The whole process, start to finish. Each step links to the detail.

## The six milestones

**Request → Offer → Payment → Confirmed → Event → Complete**

You'll see this progress bar on your booking.

## 1. Find DJs

Search by location, occasion, and genre, or use Guided Search. No account needed. Listen to mixes and read reviews before you contact anyone.

Shortlist three to five. See [Searching by Location, Occasion, and Genre](/hc/clients/articles/1786047501-how-to-search-by-location-occasion-and-genre).

## 2. Send requests

Select **Book** on a DJ's profile and fill in your date, time, venue, and any extras you want. This needs an account.

Send to several DJs — your details carry over, so it's quick. See [Sending a Booking Request](/hc/clients/articles/1786047501-sending-an-initial-event-request).

## 3. The DJ responds

They accept and prepare a proposal, or decline. Usually a day or two.

## 4. Read the proposal

An itemised breakdown — performance, travel, each extra, and the total — plus the terms: when the offer expires, whether it's a deposit or full payment, and the date you can cancel until.

Check the date, venue, extras, and total. See [Reading Your Proposal](/hc/clients/articles/1786047502-reviewing-a-dj-s-proposal-and-custom-documents).

## 5. Accept and pay

Accept, complete any documents, and pay.

The thing to know: **accepting alone doesn't book the DJ.** Your date isn't held until payment clears. See [Accepting a Proposal](/hc/clients/articles/1786145431-accepting-a-proposal).

## 6. Confirmed

Payment received, and your date is locked on the DJ's calendar.

On a deposit booking, note the date your balance falls due — 7 days before the event. Missing it cancels the event and forfeits the deposit. See [When Your Remaining Balance Is Due](/hc/clients/articles/1786145506-when-your-remaining-balance-is-due).

## 7. Before the day

Message your DJ about the running order, songs, arrival time, and venue access. Swap phone numbers for the day. See [What to Expect on the Day](/hc/clients/articles/day-of-event-expectations).

## 8. The event

Status flips to **Event In Progress**. If it's going well, you can request extra hours. See [Adding Extra Hours While Your Event Is Running](/hc/clients/articles/1786047502-extending-an-event-adding-extra-hours).

## 9. Complete

Status becomes **Leave Review** and we ask you for one. See [Leaving a Review](/hc/clients/articles/1786047502-leaving-a-review).

## Three dates to write down

Everything that costs money comes back to these:

1. **The proposal expiry** — respond before it
2. **The cancellation deadline** — the last day to cancel for a full refund
3. **Your balance due date** — on a deposit booking

## How long to allow

For a wedding or a large event, start three to six months out. For a smaller party, a few weeks is usually enough — though good DJs on Saturdays book up early.