No more than 4 seems to work for me. Two in a row i feel creates that slow dance vibe to get more couples on the dance floor floor…after those first 2 drop a banger then toward the end of the night drop two more slow songs before close.
Interesting your perspective on this... I've had several weddings this year where I haven't played a single slow dance, and that almost seems to be the way things are trending. I've never been one, in 30+ years of DJ'ing, to start the dance floor with a slow song, and I've never been one to play more than one slow song at a time, but again, they are practically a thing of the past. But as you said, different times and different trends are at play here, but I like the trend of getting away from the slow dances, and also as you said, it almost seems more geared towards the older folks or the bride & groom's parents, etc. Nick, I love your content... thank you for what you do!!!
Just watched. Great video. I commented on your Facebook post with my personal account I try to keep it 1 or 2 a night. But I've had some events where all they respond to is slow songs. I rarely start with a slow dance though, only ever if the vibe of the room fits a slow song.
North East Florida - have DJ'd for 13 years (Primarily weddings) and yes they have declined. There are some weddings I play only 1 or 2 and sometimes none. The first dances and parent dances are still requested but are usually cut in half. I do agree with you and appreciate your content.
This is a great topic Nick! And I think the decline is a result of "today's Pop artists" not making slow, love songs like they did back in the day. Beyond Taylor, Sheeran and the occasional Bruno slow jam, there's none. Thank God for Country slow songs! Because without them we'd be screwed. I have been playing 2-3, two-song, slow jam sets at my wedding gigs with mixed results, here in Michigan. Based on your video, it might be time to reduce that number.
I agree, it depends on the couple/event.... Some like to slow dance... some don't.. I don't do many dollar dances anymore... but when I do, that is when I can get all of those banger slow dance songs and I tell the crowd to feel free to slow dance in on spot on the dance floor and when it is your turn to dance with the bride and groom, take your turn... This usually makes people happy and I can get 5 to 6 banger slow dance songs knocked out and then we get back to putting on our boogie shoes... haha
I still do it to coax grandparents and aunts/uncles onto the dance floor. I make an announcement on mic "family and friends (thanks for that btw Nick!), we're going to slow things down, if you came with someone special to you, now's that time to bring them to the dance floor and get close." I hit it early in the night, I'm not afraid to do two in a row, and then go into some motown classics to keep them there for a couple songs, and then build it back up. I do that for the first two hours, and after that it's usually just the young folks left, and I get those 2010's dance floor bangers working.
I like to time the slow dance at the 55 of the hour. Older guests might be thinking they will leave at the top of the hour. Get them dancing and they might stay longer.
Reminds me of a nightclub where I used to be resident here in Copenhagen, Denmark. In the middle of the night, between 2:00-3:00, I'd stop the music for 2-3 seconds, then hit my crowd with Anders Matthesen's *_Min Store Kærlighed_*. People would go CRAZY over this! Slow-dancing at its best. That was back in 2018-2019 btw. Age groups were 25-35, something like that.
I typically play one or two at every wedding. Lots of the older couples (grand parents absolutely love it). Once they trickle out I don’t play any. Line dances are getting huge in the mid west! Did a wedding where almost 45 min straight was line dance songs
So my uncle Wah Wah Watson played the guitar Intro on Let’s Get it On and when scratch in after a dance set, the crowd goes off! I usually spin slow music 90’s R&B at the end of my set anyways!!! You gotta play the right slow shit!!!
I usually suggest opening up the dancefloor with a slow song. It's early and gets all of the old people out. It's great for photogs to get their couples shots. I also get complaints from the older crowd if I don't play any, so I usually play one an hour for the first couple hours of dancing. Then I'm done
I've DJ'd weddings for several years and (besides the first dance) maybe play a slow song once or twice a year! I also find a lot of couples don't want to dance for the duration of their chosen song, so I'm usually inviting the crowd to join them for the second half of that track before I crank it. However, that is a fair point about older couples maybe expecting them.
Thank you for your perspective. I think the one thing that determines if I’m gonna play a slow song is really the demographic of the crowd. But for the most part bangers do the same thing they take people to that emotional place where they enjoyed the music and remember it.
From Toronto and the girls/brides love that slow lovey shit here lol. I don't spin the originals unless I really feel like they want that, I normally just get a redrum and have it "medium" tempo, so like if the original is at 67 bpm, I'd play a redrum version at 120ish (so tempo is a bit slower but its upbeat). Play like 2, and then move onto "lil boo thang" or those fun upbeat lovey songs and transition out of this lovey shit
Honestly very rarely if ever, but a lot of our weddings are destinations weddings, so they come to party and get there moneys worth, most dance sets are about 3 hours now. However when we do country weddings, west coast swing is popular, which is kinda like a slow dance but it’s very energetic and it’s a blast to just watch
Dj That guy, I am in West Michigan only during groom/Mom,father /daughter and bridal dance...but not much after that except like you said ...spot a few older folks play one ,but they are definitely fading...good video on subject Nick🎧🎤
I’ve had this discussion on social media with regular people, I know we used to do it back in the 80’s and 90’s at school dances and clubs here in Detroit, we called it “Socialing” or “let’s social” with a female. Now no one socialize anymore. I had a discussion with a 36 yr old female and she never slow danced a day in her life I was like wow. Now people are socially awkward. But events even wedding are like club events they wanna go hard in the paint from beginning to end, it’s a whole turned up event now.
Great point Nick, slow dances are slowly going away. Here in Milwaukee Wisconsin I will usually kick off open dance with a “Slow Dance” to get the older couples out AND see who my “future brides & grooms” are. I will play a second slow song later on the night to give my crowd a break and will always pick a song from my couples “Must Play” or “Play if possible” list 👍🏼
You know Nick, I stopped spinning a while ago, and got into the production part of the business ( rentals and set ups etc ). And I really never noticed what your saying about slow jams. It’s really just the father daughter dance at weddings and sweet sixteens and the wedding couples first dance as Mr & Mrs. Wow how sad!!! I remember that was the way to pick up girls at Jr & high school. This world has changed. No better feeling than asking the girl that you liked to dance a slow jam and feeling her hand for the first time. Sad
KC & Jojo all my life has always worked at like every single wedding I’ve done. It’s about slow song selection. If it’s overplayed like “Tennessee whiskey” it won’t go over well.
I gig for people in my age group plus or minus 10 years. I will play 2-3 slow songs in a row for every 10-12 bangers. It takes time for the older couples to get up and move to the dance floor so that is why I play them more often. I get many compliments from these groups that appreciate slow dance songs. Romance never died in our generation. The younger generation of people think pornography is romance. Such dorks !!
Ive had a bunch of weddings this season where we didn’t slow things down. A lot of couples, especially younger couples want the dance floor raging from start to finish. I feel like soon this will start showing up in the Do not plays 😂
I’m a Dj from Norway, and when I started back in 1990, it was common practice here to END the night with 2-3 slow dances. It was a nice way to wrap up the evening, bringing people together on the dance floor. However, slow dances seem to have faded away over the years-at least, that’s my impression since it’s been quite some time since I last played at a wedding. I can’t remember the last time I played one… in public, that is :)
As I DJed for the weddings in the last 10 years, all I can say the demand is really low for the slow dance (or the first dance if you call it) and most of the newly weds prefer the modern take which is just dance from the beginning. However, some couples still prefer the slow songs because (funny enough) that's for the photographers and videography purposes to capture the best possible shot.
I deejay lots of weddings in the Netherlands and also here almost no slow dances anymore. In the 90’s I played 3 or 4 at a night hyping it up: taking it slow and dance with the one you love, the one you would like to wake up next to or just someone you like 😂… in the 2000’s I maybe had 1 and nowadays 8 out of 10 weddings there are no slow dances….
...and nice, very informative video, thank you... I would never have known about this... very interesting... sign of the times, interesting to consider the notion of technology-related trust issues affecting perspectives on/around the dance floor. It makes sense, though.
It's not about playing X number of slow dances. It's about playing sets and set arrangement. Set arrangement should be tailored to the event and crowd. Breaks in the sets are to clear the dance floor and allow couples to grind a little. Then build it back up picking up the tempo and energy level to a crescendo at the end of the set. That's DJ 101. Play for the women, another DJ 101 rule. Males follow the females. Ever see a dudes night at a club? Nope, it's Ladies Night and that's where the smart guys go. Of course it's cyclical, just like fashion.
Slow songs are maybe 1 in 3 or 4 weddings now, its fading but every couple and event is unique. In 25 years I've never opened with a slow song. Starting with a whimper is absolutely weird to me.
In a typical 3 hour wedding reception with 45 minutes to 1 hour of delays/ceremonial/non dancing events we have about 120 minutes of "open" dancing". In the last 10 yrs, give or take an few, the need for slow dancing has absolutely dwindled. Prior to, probably played 30 to 40 minutes , occasionally more, of slow dancing and the rest was uptempo. Of late, one, maybe two 2-song slow dance sets and it definitely impacts, negatively, the floor. IMHO, most contemporary "dancing" isn't dancing...it's artless grinding/bouncing and non-couple movement orgies. 2EachHizOwn. Real dancing, with structure, steps and patterns, may never return.
Pacific Northwest, seeing the same trend here. One or two slow dances a night, max. None in the last hour. If the dance set is short I might not play any.
Agreed that the younger generation are very self conscious. However, I believe guys (for the most part) don’t know how to “shoot their shot” if it doesn’t involve “sliding into a DM”. This results in guys not knowing how to invite a girl to dance. Sad really.
During dinner, you’re okaying g slow dances. Primarily. During open dancing. That’s where you hit em with the hits! If you get a request for a slow dances, sure. But, otherwise, nope!
It has to do with the music today. There has not been a great slow song, put out in years, so this generation does not get it. In the 80 - and 90 love songs were the thing, but these days, it is about T&A and going down. We are the world of Tinder and hook-ups who need love songs. Me but I am 60.....lol
Your assessment is spot on! As a DJ who started doing gigs in 1986 slow songs were always big hits and I always played 2 in a row. I’m in my 50’s now and the parties I do are mostly 40 and over crowds (2nd weddings, reunions, bdays etc) so the slow stuff still works for me but I definitely doing play as many during a party anymore and almost never 2 in a row.
i agree with you but the real reason is that clubbing is dying and people don't want to go to a club get drunk and get a dui, now is party hard and crash at the hotel, plus technology you can have music anywhere now, so have a drink in the hotel room while getting ready slow dance with your honey and go down to the wedding and party hard, in 20 year a slow dance will be something thousand by MOBY, LMFAO
DJs: How many slow dances are you playing on average?
No more than 4 seems to work for me. Two in a row i feel creates that slow dance vibe to get more couples on the dance floor floor…after those first 2 drop a banger then toward the end of the night drop two more slow songs before close.
2 normally together in the middle of the dance set. People can slow dance during some of the dinner set if they wish.
Interesting your perspective on this... I've had several weddings this year where I haven't played a single slow dance, and that almost seems to be the way things are trending. I've never been one, in 30+ years of DJ'ing, to start the dance floor with a slow song, and I've never been one to play more than one slow song at a time, but again, they are practically a thing of the past. But as you said, different times and different trends are at play here, but I like the trend of getting away from the slow dances, and also as you said, it almost seems more geared towards the older folks or the bride & groom's parents, etc. Nick, I love your content... thank you for what you do!!!
No more than 2 and that’s usually when it’s requested by the couple.
2 max including the couples. sometimes you gotta do one for the parents but even that folks ask me to cut short cause it can get awkward.
Just watched. Great video. I commented on your Facebook post with my personal account
I try to keep it 1 or 2 a night. But I've had some events where all they respond to is slow songs.
I rarely start with a slow dance though, only ever if the vibe of the room fits a slow song.
North East Florida - have DJ'd for 13 years (Primarily weddings) and yes they have declined. There are some weddings I play only 1 or 2 and sometimes none. The first dances and parent dances are still requested but are usually cut in half. I do agree with you and appreciate your content.
Yooooo spanelliiiiii love your content always give me a good laugh man keep it up I’m always tunning in!!
Great Topic Nick Thank You 😊
This is a great topic Nick! And I think the decline is a result of "today's Pop artists" not making slow, love songs like they did back in the day. Beyond Taylor, Sheeran and the occasional Bruno slow jam, there's none. Thank God for Country slow songs! Because without them we'd be screwed.
I have been playing 2-3, two-song, slow jam sets at my wedding gigs with mixed results, here in Michigan. Based on your video, it might be time to reduce that number.
I agree, it depends on the couple/event.... Some like to slow dance... some don't.. I don't do many dollar dances anymore... but when I do, that is when I can get all of those banger slow dance songs and I tell the crowd to feel free to slow dance in on spot on the dance floor and when it is your turn to dance with the bride and groom, take your turn... This usually makes people happy and I can get 5 to 6 banger slow dance songs knocked out and then we get back to putting on our boogie shoes... haha
I still do it to coax grandparents and aunts/uncles onto the dance floor. I make an announcement on mic "family and friends (thanks for that btw Nick!), we're going to slow things down, if you came with someone special to you, now's that time to bring them to the dance floor and get close." I hit it early in the night, I'm not afraid to do two in a row, and then go into some motown classics to keep them there for a couple songs, and then build it back up. I do that for the first two hours, and after that it's usually just the young folks left, and I get those 2010's dance floor bangers working.
I like to time the slow dance at the 55 of the hour. Older guests might be thinking they will leave at the top of the hour. Get them dancing and they might stay longer.
Reminds me of a nightclub where I used to be resident here in Copenhagen, Denmark. In the middle of the night, between 2:00-3:00, I'd stop the music for 2-3 seconds, then hit my crowd with Anders Matthesen's *_Min Store Kærlighed_*. People would go CRAZY over this! Slow-dancing at its best. That was back in 2018-2019 btw. Age groups were 25-35, something like that.
You mentioned "Colour My World". I wasn't sure if knew that song so I looked it up…and I've never even heard it before. Ha. And I like Chicago!
I typically play one or two at every wedding. Lots of the older couples (grand parents absolutely love it). Once they trickle out I don’t play any.
Line dances are getting huge in the mid west! Did a wedding where almost 45 min straight was line dance songs
So my uncle Wah Wah Watson played the guitar Intro on Let’s Get it On and when scratch in after a dance set, the crowd goes off! I usually spin slow music 90’s R&B at the end of my set anyways!!! You gotta play the right slow shit!!!
I usually suggest opening up the dancefloor with a slow song. It's early and gets all of the old people out. It's great for photogs to get their couples shots. I also get complaints from the older crowd if I don't play any, so I usually play one an hour for the first couple hours of dancing. Then I'm done
Unforgettable- Nat & Natalie Cole, the old people love it.
Spot on 🔑
Everybody be saying slow dancing is dead until Marvin Gaye comes on... 😏
I've DJ'd weddings for several years and (besides the first dance) maybe play a slow song once or twice a year! I also find a lot of couples don't want to dance for the duration of their chosen song, so I'm usually inviting the crowd to join them for the second half of that track before I crank it. However, that is a fair point about older couples maybe expecting them.
Thank you for your perspective. I think the one thing that determines if I’m gonna play a slow song is really the demographic of the crowd. But for the most part bangers do the same thing they take people to that emotional place where they enjoyed the music and remember it.
Not as many as it used to be but most of my Slow Dances are at the country weddings I do
When I toss in a slowey, I’ve been leaning on Macy Gray’s - I Try lately. Or the new Linger cover. Good vid, my G!
such a good point at 5:40 like imma play elvis can't help falling in love with you for grandma and call it a fuckin day lol
My dad refers to the slow dance as the “erection section” and said it was always the best part of a night out 😂
@@tomwillz6985 😂😂😂
From Toronto and the girls/brides love that slow lovey shit here lol. I don't spin the originals unless I really feel like they want that, I normally just get a redrum and have it "medium" tempo, so like if the original is at 67 bpm, I'd play a redrum version at 120ish (so tempo is a bit slower but its upbeat). Play like 2, and then move onto "lil boo thang" or those fun upbeat lovey songs and transition out of this lovey shit
Honestly very rarely if ever, but a lot of our weddings are destinations weddings, so they come to party and get there moneys worth, most dance sets are about 3 hours now. However when we do country weddings, west coast swing is popular, which is kinda like a slow dance but it’s very energetic and it’s a blast to just watch
Dj That guy, I am in West Michigan only during groom/Mom,father /daughter and bridal dance...but not much after that except like you said ...spot a few older folks play one ,but they are definitely fading...good video on subject Nick🎧🎤
I’ve had this discussion on social media with regular people, I know we used to do it back in the 80’s and 90’s at school dances and clubs here in Detroit, we called it “Socialing” or “let’s social” with a female. Now no one socialize anymore. I had a discussion with a 36 yr old female and she never slow danced a day in her life I was like wow. Now people are socially awkward. But events even wedding are like club events they wanna go hard in the paint from beginning to end, it’s a whole turned up event now.
Great point Nick, slow dances are slowly going away. Here in Milwaukee Wisconsin I will usually kick off open dance with a “Slow Dance” to get the older couples out AND see who my “future brides & grooms” are. I will play a second slow song later on the night to give my crowd a break and will always pick a song from my couples “Must Play” or “Play if possible” list 👍🏼
i play 2/3 slow dances at most weddings here in Baltimore
You know Nick, I stopped spinning a while ago, and got into the production part of the business ( rentals and set ups etc ). And I really never noticed what your saying about slow jams. It’s really just the father daughter dance at weddings and sweet sixteens and the wedding couples first dance as Mr & Mrs. Wow how sad!!! I remember that was the way to pick up girls at Jr & high school. This world has changed. No better feeling than asking the girl that you liked to dance a slow jam and feeling her hand for the first time. Sad
My wife and I definitely requested no slow songs at all. Our first dance was just a misdirect to go into the lightsaber duel 🫣.
KC & Jojo all my life has always worked at like every single wedding I’ve done. It’s about slow song selection. If it’s overplayed like “Tennessee whiskey” it won’t go over well.
I gig for people in my age group plus or minus 10 years. I will play 2-3 slow songs in a row for every 10-12 bangers. It takes time for the older couples to get up and move to the dance floor so that is why I play them more often. I get many compliments from these groups that appreciate slow dance songs. Romance never died in our generation. The younger generation of people think pornography is romance. Such dorks !!
Ive had a bunch of weddings this season where we didn’t slow things down. A lot of couples, especially younger couples want the dance floor raging from start to finish. I feel like soon this will start showing up in the Do not plays 😂
I’m a Dj from Norway, and when I started back in 1990, it was common practice here to END the night with 2-3 slow dances. It was a nice way to wrap up the evening, bringing people together on the dance floor. However, slow dances seem to have faded away over the years-at least, that’s my impression since it’s been quite some time since I last played at a wedding. I can’t remember the last time I played one… in public, that is :)
Me as a bilingual hispanic DJ in California !NO! slow dances at all only the first dance 😢 it’s been gone
As I DJed for the weddings in the last 10 years, all I can say the demand is really low for the slow dance (or the first dance if you call it) and most of the newly weds prefer the modern take which is just dance from the beginning.
However, some couples still prefer the slow songs because (funny enough) that's for the photographers and videography purposes to capture the best possible shot.
My 2 cents I see the “sing-a-long” joints have replaced the slow dance set, cool part about that is you can still quick mix the song-a-long set
I deejay lots of weddings in the Netherlands and also here almost no slow dances anymore. In the 90’s I played 3 or 4 at a night hyping it up: taking it slow and dance with the one you love, the one you would like to wake up next to or just someone you like 😂… in the 2000’s I maybe had 1 and nowadays 8 out of 10 weddings there are no slow dances….
I get a questions if there will be a slow dance. So if I’m stuck somewhere I’ll drop 1-2 then go into a whole different bpm/genre to spice it up.
Amen. The same thing to me.
I have been quick mixing Slow dancing Motown songs!
U Got It Bad by Usher has been my go-to slow dance for a while.
1979 into the 80s, Commodores (Lionel Richie) "Still" ... and so many like those... definitely R&B clubs had at least 2 slow sets a night, no doubt.
...and nice, very informative video, thank you... I would never have known about this... very interesting... sign of the times, interesting to consider the notion of technology-related trust issues affecting perspectives on/around the dance floor. It makes sense, though.
It's not about playing X number of slow dances. It's about playing sets and set arrangement. Set arrangement should be tailored to the event and crowd. Breaks in the sets are to clear the dance floor and allow couples to grind a little. Then build it back up picking up the tempo and energy level to a crescendo at the end of the set. That's DJ 101. Play for the women, another DJ 101 rule. Males follow the females. Ever see a dudes night at a club? Nope, it's Ladies Night and that's where the smart guys go. Of course it's cyclical, just like fashion.
💯. I only do it at formal events with “old” people.
😂😂😂😂
Slow songs are maybe 1 in 3 or 4 weddings now, its fading but every couple and event is unique.
In 25 years I've never opened with a slow song. Starting with a whimper is absolutely weird to me.
S/O to the🐐🫡
Nowadays only the couples first dance song for up to 1:30mins then a perfect Segway into a party tune
I do 1-2 max (unless its an older crowd). BUT, I only do it if I feel like the bangers are gonna cause a heart attack☠☠😓😓
In a typical 3 hour wedding reception with 45 minutes to 1 hour of delays/ceremonial/non dancing events we have about 120 minutes of "open" dancing".
In the last 10 yrs, give or take an few, the need for slow dancing has absolutely dwindled.
Prior to, probably played 30 to 40 minutes , occasionally more, of slow dancing and the rest was uptempo. Of late, one, maybe two 2-song slow dance sets and it definitely impacts, negatively, the floor.
IMHO, most contemporary "dancing" isn't dancing...it's artless grinding/bouncing and non-couple movement orgies. 2EachHizOwn.
Real dancing, with structure, steps and patterns, may never return.
Pacific Northwest, seeing the same trend here. One or two slow dances a night, max. None in the last hour. If the dance set is short I might not play any.
Here in Spain I think we have lost the impact of slow dances because of the hyper sexualisation of mainstream music like reggaeton and bachata.
I love those nights where we don’t slow it down but sometimes a DJ gots to pee pee!
Agreed that the younger generation are very self conscious. However, I believe guys (for the most part) don’t know how to “shoot their shot” if it doesn’t involve “sliding into a DM”. This results in guys not knowing how to invite a girl to dance. Sad really.
I think the future version of the slow dance will be the sing along. Like Taylor Swift, Tyler the Creator, that kind of stuff. Lol
During dinner, you’re okaying g slow dances. Primarily. During open dancing. That’s where you hit em with the hits!
If you get a request for a slow dances, sure. But, otherwise, nope!
EDIT: supposed to say, during dinner, you’re already playing slow dances…
What a wonderful world Louis B Armstrong
I preferred your previous mic :)
I woulda been p***** if the DJ didn't play a slow dance at my prom- my guy- why did I get dressed up and pay for dinner?? lol
I play one and that’s it
It has to do with the music today. There has not been a great slow song, put out in years, so this generation does not get it. In the 80 - and 90 love songs were the thing, but these days, it is about T&A and going down. We are the world of Tinder and hook-ups who need love songs. Me but I am 60.....lol
Today you can’t address the crowd as hey men grab your lady and come out for this slow dance.
Parent dances will always be a thing but they will be like 30sec
Your assessment is spot on! As a DJ who started doing gigs in 1986 slow songs were always big hits and I always played 2 in a row. I’m in my 50’s now and the parties I do are mostly 40 and over crowds (2nd weddings, reunions, bdays etc) so the slow stuff still works for me but I definitely doing play as many during a party anymore and almost never 2 in a row.
i agree with you but the real reason is that clubbing is dying and people don't want to go to a club get drunk and get a dui, now is party hard and crash at the hotel, plus technology you can have music anywhere now, so have a drink in the hotel room while getting ready slow dance with your honey and go down to the wedding and party hard, in 20 year a slow dance will be something thousand by MOBY, LMFAO
Slow dancing? Hell just even dancing a tho g of the past? All they do now is scroll on their phones
rave bae > slow dancing
Most of the time just two
I probably play 1 to 2 slow songs @nickspinelli
Lord I Graduated in 1983 @nickspinnelli