Based in Derby, DJ Catie Maxx is a DJ that caters for a range of events. From birthday parties, to anniversary parties and weddings, the mobile DJ will tailor her music to suit your special occasion.

What do you need to know from an organiser in order to provide a comprehensive quote?

I like to really get a handle on what they’re looking for in order to present the best quote possible. The basics I initially look for are a) who is the event for? After that the date and time of event, location, number of people attending, the size of the venue and the type of event it’s going to be. As a DJ I find it helpful to have a chat with the organiser prior to the event to really get an insight into the type of atmosphere they want, the range of music they’d like, whether they want to contribute to a playlist or have me develop it.

What advice would you give to a customer looking to hire a provider in your area of work?

Firstly make a checklist. On it I’d include the following things: What equipment do you use? What type of DJ are you? Do you use MP3’s or CDs? Do you have Public Liability Insurance (PLI)? Do you provide a contract? (Most DJ’s worth their salt will do). Finally, how much experience do you have?

Please tell us a little bit about how and why you started the business.

Quite simply, I’m passionate about music and DJ'ing enables me to put all my energy into delivering a fantastic night while playing fantastic tunes. I started out with a 10 year gig, playing at a club in Cambridge and learned the basics of mixing floor fillers using a DJ controller. Since then, the business has snowballed from there and I’ve played all over the country in clubs and now do weddings, events and parties.

Please tell us about a booking you've had through Add to Event, how did it go? Would you recommend us to others?

I’ve had several wonderful bookings through Add to Event and to be honest, they have all been fantastic in their own way. One that sticks out in my mind, was a 30th anniversary party at Notts County football club where I DJ'd for 150 fabulous people who absolutely loved it. The great thing about the event - apart from the appreciation of the crowd - was the range of people I played for, which meant the variety of music was huge. From start to finish, the party was on the dance floor which is so satisfying for any DJ.