First off, before you download your FREE DJ Contract template, I want to explain to you how I came across the question of, “What goes on a DJ Contract?” That’s right. It wasn’t that long ago I was in your same shoes searching for the best information to put on my DJ contract.
In fact, I had an awful experience with a client that didn’t pay me the amount of money we agreed upon verbally over the phone. It all could have been prevented if I had them sign a contract. That was the day I realized, a mans word is no longer good enough and a signature is the modern day promise.
I thought I did a really good job, but it didn’t change the fact the client was in no mood to pay up what I had worked hard for. So, after one of my first awful parties I ever experienced, I was sitting on my bed at 3am in the morning and I thought to myself…
What Goes on a DJ Contract?
Generally, a DJ contract will have the clients personal information such as full name, cell phone number, email address, & address, as well as the venue information such as business name, address, contact info, & place of setup, the date of the event, including start time, end time, services included, a breakdown of service fees, overtime rates, deposit amount & due date, total balance amount and due date, & important business policy rules you’re client should follow specific to your business.
- What is a DJ Contract?
- DJ Contract List Break Down
- DJ Contract Breakdown Summary
- Why is a DJ Contract Important?
- Scenario Examples of Why DJ Contracts Are Important
- What Are The Most Common Breaches of DJ Contracts?
- Should I charge a deposit with my DJ Contract?
- What Is The Best Way To Give Your Client Your DJ Contract?
- FREE DJ Contract Template Request Form
What is a DJ Contract?
In summary, a DJ contract is a signed agreement that assures both parties, the DJ & the client, will be at the same place on the same day & time conducting a business transaction in which the client pays an agreed total amount & the DJ performs musical entertainment in a certain time frame.
This post is based on my own experience and research as a DJ in my local area of West Palm Beach, Florida & does not constitute legal advice. Please ask a professional attorney or someone certified in your local area to make sure your DJ contract has the correct information so it holds in the court of law!
DJ BCharles
DJ Contract List Break Down
- Client Information
- Full Name
- Phone Number
- Email Address
- Client Address
- Event Venue Details
- Name of Place or Business
- Event Address
- Phone Number
- Place of Setup
- Event Date
- Start Time
- End Time
- Services Included/Excluded
- Musical Entertainment
- Any Other Service Included/Excluded Such As
- Up Lighting
- Lighting Effects
- Microphone/Announcements
- Fog Machine
- Photo Booth
- Photographer
- Payment Terms
- Breakdown of Service Fees
- Overtime Rates
- Deposit & Due Date
- Total Balance & Due Date
- Payment Rules
- Forms of Payment Accepted
- Debit Card
- Credit
- Money Order
- Check
- Cash
- Forms of Payment Accepted
- Breakdown of Service Fees
- Policy Details
- Failure of Payment Legal Actions
- Setup Location Rules
- Space Required
- Must Be Protected From Inclement Weather
- Outlets Required
- Amount of Amps Needed on Circuit
- Equipment Rules
- Clarifies The Client Is Hiring You & Not Renting Your Equipment
- Under No Circumstance Is Anyone Allowed To Touch DJs Equipment
- Equipment Reimbursement If Equipment Is Destroyed
- Specify you will end performance if any of your rules are broken
- Clarifies The Client Is Hiring You & Not Renting Your Equipment
- Weather Condition Rules
- Clarifies to the client there may be a performance delay or the DJ might Cancel performance due to Weather Safety Concerns
- Setup Location Rules
- Failure of Payment Legal Actions
- Cancellation Policy Rules
- Client Cancellation
- Deposit Refund Information
- Performance Refund Information
- Disc Jockey Cancellation Rules
- Client Cancellation
DJ Contract Breakdown Summary
Clients Personal Info:
Basically, this information is self explanatory. You need your clients basic info on any contract in order to legally bond your client to the arrangement. Again, this means the clients full name or names depending on if there are more than one client, cell numbers, email addresses, & clients address.
Event Venue Details:
The venue info refers to where the event will take place whether it’s at the clients house or a place of business. This section of the DJ contract will have the venues business name, the date of the event, start & end times of the event, manager contact info, event planner info, address of event, & the location of where the DJ will be setting up. Possibly, you may add some policy rules in this section that I will talk about later.
Services Included/Excluded:
Also, a section of your DJ contract should have a break down of the services included to clarify your job duties to the client and what they’re paying for. For instance, services could include your service of performing, maybe you include up lighting, or maybe you had a magician show up every set. Additionally, it may be wise to specify services not included in the total amount such as photo booth services, photographer services, etc. This section of your DJ contract must show everything your client is being charged for.
Typically, DJs will network with other companies that offer a specific party service and create a package deal with their musical performance. Specifically, companies involving photography, videography, photo booths, bounce houses, Karaoke DJs, or catering companies are all common services a DJ can offer that are not included on your contract, and must be a separate deal.
Also, just so you know, performers will sub-contract for you such as break dancers, bands, drummers, clowns, face painters, etc.… All of these service fees should be on an organized section of your DJ contract! Although, many DJs prefer to keep these contracts separate.
Payment Terms:
Next, the DJ Contract should have a section that breaks down service fees, travel fees, parking fees, overtime rates, deposit amount, deposit due date, total balance, and the total balance due date when you’re charging your client. For example, service fees could include your service of performing, loading/unloading equipment, setting up lighting, making announcements, or maybe you offer Karaoke & you can find other service fees to charge!
When Should The DJ Be Paid?
Well, It’s up to you, but I remind my clients as they sign my DJ contract that payment is due on the date of their event BEFORE the event starts. This way, there’s no confusion.
Whether it’s on the contract or not, if you don’t collect money up front before the performance, and things go awry, you’ll have a less chance of collecting your hard earned money!
Sometimes, the client may disappear at the end of the night or may be a little too impaired to pay you so be careful collecting payment at the end of the night!
Policy Details / Cancellations:
Generally, policy rules specific to your DJ business should be on your DJ contract that will cover you under certain circumstances if they may arise. This section should specify legal actions you will take upon non-payment of your services.
In this section of the DJ contract, you may want to state their payment being due on the day of the event, cancellation policy, refund policy, and deposit policy details, as well as equipment policy details regarding reimbursement of your equipment being destroyed due to any reason. There’s more…
Policy details should be throughout your DJ contract. For example, DJs will put in the Venue Information section a policy rule stating the DJs setup area must be a certain distance away from a power outlet, space required, outlets required, or the amount of Amps in a circuit the DJ setup will need. Also, under a protective roof barrier to protect the DJs equipment from inclement bad weather.
These policy rules are what makes your business thrive and they’ll be the foundation of running a successful DJ business.
DJ bCharles
Why is a DJ Contract Important?
Nowadays, a mans word doesn’t mean anything without a signature. In fact, the main reason a DJ gives a DJ contract to their clients is to create a bond, or promise, that prevents confusion on specific details such as start time, end time, place of event, & the total price to perform.
Most of all, you want to make sure you’re clients are legally bonded with a contract to the reservation they’re hiring you to perform at. You want to make sure everything is in writing so that if anything happens, you can refer to your paperwork.
Scenario Examples of Why DJ Contracts Are Important
Lets say you agree to $300 for a 4 hour gig. At the end of the night, the client only pays you $200 and says that $300 wasn’t the agreed upon amount….
How are you going to prove that $300 was the agreed total?
Consequently, you’re only going to get paid $200 and your client just pulled a fast one on you! In summary, a DJ Contract will help prevent this and many other problems from arising! What other problems you may ask?
Another Example Why You Should Use a DJ Contract:
Furthermore, any party can be tricky depending on the event & the clients mood. In fact, you could have people dancing all night to your music, but I assure you, once in a blue moon, whether you think you dropped the ball or not, you will encounter a client that complains about something.
It happens to the best of us DJs!
DJ bCharles
What Are The Most Common Breaches of DJ Contracts?
Usually, some of the most common problematic situations a client will complain about enough to breach a DJ contract are:
- Music selection not being good enough
- Not playing requested music
- Not making enough announcements
- Neglecting Guest/s of Honor
- Mispronouncing names
- Forgetting to do something you discussed
- Showing up late
- Stopping the party too early
Some of these reasons can make a client so mad that they wont want to pay you at all. For any reason, a client can easily refuse payment and you will find yourself flustered. You will wish you had them sign a DJ Contract agreement that states what’s ok and what’s not ok, so there’s no confusion!
Should I charge a deposit with my DJ Contract?
Usually, some DJs require deposits with their clients after they sign their DJ contract. This is to ensure the DJ their time will not be wasted. If the client cancels for any reason before the date, the contract states the DJ keeps the deposit as the booking fee.
A DJ charges a booking fee to ensure a time slot in their schedule for a specific date.
Often times, when you start getting more & more gigs, you will get two clients asking your availability for the same date. Then, you have to start telling clients you’re not available and it gets really annoying when the client you’re booked with cancels on you last minute!
Especially, when you know you could have made money with the client you told you were booked!
What Is The Best Way To Give Your Client Your DJ Contract?
In short, If you are sending your clients a DJ contract or an Event Form to request information through email, telling them to print it out, fill it out, scan it, and send it back, then you’re doing too much!!!
What is a Fillable PDF?
Basically, a fillable PDF is a formatted image file designed to allow you to fill out a form without printing. You can fill it out, sign it, and save it.
How does this Free DJ Contract Template work?
After you download this FREE DJ Contract, simply enter in your business name, business phone number, your name, & don’t forget to enter in the state you live in at the bottom. You may change anything you’d like as well as add in additional information.
Your client can open this Fillable PDF DJ Contract Template or Event Form on their phone or on a computer and start typing in answers right away!
Once they’re finished, they can save the PDF, attach it to an email, and send it right back.
FREE DJ Contract Template Request Form
Simply enter in your information below and I will send you your Free DJ Contract! I plan on making this process easier soon as well as adding a bundle of important DJ forms such as an Event Form, Equipment Rental Agreement, Guest Performance Agreement, Wedding Agenda Form, Wedding Ceremony Questionnaire, & so much more!
Save time & download your FREE DJ Contract today!
Now, you’re ready to take your DJ business to the next level with a free DJ contract template! I hope you learned some valuable information by reading this post and if you have any other ideas that should go on a DJ Contract, please list them in the comment section!
Please, if you have anything to add and share please feel free! I would love to hear any feedback you may have or tips I should put in this post!
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