Music for a corporate party: DJ, live acts and the right tempo

DJ, band or live musician: which should you choose?

At a corporate party, the audience is rarely uniform: 22-year-old interns, 55-year-old managers, tastes ranging from rap to 80s rock. The DJ is the only one who can switch from one to the other by watching the dance floor. Adding a saxophonist for the key moments gives a live touch without the constraints of a full band.

What musical running order works for a corporate party?

A typical evening from 7.30pm to 12.30am breaks down into five sequences, each with its own volume and style:

1. 7.30pm, welcome and drinks: lounge, soul, reworked jazz, at a volume that lets people talk. The saxophonist can play among the guests.
2. 8.30pm, the speeches: music off, wireless microphone tested beforehand, a short sound cue to introduce each speaker.
3. 9pm, dinner: the atmosphere builds gently, well-known songs in the background. A music quiz between courses can wake the room up.
4. 10.30pm, opening the dance floor: a crowd-pleasing track, sometimes with cold sparks or the saxophonist, gets the dancing going.
5. 11pm to 12.30am, the dance party: the DJ alternates eras and styles depending on how the floor reacts, then ends with an announced closing track.

How to get the speeches and sound right

The most common sound problems do not come from the music, but from the speeches: a microphone that squeals, a voice nobody can hear at the back, a speaker looking for the on switch. Plan one wireless microphone per speaker (we hire out a wireless mic for €45), a test with each speaker before the guests arrive, and a speaker system that covers the whole room. In large rooms, a dedicated technician avoids nasty surprises: that is what our DJ Pro +++ package is for, with a DJ and a technician.

Think about volume too. A party does not need to be deafening to be festive, and regulations limit sound levels in venues that play amplified music. A good DJ leaves a quieter area, near the bar or on the terrace, for those who want to chat.

How to brief your DJ

• The audience: average age, balance of men and women, nationalities, what worked at previous parties.
• The must-plays: songs that are part of the team’s history, a department’s anthem, the song from the product launch.
• The no-gos: styles to avoid, songs with lyrics that would be awkward in a professional setting.
• The running order: times for the speeches, the cake, the awards, the finish time set by the venue.
• The contact on site: the person who can decide whether to carry on for another hour.

What equipment do you need for your venue?

The equipment depends on three things: the size of the room, the number of guests and what the venue already provides. Many restaurants and reception venues have a built-in sound system, so a DJ with just a mixing desk can plug into it. In an empty room, an estate or outdoors, you need to bring speakers, subwoofers and lighting. Always ask the venue for its technical specifications, its set-up times and any volume limits.

• Up to 150 guests indoors: two speakers, a microphone and ambient lighting are usually enough.
• Beyond that, or outdoors: add subwoofers, dance floor lighting (moving heads, lighting totems) and several wireless microphones for the speeches.
• With a significant formal moment (awards, video, guests of honour): a dedicated sound and lighting technician, and a screen for projections.

DJ, finish times and neighbours: what do you need to know?

Many venues in Marseille set a finish time for amplified music, sometimes 11pm or midnight on a terrace, especially by the sea or in the city centre. Check it before you build your running order. If the music has to stop early outside, plan to move the party indoors or open the dance floor earlier. At a party at sea, the music often starts after dinner at anchor and runs until the return to port.

How much does music for a corporate party cost?

In agency quotes seen in Marseille, a DJ for an evening from 7pm to midnight is charged around €1,100 and a saxophonist around €980. Without an intermediary, the same services cost far less. Our packages: