It’s better to overestimate than underestimate when it comes to things like time and number of people. Think in terms of flex room rather than guessing at a specific number.
When in doubt, go with music that has a good beat and a catchy musical hook. Some genres are better at providing this type of music than others: Modern R&B, R&B-influenced pop, dance pop, hip-hop, reggae, and pop-punk are particularly reliable sources. Classical music, singer-songwriter style folk, new age, and melancholy indie rock (like Neutral Milk Hotel and Modest Mouse) should be avoided, in most cases.
No more than 15-20% of your final mix should be unknown or obscure music, as a rule. This is flexible, of course, but it’s a good rule of thumb for most ordinary kinds of party. Populate the rest of your mix with popular, catchy artists from the past and present, such as Justin Timberlake, OutKast, Beyonce, Hall and Oates, Kendrick Lamar, The Doobie Brothers, Drake, and Michael Jackson.
If you’re playing music from a phone or mp3 player, be sure you have a cable to route the sound through your stereo speakers. These can be purchased for a few dollars at most home electronics stores.
Don’t shuffle your jazz; instead, go through each album in turn, from beginning to end, preserving the intended mood. As for era, stick to the 20 years between 1951 and 1971. Jazz from this period has a classic jazz sound that most people find relaxing and sophisticated. Consider these albums as useful starting points: Solar Energy, Ray Brown Trio with Gene Harris; Time Out, Dave Brubeck Quartet; Kind of Blue, Miles Davis; Idle Moments, Grant Green. You can also try an album of bossa nova (such as Antonio Jobim’s excellent Wave) or other “relaxed” sounding music, but be careful not to make your guests feel as though they’re listening to elevator music.
To be safe, don’t leave out any albums that would be difficult or expensive to replace if broken. Parties have been the bane of many a breakable item.
An early rock, rockabilly, and bebop mix is great for a sock hop or retro-themed gathering. Funk and classic ’70s soul lend a lush, decadent air to any warm summer night. Split your mix between EDM (Skrillex, Tiesto, the Chemical Brothers) and IDM (Bonobo, Aphex Twin, Modeselektor) to create a soundtrack for a rave. (You can learn to crossfade and match beats to make it feel even more authentic, but that’s not covered here).
