A 50th birthday, three generations and a dance floor that changed the plan.

The inquiry

In September 2024, Shilpa contacted me through DJinMuskoka.com because she was “looking for a DJ for a party at Rocky Crest Golf Resort.”

Rocky Crest Golf Resort is in Muskoka, and I am DJ in Muskoka, so already we were off to a great start.

Her event was scheduled for July of the following year. My immediate assumption was that it would be a wedding, since couples often contact me a year—or even two years—in advance. I replied that I was available.

Music discussion first? Yes. I was intrigued.

Three generations and one celebration

A few emails, texts and calls later, I understood the shape of the event. The party was for Shilpa’s partner, who was turning 50. He was a big fan of 90s hip hop, and friends and family would be travelling from around the world to celebrate with him.

Shilpa’s challenge was a familiar one: three generations of people gathering to celebrate a family member or friend, with everyone arriving with their own history, culture and favourite music.

Sounds like a good time to me.

Shilpa wanted Bollywood music to be part of the evening. Knowing that it was not my specialty—and that the genre is vast—I asked her to send playlists that could guide my preparation.

The plan

I had previously played several corporate events that required Bollywood music, but the playlists gave me an opportunity to refresh and expand my crates. I purchased and prepared everything I had been given, then spent time practising with the music.

I often say that I always go into an event with a plan, but I have never once followed that plan exactly. This celebration was no exception.

I arrived expecting to play a mix of 90s hip hop and R&B alongside the Bollywood selections Shilpa had shared with me.

Then the dance floor spoke

When dancing began, several guests immediately told me that the Bollywood music on the supplied playlists was older than what they wanted to hear. They wanted current music.

The preparation still mattered. It gave me context, vocabulary and a musical foundation. But the people standing in front of me mattered more than the plan I had brought with me.

So the plan went out the window.

I actively solicited requests and worked with several enthusiastic guests to identify the music they wanted. Throughout the evening, I found, purchased and downloaded modern Bollywood tracks, then mixed them into the set in real time alongside hip hop, R&B and party favourites.

The result was not the exact party I had planned in advance. It was the party the guests were asking for, and the dance floor stayed busy until the end of the night.

Why this story matters

Preparation is essential, but preparation is not the same as control. A private event brings together people whose musical knowledge, memories and expectations cannot be fully captured in a planning document.

My job is not to defend the playlist I prepared. It is to listen to the room, respond without ego and use every available tool to help the celebration become unmistakably theirs.