DJing in an Art of Hosting space is less about performance and more about stewardship. The music is not the centrepiece. It is part of the hosting.
At our recent gathering, the themes were Work that matters, Harvesting, and the space built for Expo 67. The soundtrack became another layer of facilitation — a subtle weaving of memory, rhythm, invitation, and transition.
The DJ as Host
In many settings, DJ’s are expected to command attention. In the Art of Hosting, the invitation is almost the opposite.
Your role is to:
- hold atmosphere rather than dominate it
- support transitions between conversational processes
- create emotional continuity
- help people arrive, soften, move, reflect, and celebrate
The music becomes part of the container. Sometimes this means almost disappearing into the background. Other times it means helping a room transition, gather and connect.
Volume matters. Tempo matters. Timing matters even more.
Arrival Music: Welcoming the Field
As people enter the space, music helps signal: you are arriving somewhere intentional.
We found ourselves leaning toward instrumental grooves, warm beats, downtempo textures, and music spacious enough for conversation to sit comfortably on top.
One track I often use to set the tone is Wake Up Everybody, Harold Melvin — a beautiful invitation into collective purpose and possibility.
It set the tone without forcing one.
There’s something powerful about beginning with music that says:
we are here for something meaningful.
Music as Transition Practice
One of the most useful functions of music in an Art of Hosting training is supporting transitions. A short musical bridge can help a group shift gears far more gracefully than instructions alone.
Music as Harvest
Harvest for the World by The Isley Brothers felt almost too perfect not to include. And was used to reflect the two-eyed seeing approaches to harvesting.
During our end of the day closing harvest one gifted participant (Jomarie) MC’d over a beat, as we all danced in murmuration. She asked me to give her a beat.
“When I say Flow, you say Grow…Flow → Grow. “
A moment to connect in a check-out and harvest of the day
Lean Into the Context
Every Art of Hosting has its own language, context, and themes.
Our gathering drew inspiration from Expo 67, collective futures, and harvesting work that matters. So we let the soundtrack reflect that.
The Theme from Expo 67 became part nostalgia, part world-building.
When music resonates with the shared inquiry of the gathering, people feel it immediately. The soundtrack becomes participatory rather than decorative.
Lunch Beats and Afternoon Energy
During lunch we leaned into the warm, rolling textures of Nightmares on Wax — grooves with enough pulse to lift energy without overwhelming conversation.
The sweet spot is music that helps bodies wake up while allowing minds to stay open.
Not peak-time dancefloor energy.
More like collective breathing with a beat.
Open Space Framing
Open Space sessions invite emergence, curiosity, and self-organization.
Music here can act almost like permission.
One of our recurring tracks became Let’s Talk About It — which felt entirely aligned with the spirit of Open Space Technology itself.
A subtle reminder that conversations matter. That what wants to happen can happen.
Closing
The final song holds disproportionate weight.
People will remember it years later.
Our closing track accompanied a “Makusham”, a traditional Innu dance, usually done with live drumming.
By the end, the music no longer belonged to the DJ.
It belonged to the group.
That feels important.
Invite the Collective Playlist
One of the loveliest practices during the gathering was inviting participants and fellow DJs to share tracks. People brought music generously. Songs from different cultures. Old favourites. Deep cuts. Unexpected gifts.
The playlist became another form of harvesting.
Not curated perfection.
Collective authorship.
And because we kept everything in a shared event playlist, it was easy to revisit certain moments, replay tracks that landed beautifully, and offer the soundtrack back to participants afterward as a memory object.
Tiny Practical Things That Help
A few small technical habits made life much easier:
- Keep transitions simple and smooth
- Have playlists prepared for different energy states
- Test sound levels and check levels
- Stay adaptable to the room
- Know your keyboard shortcuts
A few favourites:
- Space → pause/play
- CMD + Left Arrow → restart track
- CMD + Right Arrow → next track
Simple tools. Less friction. More presence.
The Art in Art of Hosting
The deeper lesson for me was that DJing in these spaces is really another form of hosting practice.
You are listening collectively.
Sensing patterns.
Supporting emergence.
Working with energy rather than controlling it.
Good AoH DJing is often barely noticed consciously.
But people feel it.
And perhaps that is the point.
Here’s the full playlist: