Most people think a party gets going when the DJ turns up the volume. That is not the case. An evening that truly works is a story with a build-up — and that story begins at dinner.
During the meal, ambient music plays. Not too loud, not too soft. Just enough to fill silences without drowning out conversations. We match the style to the type of event: jazz and bossa nova for a formal dinner, lounge and soul for something more relaxed.
Then comes the tipping point. The moment plates are cleared, coffee arrives, and people start standing. This is where most DJs make their mistake: they immediately drop a hit. We do not. We let the energy grow organically. Recognisable tracks at low volume. People start singing along. Feet start tapping. Only then do we build up.
By the first hour of the party section, we are at cruising speed. The dance floor fills up. Now the key is to maintain that energy. You do not do that by playing non-stop bangers — that is exhausting. You mix higher peaks with short valleys. A quieter track so people can catch their breath, then push again.
The final ninety minutes is the climax. This is where everything goes full throttle. The light show intensifies. The music gets bigger. This is where you bring out the classics and guilty pleasures that get everyone jumping.
And then the closing. One track that everyone knows, where everyone joins in, and that leaves the feeling of: this was an unforgettable evening.
You cannot improvise this. This is a run sheet. And that run sheet is the difference between a party and a celebration.