How to book a tech house DJ
A practical guide for promoters, clubs and festivals: what to decide first, what to send, and what to agree before the night.
Start with the night, not the name
Before you shortlist anyone, pin down the sound, the crowd and the slot. A warm-up set, a peak-time set and a closing set ask for different things, even within tech house. Listen to a few of each DJ’s recent releases or mixes and check they match your room, not just your poster.
Put the essentials in your first message
DJs and agents answer complete enquiries fastest. Include the date, venue, city and country, capacity, the set time and length you have in mind, who else is on the line-up, and your budget. If any detail is still open, say so rather than leaving it out.
Agree the set length up front
Festival slots are usually 60 to 90 minutes; club sets often run two hours, and some nights call for an extended set of three hours or more. Be clear about the exact start and finish times so the set can be built for the slot.
Check the technical rider early
Most club DJs play on a standard booth: linked Pioneer DJ CDJ players, a Pioneer DJ mixer, booth monitors the DJ can control, and a microphone. If your venue has something different, raise it before you confirm, not on the night.
Get it in writing
Confirm fee, set time, set length and payment terms in a short written agreement. A deposit usually secures the date, with the balance due before the show. Keep the agreement and any changes in one email thread.
Book as early as you can
Weekend dates in summer festival season and December go first. Early enquiries give you the best chance of your first choice, though short-notice requests are often worth sending.
Promote with the official assets
Use the DJ’s own press photos, logo and biography from their press kit, write the name exactly as they do, and tag their official profiles. It looks better and helps fans find the right artist.
Make the night run smoothly
Share load-in and booth access times, a named contact for the night, and the set times for everyone on the line-up. A quick check of the booth set-up before doors saves problems later.
Booking IGNITE Beats
- Sound: tech house, tribal house and Afro house, with Latin percussion.
- Based: West London, taking bookings across the UK and internationally.
- Set lengths: from a 60-minute festival slot to a two-hour club set, plus extended sets of three hours or more.
- Rider: four Pioneer DJ CDJ-3000X players, a DJM-A9 mixer, an RMX-1000, booth monitors and a microphone. Full technical rider.
- Terms: confirmed in writing; a 50% deposit secures the date and the balance is due seven days before the show.
- Reply time: availability, fee and terms within two working days.