Booking a DJ is one of those tasks that feels simple until something goes wrong at 8pm on a Saturday and nobody can find a spare cable. Most problems at parties and weddings are not caused by bad music choices; they are caused by unanswered questions. A twenty-minute conversation before you pay a deposit can save you a very long evening, so here is what to ask — and, just as importantly, why each answer matters.

Sort the Timings and Access Before Anything Else

An experienced DJ will want to know far more than "the party starts at seven". Ask what time they plan to arrive and how long they need to set up. For a standard mobile rig with lighting, most professionals allow 60 to 90 minutes, and some ask for two hours for a large wedding setup. If they only want 30 minutes, ask how they intend to manage it — the answer tells you a lot.

Then work through the practicalities of your venue:

• What time can they get into the room, and is anyone there to unlock it?
• How far is the load-in from the car park — up stairs, through a lift, across gravel? Long carries eat into setup time.
• Where are the power sockets, and how many are available on their own circuit?
• Is there a sound limiter fitted, and what is the decibel limit? This is common in village halls and converted barns and can cut the music dead if exceeded.
• What time must the music stop, and does the venue need everything cleared by a certain hour?

Also confirm whether they will act as compere for the key moments — announcing the cake cutting, the first dance or the last orders — or whether you need someone else to do it.

Insurance, Paperwork and Who Actually Turns Up

Any venue worth its salt will ask for paperwork, and you should ask for it too. Public liability insurance of at least £2 million is the sensible minimum, and many venues now insist on £5 million. Request a copy of the certificate before you pay anything and check that the date and the business name match what you have been told.

Ask about electrical safety testing. Portable appliance testing, usually shortened to PAT, should be current on all their equipment, and the certificates should be available on request. If they hesitate, that is a red flag rather than a paperwork quibble.

One question people forget: will the person you are speaking to actually be the DJ on the night? Some businesses book the gig and then send a freelancer. That is not automatically a problem, but you should know in advance, meet or speak to whoever is coming, and understand what happens if that person falls ill. A reliable operator will have a named stand-in and a written contingency plan.

Deposits, Balances and Cancellation Terms

Get the money side in writing. Typical arrangements in the UK involve a booking fee or deposit of around 20 to 25 per cent to secure the date, with the balance due either seven days before or in cash on the night. Ask directly:

• Is the deposit refundable, and under what circumstances?
• Is there a cooling-off period?
• What happens if you postpone rather than cancel — will they hold the deposit against a new date?
• Are there extra charges for overtime, travel, parking or an early setup?
• Is there a surcharge for a bank holiday or a very late finish?

Ask for the terms in writing, along with a receipt for any payment. Confirmation by text is fine in principle, but a proper booking agreement protects both of you and makes expectations clear.

Spare Equipment: The Question That Saves the Night

Equipment fails. Amplifiers overheat, mixer channels die, cables get tripped over, and laptops decide to install updates at the worst possible moment. What separates a professional from an enthusiast is what they carry as backup.

Ask what spare kit comes to every gig. A sensible answer includes a second laptop or playback device with the music already loaded, a spare mixer or controller, backup microphones with fresh batteries, and a length of spare cable. Some DJs also bring a small backup amplifier and a pre-prepared playlist they can run from a phone if everything else fails.

While you are on the subject, ask about lighting. Do they bring their own, is it included in the price, and does it need additional power? If your venue has a strict noise curfew or a listed interior, check that they can work within those limits without argument on the night.

Music, Requests and the Personal Touch

A good DJ plays to the room rather than to their own record collection. Ask how they build a playlist: do they want a list of must-plays, a list of songs to avoid, and a rough idea of the genres your guests will enjoy? Find out whether they take requests on the night and whether they will politely decline the ones you have banned.

Confirm how guests can request songs — a paper list, a QR code, or simply coming up to the booth. Ask whether they will provide background music during a meal and a microphone for speeches, and whether they have a wireless mic with a spare battery.

Finally, ask for a short written summary before the event: arrival time, setup time, finish time, total cost, and the name and mobile number of the person attending on the night. Once you have that in your inbox, you can relax and enjoy your own party.