Move the Tunes Outdoors
Kickin’ up their heels or swishin’ to the rhythm, people, music and parties go hand-in-hand. But when the stage moves outdoors, things can get tricky.

Location, Location, Location
First, make sure you can move it. Without a doubt, built-in speakers aren’t going anywhere! You can rent or borrow additional speakers; if possible, test in advance to make sure the systems are compatible.

Sensitive systems won’t react well to pool-party splashes, excessive heat or run-away baseballs. Put your CD player on a steady table that’s accessible yet out of people’s way. CDs can warp if the temps get too high. So keep your system in the shade if possible. Keep trash bags or plastic sheets nearby in case of sudden downpours.

Watch Your Step
You’ll need lots of cords and lengthy cables to swing your system outside. You can buy, borrow or possibly rent industrial strength cords that’ll take a beating better than in-house extensions. For added safety, pros use breakers that will cut power if there’s a surge or if things get wet. When laying cord, keep it neat and as far away from foot traffic as possible. You don’t want to trip Grandma on her way to the buffet.

Getting the Best Sound
Space and wind patterns will affect how your system sounds. Unless you’re experienced, you’ll need to experiment to get it right. If you have a confined space, you can place speakers on either side of the crowd and send the tunes toward them.

If you’re broadcasting to a less defined area, you probably want to place the speakers together or near each other and blare outward at an angle. If possible, hang the speakers - securely! - or place them on a high, stable surface. Just be sure that they won’t fall, get wet, or get knocked over.

Expand Your Library
If your CD library is a neighborhood joke, you’d best get everybody to bring along his or her favorites. Have them write their names on the jewel box to keep things straight, and put someone in charge of spinning them. As host or hostess, you’ve got more than music to think about.

Seek Professional Help
Professional sound services might seem extreme for a backyard barbecue, but they’ve got the industrial-strength equipment and technical know-how to keep your party entertainment up and running. Most services offer a range of packages, so you’ll need to call to see what suits you.

For larger parties involving miked ceremonies, dances, pool parties of 20 or more guests and other A/V-intensive entertainment, consider hiring a DJ. From finding musical equilibrium to serving as master of ceremonies, he or she will make sure everything flows as smoothly as Whitney Houston’s voice.

Audio/visual specialist Bruce Chudacoff, owner of Riverside, Illinois-based Dance All Night! Inc., advises, "don’t even try unless setting up the equipment is something you do. If you rent, all you have to worry about is what they have to play and how it’s sounding."

Here’s a sampling of what audio/visual specialist Bruce Chudacoff, owner of Riverside, Illinois-based Dance All Night! Inc., offers his clientele.

The Basics:

• CD deck
• amplifier
• corded microphone
• two speakers
• wiring (100-200 feet)
• no delivery
• Great for somebody familiar with the rather complex equipment and for shindigs that aren’t entertainment-sensitive.

The No-Hassle Set-Up

• CD deck
• amplifier
• corded microphone
• two speakers
• delivery & pickup
• set up

A DJ & More

• CD deck
• amplifier
• cordless microphone
• 2-4 speakers
• crossovers and subs for better sounds
• simple lighting effects like strobes and bars, avengers
• ("intelligent" lights, like lasers, start at $1500)
• delivery & pickup
• set up

Whichever way you go about it, remember that music is as important to your party as the food, the drinks, or the guests. So crank up the volume and let the good times roll!

-- Michelle Nellett