Music During Meal

[goldensounds 0]

HI all , I have been asked to start at 2pm for a wedding In Dec and play music during meal (a few hours), never done this before, 1st time for everything. Is there any cds any you guys use I.E mastermix etc that would do the job? Thank You

[superstardeejay 0]

Anything to aid digestion rather than have them shouting with their mouths full.

 

 

[djgb 0]

Try some swing esp. Paul Anka ( try rock swings ), easy listening stuff, stuff with a low bpm. Slow love songs etc. instrumental versions of songs

 

I think there used to be some cds about for this type of things . Music to eat to - or something.

 

Ask them if they have any tunes in mind.

[aaadisco 0]

I would ask them what sort of background music they would like.

 

When I play background music for the meal, I normally offer a choice of Ratpack type stuff (Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin etc.), Mellow Jazz (Easy Jazz is a great 3 CD album), Modern chilled out pop etc..

 

If you ask them then you won't get it wrong, ask them for a few songs they would like to hear during this part and if they arn't sure they say you will play a mixture.

 

Remember it is meant to be background music so shouldn't be too loud, they should be able to speak to each other at the tables with the music providing a bit of atmosphere.

 

As it is December, you could throw in a few slow christmas songs.

 

Hope this helps and good luck with it!

[Raymilkybarkid 0]

I play light Jazz and melow songs

[gadget 0]

Tend to put on some motown or ratpack for background...

 

Although depends on your crowd of course!

 

Cheers,

 

David

[goldensounds 0]

Thank You for all your suggestions, Ive spoken to the agent about anything special and await reply. I will dig out some rat pack cds and somewhere in garage I have some mellow soul and zazz??

Thanks again

[djbzentertainment 0]

Might be a bit late with this, sorry , but for future ref, bought a great album off i-tunes called 101 dinner party songs. As the title suggests there are 101 tunes on there, all suited to be played at low volume while people are stuffing their faces. It was very cheap and i just connect up my iphone to the pa and let it play! Running length is plenty long enough. Google it!

 

 

Bob

[gadget 0]

 

As it is December, you could throw in a few slow christmas songs.

 

 

I can count on one hand how many Christmas Songs I played at my all of gigs in December... !

 

Cheers,

 

David

[Supradave 0]

I tend to play Rat Pack music as background music plus a few similar artists (Paul Anka, Tony Bennett, Nat King Cole)

 

You can also through in some of the current day artists that are producing easy listening material like Katie Melua, Diana Krall, Harry Connick Jnr, Michael Buble and Jack Johnson to name but a few.

[Derek Paul 0]

We play “Dinner” music at almost every event and you can’t go wrong with Michael Buble. I also mix in some Sinatra, Harry Connick Jr, Louis Armstrong etc. But I always offer my clients the chance to provide a Playlist, or suggested artists.

Edited January 9, 2011 by Derek Paul

[little al 0]

We play “Dinner” music at almost every event and you can’t go wrong with Michael Buble. I also mix in some Sinatra, Harry Connick Jr, Louis Armstrong etc. But I always offer my clients the chance to provide a Playlist, or suggested artists.

 

 

A good tip is to look at the current Radio2 playlists, a nice mix of easy listening old and new stuff.

[djdshaw 0]

I agree with Harry Connick & Michael Buble also Norah Jones is good as are the numerous Easy Listening - various artists CD's with those type of compilations you can just stick them on & let them run

[DJTREV 0]

I agree with Harry Connick & Michael Buble also Norah Jones is good as are the numerous Easy Listening - various artists CD's with those type of compilations you can just stick them on & let them run

 

What like a very expensive juke box in the corner.

You might as well put an ipod in and retire to the bar for the rest of the night.

If they are paying for me to be there then I want them to see me at my rig even if it means just putting each track on from the same cd.

 

[hellbound1972 0]

 

What like a very expensive juke box in the corner.

You might as well put an ipod in and retire to the bar for the rest of the night.

If they are paying for me to be there then I want them to see me at my rig even if it means just putting each track on from the same cd.

 

No one is dancing, asking for requests or in any shape or form interested in what you are doing during dinner.

 

IMO it is a waste of energy to actually "DJ" during background as you just look silly with headphones on your head setting up the next song whilst people are looking at you from their table with food in their mouth.

 

 

 

[djmick 0]

No one is dancing, asking for requests or in any shape or form interested in what you are doing during dinner.

 

IMO it is a waste of energy to actually "DJ" during background as you just look silly with headphones on your head setting up the next song whilst people are looking at you from their table with food in their mouth.

 

 

Agreed That,s my "Breaktime"

[qcdiscodynamic 0]

Apart from 2 I've always been asked to be there for the duration of the meal providing background music.

I don't mind it but then equally I've done some wherenobody would have noticed if I'd not been there. Having just written that, I've occasionally had people come up to request things or to ask for details about a song I've played during a meal, which is always nice and makes me feel that I haven't been wasting my time.

 

The best background music I ever provided was at a halloween themed ball: every track I played had some reference to the supernatural or halloween and it was a labour of love.

 

I'm not surprised that a lot of other people go for jazz and swing. In my opinion a lot of tracks that fall within those genres are ideal for background music during a meal.

 

I tend to mix it up a bit if I'm there for the duration of the thing and try to cover most styles. I find that doo wop, country, reggae, soft rock, 'sophisti-pop,*'and soul work very well for background music. As was noted earlier in the thread, there are generally some excellent current releases on Radio 2's playlist that'll be good to slip in too.

 

 

*Sophisti-pop: I heard this mentioned on a radio station once and made a point of looking it up. It's basically UK pop music during the 1980s that incorporated jazz and/or soft-rock elements. A lot ofincludes bands like The Style Council, Sade and Scritti Politti.