Some things to keep in mind BEFORE signing a DJ contract

• Discuss the venue (place of event) and any pertinent info such as address, phone number, if there are stairs and no elevator, indoor/outdoor, smoking/non-smoking, if the venue has specific load in/out times ...

• Some DJs allow strangers, called "observers" - people you don't know, the DJs don't know, were not invited by you, but invited by the DJs to watch them work at private events such as weddings. In effect, these DJs want to use your private event as a public audition. Ask if a DJ service invites observers/watchers/strangers to private events. Some do, some don't. If you don't want observers but want a DJ service that invites them, ask the DJ service to put in the contract "NO DJ INVITED OBSERVERS" or "NO DJ INVITED WATCHERS" or something similar. Some will do it, some won't.

"observers" LEGAL TIP >>> If a DJ service brings observers to your private event, do you want to be legally and monetarily responsible for the observers' behavior? Probably not. You better have it written into the contract that the DJ service will be legally responsible for ALL behavior of their observers or you could be on the hook for ANYTHING those strangers might do. When you sign a contract, get it in writing that the DJ will supply to you - before your event takes place - the names of observers whom THEY invited to YOUR private event that you are paying for.

"observers" BIG TIP #2 >>> If you permit the DJ service to invite observers, would you prefer to limit the number of observers to about a dozen? More than a dozen? Maybe just one couple? Do you want observers eating & drinking things meant exclusively for YOUR guests? Yes? No? Do you want to restrict access by observers to a time frame (i.e. 7-9pm, only before 7, only after 7, etc.)? To protect yourself, EVERYTHING related to observers/watchers invited by your DJ should be clearly stated in the contract or your private event could turn into a public show.