One of my favorite types of events to DJ is a senior prom, and this year’s celebration at The Willows in Raleigh was a wonderful evening from start to finish.
Residents arrived dressed for the occasion, the room was decorated for prom night, and it didn’t take long before the dance floor filled up. From slow dances and familiar favorites to the crowning of the Prom King and Queen, the evening really did have the feel of a traditional prom.
Residents Dressed for the Occasion
One of the things that made this event special was seeing so many residents dressed in formal attire. Some came as couples, others spent the evening with friends, and everyone seemed ready to enjoy the occasion.
Once the music started, residents quickly made their way onto the dance floor for a mix of familiar favorites and classic dance songs.
Creating a True Prom Atmosphere
Many senior dances focus almost entirely on upbeat music, but because this was a prom, I wanted to create an experience that felt a little different.
Throughout the evening I mixed several slow dance sets into the program, allowing couples and friends to share special moments on the dance floor. One of the most memorable slow dance sets featured “Can’t Help Falling in Love” by Elvis Presley followed by “Unchained Melody” by The Righteous Brothers.
The slower songs mixed naturally with the upbeat dance music and helped give the evening the feel of a traditional prom.
Crowning the Prom King and Queen
One of the highlights of the evening was the crowning of the King and Queen of the Prom.
What made this especially meaningful was that the winners were selected through a vote by the residents themselves. The honor went to John and Sue, a married couple whose smiles and excitement captured the spirit of the entire event.
A Perfect Ending to the Night
As the evening came to a close, residents gathered for one final singalong to Frank Sinatra’s “New York, New York.” The energy in the room remained high right until the final moments.
To close out the prom, I transitioned into Eric Clapton’s “Wonderful Tonight,” giving everyone one last opportunity to enjoy a slow dance before heading home.
A special thank you to Megan Davis and the team at The Willows for inviting me back once again. I’ve had the opportunity to DJ several events for The Willows, and I always enjoy coming back and spending time with their residents.
Megan recently shared this review:
“I’ve hired DJ Joey for several events as the Life Enrichment Director for an independent senior community in Raleigh and he does a fantastic job. He arrives early enough to not have me stressing whether or not the entertainer will be late, he plays music that the residents enjoy and takes requests which is helpful. He’s also pleasant and responsive to emails! Not invasive at all with his set up, so perfect for a large or small event. Highly recommend.”
