Dear Clients- You have COMPLETE control over what I say, how I dress, what I do - I promise to follow YOUR plans.
Please copy and paste this page to a document, fill in preliminary comments and questions, and email it to
pfyoung@mackenmusic.com. General approach: Would you prefer the "Quiet Class" package, the "Entertainer" package or something
in between? Should I avoid asking for applause for things such as the first dance? Should I not use the video projector at all during the
dance? Would you like me to not use the spotlight for events happening before the dance begins?
Specific plans to decide on:
Would you like me to place request cards and pens on each table for guests to fill out and bring to me before the dance?
Should I walk through the tables of seated guests during dinner to make it easy for guests to make advance requests?
Should I have copies of your "Must Play" and "Do Not Play" list available to hand out to guests who make requests, so they can see what
you'd prefer that I play and avoid playing?
Will I be introducing the head table as they enter the room? High Energy Style (like a team entering a stadium) or Tonight Show style
with jazz background? Softer options available as well. I will practice pronunciation of the names and set up a spotlight just for the
introduction. The background music used during your Grand March could be a specific song, such as "Celebration" Saturday Night
Live intro music, Techno, Classical, - anything.
Will you be using my microphone – and if so, at what time? My new Shure SM-58 cordless microphone reaches throughout any room
without signal problems, and you are welcome to use it at any time.
Are there any special announcements you'd like me to make before the dance regarding cameras at tables, etc.?
Dinner music: Michael Buble, Frank Sinatra standards are popular, but you could decide to have something more unusual, such as
John Coltrane, or something classical like Mozart Concertos. If your event has a theme, I could mix in songs that support the theme.
Cake cutting: I usually announce the cake cutting and play a song such as "Sugar Sugar" - should I plan for doing this?
Should I wear something other than the black tux with black bow tie?
FIRST DANCE: Let me know the song title, artist, and how to word the introduction- for example:
"Let's welcome Mr and Mrs _______________________to the dance floor for their first dance as husband and wife."
SECOND DANCE:
Song title, artist, whom to announce:_____________________________________________________________________
THIRD DANCE:
Song title, artist, whom to announce:_____________________________________________________________________
“FIRST DANCE BEFORE DINNER” OPTION:
Should I play your first dance as you enter the room for dinner, then continue the spotlight dances at the usual time for dancing to
begin?
Special events during the dance: I usually wait about 10 songs into the dance before doing these:
____Bouquet Toss
____Garter Toss
____Dollar Dance
Instead of doing father/daughter, mother/son dances at the beginning of the dance, you could save them for apx 40 minutes into the
dance, to make it stand out as a break in the action.
Father/Daughter dance song ideas: Daddy's Little Girl, Unforgettable, I Loved Her First, My Little Girl, The Way You Look Tonight
Father/Daughter dance instructions:___________________________________
Mother/Son dance? : ____
Mother/Son song ideas: What A Wonderful World (Louis Armstrong, only 2 minutes long) You Raise Me Up, I Hope You Dance, etc.
Mother/Son dance instructions: ___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Will there be old time fans or ballroom dancers interested in Polkas, Waltzes, etc.?
Should I be ready to play music for guests from other cities, states, regions etc.- Mention where they are from...for example:
Chicago: "Sweet Home Chicago" "My Kind of Town" "Chicago" etc.
GROUP DANCING: Most clients say "NO" to most of the following, but the list is intended to show the interactive things I am capable of
If you absolutely do NOT want any of these, even if a guest requests them, let me know!
(Y= Play It! M= Maybe, if time is right N = Not Even if Requested ? = What is this?)
___BIRDIE DANCE ___MACARENA ___ELECTRIC SLIDE ___ CHA CHA SLIDE ... ___STROLL
___HAND JIVE ... ___LIMBO ... ____YMCA ____THRILLER - Michael Jackson- ____SNOWBALL
___JUMP ON IT ____CUPID SHUFFLE _____SOULJA BOY
OTHER: Have you searched YOUTUBE for wedding dance videos to see all of the crazy things people are doing nowadays?
___COUNTRY LINE DANCE LESSONS ____SALSA ____MERENGUE
___Do you think your friends will be asking for hip hop/ night club style music? Should I wait until a certain time to start it?
___Should I tastefully mix in verbal interaction with guests, such as getting them to shout or sing along?
___Sometimes there are extra sensitive guests- let me know if I should be extra careful not to do or say anything that the most sensitive
guests would view as being in bad taste.
___“SEND-OFF” Is there a special song you’d like to end the dance with?
Suggestions: Piano Man... New York New York Other:______________________
Happy Trails, Closing Time, Goodnight Sweetheart...etc.
____Salute to the couple that has been married the longest: There is a routine where I ask all married couples to dance -and gradually
eliminate them until the couple that has been married the longest remains on the floor… Would you like me to do this?
___I KNEW THE BRIDE (bride in middle of a circle - dancers take turns dancing with her.)
___GIRLS WITH THE GROOM routine- What do you think about a song like “Sexy Back” with an announcement that the female guests
must all take turns dancing with the groom?
HIGH INTERACTION IS NOT THE NORM, but if you specify that you'd like to have me add more entertainment to the show, I will follow
your instructions. These routines include stopping songs to have guests pose for photographs, the school dance "snowball," the calling
out to specific guests while the music is playing, either to get them onto the dance floor or to add excitement when they shout back-
none of these things will happen at your event unless you ask for them. Tossing inflatable guitars out to the guests, fog, hats for the
YMCA are all ;possible, but are not normally part of the show and MUST be requested in advance. The final planning decisions should
be made at least one week before your event.
More ideas can be discussed in our planning sessions...let me know what else you'd like me to do
Top 200 all-ages, party dance requests:
(Please check off what you like with + signs and X what not to play.)
1 Journey: Don't Stop Believing
2 Frank Sinatra: The Way You Look Tonight
3 AC/DC You Shook Me All Night Long
4 Michael Buble: For Once in my Life
5 Animal House: "Shout!"
6 Kenny Loggins "Footloose"
7 Bon Jovi Livin' On A Prayer
8 Sister Sledge We Are Family
9 Michael Jackson Billy Jean
10 Marcia Griffiths Electric Slide
11 Def Leppard Pour Some Sugar on Me
12 New Pop Music: (See VH1 or MTV countdowns, lists at radio station websites or itunes "top 50" list)
13 Bee Gees Stayin' Alive
14 Lynyrd Skynyrd Sweet Home Alabama
15 Casper Cha Cha Slide
16 Sugar Hill Gang: Rapper's Delight
17 Michael Buble: "Everything"
18 James, Etta At Last
19 Allison Krauss When You Say Nothing at All
20 Righteous Brothers Unchained Melody
21 Temptations My Girl
22 Village People Y.M.C.A.
23 Madonna and Justin Timberlake: 4 Minutes
24 Armstrong, Louis What A Wonderful World
25 Wild Cherry Play That Funky Music
26 Cyndi Lauper: Girls Just Wanna Have Fun
27 Sir Mix A Lot Baby Got Back
28 Buster Poindexter: "Hot Hot Hot" (conga line)
29 Dexy's Midnight Runners Come On Eileen
30 Neil Diamond: Sweet Caroline
31 Foundations Build Me Up Buttercup
32 Elvis Presley: Can't Help Falling In Love
33 Kid Rock: All Summer Long (Singin' Sweet Home Alabama)
34 Bob Seger: Old Time Rock & Roll
35 Rolling Stones Start Me Up
36 Kool and the Gang Celebration
37 Van Morrison Brown-Eyed Girl
38 Usher: Yeah
39 Soulja Boy Tell'em - the Soulja Boy dance
40 Jason Mraz: I'm Yours
41 Vanilla Ice Ice Ice Baby
42 Gaynor, Gloria I Will Survive
43 Gaye, Marvin Let's Get It On
44 Commodores Brick House
45 Flo Rida: Low
46 Aretha Franklin: Respect
47 Rednex Cotton-Eyed Joe
48 Beastie Boys Fight For Your Right to Party
49 Prince Kiss
50 Romantics What I Like About You
51 Michael Jackson: Don't Stop 'till You Get Enough
52 Al Green: Let's Stay Together
53 Big N' Rich: "Save a Horse Ride a Cowboy"
54 B-52’s Love Shack
55 Justin Timberlake Sexy Back
56 Cupid: The Cupid Shuffle
57 House Of Pain Jump Around
58 Rascal Flatts Bless The Broken Road
59 Chris Brown: Forever
60 LeeAnn Womack I Hope You Dance
61 Chubby Checker Let's Twist Again
62 Emeralds Chicken Dance (Birdie Dance)
63 Nena: 99 Redballoons
64 Michael Jackson Thriller
65 Natalie With Nat King Cole Unforgettable
66 Nitty Gritty Dirt Band: Fishin' in the Dark
67 Abba Dancing Queen
68 Frank Sinatra : Theme from New York, New York
69 Journey Any Way You Want it
70 Simon & Garfunkel Cecilia
71 Rhianna: Disturbia
72 Rascal Flatts My Wish
73 Justin Timberlake Rock Your Body
74 Natalie Cole: (this will be an) Everlasting Love
75 Harry Connick, Jr: It Had To Be You
76 Nat "King" Cole: L.O.V.E.
77 Glenn Miller "In the Mood"
78 Wonder, Stevie I Wish
79 Dean Martin: That's Amore
80 Polka: "Roll out the Barrel"
81 69 Boys Tootsie Roll
82 Outkast I Like The Way You Move, Hey Ya
83 Tone Loc Wild Thing, Funky Cold Medina
84 Goodnight Sweetheart: Spaniels 50's
85 Christina Aguilera: Lady Marmalade
86 Deee-Lite Groove Is In The Heart
87 Weather Girls It's Raining Men
88 Sugar Hill Gang Jump On It
89 Poison Talk Dirty To Me
90 Young M.C. Bust A Move
91 Womack, Lee Ann I Hope You Dance
92 Proclaimers I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)
93 AC DC Back in Black
94 Van Morrison or __Rod Stewart: Have I Told You Lately that I Love You
95 Van Morrison: Into The Mystic
96 Earth Wind & Fire Let's Groove ( tonight)
97 KC & Sunshine Band Boogie Shoes
98 Aretha Franklin (you better) Think
99 Beastie Boys Brass Monkey
100 Elton John Crocodile Rock
101 Eric Clapton: Wonderful Tonight
102 AC/DC T-N-T,
103 Steelers Wheel: Stuck in the Middle with You
104 Ike and Tina Turner Proud Mary
105 Springfield, Rick Jessie's Girl
106 Shania Twain From This Moment On
107 Right Said Fred I'm Too Sexy
108 Dion Runaround Sue, The Wanderer
109 Elton John: Sat. Night’s Alright for Fighting
110 Daddy Yankee Gasolina
111 Los Del Rio Macarena
112 Aerosmith Walk This Way
113 Grease Mega Mix
114 Bega, Lou Mambo No. 5
115 Gap Band You Dropped A Bomb On Me
116 Cherry Poppin' Daddies Zoot Suit Riot
117 Queen Another One Bites The Dust
118 Stevie Wonder Superstition
119 Bryan Adams: Summer of 69
120 Beatles: Twist and Shout
121 Minnesota Rouser, On Wisconsin (School Songs)
122 Patsy Cline Crazy
123 Beach Boys Barbara Ann
124 Abba Take A Chance On Me
125 McGraw, Tim My Best Friend
126 Donna Summer: Last Dance
127 Faith Hill: Breathe
128 Ramones: I Wanna Be Sedated
129 Four Seasons December 1963 (Oh, What A Night)
130 Katy Perry: I Kissed a Girl
131 Spice Girls Wanna Be
132 Joan Jett I Love Rock and Roll
133 Smash Mouth I'm A Believer
134 Suburbs: Love Is The Law, ___Rattle My Bones
135 Salt N Pepa Shoop, __Push It
136 Garth Brooks The Dance
137 Digital Underground The Humpty Dance
138 Tone Loc Funky Cold Medina
139 Brian Setzer Orchestra Jump Jive An' Wail
140 James Brown Sex Machine
141 Billy Idol: Dancing With Myself
142 Orbison, Roy Oh, Pretty Woman
143 Hairspray Movie: You Just Can't Stop the Beat
144 Billy Joel Piano Man
145 Dirty Dancing: I've had the Time of My Life
146 Michael Buble: Sway
147 KC & The Sunshine Band: Get Down Tonight
148 Garth Brooks Friends in Low Places
149 Kool and the Gang: Get Down On It
150 Pantera: Walk
151 Surfaris: Wipe Out
152 Rod Stewart's "American Songbook" selections such as "Time After Time"
153 Gaye, Marvin Sexual Healing
154 Van Morrison Tupelo Honey, or __Crazy Love
155 James, Rick Super Freak
156 Clarkson, Kelly A Moment Like This
157 Jackson, Alan Remember When
158 Madonna Material Girl
159 Meat Loaf Paradise By The Dashboard Light
160 Polka Sing Along: In Heaven There Is No Beer
161 Beatles In My Life
162 Presley, Elvis All Shook Up
163 Bangles Walk Like An Egyptian
164 Timbaland The Way I Are
165 John Denver Thank God I'm a Country Boy
166 Journey Open Arms Faithfully
167 Elton John Tiny Dancer
168 Temptations Ain't Too Proud To Beg
169 Santana Featuring Rob Thomas Smooth
170 Alabama Mountain Music
171 Bon Jovi You Give Love a Bad Name
172 Charlie Daniels: Drinkin' my Baby Goodbye
173 Matthews Band, Dave Crash Into Me
174 Ann Murray Could I Have This Dance
175 Madonna: Music
176 Grand Funk Railroad Some Kinda Wonderful _Locomotion
177 Twain, Shania Man I Feel Like a Woman
178 Red Hot Chili Peppers Dani California
179 George Strait I Cross My Heart
180 Don McLean American Pie
181 Jerry Lee Lewis Great Balls of Fire
182 Elvis Presley Blue Suede Shoes
183 Shania and Brian White: From This Moment On (duet)
184 Stray Cats Rock This Town
185 Modern English I Melt With You
186 Chuck Berry: You Never Can Tell (C'est La Vie)
187 Nate Dogg and Warren G: Regulate
188 Billy Joel Just The Way You Are
189 Sinatra, Frank Summer Wind
190 Madonna Like A Prayer
191 Bill Haley and the Comets Rock Around The Clock
192 Black Eyed Peas: Let's Get it Started
193 Madonna Crazy For You
194 Chicago: You're The Inspiration
195 A-ha: Take on Me
196 C + C Music Factory: Everybody Dance Now
197 Eminem: Without Me
199 Earth Wind and Fire September
200 Michael Buble Save The Last Dance For Me, Home
MORE SONG LISTS are available elsewhere on this website: One is "Grouped by Style"