Christmas music works at an office party. Just not all night. Play it in two places: quietly while people arrive and eat, then one short burst when the room is warm. After that, leave it there.
I’ve DJ’d Christmas parties for 15 years. The ones that go wrong usually go wrong the same way. Too much festive, too early, for too long. Here’s what I’d play, what I’d skip, and how I move the night on.
When Christmas music actually works
Arrival and dinner. People are talking, not dancing. Festive soul and classic records sit nicely under conversation.
One peak, around 15 to 20 minutes. Usually an hour or so after the dance floor opens, once people have relaxed. This is where the big singalongs go.
Anything outside those two windows starts to feel like a shopping centre.
Arrival and dinner
These set the mood without asking anything of anyone.
This Christmas by Donny Hathaway
Someday at Christmas by Stevie Wonder
Santa Claus Is Coming to Town by The Jackson 5
Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) by Darlene Love
Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree by Brenda Lee
The peak
Short and loud. Everyone knows the words, so let them have it.
Driving Home for Christmas by Chris Rea. My personal favourite. It’s how I open this section, because it gets people singing before they’ve decided to dance.
Last Christmas by Wham! This is the one I get asked for more than any other Christmas record. Every year, every office.
All I Want for Christmas Is You by Mariah Carey
Merry Xmas Everybody by Slade
I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday by Wizzard
Fairytale of New York by The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl (the edited version at work)
8 Days of Christmas by Destiny’s Child
Christmas in Hollis by Run-DMC
The ones I’d skip
Mistletoe and Wine. Nobody at your office has ever asked for it.
Anything novelty. The room laughs once, then starts checking their phones.
A second play of Mariah. Once is a celebration. Twice is a hostage situation.
How I move on
This is the part most people never think about, and it’s where the night is won or lost.
I always finish the Christmas section with Christmas in Hollis by Run-DMC. It’s still a Christmas record, so nobody feels cheated. But it’s also a hip-hop record. From there I can go straight into hip-hop without it feeling like a jump. What comes next depends on the room. That’s the point of having a DJ and not a playlist.
The room doesn’t notice Christmas has finished. They just notice they’re still dancing.
More party clips on The Reel
How to brief your DJ for the office party
Tell them three things:
How much Christmas you want. None, a little, or a proper burst. All three are fine.
Any must-play songs. If the MD needs Slade, better to know early.
Who’s in the room. Ages, backgrounds, and whether the senior team will be dancing or watching.
That’s enough for a good DJ to plan the night. For what a corporate booking includes and costs, see my corporate events page. Corporate bookings start from £795. I’m fully insured with £10m public liability and all kit is PAT tested, which most venues will ask about.
If you’re choosing purely on price, I’m probably not the right fit. If the music and how the night feels matter to you, we should talk.
Check availability for your date. I reply within 24 hours.
