Choosing a Song Request App as a Mobile DJ

Mobile DJs play somewhere different every week: a wedding on Saturday, a fortieth on Friday, a works party in December. Requests come at every one of them, and most DJs end up juggling shouted requests, scraps of paper, WhatsApp messages and the occasional folded note. A song request app puts all of that in one place and lets guests pay for what they ask for. This guide covers what to look for, how the options compare, and what to ask before you choose.

What a request app should do for a mobile DJ

Guests shouldn't need to download anything

Guests at a private party won't install an app for one song. A QR code that opens a web page is best: pick a request, type the song, pay. Each extra step means fewer guests finish.

Payment should only be taken for requests you play

This matters most. If guests are charged when they send a request, every request you decline becomes a refund and an awkward conversation. Look for an app that holds the payment and only charges once you've played it, so declining costs nobody anything.

The queue should work while you're mixing

You're behind the decks with headphones on. The queue should be readable at a glance, take one tap to accept or decline, and alert you to new requests. Pausing and capping requests keeps you in control of the night.

Fees should be clear, and you should know who pays them

Apps charge a monthly subscription, a cut of each request, or a fee when you withdraw, and someone also pays the card processing fee. Work out what you'd take home from a typical gig: a low headline fee can hide processing costs that come out of your share.

You should get paid reliably

Most platforms hold earnings for a few days while card payments clear. That's normal, but know the hold period and minimum withdrawal before your first gig.

You need records

Request income is taxable. A history per event with an end-of-year export saves time on your tax return.

How the options compare

Option	Works well for	Drawbacks
Cash and tip jars	Older crowds and venues where people still carry cash	Fewer people carry cash; no record of who asked for what; handling money at the booth; awkward to give change or turn a request down
A payment link or QR code to your own account	Occasional tips from people who already know you	No request attached to the payment; you're paid even for requests you don't play, so declining means refunding; check your provider allows business payments on the account you use
A card reader at the booth	Busy gigs where guests come to the booth anyway	Hardware to carry and charge; guests have to queue at the decks; still no written record of the request
A song request app	Any gig where guests have phones	A fee per payment or withdrawal; guests need signal or Wi-Fi to scan and pay

Questions to ask before you choose

1. Do guests need to install an app or create an account?
2. Is the guest charged when they send the request, or only when I play it?
3. What exactly do I pay, and when? Is there a monthly fee?
4. Who pays the card processing fee, me or the guest?
5. How long until earnings reach my bank, and is there a minimum withdrawal?
6. What happens if a guest says I didn't play their request?
7. Can I pause requests, cap them, and set different prices for songs, shoutouts and dedications?
8. Can I export my earnings for my tax return?

How OnCuePay answers those questions

• No app for guests. They scan your QR code and pay in the browser by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay.
• Payment is held, not charged. The card is only charged once you've played the request. Decline it and they pay nothing.
• One fee, taken at withdrawal. OnCuePay takes 15%, with no monthly, setup or per-request charge. Guests pay the card processing fee on top of your price.
• Payouts to your bank. Earnings are held for a few days while card payments clear. The minimum withdrawal is $50.00.
• A fair dispute process. Guests have 30 minutes to report a problem, you have 30 minutes to reply, and our team reviews anything you contest.
• Control and records. Your own prices, pausing, request limits, headphone-proof alerts and a CSV export for tax.

The refunds policy and terms set out the details, and the earnings calculator shows what paid requests could add up to for you.

Getting the most out of any request app

• Make the QR code easy to find. A stand on the booth facing the dancefloor works at almost every gig.
• Mention it once on the mic, early in the evening, and say guests only pay if you play it.
• Read out the first shoutout. Hearing a name on the mic often prompts other guests to scan.
• Agree it with the client at weddings and private parties, and respect their answer.

For weddings specifically, read how to take paid song requests at weddings.