How to Start a Legal DJ Business

Running a disc jockey (deejay) business may be a dream job for music lovers: as a deejay, you get paid to play music you and your audience enjoy. A business of this type does require some special considerations for licensing and a heavy investment in quality equipment, though starting a completely legal deejay business is considerably easier that you may expect.

Things You'll Need

• CDs (vinyl albums or cassette tapes will suffice)
• CD or media player
• Speakers
• Microphone
• Truck or van

Instructions

Establish Your DJ Business

1. Select a name. Selecting a name for your deejay business can be as simple as adding the letters "DJ" to end of your own name, though some entrepreneurs prefer snazzier, more memorable names. Perform extensive research on your selected name to ensure it is not already in use, as choosing the same name or one similar to an existing business may cause legal trouble when your business becomes popular. Since deejay services are frequently advertised in music venues, visit your local music retailers and ask about any businesses that may have a similar name to the one you are considering. Browse local classified advertisements and consider asking your county clerk for a listing of music-related businesses in the county where you will be providing service.

2. Get a business license. At the very least, you will need a business license for the city and county where your business is based, even if you are a mobile deejay who operates from your home. In certain states, you may also need a state business license; if you are not sure of your state's licensing requirements, consult the Small Business Administration (SBA) website for state-by-state details on licensing.

3. Get a tax identification number. Because you will be collecting money for your services, you will likely need to obtain a tax identification number (known as a tax ID) for your business. Some smaller operations may simply use the owner's social security number for tax reporting purposes, though separating the business finances from your personal finances will become more important as your venture grows.

Select Your Equipment and Stock

1. Purchase a quality media player. At the very least, you will need a quality CD player to play music for your customers. Many deejays prefer to have two or more CD players so that one song can be queued up before another finishes playing. If you will be using vinyl records, you will also need a turntable. Some deejays have gone completely digital and run their operations off laptop computers; this type of equipment works well---not only for playing music, but for keeping records. If you will be using CD players or turntables, avoid off-brands and stick with the more known brands such as Pioneer, Blaupunkt and Marantz. As a minimum requirement, ensure your player offers frequency response ranges of two hertz (2 Hz) to 20 kilohertz (20 kHz). If possible, select a player with optical media output for the highest-quality sound.

2. Select a microphone. If you will be making announcements and interacting with your audience, you will need a quality microphone for your business. While this piece of equipment may seem incidental, professional quality microphones can be expensive. Don't skimp on this step, as a lack of quality will be apparent when you are speaking. For microphones that will accurately pick up your voice and return very little distortion, stick with name brands like Shure, Nady and Audio-Technica. The specific microphone type---omnidirectional, unidirectional, headset or boom---will depend on how the device is deployed in your setup.

3. Select quality speakers. The heart of any deejay business is the speakers that delivers the music. When shopping for speakers, select the best possible loudspeakers you can afford; underpowered or off-brand speakers will be readily apparent to your customers' ears. Look for speakers that can handle the frequency response generated by your media player, specifically looking for speakers that can reproduce sounds in the two hertz (2 Hz) to 20 kilohertz (20 kHz) ranges. Brand names like Wilson, RBH and Bose will offer solid, distortion-free sound reproduction at loud volumes while lesser known brands and off-brands may spew crackling, distorted sounds that will not be well received by your customers.

4. Select accessories as needed. Although some speakers and audio output devices may come with complimentary speaker wire, ensure you are using the highest quality speaker connections available as the wires that carry the electrical signals from your receiver to the speakers can affect the quality of sound produced by the system. Speaker wires with gold tips are both highly conductive and resistant to corrosion, a desirable quality for wires that will be frequently transported. As a minimum quality consideration, look for gold-tipped speaker wires with magnetic shielding to prevent interference from other audio sources. Other accessories, such as mixing boards, laser lights and video display equipment are optional, though they may make your presentation more attractive to some customers.

5. Buy CDs. To keep your business legal, it is imperative you purchase your CDs, vinyl records, tapes and audible media from a reputable source. You only need one copy of the music you play, but it is imperative that the media you own is purchased rather than downloaded. Even if you load your CDs on your laptop or media player, you must have a legal, purchased copy of the media available (at home or in an office) should an inspector request it.

6. Consider purchasing insurance. While insurance is not mandatory for a deejay businesses (especially mobile deejays), it is not a bad idea to consider an insurance policy before conducting business. If you, an employee or your equipment damage someone's property, you could be personally liable if you are not insured.

Advertise and Operate Your Business

1. Hand out business cards at parties, conferences and any other gathering where attendees are likely to need deejay services. Many online print shops, such Vista Print and iPrint, offer inexpensive or even free business cards to help you get started on a budget.

2. Place free classified advertisements for your deejay business in online venues such as Craigslist. If you run deejay business in a smaller or rural area, consider placing an advertisement in a local newspaper or weekly print publication to gain low-cost publicity. As you get more business, you may also consider radio and television advertisements.

3. Deliver a great performance. When you do get a gig, always put your best foot forward. A professional, enjoyable performance will leave your guests with a memorable impression. Keep your music collection legal as well; this will ensure that you and your business will still be around when that call comes in.

Tips & Warnings

• Using a combination of CD and vinyl media can be an effective show for your deejay business; having the physical media available can prove your legal compliance.

• Never download music from the Internet for use in your deejay business; you will have no proof of purchase and may be subject to a fine. Since the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) crackdowns in the early 2000s, many potential deejays have reconsidered the business due to legal issues.

References

• Become a deejay and make money
• Wilson Audio Loudspeakers

Resources

• US Small Business Administration
• Vista Print Business Cards
• Recording Industry Association of America