Lunch Party....Dance Party (do not forget the slide)

Just yesterday Mike Johnson and I (Megan Taylor) were hired by Rolanda at the W Hotel to DJ a holiday party. This holiday party was held in the altitute room on a Friday afternoon, which in my mind I heard, a holiday party where I will play background music as everyone eats lunch. But...... I was not satisfied with this and luckily had a lovely crew of employees on my side, so the luncheon turned into a full dance party. As Rolanda was our client, that party was for local doctors, nurses, and their employees, around 130 people. Mike and I arrived early to setup, a perk to the altitude room, we can use their house speaker system = less equipment. The crew arrived around noon and I started off the lunch with some lounge, spanish jazz, mixed christmas music. I never know what is appropraite to play, so I just try to feel my way around moment to moment. Bottom line I want to play the new hip music, music that will make people tap their foot, and put them in a great spirit. I think I did a great job because within 30 minutes I had already had 3 great compliments..... "Wow, I love to see a woman brave it as a DJ"...... "wow I am very impressed with your music selections keep it up"........ "what DJ company do you work for, what is this song, I love this mix"..... the affirmation made me feel great. Then the CEO walked in and asked for a drum roll, drum roll I did not have, but I said what about the Rolling Stones (I secretly knew he loved the Stones) and he said play it, so I threw in "Start Me Up" and he rose to the center of the floor and threw his arms in the air dancing, he had the power, so I made it my objective to make sure I served him. We then went into a raffle, and he said do you have some background music... before I knew it I was using the music to create drama and celebtration as he announced the raffle prizes and winner. These are the moments I know I have done my job, when I can use music to move the crowd and celebrate people. Success...... After that i kicked into dancing music which I had no idea what to expect. Luckily I had two CD's from the crowd, full of mixes so I used slides, Steppin music, disco, funk, and requests to make the dance floor happen. I usually try to stay away from the slides, but they work, some people, especially in a corporate environment when there are few couples want to do the same dance over and over in different directions..... and the beauty unfolded. They want to dance and work as a team hence the slides I played which included...... electric, cleveland, jungle, cha cha, casper, and the Mississippi slide. At the end of the afternoon I ended with a killer set.... Bob Marley "Could You Be Loved," Gnarles Barley "Crazy," Outkast "Hey Ya," and ended with Kayne West "Golddigger." At the end of the night a gentleman came up to me and said "You did great. This crowd does not dance, and you mixed it up and played something that everyone could dance to. I am very impressed."

Lead DJ: Megan Taylor
Assistant DJ: Mike Johnson
Venue: Hotel W Lakeshore