Play Something We Can Dance To!

“Once upon a time there was a little girl named Goldilocks.  She went for a walk in the forest. Pretty soon she came upon a house.”  Given just those few lines of the classic children’s story, we could all recite the rest of this imaginative narrative. She went into the house shortly after the three bears left their cottage because their porridge was too hot. As Goldilocks wandered uninvited through the bear’s abode, she encountered the bear’s meal, chairs, and bedroom.  Children understand that each time she tasted their breakfast, sat down in their chairs, or slept in their beds, the adult bear’s belongings were too extreme for her, while the baby bear’s items were “just right.”  Goldilocks did not like, for example, Papa bear’s “too hard” or Mama bear’s “too soft” chair. We concentrate on the fact that Baby bear was the only one that had possessions that Goldilocks could relate to. This story has sparked the imagination of children for years, as each new generation of toddlers let their thoughts transport them into the story where they enter a bear’s humble dwellings to discover the similarities of a family of bears living a life similar to their own.  The original story ends with Goldilocks running away from the house never to return.

What would have happened if the three bears sent a letter after this event inviting Goldilocks and her parents to visit? First, the bears would have to fix the chair that she broke and then prepare some more porridge. No doubt, Papa bear would be willing to give Goldilocks’ father his chair and Mama bear would wonder if Goldilocks’ mother liked her meal hot or cold.  Each bear would make the necessary preparations for his or her human counterpart to make them feel as welcome as possible.

This is a fairytale, so let your fantasy work its magic as you picture the story that Goldilocks tells her folks. Certainly, the part that she would be most excited about would be the “just right” things that Baby bear had unexpectedly provided for her. Her dad, however, would wonder if Papa bear had a good hard chair for him to relax in and her mom would question her if Mama bear ate her porridge cold like she did. If Goldilocks’ parents thought that all the food and all the furniture were similar to Baby bear’s, they would probably be hesitant to accept the invitation. Once Goldilocks assured her guardians that Baby bear’s parents were actually a lot like them, just a lot fuzzier, and that they all would have a great time, there would be a play date in Goldilocks’ future.

The beauty in any children’s story or fairytale is the moral to the tale that can be applied to real life. In this case, the connection is that we too often concentrate on what is most similar, and do not consider the things that others find most desirable. Too often at an event, I have found myself playing to one particular crowd – concentrating only on what they want to hear.  Unconsciously, I am a “Baby bear” DJ, looking at pleasing only the “Goldilocks” currently on the dance floor.  In my mind, every song played needs to be “just right” so that the “Goldilocks” never leave the dance floor.  However, what should be the focus is not only what is currently happening on the dance floor, but the entire room.  That is, my thoughts should also be thinking like a “Papa and Mama bear” to get other folks on the dance floor by playing their style of music too.

Too often in my career, I have been embarrassed when someone comes to the DJ table and asks me if I am ever going to play a slow song, or they ask if I am going to play this same kind of music all night long. The embarrassment is due to the fact that I should have read the crowd, not just the dance floor, to realize that people, just like the three bears story, like different things. Some people like their music hard – like Papa bear’s chair and some like soft, slow songs – like Mama bear’s chair.

Earlier in my retelling of the story with an invitation from the three bears, I said that Goldilocks’ parents would have been reluctant to go to the bear’s house if the surroundings would have made them unwelcomed.   Households have a variety of seating, food, and bedding to match the desires and tastes of each family member. Music is no different.  Variety is the spice of life and DJs need to always play “just right” music all night long.  Of course, what is “just right” for one group, may not be “just right” for another set of dancers. Remember that almost every event has a variety of people – different ages, different backgrounds, and different tastes – and some want today’s dance music, others want country, and some oldies. For those dancers who want the best of good hard rocking standards or the best ever slow songs, check out this issue’s list.  Our job as a mobile DJ is to play music to try and please every person at the party.  At each event, we need to be ready to spin just the right song, regardless of which member of the “bear” family comes to us to say, “Play Something We Can Dance To!”