A basic system consists of a twin deck turntable with an amplifier and a pair of speakers. Equipment costs vary, but buying cheap equipment may be a false economy: trade reviews should be read and sound quality compared before buying. Good quality decks will cost around £400-£800, with mixers costing £300-£800. DJ CD players cost around £350-£800. PA equipment costs £700-£1,200 Headphones and microphones will cost £50-£170 and £80-£425 respectively Disco lights can be bought either as a set or a modular kit the DJ assembles as needed (the stand will cost around £150, lights cost £55-£150). Larger lighting systems are much more expensive, so it may be worth hiring if only using occasionally (e.g. at larger venues). Hire costs start at around £10 per day. The range of equipment available is immense, so any purchases should be carefully considered. As stated earlier, the difference between running a mobile disco and being a specialist DJ (working in clubs, etc) is marked. The latter will be expected to have top of the range equipment, which will obviously be more expensive Equipment reviews are regularly featured in trade magazines. Some equipment will be available second-hand. An established business could be acquired, which will reduce costs and may also provide existing customers.

Extensive stock of records will be required and will be an ongoing expense, if playing mainstream music (such as seventies, eighties, chart) this may be limited to a few releases a week, but specialist dance DJs should budget for c considerable weekly spend, as stock will need to be constantly updated. A DJ will probably take around 300-500 records to each show, though only 100 may be used. The collection, however, needs to be much larger than this to cater for a variety of audiences. Second-hand stock may be bought through advertisements in local newspapers and the music press, music auctions, record fairs and second-hand record shops. For mainstream music, buying compilation albums will be a way of economising.

Transport will be needed. Equipment cases should be sturdy enough to protect equipment and stock: these can be bought from specialist suppliers from £65.

Public liability insurance will be needed, it may also be worth securing insurance against cancellation as, if a DJ is unable to do a gig as arranged the client may seek legal redress. It may be difficult to fully insure records or equipment due to the risks involved; breakages are a fairly common occurrence. Additionally, the relevant licenses will be required (see Legal).

Training and Qualifications

No formal qualifications are required to become a DJ. Most professional DJs will nave had some experience in the job before starting out on their own; however, many are self-taught. A basic knowledge of electronics in order to understand the workings of the equipment will be helpful. This may be useful for rigging up and repairs. It is an advantage to be able to mix and sample records although this is lot essential for many events. Specialist DJs will need extensive knowledge of, and enthusiasm for, the music they are playing.

City & Guilds offer qualifications on the technical side of being a DJ; Novice Radio Amateurs and Radio Amateurs. The School of Audio Engineering (SAE) in London offers a six week DJ certificate course covering the operation of specialised DJ equipment, including beat mixing, and offering the chance to visit established clubs and attend guest lectures by successful DJs. SAE also run a short (two day) Beat Mixing workshop. DJ short courses are also available at some colleges across the UK.

A DJ should have an outgoing personality, be able to interact well with the audience and be prepared to work unsocial hours. A good microphone voice is also important.

Awareness of copyright legislation is important. It is illegal to play or perform copyright music in public without the permission of the copyright owner, usually the composer. The granting of licenses for public performance of most copyright works is managed by the PRS. Many venues a DJ works in will already have a license, but it is important to check. Depending on the type of venue targeted for custom it may simply be easier if the DJ obtains their own individual license: in some cases this will be essential. A separate license will also be required from the PPL. Both PRS and PPL have special tariffs for Mobile DJs and can provide information on how these apply. It is important to apply before start up, as costs rise considerably if applying later.

Some knowledge of contracts may be necessary, and the Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982 is of relevance. Health and safety legislation may also apply.

All businesses are subject to a wide range of legislation and will be affected in different ways. This section is intended as a starting point and it is important to seek professional legal advice before business decisions are made.