Nightclub Protocol: A Rough Guide for DJ's
by Rob Wegner

November 2001

If you're going to start working in nightclubs, you should familiarize yourself with nightclub protocol. By nightclub protocol, I'm referring to the written and unwritten rules and procedures that many clubs follow. Since many of these "rules" relate to state and federal laws, the guideline discussed below may vary by club, license, and/or jurisdiction and is provided here as opinion.

About two years ago, I spent an evening working the front door of a busy club in order to get a better understanding of front door procedure. What did I learn?

First, there are many customers that will attempt to avoid the club's cover charge by either dropping names ("I know so-and-so"), or by inventing reasons to get into the club ("so-and-so needs his cell phone"). For this reason, when you approach the bouncers, try to understand their perspective. For example, if you're a recent hire, don't feel insulted if they don't know you.

Second, many clubs offer "club courtesy." Club courtesy means that if you work at a nightclub, you'll get into other clubs for free because your club, in theory, also offers club courtesy. However, many bouncers will ask for proof of employment such as a paycheck stub. If you're a resident DJ, I suggest contacting the other club's jock or general manager to have him or her place your name on the list (please note that not all clubs have club courtesy or may not offer it on busy nights).

Third, speaking of guest lists, while it's common to place friends on your club's guest list, as you will learn, when you're spinning, everyone's your friend. In short, avoid placing too many friends on the list as this is often frowned upon by management.

Whenever there's a fight, do not assist the bouncers (unless that's part of your job description); particularly if you're employed as an independent contractor and not covered by the club's workman's compensation insurance. When you see a fight, it's customary to call security to the fight. However, because many clubs don't want to draw attention to fights (either for public relations/image or to avoid drawing friends into the fight), they will have the DJ announce a code word (such as an owner's name) to alert the bouncers.

Your state's liquor license has strict rules regulating such things as: employee conduct, intoxicated patrons, the type of videos you can play, hours of operation, acts of repeated violence, the moral character of the license holder, drinking on the job, indecency, illegal drinking contests, markings on beer taps, ID cards, and more. Even though you're a DJ, I suggest getting familiar with your state's liquor laws because you can: (1) help to prevent a violation that may jeopardize public safety; (2) protect yourself legally; and (3) prevent the assessment of fines to your club's liquor license. In extreme cases, clubs are shut down when they are deemed a "threat to the public."

Spotters are employed by the club to report employee discrepancies by posing as customers. While spotters often focus on bartenders and waitresses, they occasionally observe DJ's. For example, a rude response to a reasonable song request will most likely get reported. It should be noted that spotters may not abuse their position of trust (such as by getting their friends employment at the expense of legitimate workers).

Most bartenders, waiters, and waitresses earn their living through tips. When the club is busy, you shouldn't expect the bartenders to immediately stop serving customers to get you water (just as you wouldn't stop a song to play a bartender's request). As a rule, I always tip bartenders, waiters, and waitresses.

At the same time, I rarely accept tips. I've turned down as much as $100 to play music that didn't fit the club's format. In my opinion, customers shouldn't dictate the music format through tips. I'll often tell them, "just give it to the bartenders or waitresses." In other cases, I'll split the night's tips with my light jock.

You must present yourself as a professional at all times. The larger the crowd, the greater the chance that someone's looking at you at any given moment. This means that you shouldn't yawn or comb your hair in front of the crowd. I'll never forget the disco DJ that would bring a mirror, brush, breath spray, deodorant, and towel to the booth every night he worked.

If you work for a corporate club, you may have "check-out" procedures to follow at the end of your shift. A check-out procedure may include (if applicable): cleaning the DJ booth (counters and floors); turning off amps and/or equipment; organizing and securing music product and supplies; reporting audio and/or video equipment problems to management; and comments to tomorrow's DJ(s). Some corporate clubs will have a "DJ communications log" that is filled out nightly. Even if you don't work for a corporate club, you should follow these procedures. It should be noted that some clubs never shut off their system amps.

* You should arrive to work early. There's nothing worse than a club filled with eager dancers, but no DJ.

* Some DJ's make a playlist to evaluate their format at a later time. Also, playlists help DJ's monitor problems such as repeating the same music in the same order nightly.

* As a rule, don't play the same song twice in one night. Nightclub staff and management often notice this. You have plenty of music at your disposal.

* You should make it a habit to occasionally leave the DJ booth to monitor the club's volume.

* You should stand throughout your shift or set. It looks unprofessional to mix tracks while sitting in a chair.