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The staff at DJ4U shares tips for throwing a great party along with photos and videos of past events to give you some inspiration for yours.

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 Photo by  Kara Kamienski Photography

Photo by Kara Kamienski Photography

Beginners Guide: Creating Your "Do Not Play" List

Jason Parkinson January 4, 2017

Weddings are a target for the cheesy, overplayed, overdone songs of the world. With the right DJ, hopefully you won't run into too many playlist faux pas. But just to be sure, a "Do Not Play" list is a great way to avoid that.

There are several good reasons to give your music more than just a passing consideration, and figuring out what you don’t want is a major part of that. Here is why you should spend some time thinking about what you don't want played at your wedding:

You have a vision: Music is the lifeblood of any party, weddings especially. You're spending time, money and energy planning every detail of this day, so give your DJ or band some direction as to what you definitely want to avoid. If you're sick of hearing "YMCA" or Gloria Estefan's "Conga" at every wedding, bar mitzvah and school dance you’ve ever attended, you can skip it entirely for your own event.

You don't want surprises: Maybe you find the latest Top-40 hit offensive, or at least you know your grandma would. There are plenty of popular songs with potentially sensitive subject matter, so if there is something you know would make you or your guests uncomfortable, make sure to include that in your list. A great DJ company wouldn't play offensive music anyway, but it's important to over communicate.

You have limited time: You want the dance portion of the evening to be as fun and memorable as possible for you and your guests. You can only fit so many songs into the time you've booked, so make it easy for your DJ to fill it with music you do like. You know that you and your fiancé don't like synchronized dances? Cross them off the list, and you'll nix everything from the “YMCA” and the “Electric Slide” to the “Cha-Cha-Slide” and “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae),” saving yourself a ton of time.

You've considered your audience: You know your guests. If Taylor Swift's newest radio repeat isn't something that would get them dancing, cross it off the list. Or you know most of them really can’t stand country. You can cross an artist or genre entirely off your list to make things easier on yourself and your DJ.

Remember to be flexible: Now that we've established a "do not play" list is a must, make sure you don't go too overboard. Some of your guests are going to request those old-wedding stand-bys, so limit yourself to the ones you're most tired of hearing. Unless your DJ has a playlist cap, come up with one for yourself. Try not to go beyond 25 or so songs. Your DJ still needs options, and if your uncle is a huge "Jesse's Girl" fan and you aren't totally against it, don't worry about cutting it out.

5  songs to consider for your "Do Not Play" list:

o   "Hotel California" - The Eagles

o   "Celebration" - Kool and the Gang

o   "Electric Boogie (The Electric Slide)" - Marcia Griffiths

o   "Macarena" - Los Del Río

o   "Hot in Herre" - Nelly

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DJ4U Peoria DJ Service, Photo Booths & Event Lighting

DJ4U is the leading choice for DJ service, photo booths and room lighting in Central Illinois. We've been serving the Peoria, Bloomington and Springfield area with DJ services since 1999 and would love to be a part of your wedding or event! 

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