KC Weddings .net - Do Not Play Lists

The Dreaded "DO NOT PLAY" List
By Ed and Dottie Ottman

There is nothing a DJ fears more then when the Bride and Groom produce a list of all the songs they don’t want played during their reception – the dreaded “Do Not Play” list. Generally, this list consists of longtime party favorites like “YMCA”, “The Chicken Dance”, and “Hokey Pokey”, just to name a few.

After reviewing the list with the bride and groom, we share that many of the songs on their list would surely fill the dance floor and keep the party rockin’. The usual response is “it’s my reception and I don’t want to hear that song”. There is no argument that a reception should reflect the personalities of the bride and groom but there should also be some flexibility allotted to the DJ to appeal to all of your guest’s varied tastes.

Most DJ’s find it incredibly frustrating when a bride and groom invite families, with many children in attendance, yet they won’t allow the DJ to play any “Boy Group” music, or entertain with the “Chicken Dance” or “YMCA”. The end result is that the children get bored, and have no way to burn off excess energy. Guess what happens then? Ever attend a reception and had to spend time dodging children on the dance floor, endangering themselves or others?

Before you and your fiancé sit down to work on your “Do Not Play” list, ask yourself a couple of questions:

How many children and teens will be in attendance? Understand their music tastes.

Even if I don’t like a particular song or group, if a guest wants to hear it, can I tolerate it so they can have a good time?

Can I trust the DJ I hired to use all the music at his disposal to ensure everyone has fun?

A good DJ understands when the couple doesn’t want to hear Hard Rock or Rap because they have a very limited audience and appeal, especially to grandma and grandpa who are in attendance. However, it’s a good idea to move from the “it’s my reception” thought process to “let’s celebrate our special day with our guests”. It’s a sure fire recipe for success and a day of FUN!