What characterizes good dance music? I'm trying to explain to a band why some of their music is just not good for dancing, but don't quite know what to say. It just doesn't make me want to dance, nice to listen to, but not to dance to.

So many times, a band plays only for "themselves", rather than playing music for the dancers. It is unfortunate if you are there to "dance", and the band plays for themselves. Those type bands probably won't change their style. However, if you are a "ballroom" dancer, you should be able to dance to almost any type music as long as you can hear the beat. It may not be the best music in the world with which to dance, but you COULD do it.

If it were me, and if there is a dance floor, which implies that the music is there for dancers, and I am there to "dance", then I usually do not return if the band does not play for the dancers.

A "good" band along with a dance floor, even if small, will try to attract "dancers". That makes for return customers. Otherwise, if you are there to dance, and the music doesn't make you WANT to dance, then don't go there any more, don't waste your time. Right JJ?

Even when a band plays traditional waltz or other ballroom dance tunes, they sometimes are simply off the strict tempo you become used to in the studio or when practicing at home to your own music.
If they are playing songs that are just slow ballads, thus hard to dance to, or rap or more modern tunes that don't fit your type of dancing -- that's a whole different problem. But in general, if you need to tell the band something, you may want to address their tempo and their lack of consistency thereof.
It's advice, really, that would help tighten up their presentations as well.

deun. If you Google Danceport Australia. Then on the left Rules of Dancesport. Then at the top Rules of Dancesport Jan 2008. Scroll to Music Tempi on page 37. Make a copy and present it to the music provider or band. I will add that some of the music played here for a competition is slower than the official. Rumba for instance is played at 25BPM. That's bars per minute not beats.

You have to be VERY careful when citing
" ballroom " tempi from d/sport,

the american style smooth dances ( f/t, tango ) are very different, as may be the case for many of the rhythm dances .

people who attend dance socials, even in the UK ( I have DJd them for yrs ), prefer much lighter fare.. obvious difference would be a strict tempo B/Room studio.

One needs to weigh the clientele, and play accordingly . waltz and F/ t are always the safest yardstick by which to judge . And rumba/ cha for rhythm .

Music is a very personal taste. What gets some people dancing makes others leave the room.

There are numerous reasons for this. The obvious one is age. We all like to dance to the music we grew up with and some of us grew up a long time ago. :)

I play CDs for dancing and usually carry around 300 albums with me so that I can choose music to suit the dancers, and even with years of experience I cannot please everyone.

Victor Eijkhout has produced some guide notes for dance bands that may give you some ideas. Google ["instructions to bands" dancing] to find it.

How does a band play when they play for themselves vs playing "dance music", that is, just what does a band do when they play "dance music", is it the tempo, the accent on the down beat, the rhythm, the drums etc. Just what? Thanks for any clarification.

For (only) me, good music accommodates many factors:

1- If it's "just a song I really like"... could be the lyrics, the melody, both. My all-time favorite song that I can never, ever, ever find is the Jess Harnell version of "Dream Dancing(with you)" as used in "Dance With Me", for example. Everything about it, I love.

2- Even, accommodable tempo. Doesn't matter if it sucks, just so long as it stays a waltz if it's supposed to be a waltz instead of turning into- get this- a RUMBA. WTF? One of our local "Dance Bands" who "plays for the dancer not themselves"... does just this. They. Are. So. Sad. They try... as much as they can WITHOUT actually taking advice from anyone.

Ooh, more later- someone just emailed me with a SHOE question...