Sound that fits the room
Ask how loud,
and until when.
A DJ, a band and a playlist fail in different ways, but they share a finish time, a power supply and a person who can make a speech heard. Ask those questions before you compare the fee.
By EventDoIt · Updated 3 October 2026 · 7 min read
Start with
The hour the venue says sound must stop
Separate
Speeches from the performance
Check
Power, load-in and a sound limiter
Public music
Who registers it, if the event is public
01
Match the booking to the curfew
Ask the venue the latest time for amplified music, acoustic music and speeches. Give that time to every DJ or band. Ask what they do in the last twenty minutes, and what an overrun costs. A quote that assumes a midnight finish is not a quote for a room that must be quiet at 10. The venue checklist is where you record that limit. If you are also using a public street or square, read the private-or-public guide before you promise a sound system.
Amplified finish time
Acoustic or speeches finish
Overtime price
Whether neighbours or a limiter are already known
02
Separate speeches from the set
Ask who brings the microphone, who switches it on, and who has the host’s running order. A band that cannot pause for three speeches will talk over the only part of the programme some guests came to hear. Ask whether background music and a dance set are the same people and the same price. Name the person who decides to turn the volume down.
03
Ask about power, load-in and the room
Ask what they bring, what the venue must provide, and whether they have played a room with a limiter or a hard power limit. Ask the load-in time, the stairs or the lift, and who packs the car at the end. A low performance fee with a separate technician, parking and an early get-in can cost more than a higher fee that includes them. The production checklist covers a larger show. A dinner often needs only this conversation.
04
Ask who deals with public music rights
GEMA says a private party does not need a licence, and that company parties and club events are generally public. If your event is public, ask whether the venue, you, or the performer registers it before the date. A DJ may have a separate obligation for the copies they bring. That does not make the DJ the organiser. The private-or-public guide links the official page. Do not guess a tariff from a blog.
05
Ask what the fee actually books
Ask the net fee, the VAT rate, the deposit, travel, and what happens if the event ends early or the date moves. Ask who is confirmed by name and who might send a colleague. Ask for the date the quote expires. Record it on the quote sheet next to the caterer and the room, so the sound finish matches the rest of the night.