"GUEST" has a good point about inexperienced dancers needing a faster tempo, and experienced dancers needing the music slower. This means using a metronome is not such a useful idea - nothing is simple! Our band (Amazing Matchless Band - 20 or so years of playing together) tends to start slowly, and speed up a little if necessary. We also have found a short introduction by the leader - at least 4 bars - better than the single chord some bands use for setting the tempo