3 Do’s and 3 Don’ts of Hosting A Great Event

October 20, 2020
A bride and groom dancing at their wedding reception, with a Georgia wedding DJ setting the perfect mood.

As a human being that has lived on earth for 33 years, and as a musician/performer for more than half of those years, I’ve attended, performed at, and hosted more events and parties than I could ever possibly count. My experiences have shown me that, while every event is different, there are some definite advantages and disadvantages to certain behaviors and attitudes that hosts bring to the table. That said, here is a list of 3 DO’s and 3 DON’T’S for hosting a spectacular event.

DO: Enjoy Yourself. People WANT to enjoy themselves at your event. I’ve never been to a party and thought, “I hope this sucks.” But people are much better at reading other humans than we give them credit for. Having fun as a host, in a way, gives permission for your guests to do the same.

DON’T: Overstress. Again, people can read people, and they often mimic the behavior of others. If you’re a nervous wreck, your guests WILL read it on you and begin to stress with/for you. I’ll admit, sometimes stress is difficult to avoid as a host. That said, feel free to take a minute to breathe, grab a drink, or find someone that you’re comfortable around to lighten your mood.

DO: Prepare. Seriously, It amazes me how many events I’ve been a part of that feel like they’ve been thrown together at the last minute. And guess what, it only adds to the STRESS. At Jammin’ DJ’s we try to think of everything we could POSSIBLY need on the big day/night well in advance of the event itself. I promise, it’s totally worth the effort and you’ll thank yourself after the fact.

DON’T: Feel the need to give an elaborate speech. At so many events I’ve had hosts decide to give these long winded and unnecessary monologues, even though they are absolutely terrified of public speaking. While it depends on the event, you’d be surprised how often a simple “Thank you all so much for coming. Please enjoy yourselves” will work just fine.

DO: Pay attention to your guests. This one seems obvious, but so often when we’re stressed or uncomfortable we latch onto one or two people that we’re most comfortable with. Unless there is a guest of honor, every guest should feel equally appreciated. This is mostly just a matter of acknowledgement, so make your rounds to ensure that everyone is entertained.

DON’T: MAKE IT ABOUT YOU. Unless you are celebrating yourself, like at a wedding or birthday party, the event is meant to entertain your guests. You can’t go wrong with making that your number one priority.