As a New York event planner, you understand the crucial role of music in setting the perfect atmosphere. You rely on your trusted event services vendors, especially DJs and live bands, to elevate your events. They are masters of reading the room and keeping the energy soaring with captivating music. However, having your own insights into what makes a dance floor ignite can be invaluable, particularly when it comes to encouraging guests to let loose and dance. While experienced DJs bring their expertise, knowing some iconic tunes that consistently get a party started is a powerful tool in your event planning arsenal. Although every crowd has unique tastes, this curated list of songs is designed to inspire movement and ensure your dance floor is never empty.
Crafting the Perfect Dance Floor Vibe
Top-tier DJs and bands are experts at working a crowd, instinctively knowing how to revive energy if an event hits a lull. New York event planners trust these professionals to make the right calls. Typically, the most effective DJs will employ several strategies to reignite excitement and draw people back to the dance floor.
Playlist Mastery: DJs are adept at reading the energy levels and adjusting the music accordingly. They know when to transition from slower tempos to high-energy beats, and they are skilled at selecting songs that resonate with diverse age groups and musical preferences.
Guest Requests: A great way to personalize the experience and engage guests is by taking song requests. Often, it only takes one or two enthusiastic individuals to pull their friends and colleagues onto the dance floor when their favorite song starts playing.
Creating Dance Floor Moments: Savvy DJs often use interactive moments, like inviting guests to the dance floor for photos or special announcements. This can ease people into the space and make them feel more comfortable being on the dance floor. Once they are there, the DJ can amplify the music and create an infectious atmosphere for dancing.
Essential Dance Party Songs That Always Deliver
When collaborating with your event service providers on music selections before an event, it’s wise to discuss must-have dance-floor anthems that can reliably motivate a crowd. Your understanding of your client’s event, including preferred genres and styles, is key. However, the following songs have proven broadly popular across generations and are excellent backup options to energize your dance guests when needed.
Top Party Starters
- “Flowers” by Miley Cyrus (2023)
- “TQG” by KAROL G & Shakira (2023)
- “TRUSTFALL” by P!nk (2023)
- “Calm Down” by Rema & Selena Gomez (2022)
- “Anti-Hero” by Taylor Swift (2022)
- “Unholy” by Sam Smith & Kim Petras (2022)
- “Players” by Coi Leray (2022)
- “Made You Look” by Meghan Trainor (2022)
- “You Proof” by Morgan Wallen (2022)
- “As It Was” by Harry Styles (2022)
Slow Dance Classics
- “Tennessee Whiskey” by Chris Stapleton (2015)
- “Beautiful Crazy” by Luke Combs (2017)
- “Can’t Help Falling In Love” by Elvis Presley (1961)
- “Perfect” by Ed Sheeran (2017)
- “Unchained Melody” by Righteous Brothers (1955)
- “My Girl” by The Temptations (1965)
- “All of Me” by John Legend (2013)
- “Wonderful Tonight” by Eric Clapton (1977)
- “You Proof” by Morgan Wallen (2022)
- “Stand By Me” by Ben E. King (1962)
Timeless Dance Floor Fillers
- “Yeah” by Usher (2004)
- “Dancing Queen” by ABBA (1976)
- “Fergalicious” by Fergie (2006)
- “Get Low” by Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz featuring the Ying Yang Twins (2002)
- “This Is How We Do It” by Montell Jordan (1995)
- “Uptown Funk” by Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars (2015)
- “I Gotta Feeling” by the Black Eyed Peas (2009)
- “About Damn Time” by Lizzo (2022)
- “Shut Up and Dance” by WALK THE MOON (2014)
- “Footloose” by Kenny Loggins (1984)
- “C’Mon ‘N Ride It (The Train)” by Quad City DJ’s (1996)
- “The Humpty Dance” by Digital Underground (1990)
- “Baby Got Back” by Sir Mix-A-Lot (1992)
- “Hey Ya!” by Outkast (2003)
- “Friends In Low Places” by Garth Brooks (1990)
- “Timber” by Pitbull feat. Kesha (2013)
- “24K Magic” by Bruno Mars (2016)
- “Cha-Cha Slide” by Mr. C The Slide Man (2000)
- “Cupid Shuffle” by Cupid (2007)
- “Cotton Eye Joe” by Rednex (1995)
- “Shots” by LMFAO ft. Lil Jon (2009)
- “Fishin’ In The Dark” by Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (1987)
- “Girls Just Want To Have Fun” by Cyndi Lauper (1983)
- “Shout” by The Isley Brothers (1959)
- “Boogie Shoes” by KC And The Sunshine Band (1978)
Event guests dancing at The Event Planner Expo
Keep this curated list of top song recommendations and dance floor motivation tips at your fingertips when planning the music for your New York events. And for opportunities to connect with leading NYC DJs and live music professionals, remember to attend The Event Planner Expo. This event gathers thousands of event service experts, providing a prime opportunity to network and establish valuable partnerships with the industry’s finest.
