The Do’s and Dont’s of Making Song Requests
It’s always odd when guests ask me “do you take requests?” Who are all these non-request-taking DJ’s out there prompting this question? Of course I’ll take requests! In fact, in many cases, I prefer it when guests make requests. It makes it much easier to get a feel for what my crowd likes.
That said, just like anything in life there’s a certain etiquette to requesting songs, and over my years DJing, has led me to write this code of conduct for when it comes to requesting songs at an event.
DON’T: Ask to look at my songlist
Just like most DJ’s these days, I have 60,000+ songs. To get just a feel for what I have would take you a solid 30 mins, then you’d have 59,000 other tracks to look at. Neither of us have time to play that game. I try to keep my library stocked with all sorts of diverse crowd pleasers, so your imagination will probably hit something I’ve got.
DO: Request songs earlier
The earlier a request comes in, the more likely an appropriate moment will present itself to play it. Especially at weddings, it’s better to request songs earlier because it’s typically slower paced, and there’s plenty of time to work on requests. During dinner, can be a great time to incorporate some songs that wouldn’t make sense later.
DON’T: Expect to hear your request immediately
Many guests will come up to me one song after they make a request and ask why I haven’t played their song. A DJ is a performer. Just as your favorite headliner doesn’t break into their mega-hit at the beginning of a concert, DJ’s don’t play every hit immediately when it’s time for dancing. Your DJ is trying to make a cohesive experience, and some songs are pretty jarring right next to each other. Just because your song isn’t playing immediately doesn’t mean it isn’t coming. If the request is good…it’s coming.
DO: Know exactly what you want to hear
If I had a dollar for every time someone said “it’s the song that goes like…,” or “I think that’s the artist,” I could buy a mansion. Especially when it’s dancing time, it’s critical that you know what you want before you come up. A DJ’s top priority is keeping the party going. It can be difficult to do that while having lengthy conversations, trying to figure out what a guest wants to hear.
DON’T: Make vague requests
“Play some R&B,” could mean B.B. King & Stevie Wonder or Usher & Ginuine depending on who’s asking. DJs want to make sure guests are getting the requests they’re expecting. It would be helpful to a DJ if you request “play some classic rock,” instead of “play some 80’s music.” At the heart of the matter, DJs want to make people happy, so help us, help you.
DO: Make odd requests
This isn’t to say it’s good to request totally bizarre songs that nobody knows, rather an invitation to request songs that isn’t on the forefront of everyone’s minds and playlists. Everyone’s heard the latest Beyonce song, and probably except that it’s coming. If someone requests a throwback nobody’s thought about in years, that can help everybody out and take the musical odyssey on a totally different route.
No DJ wants to be the one to play Pitbull all night. While some times, that’s exactly what’s called for, it can be good when a guest helps guide the night.
