"Well, I can't cut loose without my juice"
Actually, that's a line from an old jazz song.
I remember it every time I entertain people
at a cocktail party...
...where a lovely glass of wine or a cocktail
helps conversations flourish...
..."cut loose", in other words. Politely, of course.
Recently we played at a fantastic cocktail
party, with an "outer space" theme.
We set the mood with "Stardust", "Blue Moon",
"Fly Me to the Moon", "Volare", "Moonglow",
"Sunny Side of the Street", "My Blue Heaven",
"Blue Skies", "Got the World on a String", and
a dozen more songs like that.
Can you suggest a few tunes we missed?
With a glass of wine, everyone there got right
into the mood and enjoyed chatting with friends.
That's the whole point of any cocktail party,
isn't it?
Are YOU planning a cocktail party? Although
it might seem unimportant, your cocktail party
music can make or break your celebration.
Any celebration, really. No matter what
kind of event you're planning.
Why?
SIMPLE.
The right party music can create
the perfect mood for your ENTIRE event.
How? Three ways:
1. Helping your guests remember where they've been.
Cocktail party music can reflect back to the preceding
event and whatever mood your guests bring to the party.
What can you select? Perhaps you could repeat a few
songs from the wedding ceremony. Or play songs about
the activity your guests just completed.
2. Helping your guests enjoy where they are.
Cocktail hour music can celebrate what's happening now.
You could choose songs suiting the cocktail party's theme,
that refer to the activity your guests are involved in right
then and there. Perhaps with specific words in the title,
like "summertime", or "New Orleans", or "love".
3. Helping your guests anticipate where they're going.
Cocktail hour music can prepare everyone for whatever
follows, whether it's a friendly backyard barbecue, or
a formal awards dinner party, or an elegant wedding
reception.
So here's that Tip I promised you.
Whatever your event, assemble a playlist of
appropriate songs you know your guests will love.
Even better, explain your plans to the musicians.
Tell them what mood your guests will bring at the
start and what mood they should have at the end.
And leave the details up to the musicians. If they're
experienced, they'll know what to do.
