Last December I was set up in a converted industrial loft in Zurich West. 120 employees of a tech company, the mood during the apéro still subdued – as it usually is at company Christmas parties in Zurich at the start. Two hours later, everyone was on the dance floor singing "Last Christmas" together. CEO included. The key? A clear music and flow concept, which I'm sharing with you here.
Why music makes the difference at a Christmas party
A company Christmas party is more than dinner and speeches. It's the last shared evening of the year – the moment that makes company culture tangible. Music connects in ways no team-building workshop can:
- It bridges hierarchies – when the intern dances next to the board.
- It creates shared memories – the song everyone sang along to becomes a running joke in January.
- It manages energy – from relaxed arrivals to an ecstatic finale.
Phase 1: Reception and apéro (60–90 minutes)
The first minutes decide whether the mood grows or stalls. Nobody wants to walk into a silent room. My setup:
- Sound: lofi beats, nu-disco, soulful house, acoustic covers. Think Rhye – "Open", FKJ – "Tadow" or Møme – "Aloha".
- Volume: 65–70 dB – loud enough for atmosphere, quiet enough for conversation.
- Goal: guests arrive, grab a drink and start chatting. The music is a warm carpet, not a spotlight.
Phase 2: Dinner (60–120 minutes)
During the meal, music shouldn't dominate but also shouldn't disappear. My trick: a light musical theme per course.
- Starter: "Jazzy Winter" – instrumental jazz, warm bass, subtle Christmas edits.
- Main course: "Scandi Chill" – Nordic lounge, Blank & Jones – "Warm Weather", Nils Frahm atmospheres.
- Dessert: Gentle lift – first vocals, a touch more groove. The energy starts to rise. The transitions are seamless. Guests don't consciously notice the shift, but their energy level rises imperceptibly.
Phase 3: Programme – awards, quiz, year recap (30–45 minutes)
Professional tech is key here. I always bring my own wireless microphone with clean gain and feedback safety. Plus:
- Walk-on music for award winners (short, energetic stingers).
- Applause cues after speeches.
- Subtle background music during transitions. Pro tip: keep all speeches to 3–5 minutes max. After that, attention drops fast – and you lose energy for the party segment.
Phase 4: Party (120–180 minutes)
Now it gets serious. The dramaturgy of the party phase is decisive:
- Warm-up (30 min): 80s/90s classics for the widest reach. Michael Jackson – "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough", Whitney Houston – "I Wanna Dance with Somebody", Earth, Wind & Fire – "September". Tempo: 110–118 BPM.
- Peak (60–90 min): house edits, current pop hits, floor-fillers. Robin S – "Show Me Love", Dua Lipa – "Don't Start Now", Purple Disco Machine – "Hypnotized", Gossip – "Standing in the Way of Control". Tempo rises to 122–128 BPM.
- Finale (20–30 min): all-hands sing-alongs. ABBA – "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!", Robbie Williams – "Angels", Oasis – "Wonderwall". The moment everyone sings together is the emotional peak.
The generation bridge: My most important tool
At company Christmas parties, 20-year-old interns meet 60-year-old executives. My golden third rule:
- 1/3 classics (80s/90s) – everyone knows these.
- 1/3 2000s/2010s – connecting the middle generation.
- 1/3 current hits and house – engaging the younger crowd. Concrete bridges: Michael Jackson → Bruno Mars. Whitney Houston → Dua Lipa. Queen → Kygo edits. Fleetwood Mac → Purple Disco Machine. This creates a flow that excludes nobody.
Tech checklist for your Christmas party
- PA system: sized to the room – I calculate levels and coverage beforehand.
- Wireless microphone: for speeches, awards and moderation – always with backup.
- Lighting concept: warm ambience lights for dinner, moving accents for the dance floor.
- Decibel management: many Zurich venues have volume restrictions. I know the limits and work within them.
- Redundancy: backup laptop, second mic, spare cables. No failures on my watch.
Room and logistics – often underestimated
- The dance floor must be central and visible – not in a side room.
- DJ booth close to the crowd, not tucked behind plants in a corner.
- Setup before guest arrival, soundcheck with the organising team.
- Coat check and smoking area positioned so the path back to the dance floor is short.
What not to forget during planning
Start booking your DJ 2–3 months before the event. Popular December dates (especially Thursdays and Fridays) fill up fast. A short briefing call (30 min) is enough to align on flow, music style and technical requirements.
Can the DJ include song requests at the Christmas party?
Yes – requests are welcome and make the evening more personal. I curate them live and decide when a request fits the flow. That keeps energy high and the dance floor full.
How does a DJ make sure everyone dances?
Through dramaturgical build-up, smart genre bridges between generations and micro-moments like call-and-response or handover moments. The key is reading the room and playing the right song at the right time.
What tech does a DJ need for a company party in Zurich?
A PA system sized to the room, wireless mic with backup, ambience and dance floor lighting plus clean audio routing. I bring the full setup – tailored to your venue.
Learn more about my DJ services in Zurich.