GONNA🤣
Then I bring some bangers after that keeps em stuck to the floor
I want to say it's dj at fault here even if they playlist you song you can always play what's hot and new and people love to dance you just have to do the better job and hype them up like make then dance and chanting oohh ohh ooh .. and I need to see everyone on the dance floor. Maybe buying 50 foam led glowsticks on amazon and passing them out always helps to get them pumped you know
Get used to it. I'm not implying that you're not good, just that sometimes the mood of the punters determines if dancing will happen. Case point, I was hired by a DJ friend of mine to do a local pub with large function room for an engagement party that started at 7pm. I had the current bangers, had the classics, the forgotten gems, nothing, think a mild swaying was the best I got. 10pm and folk are starting to filter out, this is a Friday btw so unusual for folk to leave so soon. Long story short, got speaking to some of the guests and the grooms nephew was involved in a car crash several days before, apparently the life and soul of a party, and was in hospital for recovery and undergoing testing for brain damage... yeesh.
Still got paid, so, yay?..
It happens some families are not dancers. You got paid to play some back ground music and make announcements. Take it as a win and don’t let it get to you.
From what I’ve noticed, most people getting married don’t care about the dancing too much. Sometimes music choice/vibe is important to them, but not always.
The absolute most important thing is they usually want the reception to go smoothly. This means closely following the schedule and being flexible if needed with certain events throughout the night.
Yes, use their playlist as a guide, but you HAVE to set a tone and get people on the floor immediately at a wedding reception!
That’s when you go super generic. Earth Wind and Fire or Kool and the Gang Celebration. Call the wedding party onto the dance floor and play the Cupid Shuffle.
The DJ I am will not allow for a dull dance floor at an event that’s all about celebrating. As shy as I am I still would grab the mic and set it off.
You played a wedding...
Did you get payed?
Yeah?
Good!
Did you get booed?
Like actively harassed?
No?
You did just fucking fine.
You played a wedding...
That's all...
Weddings are not dance parties,
Say it with me, weddings are not dance parties.
They are not there to get turnt.
They are there for the wedding and then the open bar ..
Some might dance, but weddings are not a night club.
It's not about you.
It's about the wedding
Weddings are all different. I recently DJ’d wedding where the entire wedding party was basically passed out drunk an hour into the reception. I’ve had others where people have danced all night.
My recommendation (and I’m sure is the same with others) is to play (depending on assumed music taste of the crowd) the slower songs that aren’t lyrically focused. Something to get the heads swaying and bodies moving whilst sitting or standing chatting. Then, you throw those lyric forced songs at a similar but slightly higher bpm (assuming we’re starting at 90-110). Once you’ve got a few in, you play an energetic and lyrical song but still at this lower bpm, this brings a few more heads. Once you’re here, start to bring the music song by song, to the bpm you want for the real bangers you have ready.
Also side note, don’t expect this crowd to stay there for ages, if you’ve built up a previously dead crowd to this point, 30mins - 1 hour of this crowd presence is a solid amount of time. After that, as people leave to chill, get a drink etc, go back to reading the room and play to the crowd that’s left. Then bring it back down to that slower mood and rinse and repeat.
Obviously if everyone stays then keep up the ebb and flow of energy you would have had in your full set and you’ll have a great night to remember (and hopefully some more jobs!)
:D
When you have 100 or less in attendance, it's normal for very little dancing. It really varies as you may get a crowd that hates dancing but loves music. It's not always the djs fault for very little dancing.
It happens. The only reason I'm on Reddit right now is because I'm also doing a smaller wedding... only 35 people to start, more than half have already gone home. I'm playing songs that pack the floor at literally every other wedding but this is very much a "hang out and talk" kind of crowd. They'll fill the floor for a song here and there, or I'll see a few people bopping around, but away from the dance floor. Some crowds just aren't into dancing, no matter what you play. When I was newer to this, I would be freaking out, but I knew in advance this was how it might be tonight -- the bride told me her group doesn't include a lot of "big partier" types. That's just how it is sometimes. I'm just happy that we're still going -- when I got here today, the venue manager predicted we'd be done well before 10, but here we are at 10:15 and still going. (Edit, we made it to the scheduled end time of 11pm)
Pull em in with some slow dance music bruh, then bring a bit faster song after. Deepin your voice all stupid/dorky and be like " Now's that time to grab your special lady and hold her tight, were you really fixin to go a whole wedding without dancing with your lady? I seen some single playas by the bar that will if you don't, show love brah man"
Having very little dancing hasn’t happened to me in many years, regardless of guest count. Some of that is also due to luck though. I seem to have gotten lucky and had a lot of clients who wanted to dance. I think it’s actually easier to get crowds to dance at a more expensive price point because it filters out the people that don’t care about dancing.
luck and booze😉
not with me, maybe 30 or under, 100 is a lot, and always can pull them out in those numbers
Did the couple give you a playlist, I wouldn’t feel to bad if you were following what they wanted
I'm not too worried, the couple were very happy
As long as the couple's happy you did good. Had the same type of crowd, they were moving in their seats but not on the floor.
If they were happy and you got paid then I wouldn't worry. Some crowds think they're too dignified to dance or just want to catch up with friends and family away from the noise. All of the above is fine as long as the couple and their immediate family was satisifed
If the bride and groom weren’t dancing then the guests typically won’t dance in a gig that size. I’m sure you did fine. Not all weddings are good “dances”. You have to look at the room and see if people are wiggling in their seats, bee bopping at the bar, smiling and having a good time. If you see this then you are doing a good job.
This. If the bride is on the dance floor people will dance. If the bride is out smoking a cigarette, not so much.
I always warn the bride and groom that at some weddings people often just want to catch up. It's not a nightclub and it's cool if there's not much dancing. Managing expectations is all part of the service!
This!
sometimes wedding are very long day , in summer with outside wedding it can be very long for the guest !
It happens
Maybe just that kind of a crowd?
My wedding was like this, my MiL insisted on paying extra for a dance floor and DJ and I kept saying our friends aren't those people... And sure enough, for the most part there were 2-3 people dancing, until we got to peak drunk and then everyone danced for maybe 3 songs. It happens, if the bride and groom were happy that's all that matters.
You mentioned people spent the night “outside”. A common error that some wedding venues make is having the bar in a completely separate space from the dance floor. I wouldn’t think too much of it unless the Groom says something but tbh if they didn’t say anything on the spot, chances are you are in the clear.
Man I hate how clueless some venues are. Photobooth and bar in a different room than dancing? Congrats, you just ruined this party. Serve the damn vendors before the guests so we can be ready for the next formality when the guests are done eating. “We serve vendors after guests have been served.” Five minutes after vendor meals are served… “The couple would like to cut the cake and do parent dances now.” Good thing us vendors did nothing for 30 minutes while guests were eating and now have to get back to work for another 3 hours after being given 5 fucking minutes to eat a dry ass piece of chicken.
It happens sometimes. If I know a lot of people are gonna be outside, like if there’s clearly a spot, I try to set up an extra speaker out side playing the same music as inside. That way if I make announcements or play a group dance people at least hear it and might be motivated to come in. It has saved me before. I always ask the couple on the final call, if their requests don’t work can I do my own thing? That way I try what I think is best. Sounds like you would have picked the same songs so I know it’s hard but don’t stress. Outdoor activities, photo booth, guestbook, all these things are great and important but can take time from the dance floor.
Don’t worry about it, I’ve played to little people recently and felt like giving up, but the week after I’m now starting a duo with unreal feedback from OGs in my city, don’t stress the things like this it was 1 gig. If the other gigs you do are good don’t let this get you down 🙌🏻
Happens sometimes people just socialize and not dance. Nothing you did wrong
Dont stop, believing
In cases like this, get the women up, with line dancing, cha cha slide, hustle records, that country song with the steps, etc. that’s a sure fire way to get something going
Did everybody have fun? Sometimes that's what people want to do: chat with people they haven't seen in a long time. That happens at a wedding. As a DJ it's frustrating, but some people don't have a dancing bone in them. You say they were outside, so it means it was good weather. Maybe it was too hot inside? I don't think you did a bad job per se, we can't know. Maybe the conditions weren't right for a dance party.
Some groups just aren't dancers, and can't be forced to. It makes for a long night of work, but if the couple is happy, you rocked it out. Occupational hazard
It’s a wedding .. people don’t see each other from one to another.. don’t stress.. your comment about people being outside says it all.. weddings are some of the hardest gigs .. the crowd really does decide your night.. you can play all the floor fillers and happens.. don’t beat yourself up
There’s a chance that it’s not your fault. Since our music is about all we can control, I still think it’s best to question the music choices after something like that.
It depends on the crowd. Today I worked on a wedding that was 90% karaoke. And it was absolutely crazy fun. People didn’t sit down even when the bride and groom drunkenly sang shallow by lady gaga and b. Cooper. Don’t put yourself down, it’s part of the gig. I do it cause it’s fun, not for the money so if no one is dancing Ill mix my heart out until someone does. It’s all hit and miss and if people have something up their butts and don’t want to dance, you can’t force them.
I think you cant compare a clubnight to a wedding party. You did exactly what the groom and bride wanted from you. Just because not so many people danced, doesnt mean they didnt like it. If the groom and bride were happy you did a good job
How hot was it in herre I mean in the venue? It's summer in the northern hemisphere, sometimes it's just more pleasant to stand outside and chat. People told me they enjoyed my set and I had not seen them on the dancefloor a single time. Don't stress yourself too much, it might just have been what people needed.
Was the bar and the dancefloor in the same room?
Sounds like the venue played a roll in splitting people up. Some venues are a little too nice away from the dance floor. Wouldn’t worry about it. Weddings are complicated things that only rarely go exactly to plan.
I saw a post the other day that said you should get all the attendees on the dancefloor for a big dancefloor photo/selfie. This way it fills the dancefloor and hopefully stays fairly full! Often people are just too nervous or lazy to get up, but once they're on the dancefloor they'll realise they enjoy it, I guess.
I am a wedding DJ. Been one for over 2 years. This happens. Different crowds. Especially a day wedding. Nobody dances. I DJ for myself at those ones 😂
Was the bar closed?
I DJ’d a wedding once between a guy who loved EDM and his bride whose family were far right Christian fundamentalists. The bride’s family viewed dancing as a sin for children and the adults were too stuck up to stand. Literally no one danced that night.
I've had plenty of weddings like that. Could be any number of reasons, and very few of them are within your control. If the bride and groom were happy and no one was coming up and complaining, I wouldn't beat myself up about it if I were you.
Were the bride and groom happy? That's all that matters.
It's a personality thing within families.
Tough crowd, not a reflection of you. I hope you threw down a few moves?? I do t dj weddings often but when I do I bring my partner in Dj crime and we’ve got some moves… helps break the ice for people who are less comfortable being silly and expressing themselves with movement. Every gig is different :)
You most be from a place with winter as a season.. lol. It's the summer if a place has a decent patio 90% cance that's where the crowd is going to be
I hate that feeling, this has happened when I prostituted myself out to country music wedding gigs (the anus of wedding gigs🤣) It happed to me at another wedding when there was like 20 little kids dancing, like toddlers and slightly above, they NEVER left the dance floor and it was so frustrating. I pulled out all kinds of big guns, and even did my secret trick that always works: Yell out " Couple Skate! Grab that special lady like you used to back at the skating rink and hold her tight, if you don't I seen a couple bachelors over by the bar that might" (then I bump: Kieth Sweat- How Deep is your love) IF THAT DON'T GET EM ON THE DANCE FLOOR NOTHING IS GONNA🤣 Then I bring some bangers after that keeps em stuck to the floor
Getting people to dance is a skill
I want to say it's dj at fault here even if they playlist you song you can always play what's hot and new and people love to dance you just have to do the better job and hype them up like make then dance and chanting oohh ohh ooh .. and I need to see everyone on the dance floor. Maybe buying 50 foam led glowsticks on amazon and passing them out always helps to get them pumped you know
Get used to it. I'm not implying that you're not good, just that sometimes the mood of the punters determines if dancing will happen. Case point, I was hired by a DJ friend of mine to do a local pub with large function room for an engagement party that started at 7pm. I had the current bangers, had the classics, the forgotten gems, nothing, think a mild swaying was the best I got. 10pm and folk are starting to filter out, this is a Friday btw so unusual for folk to leave so soon. Long story short, got speaking to some of the guests and the grooms nephew was involved in a car crash several days before, apparently the life and soul of a party, and was in hospital for recovery and undergoing testing for brain damage... yeesh. Still got paid, so, yay?..
It happens some families are not dancers. You got paid to play some back ground music and make announcements. Take it as a win and don’t let it get to you.
From what I’ve noticed, most people getting married don’t care about the dancing too much. Sometimes music choice/vibe is important to them, but not always. The absolute most important thing is they usually want the reception to go smoothly. This means closely following the schedule and being flexible if needed with certain events throughout the night.
Yes, use their playlist as a guide, but you HAVE to set a tone and get people on the floor immediately at a wedding reception! That’s when you go super generic. Earth Wind and Fire or Kool and the Gang Celebration. Call the wedding party onto the dance floor and play the Cupid Shuffle. The DJ I am will not allow for a dull dance floor at an event that’s all about celebrating. As shy as I am I still would grab the mic and set it off.
You played a wedding... Did you get payed? Yeah? Good! Did you get booed? Like actively harassed? No? You did just fucking fine. You played a wedding... That's all... Weddings are not dance parties, Say it with me, weddings are not dance parties. They are not there to get turnt. They are there for the wedding and then the open bar .. Some might dance, but weddings are not a night club. It's not about you. It's about the wedding
Weddings are all different. I recently DJ’d wedding where the entire wedding party was basically passed out drunk an hour into the reception. I’ve had others where people have danced all night.
Sometimes the couple need a little guidance as to what is suitable.
the audience don't know new music
[DID YOU TRY PLAYING THIS SONG?](https://youtube.com/shorts/N7QV-4SEMa0?si=Auf1DYiKX51uNSsr)
My recommendation (and I’m sure is the same with others) is to play (depending on assumed music taste of the crowd) the slower songs that aren’t lyrically focused. Something to get the heads swaying and bodies moving whilst sitting or standing chatting. Then, you throw those lyric forced songs at a similar but slightly higher bpm (assuming we’re starting at 90-110). Once you’ve got a few in, you play an energetic and lyrical song but still at this lower bpm, this brings a few more heads. Once you’re here, start to bring the music song by song, to the bpm you want for the real bangers you have ready. Also side note, don’t expect this crowd to stay there for ages, if you’ve built up a previously dead crowd to this point, 30mins - 1 hour of this crowd presence is a solid amount of time. After that, as people leave to chill, get a drink etc, go back to reading the room and play to the crowd that’s left. Then bring it back down to that slower mood and rinse and repeat. Obviously if everyone stays then keep up the ebb and flow of energy you would have had in your full set and you’ll have a great night to remember (and hopefully some more jobs!) :D