Connection Dinner Playlist
Setting the Tone: Connection Dinner Music Tips
(PLUS: Spotify Playlist Recommendations!)
There’s nothing quite like the magic of a perfectly set dinner party. From the lights to the temperature and the wine to the music, when everything is just right you create the perfect conditions for openness, connection, and comfort.
A connection dinner isn’t just another dinner party.
It is rooted in the intention of connecting deeper with guests and connecting those guests to one another in a way that will last much longer than simply through dessert. Because of that intention, Connection Dinner conversations go much deeper, and they frequently have moments of emotion - both light and heavy - but powerfully experienced as a group nonetheless.
An appropriate playlist is critical for setting the foundation for a memorable, impactful, and deeply connected evening. Just think: Will someone really want to vulnerably share over the catchy chorus of “YMCA”? Will guests really be paying attention to another’s biggest challenge or dream while Fergie chimes into the conversation about her “lovely lady lumps” in the background?
I think not!
Don’t get me wrong, I love me a good pop hit, but when someone’s going deep or sharing their purpose on this planet, I want to be all ears. Not only that, but I believe my purpose as a Connection Dinner host is to create an environment of unity for everyone in the room to each other - not to the song - so the music, if present, must support that.
We’ve tried many different playlists at our Connection Dinners, and we’ve found that we like specific types of instrumental music best. We find lyrics can be distracting during the Connection Exercise, which is when it’s most important for guests to be engaged and in-tune with each other. We also prefer music that is calm and uplifting, and not too dancy or intense. For this reason, we steer clear of classical music, electronic music, and music with too much drum - which we love but find isn’t suitable for these dinners.
Important to note here is the VOLUME of the music. As a rule of thumb, the music should be in the background. That means that, while everyone is mixing and mingling, you really shouldn’t hear it. When one person speaks, it should be audible but faint, and not competing with the speaker. If you have a Bluetooth speaker, keep your phone handy but out of sight during the dinner so you can adjust the volume if necessary.
We pay for Spotify Premium so we can create our own playlists and select from theirs without advertisements or interruption. With Spotify, you also have the option to download playlists so you can play them without worry while your phone is on Airplane mode or in places with a spotty signal.
If you don’t already have one, I recommend getting a subscription to Spotify or Pandora, or perhaps even YouTube Red. A subscription will allow you ad-free listening, which is important because disruptive advertisements tend to happen at the worst time!
Now, here are our favorite Connection Dinner Music Genres with some suggested playlists to try. Check them out for yourself and let us know what you think!
Relaxing Instrumental Jazz (we like this Spotify playlist)
Calm Guitar (we like this Spotify playlist)
Bossa Nova (we like this Spotify playlist and yes, there are lyrics - but in Portuguese!)
Happy listening!