To hire a DJ in Singapore, send a short brief with the date, the venue, the guest count and the music you like, choose from a shortlist of DJs who are free, confirm the hours and the setup in writing, then plan the music 4 to 6 weeks before. The steps below cover each part, with the checks that prevent problems on the night.
Price: a DJ with their own sound system for up to 100 to 150 guests usually costs SGD 500 to 1,000 for a 3 to 4 hour event. See how much a DJ costs in Singapore.
1. Write the brief
A good brief gets you the right DJ the first time. Include:
- The date, the start time and the time music must stop.
- The venue and the room, and whether it is indoors or outdoors.
- The type of event and the guest count, with the rough age range and backgrounds of the guests.
- The music styles your guests love, plus any songs you must have or must not hear.
- Special segments: a march-in, speeches, awards, a cake cutting, a product reveal or a dance performance.
- Whether you need an emcee, or a saxophonist or violinist with the DJ.
2. Choose from a shortlist
You get a shortlist of DJs who are free on your date, with photos, videos and profiles, usually within a working day. Watch the videos with the sound on. Look for a DJ who has played your kind of event. A wedding DJ who has run hotel banquets knows the cues; a club DJ may not.
3. Confirm the setup in writing
Before you confirm, check that the quote names the hours, the size of the sound system, the lighting, the number of wireless mics, the sound check and the rate for an extra hour. For a room of 200 guests or more, make sure the setup is sized for it. See DJ sound and lighting.
4. Check the venue rules
Ask the venue three questions. When does amplified music have to stop? Is there a volume limit in the contract? When can the DJ load in and do the sound check? Hotel ballrooms set fixed load-in times and a music cut-off. Rooftops, gardens and beachfront venues often stop at 10pm or 11pm because of nearby homes. Write the answers into the run sheet.
5. Plan the music
Hold the music planning session 4 to 6 weeks before the event. At a wedding, fix the march-in track, the first dance, any parent dance, the cake cutting song and the do-not-play list. At a company dinner, agree the music for arrivals, the walk to the stage and the dance floor. If your guests come from several cultures, plan the order of the blocks: for example Mandopop, a Malay entrance, Bollywood, then Top 40. See Malay and Bollywood DJs.
6. Share the run sheet
The DJ needs the same run sheet as the venue and the emcee. A company dinner often runs late because the hotel times the courses without knowing about a 20 minute award segment. Build the run sheet the week you book the venue, and send the final version to the DJ a few days before.
7. Book the sound check
The most expensive mistake is a DJ who arrives without a sound check or a run sheet handover. A 30 minute afternoon sound check, confirmed in the booking, prevents almost every technical problem: late cues, dinner music that is too loud, mics that cut out.
How far ahead to book
| Event | Book ahead |
|---|---|
| Most parties and events | At least 2 to 4 weeks |
| Weekday corporate event | 4 to 8 weeks |
| November and December company dinners, Chinese New Year | 8 to 12 weeks |
| Wedding, most dates | 3 to 6 months |
| Wedding on a September to December Saturday or an auspicious date | 6 to 9 months |
Last-minute requests within 48 hours are sometimes possible, depending on who is free. When you are ready, send your brief on WhatsApp or through the quote form.
