If you’ve been DJing for a bit and you’re itching to play in front of a proper crowd, putting on your own night is one of the fastest ways to make it happen. You don’t need to wait around for a promoter to book you; instead, you can just do it all yourself. But more than that, running your own event lets you build something that actually reflects your sound, your style, and your community. It’s a chance to do something different and create a night that means something to the people who come.
In this guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know to run your own DJ events. We’ll cover why it’s worth doing, where to get started and how to make sure it’s a success. Whether you’re just planning a one-off with your mates or have dreams of starting something bigger, we’ll show you how to get it off the ground.
Why Run Your Own Party?
For a lot of up-and-coming DJs, putting on your own event can often be one of the most reliable ways to actually play live gigs. If you’re waiting around for a promoter to give you your first chance behind the decks, you might be waiting forever. But if you run your own night, you’ve got control of the lineup and everything else. You can book yourself, build the exact vibe you want, and play the kind of music you love.
It can also be one of the best ways to get noticed. When people see you running your own successful event, they take you more seriously. It shows you’ve got initiative, skills and taste that venues, promoters or potential collaborators will notice.
A lot of DIY and underground events also emerge as a way to cater to marginalised groups that aren’t necessarily well served by the existing club scene. For example, a lot of queer and BIPOC rave and club nights were started on a small scale by people looking to better serve their community and have grown into established events. There’s also the potential to create something lasting. A party you start with your mates could turn into a full-blown brand or residency over time.
If you’re thinking about putting on events as an ‘easy’ way to get gigs or grow your career, you’re probably in for a shock when you realise that none of this is easy. It’s a lot of work, and it always comes with risk. But if you care about a scene, want to make space for something different, or just want to take things into your own hands, running your own party can be one of the most rewarding ways to get involved.
Define your concept and brand
With so many events trying to compete for attention in a crowded market, it can be hard to stand out from the crowd and attract fresh faces to your event over the others.
What you need is to create a unique and memorable identity for your event that people can latch on to. It’s easy to think that people might just be drawn in by specific genre labels and that will be enough to get music fans in the door, but people are more likely to come for the full experience. That means you’ve got to get all the tone, visuals, vibe and community around the night nailed.
Ask yourself:
What kind of crowd do you want in the room?
What do you want them to feel?
What genres or styles will you be playing?
What kind of aesthetic and visual vibe are you going for?
Once you’ve got that picture in mind, you can start actually designing and shaping your brand. Make sure that all the branding, imagery and messaging is coherent throughout. The main thing is you want people to recognise what you’re about instantly. Once that’s sorted, you can design some posters, social media posts and banners that fit the aesthetic you’re going for. If this sort of thing isn’t your strong suit, reach out to mates who can help you or even go onto sites like Fiverr where you can find very reasonably priced options. Or you can try doing the design yourself using online tools such as Canva.
If you’re after a super easy option, free graphic design software like Canva has loads of specific templates you can tweak.
If you want to go much deeper on all this, we break it down step-by-step in our full guide to DJ branding and marketing.
Finding the right venue
Start small
Probably the most common mistake that DJs and promoters make when they’re just starting out is that they get grand dreams of throwing a crazy night with hundreds of people coming and making a massive profit. Then, on the night, half the people who promised they’d show up can’t make it, and you’re left with a near-empty venue that won’t cover the costs of running it.
However, to start out, you’ve got to be much more realistic. Think about how many people you’re actually going to be able to bring, then consider that a lot of those might not be able to make it. With that in mind, look at smaller venues that you could actually fill out. 40 people filling out a 50-capacity venue looks a lot better than 50 people in a 200-capacity venue.
Pick the right space
If you’re trying to propose a new club night to a venue that’s already got a calendar full of successful events, chances are you’re not going to hear anything back. Start by looking for smaller, underused spaces that might be open to giving something new a shot.
That means you’ll want to be looking at function rooms, community spaces or rooms above pubs. Some bars might be up for hosting a DJ night if they don’t already have weekend entertainment. You’re basically looking for somewhere that’s not currently using its space for music but could be.
Also, think about what vibe the space gives off and whether that matches the kind of night you’re trying to run. If you’re running an underground techno night, a dingy basement is probably perfect, but might not be the best fit for a fun, family-friendly disco event. It’s vital you consider the acoustics as well. If, when you turn up the speakers, the room gets filled with unpleasant echoes, it’s not going to be a great pick.
It’s not just about the look and feel, though. There are a lot of practical questions to consider as well, like whether the venue is accessible, whether there are public transport links, and whether/when noise curfews come into effect. These often get overlooked but can make or break your event, so they need considering.
Pitch the Venue
Once you’ve found a venue that feels like a good fit, it’s time to reach out. Wherever possible, try to phone or visit in person rather than just sending a DM. You’re far more likely to be taken seriously if you’re putting in proper effort. Some of these spaces will be inundated with random requests from DJs and artists, so you’ll stand out just by showing initiative and being professional.
When you speak to the manager or owner, lead with what you can offer them rather than vice versa. Venues want to know how your night will help their business, so be clear about what you’re bringing to the table in terms of the crowd you can pull and the promotion you’ll do (be honest here).
Be ready to explain:
The name and concept of your event
What kind of music it focuses on
How often you’re planning to run it
The audience you’re targeting
What gear you’ll bring vs. what the venue provides
Watch out for dodgy deals
Once they’re interested, the next step is agreeing on terms. This is where things can get tricky. The most common trap is a minimum bar spend. It sounds fine on paper, but if your crowd shows up late, doesn’t drink much, or just doesn’t show up in the numbers you hoped, you’re on the hook to make up the difference. That can get expensive fast.
Try to negotiate a flat fee or ask to use the space for free, especially if you’re handling everything else. If you’re doing all the promotion, bringing the gear, booking the DJs and filling the room, you shouldn’t be footing all the risk.
Also, be clear on exactly what’s included. Some venues will quietly add on fees for security, bar staff, sound engineers or even for using their decks. Ask up front and get it all in writing so there are no surprises later.
If the whole deal feels one-sided, don’t be afraid to walk away. A fair arrangement should work for both you and the venue. It shouldn’t leave you covering all the risk while they take the profit.
Whatever the arrangement, keep things clear and respectful. If they say no, thank them anyway. If they say maybe, follow up. And if they say yes, make sure you deliver what you promised. It’s the fastest way to build trust and get invited back.
Do It Yourself (But Not All By Yourself)
There’s a hell of a lot of work that goes into running an event. Trying to take all of the logistics on yourself, whilst also DJing, is pretty much a recipe for disaster. That’s why most of the top DJ events are run by teams or ‘collectives’. That means there will be people just in charge of the DJing side of things, people tasked with liaising with the venue, people looking after the tech and people doing the social media and promo.
However, that level is unrealistic when you’re starting out. At first, you’ll likely have to get stuck into multiple jobs, but it always pays to have some support from friends.
Sort the Gear and Setup
Before anything else, find out exactly what the venue already has. Don’t just ask if they’ve got decks or a sound system; instead, go into detail about which models, how they’re set up, and whether everything actually works.
The mindset here should always be to assume something will go wrong. That might be that the gear doesn’t work as expected, or there are some things missing entirely, like a couple of important cables that magically go missing just when you need them. You’re much better off being overprepared than scrambling to fix things at the last minute.
That’s why backups are essential. Put together a small emergency kit with spare USBs, cables, a power supply, a multi-plug adapter and anything else that would ruin your set if it failed. Even bringing a phone or laptop loaded with a backup mix can be the thing that saves your night.
Where possible, aim to keep the gear you bring light and portable
Overall, keep your setup simple. Bring only what you need to play comfortably and borrow gear wherever possible before resorting to hiring. And whatever you do bring, make sure you’ve tested it properly. This isn’t the time to be unboxing and trying out brand new gear.
If you can bring some extra stuff, a bit of branding can go a long way. A printed backdrop behind the decks, or even a projector, can take your night from random gig to proper event without having to put in loads of effort or money.
Promote the Party Properly
The most important thing about throwing a great event is making sure that people actually turn up. A lot of people going into putting on events with the mindset of ‘build it and they will come’ and then are shocked when no-one comes despite them having built it. To make sure that your event is properly packed out, you’ve got to put in the hours promoting it.
Start with people you know
Realistically, most of your first crowd will be made up of people you already know. That means that direct, personal outreach to your friends and family will be the most surefire way to start to fill out the room. So invite them via a message or in person, and make sure to ask them to bring some friends as well.
It’s also generally a good idea to lock in this commitment if you can because people simply saying they’ll turn up isn’t always a great indicator that they actually will. Make sure you’ve got the tickets ready to go as soon as you announce it and you’re encouraging people to buy one as they’re far more likely to turn up then. That might just even be a ‘free guestlist’ or an RSVP, especially if they’re already your mates, but having that commitment is really important.
Social media promo
When it comes to promoting your event beyond just your immediate circle and friends of friends, you need a wide ranging approach. It’s often said that people need to see something promo for something in about six different ways before they act. So you can’t just put up one flyer or social post and hope for the best.
Make sure you’re posting consistently across all of your social media channels, starting out with a big one to launch the sale and then posting reminders and extra content to build up the hype, get people excited and give them the extra nudge they might need if they were on the fence before. This should be a bit of a mix of stuff to cover all bases, but you want to make sure you’re giving people a good sense of the sort of vibe they should expect on the night. You’ll want to post previous performance clips (if you’ve got any) that match the style and sound. Of course, if you’ve got other DJs involved, make sure to tag them and get them to promote the event as well.
Physical promo
Even in today’s digital world, there’s also still a place for flyers and posters. If you can get these in the venue you’ll be playing at, that’s ideal as you’re already in front of the sort of people who clearly like going out to live music and might be interested. But it’s also worth getting them up elsewhere. Places like nearby bars, cafes, and record shops could be worth asking if they’ll let you drop off some flyers or put up a poster. Some people also put up posters or stickers in places they technically shouldn’t on stuff like lampposts, bins, boarded-up shopfronts, phone boxes. It’s called flyposting and it’s technically illegal in a lot of areas, so we can’t condone it. Also, when was the last time you saw a sticker on a lamppost and thought ‘that’s my plans for Saturday night sorted’?
Timing your promo
The timing is really crucial as well. You’ll want to start out promoting your event from 4-5 weeks out from the day. This gives people enough time so that they likely won’t have already booked out this time in their calendars, and you’ve got plenty of time for extra reminders and promo. Much before that, and it seems too distant for people to actively care about, or they’ll have forgotten about it by the time it actually rolls around.
This window gives you time to hit people with all-important reminders, as you can’t expect people to just remember and keep track of this. You’ll probably want to send a reminder two weeks out, then another one a week before, and ideally a final push the day before or on the day itself.
Run the Event Smoothly
Once the big night comes around, the most important thing is staying calm and making sure things stay on track and everything goes to plan. There’s inevitably going to be a bit of chaos, but some preparation will go a long way to make sure everything runs smoothly.
Arrive early so you’re not rushing. You want enough time to soundcheck, test all the gear, set up lighting and decor, and get a feel for the space. If it’s your first time at the venue, triple-check the decks, speakers and the rest of your setup. Don’t assume anything will just work fine, even if it’s always ok at home. Always have a backup USB ready to go in case something breaks or a DJ doesn’t show.
Make sure you’ve got the door situation sorted. Whether it’s a mate or someone you’ve paid, there should be someone in charge of entry and tracking tickets or guestlist. This can also be a good chance to get extra details from people.
Once the night’s up and running, it’s all about keeping the energy and vibes going. If the room isn’t full straight away, don’t panic. Instead, remember to play to the people who are there and make the show as special as possible for them. Don’t let low numbers bring you down and show on your face. If you’re enjoying it, they will too.
While everything’s happening, don’t forget to capture loads of content. You can do a lot of this yourself or you can ask a mate to film some short clips or take photos throughout the night. You’re after crowd shots, clips of the DJs playing and people dancing and having a good time. Basically, you want to make your night seem as exciting as possible. This is all about making the people who didn’t turn up really regret it and make sure they come to the next one.
At the end of the night, make sure to be respectful to the venue. Thank the staff, clean up what you can, and don’t outstay your welcome. If it went well, the place will be keen to have you again.
Build on It
So if your event turns out to be a runaway success, now what? You’ve got to make sure to strike while the iron is hot and capitalise on the momentum.
It’s important to get the content out fast. You ideally want to be posting within 24 to 48 hours while it’s still fresh in people’s minds. Post a few of the best clips, tag the DJs, and share crowd shots and clips of people enjoying themselves. If the people there had fun, there’s a good chance they’ll want to share it too.
Make a point of thanking everyone, including DJs, venue staff, anyone who helped on the door, and the people who turned up. Even just a quick shout on socials goes a long way. When you’re building a following, you want people to feel like they were included in part of something.
If you gathered emails when collecting the tickets, this is a good time to use that info. Drop people a message thanking them for coming and let them know you’ll be announcing the next date soon.
And then, when the time’s right, announce the next one. Make sure you don’t wait too long or people will start to forget and move on. Even if you don’t have the full line-up and everything confirmed and sorted yet, you can tease the date or give people a taste of what’s coming up.
Level up your skills with Crossfader
If you’ve made it this far, you’re probably serious about making your mark. Whether it’s building a local scene, carving out a space for your sound, or just getting your foot in the door, throwing your own night can be a huge step forward. But it’s only one part of the bigger picture.
If you’re looking to put on your own events, chances are you’re serious about making a mark with your DJ career. But events like this are only one part of the puzzle. To really stand out, you’ve got to be on top of your game in every aspect, from mixing skills to social media know-how.
If you want to seriously level up your skills, build a proper career, and learn from pro DJs who’ve done it all before, join Crossfader for free. You’ll unlock a personalised learning journey that’s tailored to your goals and will help you learn everything the right way.
