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!
