The Set List: Steve Buzzard Your Corporate DJ + Emcee

Celebrating 40 years of ALLDATA at the company’s Summer Social at Dust Bowl Brewing Company in Elk Grove. I provided the afternoon soundtrack before stepping into the emcee role to lead the ALLDATA Trivia Challenge and company raffle.

More Than Music: Celebrating ALLDATA’s 40th Anniversary in Elk Grove

A 40th anniversary deserves more than a standard company gathering. It deserves an experience that celebrates the people, history, and personality behind the business.

I had the opportunity to serve as both DJ and emcee for the ALLDATA Summer Social at Dust Bowl Brewing Company in Elk Grove, California. This afternoon gathering brought employees together to relax, have fun, and recognize an impressive milestone—40 years in business.

Creating the Right Atmosphere

Because this was an afternoon social rather than a formal evening celebration, the music needed to feel upbeat without overpowering the event.

I designed the setlist to create a fun, relaxed atmosphere from the moment guests arrived. The playlist moved through Motown, classic rock, reggae, country, pop, and familiar sing-along favorites. It gave employees something they could recognize and enjoy while still allowing plenty of room for conversation.

That is an important part of providing music for a corporate event: the playlist should support the purpose of the gathering. It should create energy without becoming a distraction.

Inside the ALLDATA Summer Social Setlist

The afternoon’s music included:

• You Get What You Give

• Keep On Movin’

• Could You Be Loved

• Sir Duke

• Don’t Stop

• Long Train Runnin’

• Reelin’ in the Years

• Soulful Strut

• I Heard It Through the Grapevine

• Kiss

• Walk This Way

• Take Me Home Tonight

• Dancing on the Ceiling

• Higher Ground

• Ain’t No Mountain High Enough

• My Girl

• I Want You Back

• Blinding Lights

• Bad Habits

• Counting Stars

• Marvin Gaye

• I Can See Clearly Now

• Red Red Wine

• Sweat (A La La La La Long)

• Three Little Birds

• Margaritaville

• It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere

• When the Sun Goes Down

• She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy

• A Bar Song (Tipsy)

• Get Ready for This

• Calabria

• Eye of the Tiger

• Danger Zone

• Don’t Stop Believin’

• What I Like About You

• Africa

• Sweet Caroline

• Brown Eyed Girl

• Come and Get Your Love

• Stuck in the Middle With You

• Crazy Little Thing Called Love

• (I’ve Had) The Time of My Life

• Safe and Sound

• 
  

The variety was intentional. The goal wasn’t to turn the afternoon into a nightclub. It was to provide a soundtrack that complemented the venue, connected with a wide range of employees, and helped the gathering feel celebratory.

A Four-Song Trip Back to 1986

Since ALLDATA was founded in 1986, I created a special four-song set featuring music released during the company’s founding year:

• “Kiss” — Prince

• “Walk This Way” — Run-D.M.C. featuring Aerosmith

• “Take Me Home Tonight” — Eddie Money

• “Dancing on the Ceiling” — Lionel Richie

This musical trip back to 1986 was a fun way to recognize where ALLDATA’s 40-year story began. It was a simple detail, but those intentional touches can make a corporate celebration feel personal rather than generic.

The music wasn’t just background noise. It helped tell the story of the occasion.

Moving from DJ to Emcee

At 1:30 p.m., my role shifted from setting the musical atmosphere to leading the organized entertainment.

I emceed an ALLDATA Trivia Challenge, guided employees through the activity, and kept the program moving. I also conducted the company raffle, making sure winners were announced clearly and the energy remained high.

Having one person manage the music, announcements, trivia, raffle, and transitions helped create a smooth and consistent experience. There was no need to pass the microphone between several people or wonder who was responsible for the next part of the program.

Hiring Me Gives You Options

Corporate events rarely need only someone to press play.

They may need background music during arrival, an emcee who can confidently address the room, interactive entertainment that brings employees together, and someone capable of adjusting when the timeline changes.

Hiring me gives you options.

I can provide the soundtrack, lead the program, facilitate games or trivia, conduct raffles, make important announcements, and help connect each part of the celebration. That versatility allows company organizers to spend less time managing the event and more time enjoying it with their team.

Congratulations to ALLDATA on 40 years in business, and thank you for allowing me to be part of this milestone celebration.

If your company is planning an anniversary, employee-appreciation event, summer social, holiday party, awards celebration, or another corporate gathering, let’s create an experience that fits your people and your purpose.