A great story features a strong beginning, builds through the middle and has a fantastic end. I have been a mobile DJ now for over 40 years. And in that time, the way I bring a night to a close has changed dramatically. The best parties have amazing endings and it’s something I’ve spent lots of time working on. And so have many of my colleagues. So, I contacted them and posed the question: how do your parties end?

But before I reveal their answers, let’s first look back at how DJs have ended parties in the past. (If you still end your events in this way, hopefully this article will give you a few more ideas to try.)

When I started out as a mobile DJ at the beginning of the eighties, the rule was that parties ended on 'the slow dance'. Designed to give all those single people one last opportunity to not go home alone. (And otherwise known as 'the erection section'.)

Another favourite, borrowed from live bands, is the ‘fake ending’. Often bands will pretend to end the gig, only to return to the stage a few moments later, blasting it out of the park with one big final song. And what about the fade? Not a mixing technique, but a movement!

When talking to my couples during an initial pre-sales chat, I like to find out what they want from their DJ.

I ask about their experiences with DJs at previous events, including how those events ended. The most common answer is that the party just seemed to fade away; no one was dancing, or even worse, during the last song, they noticed the DJ packing away gear. Often, they didn’t stay until the end, as their expectation regarding the close of the party was low.

In terms of weddings, for a long time the wedding archway was the typical ending. The couple walked through an arch created by their guests, usually accompanied by an appropriate song as they made their way to a waiting car. With many couples now staying at their venue, this ending can come across as contrived. Even worse, if the wedding couple then return and re-join their guests the whole thing becomes pointless.

OK, confession time. For many years at the end of the night I was only focused on two things. One, it was nearly over. And two, I needed to finish by the venue’s designated time (“the DJ last week kept going, promise you won't do that!”)

Both these scenarios were about me or the venue, never the client.


While attending Marbecca workshops with Mark Ferrell, I discovered the importance of ending the evening with a good close. Not a random ‘goodnight, wasn't I an incredible DJ?’ moment, which is all about you. Something more structured.
Something that would bring the occasion to a distinct close. After all, we see this all the time on TV, in the theatre – in all forms of entertainment.
So, how can we make the end of the night better?

The end of the night can be fun. It can be romantic. It can be high energy. And this is not necessarily about BPM, rather the emotion in the room. A slow dance can have just as much energy as a knock-it-out-the-park, let's-go-crazy-one-last-time dance party classic.

It's time to hear the thoughts and ideas from respected DJs from around the world.

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