DJ Quote: What to Include and How to Write One (With a Sample)
A good DJ quote lists the event date, start and end time, how many hours of music you are playing, setup and sound check time, the equipment and extras included (speakers, mics, lighting), travel, overtime, the total, and the deposit that holds the date. Say what is not included, and put a date on the price.
Most DJ disputes are about time and extras. The client thought the price covered the cocktail hour and the ceremony. You thought it covered the reception only. Or the party ran an hour long and nobody agreed who pays for it. A quote that spells out the hours and the extras line by line prevents those fights.
What should a DJ quote include?
- Event details: the date, the venue, the client's name, and the type of event (wedding, quinceañera, corporate party, birthday).
- Time: arrival time, setup and sound check, start time, end time, and the number of hours you are playing. If you also run the ceremony or the cocktail hour, list each one.
- Your role: DJ only, or DJ and MC. Announcements, introductions and a planned timeline are work, so price them.
- Equipment: speakers, mixer, wireless mics, a second set of speakers for the ceremony, a backup laptop or controller.
- Extras: dance floor lighting, a photo booth, a fog or spark machine, a screen, a custom playlist meeting with the client.
- Travel and parking: a travel charge if the venue is far, and who pays for parking or a loading pass.
- Overtime: the price for each extra hour or half hour, and whether the venue allows it.
- Deposit and payment: how much holds the date, when the balance is due, and how they can pay.
- Cancellation and weather: what happens to the deposit if the date changes.
How do you price a DJ job?
There are two common ways. Both work, and you can show both in the same quote.
| Method | How it works | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| By the hour | Hours of music times your hourly rate, plus setup and extras as their own lines. | Parties with a clear start and end, and corporate events. |
| Package | One price for a fixed set of hours and gear, with overtime priced separately. | Weddings and quinceañeras, where clients compare packages. |
Whichever you choose, count the hours you are not playing. Loading, driving, setup, the sound check and teardown are part of the job. A five hour reception can take eight or nine hours of your day. Price your day, not only the time on the dance floor. For general pricing steps, read how to write an estimate.
Sample DJ quote lines
These lines match the sample above. The prices are made-up examples to show the structure. Use your own rates.
| Line | Section | Qty | Example price |
|---|---|---|---|
| DJ and MC, reception (5 hours) | Labor | 5 hr | $150 per hour |
| Setup and sound check | Labor | 1 job | $100 |
| Speakers, mixer and wireless mic | Other | 1 job | $250 |
| Dance floor lighting package | Other | 1 job | $150 |
| Travel (over 30 miles) | Other | 1 job | $75 |
The example total is $1,325 with a 30% deposit of $397.50 to hold the date. You can build the same thing with the free estimate generator.
How much deposit should a DJ ask for?
Ask for enough that the client is committed and you are covered if they cancel. Many DJs take a deposit when the client signs and the balance before or on the event day. Whatever you choose, write the amount, the due date and the refund rule in the quote. A date you hold for one client is a date you cannot sell to another.
Who pays for the music license?
Playing recorded music in public involves performance rights. According to BMI's licensing FAQ, the business or venue that hosts the music is generally the one responsible for the public performance license, not the DJ. Still, ask the venue what licenses it holds and write that in your notes. You can read the source on BMI's music licensing FAQs. This is not legal advice.
Common mistakes on a DJ quote
- Not saying the hours. "Wedding DJ package" can mean three hours or seven. Give start and end times.
- Hiding setup time. If you need 90 minutes before the doors open, say so, and make sure the venue gives you access.
- No overtime price. An unplanned extra hour at the end of the night is an awkward conversation unless it is already in writing.
- Free extras that were never free. Lighting and mics cost you money to buy, carry and replace. List them as lines.
- No date on the price. Put "valid until" on the quote so a price from last spring does not come back in the fall.
- Taking the date without a deposit. A verbal yes does not hold anything.
How to send a DJ quote from your phone
- Open Chambaly and say the job. "Quote for Taylor and Jordan, wedding reception November 14, five hours of DJ and MC, setup, speakers and mic, dance lighting, travel, thirty percent deposit."
- Check the lines. Chambaly builds them in sections. If you did not give a price for a line, it suggests one and marks it so you can change it. The price is always yours.
- Send it. The PDF goes out by text, WhatsApp or email. The client can sign it online, and with Pro+ they can pay the deposit by card.
- When they accept, turn the quote into an invoice for the balance with one tap.
Planning a bigger production? See the events quote guide. Shooting the same event? The photography quote guide uses the same structure.
Questions
How do I write a quote for a DJ job?
List the date, venue, start and end time, hours of music, setup time, equipment, extras, travel, overtime price, total and deposit. Give each part its own line and put a "valid until" date on the price.
Should a DJ charge by the hour or by package?
Either works. Hourly pricing is clear for parties with a set schedule. Packages are easier to compare for weddings. In both cases, price setup, travel and equipment so they are not hidden.
Is the DJ or the venue responsible for the music license?
According to BMI's licensing FAQ, the business or venue that hosts the music is generally responsible for the public performance license. Ask the venue what it holds and note it on your quote. This is not legal advice.
What should a DJ put in the notes of a quote?
Setup time and venue access, overtime rules, the deposit and refund rule, what the client must provide (power, space, a meal if you need one), and what is not included.
Get it signed and paid from their phone.
With Pro+, your client signs with a finger and pays by card or bank. The money goes to your bank account, and if they’re late, Chambaly reminds them for you.
