Your DJ cancelled last minute: what now?
It’s every booker’s nightmare. It’s 3 pm, the party starts at 10 pm, and the DJ texts that they can’t make it.
Don’t panic: there’s still time, as long as you spend it on the right things. Here’s what to do, in order.
1Ask them for a name
Before you start searching, ask the DJ who cancelled if they know someone who’s free. DJs often cover for each other, and it’s the fastest lead.
2Write a replacement brief
Four lines, ready to copy and paste:
- city, start and end time;
- type of event and expected style;
- gear already on site;
- budget.
A DJ who gets this can say yes or no in ten seconds.
3Reach many DJs at once
Sending ten DMs and waiting for each reply wastes the afternoon. Contact several DJs at the same time and take the first one who confirms. Tonight, speed matters more than anything else.
4Check the gear
If the DJ who cancelled was bringing the sound system or the decks, your replacement has to provide them. Ask in the very first message, not at 9:30 pm.
5After the event
Once the night is saved, check what was agreed for the deposit and cancellations. And next time, keep the names of the DJs who showed up for you.
Last Minute, in GIGZMAP
This is exactly why we built Last Minute. You send the alert, the DJs available around you get it on their phones at the same time, and the first one to accept takes the gig. No more one-by-one messages.
Like everything for bookers, it’s free. The app opens soon.
We hope you never need this article. But keep it handy. Write to us
Thomas and Lorenzo, founders of GIGZMAP