Cape Cod DJ Tommy T

DJ Tommy Tuttle ~ Experienced ~ Classy ~ Fun ~ Always Tasteful

How Many Songs Should We Pick for our DJ to play at our Cape Cod Wedding?

  • Have fun planning your reception music. It can be one of your most enjoyable wedding “tasks.”
  • Don’t worry, you DO NOT have choose every song yourself, we can help you by reading your crowd and choosing songs.
  • As a general guide (only a guide), should you desire to choose your own songs, you are wise to start with about 15 to 25 fast dance songs and 5 to 8 slow tunes. Some couples don’t want many or any slows, which we understand; we like to keep your day upbeat too. However, having said this, there will be those at your wedding that will only dance to slow songs, so you should have a few for them, even if it’s only 1 or 2.
  • NOTE: If your playlist contains too many songs, we will not enough have time to fit them all in. Simple concept, but not often understood by those who just love choosing songs. The skill is knowing which songs to leave out, and focus on your real favorites.
  • If you have unique music, not available on iTunes, (someone made a recording) we need to have it in our possession at least 10 days BEFORE your wedding to ensure that we can play it. Please let us know ASAP if you are requesting any unique artists or songs. If your song has been digitized, you can attach it to an email and send it as an MP3 file.
  • Some couples provide us with an A list of “must play” songs (20 or so songs to start with), and a B list of, “If you have time could you play these.”
  • We have most every song you want, if not we’re willing to purchase it. If you have a specific song on iTunes that you like, be sure we know the specific version you want and we’ll get it. Some artists have several versions of the same song, i.e. studio, acoustic, remix etc. We want to make you happy by picking the right version.
  • You might consider leaving a little breathing room (by not choosing every song yourself) for your guests to fit in a few requests of their own. They are sure to appreciate your kindness.
  • On the music list you receive from us, or the one you printed out, please cross off any songs you don’t want to hear. If we don’t see the song crossed off, we’ll assume you’re okay with it being played. You may also add songs you do not see on our list as we are likely to have them in our collection.
  • If you have good computer skills you can cut and paste our music list into a word document, delete the songs you do not want, leave the ones you like and email it to us as an attachment (Microsoft Word or Excel work great).
  • Or if you are not a computer person, just print out this  (Top Party & Wedding Songs) list, check off your favorites, and mail, or bring your hard copies with you for our meeting.

DJ Tips for Choosing Danceable Music at your Cape Cod Wedding and Packing Your Dance Floor

Everyone attending your wedding has different musical tastes, and there seems to be no accounting for it.  Yes, it’s even common for the bride and groom to share opposing views about music.  What one calls a “great” song,  the other gives a thumbs down.  That’s the way it works with music.  Part of life and what makes the world go round’ I guess.

What’s even more amazing, is to see this process through the eyes of a DJ.   Music lovers come in all types, “I love this song”, “Turn it up!”, “Get this song off I hate it”, “Turn it down”, “Play more country”, “Play something for us older folks”, “Play more disco” “Do you have electronic music?”,” get the point? Everyone’s musical preferences are different. A smart and experienced DJ knows this, and now YOU do.

With so many opinions and different tastes about music kicking around, how do you know whether your musical choices are danceable? It’s tricky, but you can make it a fun challenge.

Here are few insights that can help you from the vantage point of an experienced Cape Cod Wedding DJ who has observed thousands of crowds. You can use these helpful tips to guide you toward getting the most mileage out of your music planning.

If you know a little about the process your DJ uses to pick great dance songs, you might be better at choosing some yourself??

Some basics: Every wedding reception is unique, and so is every couple getting married.  Night weddings have a different vibe than day weddings. Even the same exact crowd can respond much differently on another night.  So it is not as easy as picking a playlist and hitting home run.

Even weather can play a role.  If it’s Sunny day wedding, everyone loves being outside, so success is not always measured by the dance response.  With sunshine, happiness comes from everyone being in the sun an not on the dance floor.  On rainy days, it’s the opposite, everyone gravitates inside and parties.

So the upside of a rainy day wedding  is that you will be more likely to have a packed dance floor even at a day wedding.

A Few General Facts & Helpful Tips:

Fact  A non-danceable song choice can quickly empty a full dance floor.

Fact  Every song played after the parent dances or special dances should be a monster hit that everyone will love and get up to dance to.

Fact  Everyone wants a packed dance floor, whether you’re choosing a band or DJ.  We all have the same goal.

Picking the right tune to play at the perfect moment is an art. It only comes with time spent doing. Reading crowds and moods is a skill that cannot be learned reading a book.

Choosing the best song for a given moment involves paying careful attention to what is happening.  It’s having keen awareness of the mood at your reception on a given day and time.  Now of course if you’re at your wedding you should be having fun.  Your “task” of choosing the best dance music is now behind you, and was completed when you met with our DJ.

You’ve used your new found wisdom to choose the perfect danceable songs, now you’re wise enough to let your DJ do their job and enjoy your reception.

When in doubt about a potentially danceable song, you are wise to ask your DJ this question;  “Do you think this song has what it takes to get people dancing?”  See what they say.  An experienced DJ will definitely know the answer.  You want your reception to fun and flowing.

Tip: Timing is everything. When to play fast, slow, current, classic, older, background etc.

Fact  Carbohydrate songs can kill a mood and clear your dance floor.

What’s a Carbohydrate song?  DJ Tommy Tuttle’s definition of a Carbohydrate song = “One which you love hearing at the gym when you’re working out, or driving in your car, or in your college dorm.  It’s a song you think is really amazing and cool, and worked really well in your aerobics class, and you think everyone is gonna rock and jam to it at your wedding.

When the DJ reluctantly plays your carbo song choice, because you insisted, your dance floor clears. “OMG What happened to my cool song?”  You just witnessed what happens when a non-experienced person chooses what song to play.  Your carbo choice had dance floor punch, not enticing riff.  That’s what happens with carbos.

Tip:  Avoid “Carbo” songs!  They lack the necessary punch to energize your dance floor.  Yes, they work at the gym or in your car, but have absolutely no place at your wedding except for perhaps your cocktail hour where SOME “Carbo” songs seem to be appropriate, such as a possible musical background bed for some special event.

You will likely have guests attending your wedding that you don’t realize that their request is a non-danceable “carbo” tune.  DJs know what those songs are and we’re all remiss at even wanting to name them : – )

Tip:  Let your DJ decide whether the “carbo” song is workable for some other part of your day, such as the cocktail hour, dinner, or perhaps for your cake cutting.  A great DJ will work hard for you to protect your playlist from those who might request non-danceable tunes.  Be sure to give your DJ the autonomy to guard your list from those tunes.

The Iron and the Light bulb

What do you mean when you say a crowd has to be warmed up like an iron, and not switched on like a light bulb?  I want to party right now!

You may want to party right now, but it’s rare when most everyone else in the room feels that way you do.  The iron and the light bulb theory is useful to know as dinner is finishing, just before the cake and special dances.  This is often what happens.   There is often a well-meaning guest, all kind by the way, or perhaps even a small handful, whom might have partied all day,  who are ready to hear a top monster hit right this second, even though most of the guests have not even folded their napkin after just finishing dinner.   They run over to the DJ and say, “get this party going,”  not having a clue the DJ is well aware of the mood and what is happening. They think they are the only one in the room with pulse on things. They have no clue or understanding of the way audiences work. That every tone and mood in a room has a beginning middle and end, again, timing.  It’s also unlikely they even care what the DJ has to say about this.  They just want what they want and now.  Every skilled DJ works with this dynamic every weekend.

Fact: Getting a crowd going is like warming up an iron, not turning on a light.  Those who don’t do this for a living every weekend would not understand this concept.  Yes, some crowds can just switch on, but it’s rare.  Every skilled DJ has their own tricks on getting your dance floor warmed up and energized. I call it dance floor kindling music.  Yes, like kindling wood, only we’re doing it with music.

Play every song we put on our music list and play it in the exact order will listed them! 

This theory rarely works.  Some couples choose monster hits and want them played too early when most of the guests are not ready.  You’re wasting really great tunes if you insist on this method.

Tip: Wise wedding couples have faith in their DJs ability and talents to read your crowd and make you and everyone really happy.  A music list for your DJ is a great idea.  However, resist the temptation to handicap your DJ by imposing an order., as doing so can significantly reduce the dancing impact.  Smart couples enjoy their wedding and don’t try to play DJ.  Give your DJ the freedom to read the crowd and “warm up the dance floor.”  Have the confidence your songs will be played by someone who knows how to pay careful attention to what is happening in the room.

If your goal is a packed dance floor, then giving  your DJ the autonomy to use their skills and experience to read your crowd and do what they do. That means picking 10 to 20 monster dance tunes that everyone loves, then leave some breathing room for your DJ to take the pulse the atmosphere to do the rest.

Tip:  Some older folks get really turned off if we come out of the gate with a high-powered dance tune.  Do you really want to alienate them?  If you do, then you could be excluding a portion of your crowd.  Keep that in mind.  You’ll go a long way in including them by allowing a few slower tunes after your parent dances when the dance floor is open to everyone.

Tip: A great DJ will not transition from playing dinner music to a monster upbeat dance song.  Yes, there are exceptions, as with everything in life.  However, as a general rule, just let your DJ do their job and warm everyone up. While we’re at it… a tip about that new song that just came out that has not been tested.  Your reception is not the place to break in new music unless it has a proven track record.

What do you mean Beware of the Dance Party Buzz Killer?  Do you mean if you played the song they wanted they energy in the room could be dragged down?  Yes!  That’s what I mean. They might want something to fast to quickly, or perhaps a carbo song.  Each would have its own dampening consequence and side effect.

There is another dynamic that can happen at wedding reception know as the the buzz killer guest. As the bride and groom, you’re there to have fun. So don’t you worry about this type of guest. We’ll handle them : – ) They are wonderful guests, and they don’t mean to kill the mood. They just don’t know any better and think they know better than your DJ how to energize your dancefloor. The buzz killer might say things to the DJ such as, “when are you gonna plan some real music.”  If you can believe this, the actually say this when your dance floor is packed with 200 people that are having so much fun they are even swinging from the chandeliers!  Amazing.

The dance party buzz killer doesn’t see this, they just want to hear “Freebird” (Great tune for the right place, but not now please as your dance floor will clear?). Don’t worry, it’s all ok. We know how to work with this type of request. We have learned from experience that some music lovers are not capable of understanding a dancing crowd, nor is it likely they ever will.

Tip: Give your DJ permission and freedom to use their experience to deal with buzz killer so you wedding stays fun and flowing.

Line Dances: Most couples don’t want them. That’s fine because most DJs don’t play them. However, as with everything in life, there are exceptions. For instance, some couples DO want to hear “The Chicken Dance” for some special guest, such as a grandparent or child etcetera. An experience DJ will always remains flexible to your unique taste.

Here is one of several online chart I use to stay current.  Note: Just because you find a chart featuring the most popular music at a given time does not mean all of the songs are danceable.

https://capecoddj.com/cape-cod-elegant-wedding-dj-music-database/current-most-requested-dj-songs/

How Many Songs Should We Pick?

https://capecoddj.com/cape-cod-elegant-wedding-dj-music-database/cape-cod-wedding-dj-tips-for-choosing-music/

Couples often tell me that their most enjoyable planning “task” is choosing their music.  Keep it that way.  If you keep it simple, you’ll enjoy the process.  Have fun, and don’t to be your own DJ by trying to “guess” which songs might work.  It’s extremely unlikely you have that kind of experience to gauge  the dancing mood.  Let us do that for you.

Tip: Have faith in your DJs’ ability to do what your hired them to do.  Let me use their talent, skills and experience and crowd reading ability to help you have a great wedding. Be happy on your wedding day.  Relax, enjoy, be the Cape Cod Newlyweds, not the DJ.  Your wedding will be fun and stress-free :- ) TT

How to find the right Cape Cod Wedding DJ for YOU by Tom Tuttle

With so many great DJ websites these days, how do you find the right DJ for you?

Most couples usually start their research with an email. “Are you available on our date, and what is your pricing?”
That’s an acceptable approach, and most couples choose this method because they’re too busy to call.  You can change all that!  Take a risk.  Try making a phone call and see what happens.  I know, you’re not a phone person, but try going out of your regular way of doing things and watch.

When you send that typical email, you’re not always as likely to find out the information you’ll necessary about your potential DJ and how they will fit into one of the most important and special days of your life.

As you start your research, you’ll discover that every DJ on Cape Cod has their own unique style and strength.

Which DJ will best suited and carry the vision you have for your wedding day music?

Here are some suggestions to help guide you along.

Yes, you’re really busy with life, and it may seem too old fashioned for your taste, but if I were you, I’d start off by using your phone.  No text, not email, that’s right.  The phone.  Be different and make that call to your DJ, BEFORE sending the typical email request for info. You’ll be surprised and how you stand out from others.  It’s a sad fact, but most couples are too busy with their lives to call, so they email.

Tip:  Use the phone.  Make the call. If you get the DJs voicemail that’s okay. Ask for a call back, and make note of how long it takes to hear back.

When you do make the connection, be mindful of the way your conversation goes. Your real focus during the call is just to remain aware of the tone.  Does it flow? Does the DJ listen? Do you feel rushed? Are your questions all being answered? Is the DJ friendly?  Trying to sell you or pushy? Or just the opposite? Wonderful?

There are a bunch of questions you could ask, but only one is really important at first.  Start out by asking the DJ if they are available on your date, as you might do in an email.  If they say yes, the let them know where (venue) you’re having your ceremony at reception, the the start and end time and how many guests you are expecting.  Ask if they have experience with your venue, and how their relationship is with the wedding coordinator.

The vibe of your  phone conversation could very well be symbolic of how well the DJ might be likely to harmonize in other ways on your wedding day.

If you are too busy to make the call, and you must email, then at least learn the DJs first name before doing so. That’s gonna help.  It’s an email no no to start with “Hello” or “Hi”.  Respected DJs friends I hear from, and work with in this wedding marketplace, tell me that when they see “Hello,” from a prospective couple, they view it as a generic inquiry.  Some don’t even consider it a serious request.  Most of my closer, friendly and respected DJ competitors have shared with me to me that they are likely to be more inspired when they see a request from couples who use their first name, and want THEM. So be ware of avoiding the generic HELLO DJ inquiry.

Tip – Take a moment to learn your prospective DJs first name and use it in your first email.  Doing so can work wonders.  Any marketing expert will tell you in a 101 class that everyone likes to see and hear their first name.

Cape Cod is home to have several highly skilled and talented DJs.  Who to choose?  Tom certainly does not want you to think he’s the only experience guy you should consider.  He just want to offer you some tips as you look around.  We know, you have so many choices with the Internet, which includes off-Cape vendor choices as the world gets smaller.    You might simplify your life be narrowing your search to local DJs only.  One major benefit of choosing a local experienced DJ is familiarity.  Most have worked at all of the venues hundreds of times.

Doing your DJ research will make it clear that most of the web sites are informative, and say all the right things, so how to you distinguish the right DJ for you?

Style is important.  Since every DJ is unique, like your wedding, look for the one that clicks with you.

That’s where that phone call mentioned above comes into play again.  With so many slick DJ web sites how do you know what to do?  When you make your call, listen to which personality and philosophy harmonizes with who you are as a couple and your goal for your wedding day music.

Tip:  Usually the top-ranked and most sought after DJ pros often book a year in advance.  You’ll  keep hearing the names of the popular locals as you begin your DJ research.

FYI: Most of us wedding DJs here on the Cape are friendly and respectful of each other.  Many of us will even help out a fellow DJ who might find themselves in a bind.

Value – As with most things in life, you get what you pay for. Some couples opt for a boombox with an iPod for their music. That’s great, whatever works.  Other couples want something more elaborate.  That’s fine too.   Remember – A good DJ is flexible and will do whatever they can to make you happy. (By the way, we still have not heard of an iPod that can read a crowd : – )

What to look for:

Look for a DJ who is skilled at reading your crowd and who knows what kind of music/song to play and when. Timing is everything.  That takes experience.  You cannot learn this timing reading a book about DJing.  An experienced and talented DJ knows precisely when to talk, and when to be silent. They also have heightened awareness, so they know when to play upbeat music, and when to slow it down.

DJ Tommy’s style:  My approach as a wedding DJ has always been to let the music do most of my talking. The songs I play make a much better statement that I could ever do using words.  When I do make announcements, I’m conscious of keeping them concise and tastefully, without trying to be the center of attention.  I speak using a natural tone delivery, without trying to sound like a cool-dude WWF wrestling announcer?

I’m friendly and fun and work hard to accommodate requests. I also make it a practice to honor your “do not play lists.” And yes, most DJs know those songs you don’t want to hear : -). My strength is playing music for a wide range of people, which means not only current hits, but mixing in older tunes when the timing is right.

These suggestions should give you something to build on. The more time you take in your initial DJ research, the better your outcome.

In Summary:

Tom’s goal:  That you find a DJ that fits with YOU and your taste and preferences, even if it’s not Tom. Remember, if you have a great wedding experience Tom is happy too.

Tip – There are many great DJs on Cape Cod these days.  Take your time and do your research. Educate yourself about who is in our DJ market and find the right fit for YOU.  One major key to your success at finding the right DJ for you is to go beyond an email inquiry. I know you’re busy, but take and moment and make that call and “hear” who this person is who will be playing an important role on your wedding day. Best of luck : – ) – TT

Cape Cod Wedding DJ Tom Tuttle’s mentor now can be heard around the world

Dick Golden – Whom Tom had the pleasure and honor of working with at WQRC-FM in Hyannis, on Cape Cod, can now be heard around the planet.

Thanks to live streaming WBGO is featuring Dick’s program at 2pm on Sundays. Live stream 88.3 WBGO

It was Dick who taught Tom early on in his DJ career that the music is the most important element of a performance, and certainly not a DJ who talks too much.

Dick would often say, “just play the music and get out of the way.”  His philosophy?  “How could any DJ contribute to a program where Frank, Tony, Ella, Louis and other greats are already saying everything that needs to be said.”

Tom has been using Dick’s philosophy at every wedding.  Currently Tom stays really busy working with couples who appreciate his tasteful and polished style which focuses more on the music and less on talk.

Radio Broadcaster Dick Golden:
http://jazztimes.com/articles/152019-radio-scholar-dick-golden

http://www.capecodtimes.com/article/20071021/NEWS/710210340