A DJ at a grand opening or store event in Philadelphia plays to a crowd that comes and goes, often outdoors, with all ages walking past. The music should draw people in without bothering the people next door. Plan the sound, the power and the rules first, send us your date, venue and expected crowd, and you can compare options with prices for DJs who are available that day.
Check the rules before you book
Outdoor amplified music can need a permit, and there may be limits on hours and volume. Before you book, check with the City of Philadelphia and your landlord or property manager:
- whether you need a permit for amplified sound outdoors, and how far ahead to apply;
- what hours music is allowed, and any volume limit;
- whether you can use the sidewalk, a parking area or the street in front of the store.
Tell the DJ what you find, so they can plan the setup around it.
Sound and power outdoors
- Ask whether the DJ brings their own speakers and a stand or table, and what cover they need if it rains.
- Find out where the nearest power is, and whether the DJ needs a long extension or their own power source.
- Ask where the speakers should face, so the music reaches the people you want to draw in and not the windows next door.
A crowd that comes and goes
At an opening, people walk past, stop for a while and move on. Tell the DJ who you expect: families, regulars, people who live nearby. Ask for music that suits all ages, with clean versions of songs. If you’re giving away prizes, holding a ribbon cutting or making announcements, ask whether the DJ can MC.
Plan the day
A DJ plays for the hours you book. Tell the DJ when the doors open, when any ribbon cutting or announcement happens, and when the event ends. If the event runs into the evening, check the finish time against the city’s and the landlord’s rules.
Questions to ask before you book
- Have you played grand openings, store events or other outdoor events before?
- Do you bring your own speakers, power and weather cover?
- Where would you place the speakers for our space?
- Can you MC, and make announcements for giveaways or a ribbon cutting?
- Do you play clean versions of songs for an all-ages crowd?
- When will you arrive, and how long do you need to set up and pack up?
- Can you send proof of insurance if the landlord or the city asks?
What changes the price
The price depends on how many hours you book, whether it’s a Saturday or in the holiday season, sound and lighting if the venue has none, and travel outside Philadelphia.
How booking works with AGNT
AGNT is a booking company. You send us your date, venue and expected crowd, and we check which DJs in Philadelphia are available that day. We send you options with prices. You pick one, and it’s booked once the deposit is paid. If your first pick isn’t available, we’ll tell you and suggest DJs with a similar style who are.
You can see more on DJs for hire in Philadelphia.
How we put this together
We wrote this from what people tell us when they ask for a DJ in Philadelphia: the type of event, the venue, the crowd and what they need the DJ to bring. It doesn’t list prices, because they depend on your date, your hours and what you need. You’ll see prices with the options we send.
Your next step
Tell us your date, venue and expected crowd, and we’ll send you Philadelphia DJs who are available that day, with prices: book a DJ in Philadelphia
Featured photo by Aleksandr Popov on Unsplash
