Posted in wrong forum

[This message has been edited by Stephenm52 (edited 01-29-2006).]

Originally posted by Nigel


Thanks Nigel here goes:
My playing at gigs has been oriented primarily toward background music. I have been playing mostly cocktail hours, corporate holiday parites, awards banquets and senior/assisted living facilities where folks come to listen as opposed to coming to dance. I've just been hired to play a 50th Weddning Anniversary in a couple of months from now. Although, I've been hired to play background I'm sure folks would dance if I play dance music. Well, I need some input on what to play? For the last 30 years I've been a jazz fan and my influence for the background stuff I play in about 75% of the time is big band, jazz style, I need to switch gears a bit . What are you using for good dance material??

Thanks in advance




[This message has been edited by Stephenm52 (edited 01-30-2006).]

Steve ... I saw your question and was looking forward to the answers ...where did you want to post it ???...
t.

I dont know why this post was removed. I wish it not been.

I would like to know from you seasoned performers, can you tell me what tunes generate the highest energy, the ones that always get the people out on the floor to dance??

I would appreciate all styles Big Band, Swing, Country, Jive...

And one more.. what do you open and close your night with?

Thanks in advance, Happy Playing. Russ from Texas.



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Russ Bolduc
russbolduc@comcast.net
817-714-0488

You'll find the post at PSR Tutorial under the PSR-3000/1500 General Discussion tab.

Gary

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Travlin' Easy

You're welcome to put your posting back here as well. Even if it is off topic you certainly have our attention. We are curious now.

Dance music conjers many things to many people. What age group are you catering to? Boomers like to swing, lindy, cha cha, waltz, slow dance, etc. post-boomers are liking R&B, Rock & Roll, Disco. And of course the young people today like some disco, some rock & roll, 80's, 90's chart toppers.

If you give us the age group, I'm sure we can put a list together for you.

Al

Al this will be a 50th Anniv party. The couple who hired me are in their early 70s. Gotta believe most who will be there will be boomers or a bit older.

.

[This message has been edited by Dnj (edited 02-08-2006).]

Looks like this is a good place to start. http://www.dancemetonight.com/dc_tempos1.htm

Here's some thoughts that would work well in the U.K. Think... Bee Gees; Beach Boys; Beatles; Elvis in other words up-tempo 60's and 70's material - over here any age group seem to know all the words!
Rog

I just booked a 50th and was asked if I could do some rock n roll and the Electric Slide. She said altho there will be no children, there will be nieces and nephews. Be prepared to do it all. You might want to ask in advance if there are any 'favorites'.

Be sure to have extra business cards... do a bang up job and it should be a great PR opportunity. Good luck.

Glenn

Steve ... you've got mail ...
t.

GlennT
Thanks, I will be sending the client a song list and will leave a section for her to list some songs they would like played.

RMepstead, Same here at least with my generation we all know the words to Beach Boys, Beatles, Elvis and Beegees stuff.

Tony, you got mail too, great suggestions

No matter what age, Elvis songs are always popular.
DonM

If by "Dance music" you mean quicksteps, waltzes etc then an DNJ says tempo is everything. Get the tempo correct and people can dance to almost anything.

If by "Dance music" you mean informal stuff, then a useful rule is to play stuff that was popular when they were aged 15-35. So for a 50th party then anything classy from the 40's to the 60's should do, like Glenn Miller, Brenda Lee, Alma Cogan and of course Elvis.

Also mix up the tempo, don't go mad with uptempo stuff because they'll tire easily.

So have a selection of ballads, slow waltzes and maybe beguine handy as well!

good luck

Yes, more informal material is probably what I'll do.


Great point on not overdoing the up tempo material. Thanks for the comments. I'm putting everything together now. I've also found web sites as mentioned here at the forum on what the correct dance tempos are.



[This message has been edited by Stephenm52 (edited 02-07-2006).]

The standard ballroom dance tempos are:
Waltz 90
Quickstep 200
Foxtrot 120
Tango 132
ChaCha 120
Samba 200
Rhumba 108
Jive 176

Thes all came from a ballroom dance teacher of long standing.
For ballroom dancing one of the most made mistakes is playing a waltz too fast.
Country waltzes are played faster.
Slow Balads go about 75 to 90.
If you start with these you won't go wrong.
Of course Rock & Roll, Boogie Woogie, Blue Grass, ETC, are a different matter. Maybe someone else can jump in here.
Good luck,
Walt