A DJ contract is a short written agreement that fixes the date, the fee, the deposit, the cancellation terms and what each side is responsible for, signed before you turn down other work for that night. You don’t need a lawyer to start: copy the template below, fill in the brackets, and keep the clauses you understand. Then read why each one is there.
Quick note: this is a practical guide and a sample, not legal advice. Contract law varies by country and state, so for big bookings have a lawyer or a local musicians’ union look it over.
A DJ contract is not the same as an invoice
The contract locks the booking. The invoice requests the money. They should say the same thing about the fee and the date, but they do different jobs, and you usually want both. (The full breakdown is in DJ contract vs invoice.)
| DJ contract | DJ invoice | |
|---|---|---|
| Job | Agrees the terms before the gig | Requests payment and records it |
| Covers cancellation | Yes | No |
| Sent | First, before any deposit | After signing (deposit), then after the gig (balance) |
| Signed by both sides | Yes | No |
Free DJ contract template (copy and edit)
Replace everything in [brackets]. Delete clauses that don’t apply, but think twice before removing cancellation or payment.
DJ PERFORMANCE AGREEMENT
This agreement is made on [date] between:
DJ / Performer: [name or business name], [address], [email/phone], [ABN / tax ID if any]
Client: [name or company], [address], [email/phone]
1. EVENT
Event type: [wedding / corporate / private party / club night]
Date: [date] Venue: [venue name and address]
Performance start: [time] Performance end: [time]
Load-in / sound check: [time]
2. SERVICES
The DJ will provide: [DJ set / MC duties / sound system / lighting].
Music style and any must-play or do-not-play requests: [details].
3. FEE AND PAYMENT
Total fee: [amount, currency], [including / excluding] [GST / VAT / sales tax].
Deposit: [amount or %], due on signing, [non-refundable].
Balance: [amount], due [X days before the event / on the night].
Payment method: [bank transfer / other]. Invoices will be sent for the deposit and the balance.
4. OVERTIME
Any time beyond the end time above is charged at [amount] per [hour / 30 minutes],
and must be agreed by the DJ on the night.
5. CANCELLATION BY CLIENT
More than [30] days before the event: the deposit is retained.
Between [15] and [30] days: [50]% of the total fee is due.
Fewer than [15] days: [100]% of the total fee is due.
6. CANCELLATION OR INABILITY BY DJ
If the DJ cannot perform because of illness or other circumstances outside
their control, the DJ will [notify the client immediately, make reasonable
efforts to provide a suitable replacement, and refund amounts paid if no
replacement is found].
7. VENUE AND EQUIPMENT
The client will provide: [power, a secure table/booth area, safe load-in access,
meals/drinks if applicable]. The DJ will provide: [equipment list].
8. LIABILITY AND INSURANCE
The client is responsible for damage to the DJ's equipment caused by guests
or by venue conditions. The DJ [holds / does not hold] public liability
insurance of [amount].
9. FORCE MAJEURE
Neither party is liable for failure to perform due to events outside
reasonable control (severe weather, government orders, venue closure).
[State whether the deposit is refunded, credited to a new date, or retained.]
10. RECORDING
The client [may / may not] record or livestream the performance.
Any recording remains subject to the rights of the DJ and of the owners of the music played.
11. GOVERNING LAW
This agreement is governed by the laws of [state / country].
Signed: ______________________ (DJ) Date: ________
Signed: ______________________ (Client) Date: ________What each clause is protecting you from
Event and times (clause 1). Vague times are where overtime arguments start. Put load-in, start and end on paper, and the 1am “can you keep going?” conversation has an answer.
Fee, deposit and balance (clause 3). Say exactly what is due and when, and whether tax is included. Many DJs ask for a non-refundable deposit of around a quarter to a half of the fee at booking, with the balance a week or two before the event. That is a common convention, not a rule, so choose numbers that fit the kind of gig. (More on structuring this in how to charge a deposit for a DJ gig.)
Overtime (clause 4). A stated hourly rate and a “must be agreed on the night” line stop a free extra hour. If you don’t know what to charge, your DJ rate card should already have the number.
Cancellation (clause 5 and 6). A tiered schedule, where the share of the fee owed rises as the date gets closer, is the most common structure because it reflects what a late cancellation costs you: a date you can no longer sell. Spell out what happens if you have to cancel too. Clients trust a contract that is fair in both directions. For the wording and example schedules, see cancellation policy for DJ gigs.
Venue and equipment (clause 7). Power, a stable table and load-in access are the three things that go wrong. Naming them makes them the client’s responsibility.
Liability (clause 8). Decide who pays if a guest knocks over your controller. Some venues also require proof of public liability insurance, so check before you sign.
Force majeure (clause 9). Post-2020 clients expect it. Decide in advance whether a postponed event moves your deposit to a new date or not.
Recording (clause 10). Clients often livestream. Remember that DJ sets contain other people’s recordings, so be careful what you promise about who owns a recording.
Clauses most free templates leave out
- A technical rider. Your minimum gear and setup needs: decks or CDJs, mixer, monitor, power, table size.
- Tax treatment. Whether the fee includes GST/VAT, and your registration number if you are registered. (See tax invoice for a DJ gig.)
- Currency. For international bookings, name the currency the invoice will be in so the fee doesn’t drift with exchange rates.
- A named contact on the day. One person who can make decisions at the event.
- How payment will be requested. A line saying you’ll send an invoice for the deposit and the balance sets expectations and gives the client something to pay against.
How a contract and invoices work together
The sequence that avoids most disputes: agree terms, sign the contract, send a deposit invoice that matches the contract, play the gig, then send the balance invoice the same day. Use the same fee, date and invoice reference everywhere so the paper trail lines up. If the client goes quiet on the balance, you have a signed contract and a dated invoice to point to (see how to chase a late gig payment).
Where SettleBeat fits
SettleBeat doesn’t write contracts. Use the template above for the agreement. Once the terms are signed, SettleBeat keeps the rest of the gig loop in one place: it holds the booking on your calendar, turns the agreed fee into a tax-ready deposit invoice and balance invoice (any currency, from your phone), and tracks which ones have been paid so you know who to remind. SettleBeat doesn’t process payments; it makes the invoicing and follow-up quick. Start free on SettleBeat →