Things You'll Need:
- Television
- IPOD
- Internet Access
- Speakers
-
Step 1
Consider your guests. Consider "age" appropriate music. If your guests are older, perhaps new pop music hits are not the best choice. Likewise, a younger generation may not find "old time band music" thrilling. Do not rely solely on age as a determinate, however.
-
Step 2
Consider the food. It may be fun to pair the music with the type of food you are serving. If you are having a pasta feast having Italian music in the background may be good idea. Or, if you are having margaritas and fajitas, some Mexican background music may do a lot for the mood. Make it fun for your guests and do some work pairing the music to the occasion.
-
Step 3
Have pre-dinner music and dinner music. You don't HAVE to have one theme the entire night. Faster paced music may be more appropriate pre-dinner and will get the guests excited about the night. For instance, having a mix of Samba music, even if you are not serving Brazilian cuisine, may be a fun start to a night because the mood of the music is relaxing.
-
Step 4
Think world music. Choose music that you or your guests normally do not listen to in the car. Have some fun with your selection. Different World Music categories-Spanish, Samba, Island Music, etc, can be some great choices and conversation starts. Remember your goal is to entertain your guests, and new music can be a great way to do it.
-
Step 5
Volume. Perhaps the most difficult part of getting the music "right" is knowing how loud is too loud, and how soft is too soft. The dinner music should be in the background; it should not be the focal point of the dinner. Guests should be able to comfortably talk over the music. It is not unusual to have to adjust the music in between cocktails and appetizers and dinner, as the former part of the night tends to be louder and boisterous.
-
Step 6
Tempo. The speed of the songs should be calming. If the beat is too quick, guests may be less apt to stay relaxed; you don't want a fast jazz song giving your guests indigestion! Have all the songs have the same range of tempo and volume. This will ensure for a consistent night. You do not want to have to continually get up to change the music during the party, so give this some forethought.
-
Step 7
Make a mix. The best way to control what music plays is to make a cd or ipod mix prior to the party. This ensures no surprises.
-
Step 8
No time for a mix? Try the television. Most cable television services have channels with different music categories. Simply choose an appropriate category for the evening, set the volume, and enjoy. While you cannot control the exact songs, it prevents you from having to spend the time organizing your collection prior to dinner.
-
Step 9
Use the internet. There are websites that allow you to enter an artist or genre into the program and they will play that artist or similar music. Try pandora.com to start. There are other websites that are free and many that you can pay for as well.
-
Step 10
Speakers. If you can utilize surround sound (either by installation or by placing speakers all over the room), do so. It will allow you to keep the volume low, but also allow all guests to have the same "listening" experience. If you do not have the ability to do this, have the music far enough away from the group so that one side of the table is not "blasted" with the sound.
