Everyone loves a good Horah.

My final gig for Fig was the wedding of Monica Holiday and Adam Sherman on October 14th at 108 W. Germania Place. They were a great couple and I really liked their style of music (Kruder and Dorfmeister, Thievery Corporation, Belle and Sebastion) but as much as I love that kind of stuff, it isn't anything a wedding crowd can really dance to. I figured I could play it during dinner. No dice, Chicago, they had a band for cocktails and dinner. Luckily, Monica and Adam were cool when I expained to them the d-low and we agreed I 'd play it during the band breaks. With the band covering music for half the night and their planner, Georgina Taggert, running the show, my only focus really that evening was emceeing the toasts and working the dancing portion. Dinner ran late and the band was done but the people were still eating, so that was my moment to play the Thievery Corporation stuff. After that, we couldn't wait any longer (dessert wasn't ready yet) and we went ahead with the first dance. Normally I don't like opening up the dancefloor before dessert is out. I just can't compete with cake and icing. I was also really worried because there were no other organized dances (mother/son, father/daughter) after the first dance to keep the peoples attention on the dancefloor... besides one. The Horah. I love the Horah. When I was at my meeting with them and found out there would be a huppah, I knew we had to do the Horah. I mean, what's a huppah without a Horah, right?! Even when I had couples that weren't the slightest bit Jewish I'd still see if they were down for a Horah, it's a blast! Even though Monica and Adam weren't completely Jewish, they were down for it. So as soon as the first dance was done I quickly announced the dessert table was open but then I asked everyone to come out on the dancefloor and join them for the Horah and it worked! That dancefloor was so packed people were tripping over the stage I was on and as soon as it was over, boom, I already had everyone there for open dancing. Yes, the dessert table took a few from the floor. Yes, people were consistantly leaving throughout the rest of the night. BUT I kept that dancefloor going the whole night and everyone partied like rockstars.

The only damper on the evening was that, once the night was over, in all the hubbub, I didn't get a chance to say goodbye to Monica and Adam. Her dad, however, did come up to me. I was expecting a "Thank you, here's your tip" kind of thing but instead he just told me what an absolute delight I was and congratulated me on what a great energy and performance I brought to the party, then he hugged me. That. made. my. day. It was a bigger compliment than any tip I could have possibly been given. Don't get me wrong, I love a nice $300 chunk-o-change as much as the next DJ, but this really touched my soul. It reminded me again why I became a DJ. I love making people happy. I love making people dance. And I love sharing great music. If a person can figure out what they love to do and do it in this lifetime, they have one of the greatest gifts in the universe. And I am truly thankful for being so blessed.

Lucy "DJ Wak" Wieczorek