Anyway, my point is that decade nights are on the rise and some of my DJ colleagues even organise and promote their very own themed nights with a lot of success. For the first time in as long as I can remember (and totally by accident) I was asked to DJ at a ‘70s night last November. It was a lot of fun, but very different to the usual weddings and family parties that I play. So, in this article, I’ll share some of my experiences and advice for if you too are contemplating taking on a decade-themed event for the first time.
First – some background. My wife is a member of the Kent Soul Choir and for the last two years they’ve asked me to DJ at their parties. To say these are a lot of fun would be an understatement. Julie practices her latest songs in the car and around the house, which means I have become familiar with their repertoire.
This means that I’m able to include all of the songs they know in my party sets, and I’ve even managed to recreate some of the mash-ups they’ve performed. The Gap Band’s ‘Outstanding’ mixed into Arrested Development’s ‘People Everyday’ is a particular favourite. I was booked for the choir’s latest social last November, but somewhere along the way it turned into a ‘70s theme night. Not my original brief when they booked me, but I’m up for a challenge, so I set to work on prepping the music.
Here’s what I learnt from the experience: They’re springing up all over the place. Driven by an uncontrollable urge to dress up and a nostalgic yearning for a time when music was just… well, better! I’m talking, of course, about theme nights. Pick your decade: ‘70s, ‘80s or ‘90s – curiously, I don’t see a lot of ‘60s nights being publicised.
Perhaps it’s not perceived to be as much ‘fun’? Who knows! Do Your Homework If you do decide to run a decade-themed night then you’ll need to ensure your music choices are bang on the money. I think you could be forgiven for playing the odd tune from 1980 at a ‘70s night, but as much as possible you should do your research and ensure you don’t upset the purists!
I took a fresh look at my own music library and spent time updating my ‘70s playlists. Remember, you’re gonna need a whole night’s worth of music from your chosen decade, so put together some virtual crates of tunes you think will make the cut. Music programming in advance is arguably more important for this type of event than it would be even for a wedding. Afterall, you haven’t got six decades of tunes to choose from and, unless you’re an expert in the particular genre, ‘winging it’ simply isn’t an option.
As a full-time DJ, I like to think I know my musical ‘onions’ . However there was no escaping that little voice of doubt in the back of my head telling me to do some date checking. Certain artists’ output bleeds across different decades and the lines can get a little blurred. For instance, Tubeway Army’s ‘Are Friend’s Electric’ is unmistakably the sound of early ‘80s electronica… only, it was released in ’79.
Clearly Gary Numan was ahead of his time! If we were playing a word association game and you said “Blondie” to me I’d reply “‘80s!” since that’s the decade I most strongly associate them with. Yet a sizeable chunk of their hits were released in the ‘70s. And who would have thought a fresh-faced Prince, complete with shoulder-length hair, enjoyed his first chart success in the ‘70s?!
Anyway, I learnt a lot from doing my research and had a lot of fun in the process. A Break From The Old Routine When you DJ at weddings most weekends, there are frustrations than come with the territory. The wide spectrum of ages and music tastes at most weddings means that I struggle to cover all those musical bases and inevitably I end up not pleasing everyone. Add to that the sense that (at some weddings at least) guests are there under a sense of obligation, possibly unwilling participants in the celebration, and some nights you can be forgiven for wanting to quit DJing and go work in a call centre instead!
So, for me, it was refreshing to DJ in front of a crowd resplendent in ‘70s gear all of whom clearly wanted to be there and came with the intention of having a blinding night. Let’s be realistic, even at a specialist theme night, you’ll still never please everyone with your music selections. However, the DJ’s task is made just that little bit easier by only having to focus on a decade’s worth of music. At the same time, it’s easier to manage guests’ expectations.
If the sign above the door says that it’s an ‘80s night then there’s no excuse for someone giving you the skunk eye for not playing Ed Sheeran! New Musical Discoveries You might also find you can take more musical risks than you might at a birthday party or wedding. At the vast majority of events I DJ it’s hard to stray too far from the well-trodden musical path. Playing anything other than instantly recognisable, tried and trusted tunes can be met with some weird looks from the audience!
However, at my ‘70s night I was able to make some more left field music selections that were surprisingly well-received. Maybe I just got lucky, but I think guests approach this kind of night with a different mindset. Perhaps it’s that sense of nostalgia that means their ears are more receptive to hearing some songs that they might not have heard (and you might not have played!) in a long time. Here’s a selection of songs I played for the very first time: Prince - I Wanna Be Your Lover Michael Jackson - Workin’ Day & Night Hamilton Bohannon - Let’s Start The Dance Crusaders - Streetlife David Bowie - Young Americans Fox - S-S-S-Single Bed Fancy Giving It A Go?
So, if you get asked to DJ a night of music from a particular decade, then look on it as an opportunity to learn, take some risks and expand your musical horizons. I had a lot of fun planning and DJing my first ‘70s night, and I’m pretty sure it won’t be my last. If you like the idea, but none of your clients are interested in this type of party, my advice would be to choose a decade or style of music you’re passionate about, find a suitable venue and organise your own night.
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