Holiday mixers and contests - Wrap Em up (weekly game/contest)

Wrap Em up 

You will need: 

• sever rolls of cheap wrapping paper
• tape
• some ribbon
• some bows. 

Set up the same way as the mummy wrap game. Excpt each person or team begins wrapping their present (person) from head to toe. 

The final part is placing a ribbon and a bow on their present to complete it.

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Holiday mixers and contests - Frosty the snowman (weekly game/contest)

Frosty the snowman 

You will need: 

• several rolls of toilet paper
• 2 hats (fedoras or winter hats)
• tape
• 2 plastic pipes (carrots optional). 

Set up the game the same way as the Mummy wrap game. Except the team that finishes their snowman first wins. After totally wrapping the person from head to toe, the team must then complete the snowman by placing a hat on them and a pipe in their mouth.

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The Napkin or Item Pass - Monthly Activity

Card - Napkin - Item  PASS

Suggested Music:  Wipe out - Surfaris, Tequila - The Champs, Oh Yeah - Yello, We like to party - Vengaboys, Get ready for this - 2 unlimited

1. Ask one person at each table to take a napkin and raise it over their head so you can make sure that ONE person at each table has one.
2. Tell Them, “ When the music starts I want you to pass the napkin to the right. When the music stops we will have a lucky winner’.
3. Play music for 30 seconds and then abruptly stop and ask, “ Who has the napkin?”
4. Have the person with the napkin stand up and have everyone give them a round of applause like they have won something. When applause stops tell them, “You owe the person to your right One Dollar” or say “That was practice & this time it's for real”
5. Have them pass the napkin the Other way a second time. Let them know they can even pass it across the table if they or you wish.
6. Play Music for 10 to 20 seconds and abruptly stop and ask, “ Who has the napkin this time?”
7. Make the person with the napkin stand up and have everyone give them a round of applause.
8. Nominate the person standing The “Table Captain” or “Table God” or “Party God” and explain they will be responsible for their tables dancing and having fun. (optional) You can joke and say they are also responsible for cleaning up the mess everyone has made there.
9. You can award the centerpieces to these people IF the centerpieces are being given away and the client has told you this is ok.
10. Play Celebration or Get this party started or your opening DANCE song and tell the Table Captains to get the entire table of guests to the dance floor. (if it’s a tough crowd play a slow tune instead or go into the Multiplication or Anniversary dance).

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Holiday mixers and contests - Dueling Santa Clauses (weekly game/contest)

Dueling Santa Clauses 

You will need 2 Santa Hats & a bag of balloons. This game can also be used in any singles mixer as well without the Santa Hats. Have 2 men sit in chairs and have an equal amount of women line up in front of them. Put Santa Hats on the 2 men sitting in the chairs. On “GO” the first woman takes a balloon, blows it up, ties it off, places on the males lap, and then proceeds to try to pop the balloon by sitting on it. Once the balloon is popped she stands behind the man (or Santa). The winner is the person with the most girls behind him first.

Please visit our Website for information on DJ Classes in-person or on line at http://www.djentertainmentschool.com

Holiday mixers and contests - Christmas Bingo (weekly game/contest)

Christmas Bingo 

A holiday twist on a classic game for which there are a wide selection of printable cards online with Christmas words and images in place of numbers. Your DJ will serve as caller and make things a bit more fun by showcasing their humor and personality while telling jokes and sharing funny stories between each call.

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Holiday mixers and contests - Name that Christmas Carol & Next line please (weekly game/contest) Bonus 2

Name that Christmas Carol

The name of the game says it all, and it couldn’t be more perfectly suited to the talents of a professional disc jockey. The DJ may choose a five to ten second snippet somewhere in the middle of the song or simply start at the beginning and play as much of the song as necessary before one of your guests correctly identifies it. You can give extra credit if the guest can name both the song and the artist performing it. To increase the level of difficulty, you can ask your DJ to play snippets of unconventional or alternative recordings of famous holiday classics. Rest assured, all the best professional DJs will be well versed on several different recorded versions of any popular holiday song you can name.

Next Line Please 

This is another fun game utilizing Christmas carols. The DJ will begin to play a chorus or verse from a famous Christmas classic stopping each track halfway through a verse or chorus at which point your guests will provide the next line. Extra points can be awarded for actually singing the next line rather than just speaking it.

Please visit our Website for information on DJ Classes in-person or on line at http://www.djentertainmentschool.com

The Hokey Pokey & Create a Dance - The Final Weekly Line Dance

For our Finale of the weekly line dance series we will give you a bonus of 2 dances, The Hokey Pokey & Create a Dance.

Hokey Pokey 

1. Have guests form a circle. 
2. Have them follow the commands of the song.

Create - A - Dance

Creating a dance is simple. Choose 4 different dance moves and repeat them 4 times. Then repeat those steps. For Example: 

• Head bop 4 times left 
• Head bop 4 times right 
• March in place 4 times 
• Clap 4 times 
• REPEAT

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Holiday mixers and contests - Lottery Ticket Giveaway (Weekly Game/Contest)

Buy a couple of Holiday themed scratch lottery tickets, place a business card on each chair and put a number on the back of each business card. During dinner ask everyone to check their card, if they have the one with the number you call on it they could win up to (whatever the top prize is on the ticket you bought). Ask the winner to come forward. Have them scratch off the card while you wait, and emcee it. If they.... win GREAT! If not tell everyone to hold on to their card because there is going to be another drawing later. If you have another drawing that's fine, if you don't then your card is in their pocket.

Try this for any party or occasion.

Multiplication Dance - Monthly activity

Multiplication Dance

This is yet another activity to get guests on the dance floor, especially at a wedding.

1. Have Bride & Groom on the Center of the dance Floor Dancing.
2. Invite Guests to come out and make a circle around the Bride & Groom.
3. Start Slow song and Have Bride & Groom dance for 10 seconds or so.
4. When you say SWITCH Have B & G break apart and find a new partner to dance with from the circle. Have them dance 15 to 20 seconds and say SWITCH again.
5. Have those 4 people find 4 new partners to dance with. Let them dance for 20 seconds and say Switch again.
6. Continue until everyone is dancing.

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The Alley Cat Dance - Weekly Line Dance Series

Alley Cat

1. Form a few lines like the electric slide. Start with the very first piano note. 
2. Tap right toe to the side and back twice. 
3. Tap left toe to the side and back twice. 
4. Tap right toe back and bring back twice 
5. Tap left toe back and bring back twice 
6. Lift right knee up twice 
7. Lift left knee up twice 
8. Lift right knee once 
9. Lift left knee once 
10. Clap turn ¼ turn counterclockwise and start at step 2

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Holiday mixers and contests - Santa Clause Line Dances (Weekly Game/Contest)

Have the boss or leader of the group start the dance off by wearing a Santa hat and strutting down Santa Clause lane. Use Elvis Presley's version of "Here comes Santa Clause" for the dance.

Try the electric slide or your favorite line dance to Jingle Bell Rock by Bobby Helmes just do the dance a bit slower or speed up the pitch of the song.

Rudolph Locomotion: Ask the crowd to choose their leader. Then dress the leader up in antlers and a red nose. Ask RUDOLPH to choose his 8 tiny reindeer. After selecting them, set them up in a standard locomotion or choo choo train line. Send them into the crowd. Run run Rudolph is a Great song to use.

Basic Line Dance Oldie Weekly Line Dance series

Line Dance (Soul Train) (The wanderer, Kansas City, Hang on sloopy, Respect, We are family, got to give it up, Mony Mony)

1. Men on one side of dance floor and women on the other side. 
2. Clap to the beat. 
3. Have couple on end of line come down the middle of the lines (dance floor) & dance. 
4. Repeat with each next couple.

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Holiday mixers and contests - Rudolph the red nosed reindeer locomotion (Weekly Game/Contest)

Rudolph the red nosed reindeer locomotion

Ask the crowd to choose their leader or you can ask for a volunteer. Then dress the leader up in antlers and a red nose, ask Rudolph to choose his EIGHT tiny reindeer. After selecting them set them up in a standard train or locomotion. Send them into the crowd to get people to join. “Run run rudolph by Chuck Berry is an excellent song choice for this.

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The Stroll The Diamonds - Weekly line dance series

The Stroll (The Stroll - The Diamonds)

• Form 2 lines one on left and one on the right. 
• (Men on one side and women on the other) 
• Have each side clap to the beat

FOOTWORK:

1. Right foot across to the left in front 2 times. 
2. Step with right, bring left behind right, step right. (Grapevine step) 
3. Left foot across to right in front 2 times. 
4. Grapevine steps (step, under, step) 
5. Start with step 1

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Christmas Time & Holiday Trivia

Christmas Time & Holiday Trivia

The toughest point of any holiday bash is that awkward transition between the bosses ho-hum speech to the dance music. One of the better ways to smooth out that segue and get the whole crowd involved in your show is a trivia contest. You can take the simple approach and toss out a brain teaser between songs, or organize teams and turn it into a real production.

Here's a list of 20 holiday Questions that should (slightly) challenge any crowd. Expand beyond the list with some of your own questions, or try your own version of "Name That Tune" using old TV show and commercial themes. Seldom will you find a crowd that doesn't enjoy a dose of trivia.

For an added marketing twist, print up the questions (with or without the answers) on your letterhead and pass them out as give-aways.

TOP 20 HOLIDAY TRIVIA QUESTIONS

1. Who invented the art of giving Christmas presents?
2. Who sang Grandma got run over by a reindeer?
3. How many eggs are in eight quarts of eggnog?
4. How did red and green become the traditional colors of Christmas?
5. For what movie could you say that Santa won an Academy Award?
6. What is the average temperature of The North Pole
7. Where was I when "I saw mommy kissing Santa Clause?
8. "The Gift of The Magi" was written by whom?
9. Name Santa's reindeer
10. Boris Karloff was the star of what TV Christmas favorite?
11. Christmas, Florida is closest to what major city?
12. What famous Christmas story begins with the line, "One dollar and eighty-seven cents"?
13. Name the most commercially successful Christmas Film.
14. Name 3 actors who played scrooge in the movies.
15. Name Bill Murray's Christmas classic.
16. "God Bless us, everyone!" is the end of what Christmas epic?
17. True or False: In South American countries, setting off fireworks is a popular way of celebrating Christmas.
18. The "Chipmunks Christmas song" came out in what year?
19. True or False: Christmas is not celebrated in the Philippines.
20. Name six of the all time top 10 Christmas songs.

THE ANSWERS

1. The three wise men
2. Elmo & Patsy
3. A dozen
4. In early times, Red apples decorated Green trees.
5. Miracle on 34th st. Edmund Gwenn played Santa and won an Academy Award.
6. 21' F
7. On the stairs
8. O Henry
9. Rudolph, Dasher, Comet, Dancer, Cupid, Prancer, Vixen, Blitzen, and Dancer
10. "How the Grinch stole Christmas"
11. Orlando
12. "The Gift of The Magi"
13. "Home Alone"
14. W.C. Fields, Jim Carrey, Kelsey Grammer, Derek Jacobi, John Magquire, Jack Palance, Cyril Ritchard, Basil Rathbone, Michael Caine, and, Alastair Sim.
15. "Scrooged"
16. "A Christmas Carol" said by Tiny Tim
17. True
18. 1958
19. False
20. White Christmas - Bing Crosby, Silent Night - Bing Crosby, Rudolph the red nose reindeer - Gene Autry, Chipmunk song - Chipmunks, I saw mommy kissing Santa Clause - Jimmy Boyd, Little drummer boy - The Harry Simeone Chorale, Do they know it's Christmas - Band Aid, I'll be home for Christmas - Bing Crosby, Grandma got run over by a reindeer - Elmo & Patsy, Jingle Bell Rock - Bobby Helms

Special Thanks to David Varga for his help with these.

BONUS QUESTIONS

1. What is the single best selling song of all time?
2. Name 3 more names for Santa Clause.
3. What item of clothing was Ma wearing in "Twas the night before Christmas"?
4. What was the little girls name in "The Grinch who stole Christmas"?
5. Who did the voice of the original Grinch?

BONUS ANSWERS

1. White Christmas
2. St. Nicholas, Kris Kringle, Father Christmas
3. Kercheif
4. Cindy Lou Who
5. Boris Karloff

The Twelve Days of Christmas

A partridge in a pear tree
2 Turtle doves
3 French hens
4 Calling birds
5 Golden rings
6 Geese a laying
7 Swans a swimming
8 Maids a milking
9 Pipers Piping
10 Ladies Dancing
11 Lords a leaping
12 Drummers Drumming

Have fun with these.

Holiday mixers and contests - 12 Days of Christmas! (Weekly Game/Contest)

The 12 Days of Christmas

Ask the members of the committee to assist you in selecting 12 people to
assist you in this activity (or pick them yourself). After they have
been selected ask them to stand in a straight line facing the audience.
Inform the crowd that these people are the (insert their company name
here) Holiday Choir. Assign each of them an appropriate "day" of

20 Bits of advice for DJs

20 Bits of advice for DJs can you add more?

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FREE Open source DJ Software you can use

A FREE Open Source DJ program that we recommend, Mixxx. You can find it at www.mixxx.org

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Shout - The Isley Brothers - Weekly Line Dance series

Shout 1 & 2 - The Isley Brothers

This one is very simple all you have to do is play the song.

When they say SHOUT in the song make the people jump and reach for the sky. 

There are multiple singing options in this song but the most well known is having the crowd sing back “HEY- A - A - A” Etc.

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20 Things every DJ should have at gigs

20 things every dj needs to have with them at every event. Can you name more? Please add them in the comments section! Please subscribe to be notified of all of our new videos.

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BOOK YOUR CLASSES NOW!

Online, Group, and 1 on 1 Classes being offered immediately!

Sign up on our website: http://www.djentertainmentschool.com

Sponsored By: Peavey Electronics and The National Association of Mobile Entertainers.

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DJ Entertainment School introduction

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IT's time for Holiday Parties - Holiday mixers and contests - 12 days of Christmas (Weekly Game/Contest)

The Holidays are fast approaching and until they are here we are switching up the weekly game/contest to a Holiday theme.

12 Days of Christmas 

You can ask the members of a committee to assist you in selecting 12 people to assist you in this activity or you can pick them yourself. After they have been selected have them stand in a straight line facing the audience or crowd. Inform the crowd that these people are the ( insert company or group name here) Holiday Choir. Assign each of them, their appropriate “DAY” of Christmas. Ask the crowd to join you in singing the chorus of “The Twelve days of Christmas”, then go to each of the people and ask them to sing their day of Christmas. Going immediately to the next number down until you reach “A partridge in a pear tree”. Then immediately go to the chorus again, then on day two, and so on, and so on. Make sure to choose someone appropriate for the fifth day of Christmas (Five golden rings). Don’t allow the people to just say their parts. Encourage them to improvise, sing it loud! The most fun with this activity is the screw ups, that will inadvertently happen.



What are the 12 Days of Christmas?

1. A partridge in a pear tree
2. Turtle doves
3. French Hens
4. Calling Birds
5. Golden Rings
6. Geese a Laying
7. Swans a swimming
8. Maids a milking
9. Pipers piping
10. Ladies dancing
11. Lords a leaping
12. Drummers drumming

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Funkmaster Flex 2018 NY DJ Con

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Hora - Tarantella - Irish Jig - Weekly Line Dance Series

Hora - Tarantella - Irish Jig (Hava Nagila - Tarantella - Lazy Mary - Irish Jig - Irish Washerwoman)

1. Have guests form a circle holding hands. 
2. Have them move to the right. 
3. Have them move to the left. 
4. Have them all move to the middle put hands up and scream. 
5. Back to the circle, have individuals or couples dance solo in the middle of the circle. 
6. If enough time have them hold hands and go back to steps 2-4

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Jaquae of Love and Hip Hop 2018 NY DJ Con

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Hand Jive - From The Grease Soundtrack

Hand Jive (Hand Jive - Grease soundtrack)

Here is how to do the Hand Jive from the movie Grease

1. Slap both hands on your thighs twice 
2. Clap your hands 2 times 
3. With your palms down Move Right hand to left side (over top of right hand) while moving your left hand to the right side and back. Do this 2 times. 
4. Move Left hand to right side (over top of left hand) while moving your right hand to the left side and back. Do this 2 times. 
5. Right fist over left fist & bang together twice 
6. Left fist over right fist & bang together twice 
7. Right hand in fist with thumb up throw thumb over right shoulder 2 times 
8. Left hand in fist with thumb up throw thumb over left shoulder 2 times 
9. Start from step 1 

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DJ Jayski & DJ Cutlas at DJ Times DJ Expo in Atlantic City August 2018

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The Human Pretzel (Weekly game/contest)

The Human Pretzel

1. Have a group of people stand shoulder to shoulder in a circle ( they must be able to grab the hand of everyone in the circle). 
2. The group will be working through a challenge to untangle the human pretzel. 
3. Have each person place their left hand into the circle without touching anyone. 
4. Have them grasp the hand of a different person who is not standing next to them. This should tangle the group. 
5. Have them work together to untangle the knot without letting their hands go.

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Monthly Activity Anniversary Dance

Activities to open a dance floor or do at an event

Here are 2 of 3 options to open a dance floor at a wedding or to simply use during the party.

Before opening any dance floor. Take the time on the microphone to introduce yourself and your company again and give the reason why your are there a round of applause BUT make sure you have everyone give the Hall and the Banquet Manager a round of Applause for an Excellent job they did with the meal.

Suggested Music for all three options (Slow Music)

• Always and Forever - Heatwave 
• Could I have this dance - Anne Murray 
• Through the years - Kenny Rogers 
• What a wonderful world - Louis Armstrong 
• Still the one - Shania Twain 
• Wind Beneath my wings - Bette Midler 

Option One: Invite guests to dance (Wedding or Anniversary)


“Ladies and Gentlemen, the dance floor is now officially open. I ask that all of the married couples here tonight come on out and help open up our dance floor.”

Option Two: Anniversary Dance

• Announce the dance floor is open. “Ladies and Gentlemen, the dance floor is now officially open."
• Ask couples to come to the dance floor based on the amount of years that they have been married, Start with those couples married more than 25 years. Wait 30 seconds 
• Go back 5 years and ask for 20 years or more to come out to the dance floor. Wait 30 seconds 
• Go back 5 years each time and ask those couples Wait 30 seconds 
• Once you get pats 5 years ask all newlyweds including the Bride & Groom to join the dance. 
• Ask engaged couples to join in. (optional) 
• Those that date but feel like they are married or those living in sin if you can get away with it. (optional) 
• The remaining people sitting should be single, ask the men to pick a partner & come join the dance. (optional) 

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DJ Jeff Shout out to The Entertainment School

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Night Fever Dance - Bee Gees - Weekly line dance series

Night Fever Dance (Night Fever - Bee Gees)

1. (Begin when singing begins) John Travolta finger move. Left hand on left hip and right finger and arm extended out to the right pointing up, and bring it back across your body diagonally down to the left pointing down. (4 Times) 
2. Roll your fists in front of you for 2 beats 
3. Bring hands in to your side & point elbows out (Like wings) Move/flap for 2 beats 
4. Tap toe forward with left foot, tap toe back with left foot, tap toe forward again with left foot. Turn right counterclockwise ¼ turn. (4 Beats) 
5. 3 steps backwards and clap 
6. 3 steps forward and clap. 
7. Move right spinning clockwise a full turn hands in air & clap (4 Beats) 
8. Move left spinning counterclockwise a full turn hands in air & clap (4 Beats) 
9. With hands on hips Step forward with your right foot diagonally in front of your left foot and back twice. 
10. With hands still on hips Point right toe to the right swing pelvis right while pointing right with right hand 2 times. 
11. Start with step 1

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Guess the beans (weekly game/contest)

Guess The Beans

1. A jar is filled with Jelly Beans and is passed around the table.
2. Each person must write on a piece of paper their guess and their name.
3. They then hand it to the DJ.
4. The person who guesses the closest to the exact number, wins the jar and beans.

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jayski and cutlas 2018 dj expo

DJ Jayski & DJ Cutlas spinning at The Peavey Electronics booth to end the 2018 Atlantic City DJ Times DJ Expo

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Maria - Ricky Martin - Weekly Line dance series

Maria (Maria - Ricky Martin [fast or slow version])

1. With left foot step forward and backwards for 8 counts (each step = 1 count) 
2. 3 steps to the right & clap (shake fits in front like you have maracas) 
3. 3 steps to the left & clap (shake fits in front like you have maracas) 
4. Put hands on hips and take 3 steps forward throw hands up in air on 4th beat 
5. With hands in air wave front & back while taking 3 steps back & clap 
6. Keep just right hand in air drop left down and turn ½ way counterclockwise. Circle your hand in the air while doing this (4 beats) EG: 12 o’clock to 6 o’clock 
7. Put left hand in air & the right down and turn ¾ around clockwise. Circle your hand in the air while doing this (4 beats) EG: 6 o’clock to 3 o’clock 
8. Start from step 1

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Circle Contest / Musical Chairs (weekly contest/game)

Circle Contest / Musical Chairs

1. Have guests form a large circle alternating male and female. 
2. Have men take two steps forward into the circle, turn around and face the women. 

(Circle) 

• When music starts the men circle to the right, women to the left. 
• When the music stops, the man must hug the nearest women. 
• Anyone without a partner is out. 

(Musical Chairs) Have men get down on one knee facing the women as if they were a chair. 

• When the music stops the women have to sit down on the nearest mans leg (chair). 
• Anyone without a leg/chair is out. 
• Last two people left are your winners. 

Hint: When down to two couples, Have men stand back to back and blindfold them. Play music & have the women walk around them in a circle. When the music stops the women must stand still silently and the men must find the women. First two to hug are the winners.

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Making a First impression (Client calls - Tips)

First impressions - Calling Client - Tips

Client Calls

You only get one chance to make a first impression. For DJs that chance is either when you book the client, meet them, or when you call them before the event. How you handle your call can tell a client a lot about your ability, confidence, commitment and, overall professional demeanor. While it is not as crucial as your actual performance, a strong phone call can make for an impressive first impression.

s a DJ for the better part of 25 years, I've made hundreds of client calls. Here are some tips I've discovered that help me start my relationship with my clients off on the right foot and better my chances of a tip and overtime.

• Make your call no later than the Tuesday before the event if not earlier. A client that has to call you or your company looking for you has already formed that first impression.
• Confirm all details, including the affair date and time. You never know when a client may decide to change their contracted time or may have done it on line and the information you have is old.
• "If you were to envision the perfect party, what would it include me doing?" is a great way to find out what your client is looking for. You will usually find out what activities are expected as well as how lively you will need to be. If your client is a bit apprehensive about guest participation activities, search for their comfort level. Certain dances or activities may work where others may not.
• The invocation (Blessing) and garter bouquet sequence seem to be two activities most often left out. Make sure you confirm them as well.
• When to do the parent dances? After the first dance, after dinner, or during the cake cutting and garter bouquet?
• Going over bridal party names and pronunciations is a good idea. Most DJs prefer to take care of them over the phone and then double check when they meet the bride and groom during cocktail hour. Others wait until cocktail hour when they meet with the bride and groom and go over the names, citing frequent order changes as their motivation to wait.

Tips and Overtime

• You will have a better chance of a tip if....when confirming the balance due (if there is one), Refer to that money s the companies money rather than the client assuming it's all yours. Indicate the balance is made out to the company you work for and everything else should be made out to the DJ.
• You will have a better chance of setting up overtime if.....you follow the confirmation of the balance with the "additional charge of $xxx per half hour if you decide to extend". Find out if the client has any intention of extending.

Your performance usually dictates your chances for a tip or overtime, but it is not a bad idea to at least plant that seed.

REMEMBER...a strong client call does not necessarily mean a long one. Cover the necessary points and details and be pleasant, upbeat, and professional.

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The Soul City Walk Line Dance - Weekly line dance seies

Soul City Walk (Got to give it up - Marvin Gaye)

1. 3 Steps beck and clap 
2. 3 Steps forward and clap 
3. 3 steps to the right and clap 
4. 3 steps to the left and clap 
5. With Right foot step to the right and follow with the left & sway body right at the same time 
6. With Left foot step to the left and follow with the right & sway body left at the same time 
7. Click heels together twice 
8. Right foot tap toe forward 2 times 
9. Right foot tap toe backwards 2 times 
10. Right foot tap toe forward once, backward once, forward once again, immediately turn ¼ turn counterclockwise while raising right knee 
11. Start from step 1

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Class Reunion party tips

Class Reunion Party Tips

1. Reunions Usually happen around thanksgiving weekend
2. Normally Reunions happen at 5,10,15,20,25,30 years 
3. Equip yourself with music from the particular year they graduated from as well as the four years that they were in High School.
4. Read up on some trivia from their year of graduation such as special events, history of the music, political or sports events, your client may be able to provide you with some trivia tidbits from their years in school. Use this information to keep dinner interesting by having a lite trivia contest.
5. Be prepared for the guests to start off doing a lot of talking. Remember, they are seeing people they haven't seen in years and may want to do nothing but socialize. Be patient and don’t take it personally if they seem to want nothing to do with a DJ. It’s a great opportunity for you to play a lot of the “non-danceable” music from their era.
6. Eventually you will get a busy dance floor, so make sure you’ve saved a “reunion power set” of the top songs from their school years. Be ready for the people to tire of nostalgia after a while as they begin to ask you to play more current music.

The Twist Contest - Weekly Game/contest

Twist Contest

Suggested Music: ( The Twist & Let’s twist again - Chubby Checker, Peppermint Twist - Little Richard, Twist and shout - The Beatles)

• Set-up: Have 5 of your business cards ready with the numbers 1 through 5 on them. You should come out of a slow set where the dance floor is full. Also, do not, under any circumstances, announce this is a twist contest. 

1. Play The Twist and during the song go out and hand out each of the 5 cards to the wildest, most creative twisters. Simply tell them to hold on to the card. 
2. Near or at the end of the song ask the 5 couples to remain on the dance floor, the rest should move off to the side. 
3. Explain that these are the 5 best twisting couples and these finalists will dance one more twist so we can watch them dance and then pick a winning couple. Tell the couples to do their best and be as wild, fun, and creative as possible. 
4. Play Let’s Twist again and somewhere 30 seconds in Line up all 5 couples on the dance floor and ask for a round of applause for each couple one at a time. Loudest round of applause wins. 

Hint: If you can’t decide between two couples or as an added bonus to the winners, have them dance to one more song. Play “The Stripper - David Rose” for fun and see what happens.

Please visit our Website for information on DJ Classes in-person or on line at http://www.djentertainmentschool.com

Learn Country Line Dancing

Country Line Dancing

If you have an event that requests a lot of country music or even possible some country line dances then read on. There are now hundreds of country line dances that you can learn and do. It all started off in the early 90's with The Achy Breaky Heart line dance. This dance is done to the song Achy breaky heart by Billy Ray Cyrus. It is similar to The Electric Slide that also came out around the same time. The big difference is that there are many more steps involved in the Achy Breaky and it can sometimes be too much for a drinking crowd to learn.

The FREEZE is another country line dance that is probably one of the easiest line dances to learn as well as teach. This dance is explained below along with a list of suggested music. The Achy Breaky line dance is much more involved but we will also give a brief outline here below as well.

If you make the effort to learn these dances, you will find it pays off with more fun, new skills, better parties, and increased referrals. Country line dancing can be a fun way to make your parties more fun and diverse so put on your country hat and dancing boots and join the fun.

Please visit our Website for information on DJ Classes in-person or on line at http://www.djentertainmentschool.com

Conga line - Choo Choo Train - Weekly line dance

Here is how set yp your basic Conga Line or choo choo

(Conga - Gloria Estefan/Hot hot hot - Buster Poindexter/ Follow the leader - Byron Lee/ Locomotion or ride the train)

1. Pick a leader for the conga line or choo choo train (Bride, Groom, Best man, bridal party, craziest guest, or YOU)
2. Tell or lead them to go and weave in and out of the tables and to pick up those sitting down or doing nothing and have them join in.
3. You can even have the conga line leave the room when appropriate.
4. Have the line return to the dance floor before the song is ending and have them make a circle, if it is a long song have 2 people come in to the center of the circle dance and then switch the two out by telling them to switch after 30 seconds.
5. At the end if in a circle you can do the Chicken Dance, Dollar Wine dance, or Apache or even a limbo if needed cause you still have a line.

Please visit our Website for information on DJ Classes in-person or on line at http://www.djentertainmentschool.com

The Limbo by Chubby Checker New Weekly Friday Game or Contest series

We will be posting a weekly game or contest that you can do at your events. Please check in each Friday for a New game or contest. This week:

Limbo Contest

Suggested Music: ( Limbo rock, let’s limbo some more - Chubby Checker, Hot hot hot - Buster poindexter, Any Reggae song.

• Find 2 volunteers to hold the Limbo pole 
• Ask for a spotter to help people under 
• Demonstrate proper technique under limbo pole. 
• No Ducking under 
• No touching the ground 
• No knee touching 
• No butt touching 
• No touching the pole 
• Eliminate those not doing the limbo correctly. 
• Lower the pole as the contest goes on until you are down to the last person. The last person must successfully go under the pole at the level where the second to the last person was unable to do. 
• Give a round of applause for the winner. 
• You may wish to pick a winner for boys and girls or men and women.
• You may wish to ask a guest officiate with you.

Please visit our Website for information on DJ Classes in-person or on line at http://www.djentertainmentschool.com

Proms

Proms

Spring time means a time for the gentle rains, delightful fragrances, and young love. So dig out those Slow pop dance tunes: It's prom season. These events (even junior proms) can happen any day of the week, with Wednesday through Saturday being the heaviest. This can mean an extra gig or two during the week for you.

Plain and simple, ANYONE can DJ a Prom! Some of you may equate a prom with just another kids dance and you're just not a kids party DJ. Well let me bring you up to speed.

A Prom is an event where it's very easy to meet the client's/guests expectations. DJs ask if they should be the main focus of attention at a prom?The answer is NO! Their attention is focused on their date and their immediate clique of friends. Furthermore they are already thinking towards post-prom festivities; the beach, the room at the hotel, etc. Now don't get me wrong, they still want to party. Let them know early on that you got this by playing the current HOT dance music and requests. Of course you will have to choose from the overwhelming request list they give you. You will see a little bit of everything and from all genres and years. You will even be surprised at the older tuns they pick.

This brings us to the most important musical feature of your evening: Slow Jams! If nothing else works, throw in one of the MANY slow dance requests you have and just watch the dance floor fill up. Add in a few pre-requisites, like the way you are dressed, the cavalcade of pictures, the Prom theme song, and the coronation of the King and Queen, and you just met their expectations. Simply deliver the goods.

Right now, I'll bet there is a rookie DJ somewhere who is reading this and is really confused. Meeting the client's expectations? As DJs we are always told to EXCEED The clients expectations! That is correct! Rise to the occasion and have some fun with it. Feel out the crowd with an activity or line dance early on. This will give you a clearer indication of the direction you're going to want to go. Perhaps the music will work better, or maybe you will just run those activities and line dances. You can do t all at some proms. Nothing else you do will pull them together as a class more than a group activity or dance.

And while the last few notes of the hottest slow song fades down, you will have for a fleeting moment, transcended their animal like passions at the local hotel, to pure thoughts of the great time they had with you "Their DJ". The results: A killer show, a handsome gratuity, and lots of potential referrals (graduation parties, etc.).

Please visit our Website for information on DJ Classes in-person or on line at http://www.djentertainmentschool.com

Wedding Dollar Dance The Weekly Activity series turned Monthly

Dollar Dance - For Weddings

This was part of a weekly activity post that got held up in July but now we are firing it up again monthly. So look for the monthly posts to learn a new activity. We continue with the traditional wedding dollar dance.

The Dollar Dance evolved out of a traditional ceremony at Polish weddings. Often referred to as “The Apron Dance”, it involved the bride dancing with gentlemen for a short period of time after giving the maid of honor, who is wearing an apron, money or an envelope for the couple. The money or envelopes would be put in a pocket labeled His or Hers (Families) or the apron would be held in the shape of a basket.

The bride would traditionally wear a babushka and dance a traditional polka with each man. Once the last man, usually her father, dances with her. The men form a circle around the bride and keep circling around. The groom is then to fight his way through the circle to meet the bride in the center. This dance is popular in some regions of the East Coast and NOT in others.

Today’s Dollar dance goes as follows:

• Bride stands on one side of the dance floor and the groom stands on the other side. Men line up for the bride & women for the groom. 
• The maid of honor and best man can help out collecting the money if the bride and groom do not want to. 
• The people in each line pay a dollar or more to dance with either the Bride or the Groom for about 15 to 20 seconds. 
• The Dollar dance can last as long as a half hour so you should be prepared to play a couple of classic slow dances.

Please visit our Website for information on DJ Classes in-person or on line at http://www.djentertainmentschool.com

The Client Request List

The Client Request List

While most of your clients will be quite content leaving the selections or tunes to their disc jockey, some feel compelled to complete a lengthy list of personal favorites, as well as those songs they feel their guests will enjoy. Here is what you do when you are given that unusually long list of songs to play.

Review the list

Look over the list before you contact your client. Mark those songs you have and those that you can get. Count up the requests. If there are more than 25 dance requests, you may have a problem finding time to play all of them. Remember with an average time of 4 minutes a song, you can play about 15 songs an hour.

What does the list mean to your client?

Clients take the time to complete a list for a variety of reasons. Some want to add a certain flavor or signature to their affair by requesting personal favorites. Others feel they can give you a head start to understanding what music will work for their particular group. Still, some may initially make a list because they underestimate the DJs ability to play the "right" music. So as you can see, their motivation can be for different reasons. What becomes important is your ability to discover what the list means to your client. Once you realize your client's motivation you will find out how much flexibility you have.  you should include those songs requested by their guests, as well as the all time favorites or standard requests.

If your client prefers you strictly follow their list, then follow their list. Your client may have put a lot of time and effort into it. you must respect that. If the client is requesting music that you do not have then you will need to get it. In a last resort if certain requests you can JUST NOT GET then ask the client, it may surprise you that they may have a copy they can send you.

Since it is never too early to begin playing requests, start with the obscure and non-dancable songs during cocktail or dinner hour. To keep track, scratch off those songs you get to play if you have a written list or simply add them to a prepare list because the songs are deleted from that list once they are played. Your goal is to play as many as possible, even if it interferes with your normal sets of music. Who knows, you may discover a dance song that you didn't think would work. 

If there are only a few requests (less than 7) there is no reason for not playing ALL of them. Take a minute to jot them down at the top of your request paper before you visit the tables during dinner (if you do that). As a reminder, Pull out the request list and put it right near your request pad.

Finally......

Always remember, your clients requests are usually very special and meaningful to them. These songs should always be our top priority. It is up to us to organize and program them in a way that makes sense to you, the client, and their guests. Think of it as a challenge. You can make it work!

Please visit our Website for information on DJ Classes in-person or on line at http://www.djentertainmentschool.com