18th and 21st birthday DJ Birmingham

Music for a young crowd

At an 18th or a 21st, most guests will be the same age as the birthday person, and they’ll know quickly whether the DJ is playing their music. A good set for this crowd is usually built from what is popular now rather than party classics. The mix tends to include:

• current chart and pop
• house and dance
• UK garage and drum and bass
• hip-hop, UK rap and R&B
• Afrobeats, amapiano and bashment

What’s popular changes fast, so the most useful thing you can do is ask the birthday person for a list of ten or twenty songs they’d love to hear. The matching form lets you pick genres and add must-plays, and we use those to choose a DJ whose music fits.

When family is there too

Many 18ths and 21sts have parents, grandparents and family friends in the room for the first part of the night. A common plan is to start with music that everyone can enjoy during food and speeches, then hand the night over to the younger crowd. If that’s what you want, tell the DJ, and agree roughly when the switch happens.

It is also worth agreeing a short do-not-play list. Some families want to avoid explicit lyrics while grandparents are in the room. Most DJs can play radio edits on request.

For parents planning the party

If you’re organising an 18th for your son or daughter, a few practical points are worth sorting before you book anything.

The venue. Function rooms at hotels, sports and social clubs and community halls are popular for 18ths and 21sts. Some venues have specific policies for 18th birthday parties, which might cover ID checks at the bar, a deposit against damage, security staff or the number of guests. Policies vary, so ask the venue directly and get the answer in writing.

ID and age. At an 18th, some guests may still be 17. If the venue has a bar, ask how they handle ID and under-18 guests, and let the guests know in advance if they’ll need to bring ID.

The finish time. Agree a finish time with the venue and with your son or daughter before the night. Pass it to the DJ, so the last songs are planned rather than cut off.

Safety and getting home. Think about how guests will get home, especially late at night. A clear finish time helps parents plan lifts and taxis.

Requests on the night. Guests will ask the DJ for songs. Let the DJ know whether the birthday person’s list takes priority, and whether there’s anything they should politely decline.

For the practical side of any hired room, see our guide to what a DJ needs from your venue.

21st birthdays

A 21st often feels more like a night out with friends, sometimes at a bar, a hired room above a pub or a venue in the city centre. If the venue already has a house DJ, you won’t need one; our service is for parties where you’re booking the DJ yourself. If you are hiring a room in Solihull or Sutton Coldfield, see our pages on DJ hire in Solihull and DJ hire in Sutton Coldfield.

Lighting and the look

Young crowds often care about how the dance floor looks, as well as how it sounds. If lighting, a big sound system or the look of the setup matter, rate them in the form. If you’re working to a budget, our DJ hire prices page explains what changes a quote. For older birthdays, see our birthday party DJ page, or browse every occasion on the party DJ hire hub.

How we match you

Tell us the age, the venue, the finish time and the songs the birthday person can’t do without. We choose the one DJ from our Birmingham pool whose music and style suit a young crowd, and pass your enquiry to them alone. They’ll contact you to talk it through.