Creating party music playlists that set an ambiance that's energizing to the crowd is an art. To do it, one needs to have an idea of how guests tend to feel when they arrival and how they feel later in the evening. A well thought out mixture of tracks will bring energy to the crowd and parties become hits, but bad mixes almost always end in early nights.

When people arrive, they need a little time to settle in. They need to become comfortable in their surroundings and get to know the people they're with. It's pointless to begin the evening with a bunch of loud, thumping dance tracks.

It's best to begin the night with tunes that are laid back and have a slower pace. Don't be tempted to play ballads, though. The goal is not to put everyone to sleep. One wants to create energy in the crowd.

Many will feel tempted to take the opportunity to play friends their edgy new tracks. This is hardly ever a good idea. Try to stick to tunes people know, or styles that are current and well known. The golden oldies have enormous power to please a crowd, so always add some to the list. Even the most glib crowd will be up dancing in no time.

Only professional deejays know how to place very differently paced songs next to one another. The average amateur needs to adjust his ambition and work instead at creating transitions that are smooth. Tracks following each other should compliment one another.

Silence between songs is uncomfortable at parties. If an iPod is used, it's possible to blend tracks into one another so that no dead space occurs between songs. It also allows one to create the mix ahead of time so that, as the host, one is not spending the bulk of the time at the Hi-Fi. Party Music Playlists that take these things into account are sure to have the crowd in full swing long after the sun rises.