How to Select Music for a Beach Party

Whether it's "Wipe Out" by the Safaris or "The Little Mermaid" soundtrack, the music for your beach party should help set the mood and make your theme come to life. To achieve this, you can hire a band or a DJ, burn a few CD mixes or pre-program an MP3 player.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Choose a Music Setup for the Beach Party

1. Decide if you want to enlist a live band or DJ, rent music equipment or spin the tunes yourself.
2. Hire a band. This is a good idea if you are having the beach party in your backyard. A small, live band can provide just the right touch for a beach party, and the cost may be less expensive than you'd think. Be sure they play plenty of surf music to bring to life a classic Americana beach vibe.
3. Select an area where the band or DJ will set up his equipment. Choose a spot where the sound will flow out best to the main area of the party. Consider renting a tent or grass hut for the band to perform under.
4. Find a band or DJ at Gigmasters.com. A DJ can help you decide on popular music for your beach party, as well as incorporate your requests.
5. Choose music you absolutely love. If you have a special theme, request songs that support that idea. For an ocean theme, bite into "Mack the Knife" by Bobby Darin, and for a beach resort theme, go "Under the Boardwalk" by The Drifters.

Spin the Music for Your Beach Party

6. Gather the appropriate music equipment. If you do not own a CD player that can store a number of discs, look into a rental or borrow one from a friend. Consider setting up an mp3 player with speakers as an easy alternative.
7. Create a music list for your party. Gather several CDs, or make your own compilation CD by downloading music on the Internet. Plan a song-loop disc for the party to run continuously. Visit Rhapsody to select music downloads.

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Tips & Warnings

• Select a fun compilation CD at a party store. Some CD titles to look for are "Tiki Bar Party Music" and "Summer Party Music," available online.
• Check into the music-restriction policy of your neighborhood. Some live bands can only perform up until a certain time of the evening. Call your local police station to ask about these curfews.