How to Make the Perfect Party Mix

Pictured: You.

Lets face it, parties can be just as stressful as they are fun. Despite the companionship, good times, and fun that comes with throwing parties, the host will always have a long list of worries and concerns that come along with it. Your background music should not be one of them, but surprisingly, it can be sometimes. This guide should help you make the perfect mix for any kind of festivity!


Know Who's Coming

You would never bump hardcore gangsta rap for grandmas birthday (unless your grandma rules) and likewise you wouldn't play Frank Sinatra at an abandoned warehouse rager. You have to know who you're playing to. If it's a kids party keep it as clean and as much as a background sound as possible. If it's a frat party make sure it's danceable and dirty. Failure to do so can make you look irresponsible or just overall lame.

Avoid Awkward Pauses

If you've ever been to a club or school dance you know that unlike your iPod, the music never stops. The sudden lack of background noise can really spoil a moment. A true DJ will make sure that this does not happen by mixing songs together. Since CD's, iPods and iTunes by default pause in between songs you will want to put all of the music together and mix it correctly. A good, easy program to use would be Audacity.

You Can't Please Everybody, So Please the Majority

A common mistake most people make is to try and make EVERYONE happy with their own individual song. A good idea is to put songs together than flow well, don't throw in a Metallica song right after Beyonce just to please your friend Mike.
Don't Save the Best for Last

One of the biggest music buzzkills for me is having all of the best songs either be played right away, or only at the end. This kind of inconsistency will throw people off and generally doesn't go over well. To truly make the music last through the night you need to keep a good mix of killer and filler songs.

I hope these tips will make your next party a blast. Good luck DJ.