DJ Skills Will Get You Booked—Business Skills Will Keep You Booked

By Guest Writer:

What I've learned in my 17 years of DJ'ing and running a business is that you can be the most talented DJ in the world, but if you don’t know how to handle your business, you’ll end up frustrated, underpaid, chasing your money, and missing out on opportunities. Being a great DJ isn’t just about rocking a crowd—it’s about protecting yourself, getting paid on time, and making sure clients have a smooth experience working with you.

Lock It in with a Contract

I’ve had experiences where I didn’t collect a reservation fee and didn’t have a contract in place. Guess what happened? I had to chase my money. I didn’t set any expectations, and that was a hard but valuable learning experience.

A contract isn’t just paperwork—it’s peace of mind. It sets clear expectations and protects you from last-minute cancellations, payment issues, and misunderstandings. At a minimum, your contract should cover:

Event Details – Date, time, and location.

Payment Terms – Total fee, deposit, and final payment.

Cancellation Policy – What happens if the client cancels.

Performance Expectations – Set length, breaks, and equipment responsibility.

Having this in place makes you look professional and keeps everyone on the same page.

Get Your Money: Invoices & Reservation Fees

One of the biggest mistakes DJs make? Not securing payment upfront. A reservation fee (deposit) locks in your event and ensures the client is serious. I say reservation fee because that’s exactly what it does—it reserves you for the day of the event. Use professional invoicing tools like HoneyBook, Wave, QuickBooks, and SquareUp to send invoices and get paid easily. Send reminders so there are no surprises.

From my experience: If a client hesitates to pay a deposit, that’s usually a sign of trouble. Trust your gut and protect your time!

Customer Service Will Set You Apart

I’ve always worked in customer service, and I learned a long time ago that how you treat people matters. Everyone is your customer—from the person booking you to the venue staff and even the guests.

Beyond the music, your energy and professionalism matter. Clients remember how easy (or difficult) it was to work with you.

Trust me. You are not alone in this. These are the types of lessons we share in our Female DJ community. Learning from each other makes the journey easier and definitely more rewarding.

Handle Your Business & Keep Elevating

Your DJ Skills will open doors, but your business skills will keep you booked. Get your contracts in order, secure your payments, and treat your clients right. Practice the art of DJ'ing, but also practice treating DJ’ing as your business. The more you operate like a boss, the more people will respect you, take you seriously, and refer you.

You’ve got this!