When people picture a DJ setup, they think of speakers, decks and lights. The gear that keeps a party running is usually much smaller. A missing cable or a dead microphone battery can stop the music faster than any big equipment problem. This is the accessories checklist a working event DJ packs for every job, and what each item is for.
Cables and adapters
Cables fail more often than anything else in the bag, so a good DJ carries two of each.
- Speaker cables. One full spare set, long enough to reach if the booth has to move.
- Audio adapters. Every venue sound system has a different input. A small kit of adapters lets the DJ plug into almost any of them.
- A phone or tablet cable. For the guest of honor who wants to play one song from their own phone.
- USB cables. The cable between the laptop and the controller is the most important one on the table. It gets a spare too.
Power
Outlets at venues are rarely where you need them. Extension cords, power strips with surge protection and gaffer tape to hold cords flat on the floor are basic safety items. Taped cords protect guests in heels and kids running across the room.
Headphones and microphones
DJ headphones need to block out a loud room so the next song can be lined up by ear. A second pair in the bag covers a broken headband or a lost ear pad.
For microphones, a wireless model lets a parent, a best man or a host speak from anywhere in the room. Fresh batteries go in before every event, with a spare set close by. A wired microphone stays in the bag as a backup, because it works even when a wireless signal does not.
Backup music
Laptops freeze. Wifi drops. A prepared DJ keeps the full music library on a second drive and has a second way to play it, such as a phone or tablet loaded with a ready playlist. Guests should never hear silence while a computer restarts.
Table, stand and booth
- A sturdy table with a clean cover or front panel, so cables stay out of your photos
- A laptop stand that puts the screen at eye level
- Speaker stands that lift sound above the crowd, so the back of the room hears as clearly as the front
- A small light for reading the gear in a dark room
The little things
These cost very little and get used at almost every party:
- Gaffer tape and zip ties
- A flashlight
- Earplugs
- A printed copy of the timeline and the song list
- Pens and request cards for guests
- A cloth to wipe down the gear
What this means when you hire a DJ
You do not need to check a DJ’s bag. You can ask a few simple questions before you book:
- What happens if your laptop stops working during the party?
- Do you bring a backup microphone?
- How early do you arrive to set up and test the sound?
- Do you tape down your cables?
Clear, calm answers tell you the DJ has done this many times before.
Planning a party in Beverly Hills or Los Angeles?
Accessoriss provides DJ services and photo booth rentals for events across Beverly Hills and greater Los Angeles. See our DJ services, look at our photo booth options, or contact us with your date. You can also call 323-470-4743, any day from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
