So, of course these tips won't work with all DJs, but here are a few things to keep in mind if you're planning on hittin' the dance floor at a wedding and miiiiight just be inclined to make a song request.

1) Go up to the DJ shortly after a song starts, as opposed to as a song is ending. Because chances are the DJ will be focused on switching songs to really listen to you, or he might even have to ask you to wait a minute. Now, this isn't really that big of a deal, the DJ will obviously get to you eventually, you just may have to stand silently in front of them for 15 or 20 seconds bobbing your head and casually looking around the room. So this is more like a tip on how to make a request with the least amount of awkward moments as possible.

Along those same lines...

2) Make sure you know the name of the song and who sings it. I know this sounds like a no-brainer, but it happens! Every once in a while a person will come up and say "Uhm, can you play that one song that goes like 'duh-nuh-nuh Baby, oh yeah, duh-nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh' You know the one I mean?" (Nnnnno.) We live in a wonderful world where we can find out literally ANYTHING in like 30 seconds, so if you just can't remember the name of the song you're playing in your head, whip out that smart phone and start investigating before approaching the DJ's table. Then you can avoid that awkward "I'm sorry, I don't know what song you mean. Who sings it?" "I forget his name.. It's that one guy in that one band..." exchange.

3) Avoid phrases like "If you really want to get people dancing..." and "That always gets them on the dance floor!" It will only ever increase your chances of being taken seriously and not getting an eye-roll from the DJ who's done this at least a hundred times if not 500 times. Even when you have the best of intentions, if you're really concerned with the amount of people dancing, the most productive thing you could possibly do... is dance! Just have fun, and other people just might join you.

And circling down to probably the most important tip...

4) Don't be a conditional dancer. I don't know if there's a more obvious way to say "Hi DJ! I'm considering you my personal iPod" than to request a song without having set foot on the dance floor and then wait for that song to be played before dancing. Now, that's not to say a DJ expects everyone to love every single song that's played, far from it! We all have our own tastes, and a DJ does their level best to please the guests as a whole, but I'll just say, you aren't doing yourself any favors by being picky about the kind of music you dance to. Speaking for Ben and I, when we notice a person dancing and having a great time, and then they request a song, we are honestly hoping it's a song we can play.

And again, these are just tips to help get a request played, not what overall behavior should be like! In the end you can do whatever you want. Dance, don't dance, whatever! 

Just don't be surprised if the song you don't know the name of, that you requested before going back to your seat to check Instagram, doesn't get played. You've been warned. ;)