The Most Outrageous Things People Tell a Chicago DJ

This article is just for fun. I want to tell you what some of your wedding guests are going to tell your DJ, to try to get him to play their requests ahead of everyone else’s requests. Rest assured, your DJ will handle these demands tactfully. But you may be amused at the lengths to which some people will go, to try to take over your evening’s music selection. If their requests fit well into the flow of music, and don’t conflict with your “do not play” list, many of them will be played anyway.

  • What are you playing next? (You’ll find out, along with everyone else, in just 3 minutes; there’s no reason to tell you the song in advance, so you can argue about it)
  • I have to leave soon. Can you play my song next? (And I’ll be back in a half hour, and again in an hour, etc., with lots more requests)
  • You have to play my song. I’m the cousin of the bride. (That explains why you’re here, but it doesn’t give you any authority)
  • What songs do you have? (A better question is, what song would you like?)
  • What do you mean, you don’t have my song? (Well, basically, we mean we don’t have your song; and your incredulity won’t make it magically appear)
  • Nobody likes what you’re playing. (Translation: I don’t like what you’re playing, regardless of those 50 people on the dance floor)
  • Don’t play that song on the request list. (You may ADD to the list, but not SUBTRACT from it. The very next person may tell the DJ not to play the song YOU requested, and he’ll spend the whole night not playing songs)
  • Play something outrageous that’ll really shake up this crowd. (Your DJ is there to help your guests dance, not to shake them up, just so one person can get his jollies by tanking the party)
  • I hate this song. Play anything but this one. (Gladly; the next song is not this one, so we’ll play it just for you)
  • Play something with a beat. (Be specific — every song has a beat)
  • Play something we can dance to. (Everyone else is dancing to the song that’s playing now. Tell the DJ a song YOU’D like to dance to)
  • Everyone will dance to this song. (I count 120 people in the room, 70 of whom are on the dance floor; are you willing to give me $100 in cash that I get to keep if even one person remains seated?)
  • Who requested this awful song? (Umm, the bride and groom. Do YOU want to be the person to tell them that they have awful taste in music?)
  • Play this song… it’s the bride and groom’s favorite. (Translation: it’s MY favorite. Curious that the bride and groom didn’t include their “favorite” song on their request list)
  • I wanted to hear ***, but I just got here. Can you play it again?  (No)
  • Can I sing over this song? (No, unless the bride and groom come up to the DJ together and give you permission. It’s their party, not your personal showcase)
  • Can you wish *** a happy birthday? (Only if the bride and groom told us about it in advance; otherwise, the DJ will be stopping the party every 5 minutes to wish one person or another a happy birthday)
  • Can you dedicate a song to ***? (Usually not, because that person will be the only one in the room who didn’t hear the dedication; and it won’t contribute to a successful party. If you want to send a personal shout-out to someone, text him)
  • Can you play this silly song as a joke for ***? (No; again, the only person who might be “in” on the inside joke will probably be engaged in conversation and miss it; and everyone else will think the DJ is stupid for playing an awful song that stops the dancing)
  • Can I spin some songs? (No; the bride and groom had plenty of opportunity to hire you as their DJ, and they chose us instead)
  • Can you play this song from my iPhone? (No; a wedding is not the place to teach people unfamiliar music… it’s the surest way to empty the dance floor)
  • Can you play the song that goes ****? I don’t know the name of it. (Ask your friends, and come back with the title and artist’s name, and we can probably play it)
  • This request list is awful. Don’t play any of these. (Tell that to the newlyweds; they spent hours, maybe days, carefully selecting their favorites; if you’d like to pay for the entire party in exchange for substituting your favorites for theirs, just send them up, and if they give the DJ permission, the rest of the night is yours)
  • I know the bride and groom hate this song, but here’s 20 bucks to play it. (Sorry, but you have to pay for the entire party, and show proof of it, to hear a song the bride and groom have prohibited) 

An experienced professional DJ has heard all of these comments a time or two, and knows how to be patient and sensitive yet firm in rejecting requests that aren’t appropriate for your party. Your DJ’s loyalty is to you and ALL of your guests, not just one or two selfish ones.

© Fourth Estate Audio, 2016 – Jay Congdon is president of Fourth Estate Audio, a professional Chicago DJ and Chicago Wedding DJ company.

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