How to manage bookings as a DJ
The Special Request team3 min read
Booking requests come from everywhere: an Instagram DM at midnight, a text from a friend of a friend, an email with half the details, a voicemail you'll get to next week. Somewhere in there, a date gets double-booked or a client slips through the cracks.
Managing bookings is as much part of the job as mixing. Here's a simple system: one place for requests, the right questions every time, and a booking page that does half the work for you.
Bring every request to one place
The problem isn't how many requests you get, it's how scattered they are. Pick one way in and send everyone there: when someone DMs you, reply with your booking link instead of a list of questions.
In Special Request
With Premium, you get your own booking page: a link with your photo, your bio and your contact details, where clients book you in a minute. Put it in your Instagram bio, your email signature and your website. Take bookings onlineAsk the right questions, every time
Missing details are what turn a booking into a headache. Before you confirm, make sure you know:
- The date and the times: setup, first song, last song.
- The venue: the address, access for your gear, power, where the booth goes.
- The event and the crowd: wedding, office party or birthday, how many guests, which ages.
- The key moments: speeches, the first dance, a surprise, a hard stop at midnight.
- Who to call on the day: the planner, the couple, the venue manager.
In Special Request
The booking form asks for the event, the date and a message where clients can add the venue and the timing. You get it all in one email, and your reply goes straight to the client.Confirm it in writing
A “sounds good!” over text isn't a booking. Once the details are settled, send a short written confirmation (date, times, venue, price, deposit) and keep it with the event. It protects you and your client if anything changes.
Get the event ready the day you're booked
The day a client books you is the best day to set up their event: the details are fresh, and they can share the song request link with their guests right away.
In Special Request
Every booking made through your page creates a draft event in your Drafts tab, with a Booking badge. Your client gets the request link by email immediately, ready for the invitations, and guests see “Coming soon” until you complete and publish the event.Keep one calendar
Double-booking is the one mistake clients don't forgive. Keep every confirmed gig and every pending request in the same calendar, and check it before you say yes.
In Special Request
With Premium, the Agenda shows your events by month, week or day, and you can tap a date to create an event right there.Answer fast
Clients often reach out to three DJs at once. The one who answers first, with a clear next step, usually gets the gig. Aim to reply the same day, even if it's just “Thanks! Let me check my calendar and get back to you tonight.”
In Special Request
When someone books you through your page, you get a notification right away, and an email with the whole booking. Hit reply, and your answer goes straight to the client.Set up your booking page
- 1Go Premium, then open the Profile tab and tap Booking page (or Booking link in the side menu, on the web).
- 2Copy your link and put it in your Instagram bio, your email signature and your website.
- 3Add your contact details and customize the email your clients get.
- 4Add the button to your website with the code the app gives you.
Every step is explained in the booking page guide.
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