A corporate event DJ has a different job from a club DJ. The music has to suit people who work together, a run sheet with speeches and awards, and a room where half the guests want to talk and the other half want to dance. Asking the right questions before you book saves a lot of stress on the night.
1. Who exactly will be playing?
If you're booking through an agency, ask how the DJ is chosen for your event and what they've played before. A good answer names the kind of events they do every week, not just the genres they like.
2. How are the DJs vetted?
Talent matters, but for corporate work, reliability matters more. Ask whether the agency checks professionalism, communication and punctuality, not just mixing skills. You want someone who follows a brief and represents your company well in front of clients and senior staff.
3. Have they played this kind of room?
A rooftop drinks function, a seated awards dinner and a warehouse launch all need different approaches. Ask whether the DJ has played similar events, and if possible, the same venue.
4. How will speeches and the microphone work?
Confirm there's a working microphone (the venue's or the DJ's), who hands it over, and who tells the DJ when speeches start and finish. Most corporate events lose momentum at this exact point.
5. Will they work to our run sheet, and who gives directions on the night?
The DJ should take direction from one named person, usually the event organiser or the venue's function manager. Agree on that person before the event.
The DJ should take direction from one named person. Agree on who that is before the night.
6. Can we give must-plays and never-plays?
Yes is the only acceptable answer. Also ask whether they play clean versions by default. For most workplace events they should.
7. What's included in the price?
Ask for the quote to state the set length, whether equipment is included, and whether the price is inc or ex GST. It sounds basic, but the GST question causes more invoicing headaches than anything else.
8. What happens if the DJ can't make it?
Illness and double-bookings happen. An individual DJ may not have a back-up. An agency should be able to tell you exactly how it covers a cancellation and how quickly.
9. When will they arrive?
Your DJ should arrive early enough to set up, soundcheck and be playing before the first guests walk in. Confirm the load-in time with the venue too.
10. How far ahead should we book?
For November and December events, as early as you have a date. For the rest of the year, a few weeks' notice is usually enough for a weeknight, more for a Friday or Saturday.
How Nocturnals answers these
We match every corporate booking to a DJ from our network of around 50 vetted Brisbane DJs, chosen for professionalism, attention to detail, experience and character. Your DJ contacts you before the event for the run sheet and music brief, arrives early, punctual and fully briefed, and if anything goes wrong, you call us. Packages run from 3 to 6 hours, equipment is available if the venue doesn't have a booth, and every quote states clearly whether pricing is inc or ex GST.
Booking a DJ for a corporate event?
Tell us the date, venue, guest numbers and set times, and we'll quote within 24 hours.
DJ hire Brisbane