Being a DJ is undoubtedly a rewarding job for those passionate about all things music. Your daily job gives you the chance to share music, show off your skills, get the night pumping and get paid for the privilege of doing what is likely one of your favourite hobbies. You can work the room to your advantage, hype them up or slow it down for those who are self-employed, you even have control over the events you choose to DJ for. However, while this is a job that many music lovers would dream of, there are risks that come with the job that can’t be ignored. If you’re just getting started in the business or you’re looking to understand the risks better, here’s what you need to know:
Slips, Trips and Falls
This is a risk that practically every industry comes face to face with, but DJs and their audience in particular tend to run into this issue far more often if not handled correctly. With the sheer amount of equipment that DJs use, the wires around your station are likely to be numerous and without proper organisation or covering (e.g. mats), this could lead to you or a member of the public tripping over the wires. Not only do they risk pulling the equipment off of the table, but an injury to a member of the public could result in a hefty claim against you. Public Liability Insurance for DJs can protect you and your business in these cases, by offering financial support in case of legal action or compensation.
There is also a risk to you and your equipment with the presence of drinks on the dancefloor. Even if the event goes to plan and everything is fine, you still have a risk of slipping on spilt drinks after the event when carrying equipment out to your vehicle.
Equipment Damage
Similar to the point above, the presence of drinks and often drunk audience members can lead to an increased risk of damage to your equipment. DJs often have expensive and hard-to-replace equipment, from speakers and laptops to turntables and mixers. One spilt drink could be the end of the night and lead to the equipment needing extensive repair or replacement altogether. You can add splash guards to prevent this or set up a perimeter around your equipment to ensure that partygoers can’t access your equipment or knock it accidentally.
Strain Injuries
DJing can be quite a physically demanding job. From the strain of standing up all night while you control the music, to carrying equipment, your body can go through a lot. When it comes to ferrying your equipment from place to place, the risk of lifting injuries can be excessive if not handled properly. You should always use the right lifting techniques for heavy equipment, and ensure that you use suitable lifting tools, such as a sack barrow, for anything that you can’t lift. You should also be aware of any equipment that should take more than one person to lift and have an alternative plan of action if there isn’t another person qualified to help.
Strobe and Laser Lighting
Working in dark environments with lots of lighting effects such as strobe or laser lighting could lead to significant issues for your and your audience’s health and safety, especially when dealing with that kind of lighting every, or most nights. Whether you bring your own or the venue already has lighting in place, you need to ensure that you are set up in a way that ensures neither you nor the clients will have the lighting directly in their faces. This means ensuring lighting is high up and far enough from the eyes so as not to cause any damage. It’s also important to think carefully about the lighting sequences to avoid triggering any medical episodes in guests who may have illnesses that result in seizures or other light-triggered concerns.
Noise Levels
When working in loud environments every day, it can damage your hearing if not managed properly. Tinnitus is one risk, which is the perception of sound when no noise is actually present. It can be long-lasting and incredibly frustrating and have detrimental effects on your mental health. Similarly, hearing loss can also come about due to prolonged or regular exposure to loud music. As a DJ, you need to manage noise consumption properly. You could use headphones or earplugs, give your ears regular breaks or even keep the volume slightly lower in certain venues to reduce the exposure.
For more information about the Public Liability Insurance for DJs on offer here at Ashburnham Insurance, we are here to help. Simply get in touch with us on FREEPHONE 0800 1696137.