Cory & Teressa's Reception 9/15/2007

I had the privilege of performing for Cory & Teressa's 125 friends and family this weekend at the Ritz Charles.  My experience usually tells me that guest counts below 150 can be extremely challenging. Especially for the unprepared or less experienced DJ. The formula or basis for my concern is pretty simple. You can usually count on 10% of your guests to be "self-motivated" party persons.  So, if you have an event with 300 guests, you can count on 30 of them to be self-motivated.  30 self-motivated guests create an aura or excitement that you simply can't buy. This excitement is infectious and will certainly guarantee a great event.  Some DJ's try to overcome this formula with interactivity that, in many cases, seems contrived or artificial (Cheesy). 

So, If you take a party with 125 people, on average, you will have 12~13 self-starters. While this may not be the case for you event, It is the norm.  Here are a few ideas to help bolster the excitement at any wedding reception...

1. Aim for at least 200 guests. 200 guests will equate to 20 self starters and that will yield the infectious excitement you need to have a wonderful reception
   
2. Start on a high note!  If your introduction is "less than exciting" you may lose guests immediately following dinner.  Introductions that are well choreographed and timed with great music will point your reception in the right direction.
3. Arrived fashionably late.  Give your guests time to arrive, get a drink and become comfortable.
4. If you are planning on *not* doing your first dance on arrival, place your cake in the center of your dance floor.  It's a centerpiece for gosh sakes!  Show it off. Give your guests a work of art to spark conversations.
5. Last, but certainly not least, book an event Emcee/DJ who has a significant amount of experience and use that experience to plan your event.