What Is a DJ EPK and Why You Actually Need One
An electronic press kit (EPK) is a single page that tells a promoter everything they need to know about you as an artist: who you are, what you sound like, what you look like on a flyer, and how to book you. That is it. Nothing more, nothing less.
Here is the reality most DJs do not want to hear: promoters receive dozens of booking requests every week. They do not have time to dig through your Instagram, find your SoundCloud, hunt for a decent photo, and then figure out how to contact you. If they cannot assess you in under 60 seconds, you are getting skipped. An EPK puts everything in one place so the promoter can make a decision fast.
This is not optional. Without an EPK, you are asking a promoter to do your job for you. And they will not.
The barrier to entry isn't talent. It's professionalism. An EPK is the minimum bar.
What to Include in Your DJ EPK
Your EPK needs to answer five questions a promoter has in their head when they open it:
- What does this artist sound like?
- Are they credible? Have they played anywhere?
- Will they look good on a flyer?
- Can I hear a full set or mix?
- How do I book them?
Here is exactly what goes on the page, in order of importance.
1. Artist Bio
Keep it short. Two to three paragraphs maximum. Write it in third person — "Alex Rivera is a Berlin-based DJ and producer" not "I'm Alex and I love music." First person bios read like diary entries. Third person reads like press, which is exactly what this is.
Your bio should cover: where you are based, what genres or styles you play, notable gigs or residencies, any releases or label affiliations, and one line about what makes your sets distinctive. That is it. Do not write your life story. Do not mention when you first touched a CDJ. Promoters do not care about your origin story — they care about what you bring to their event right now.
We go deep on bio writing in our separate guide: How to Write a DJ Bio That Promoters Actually Read.
2. Press Photos
You need at least two photos: one landscape (for event pages and web banners) and one portrait (for flyers and social posts). Both must be high resolution — 2000 pixels minimum on the long edge. A promoter should be able to drop your photo straight onto a flyer without asking you for a better version.
Invest in a proper photoshoot. It does not need to be expensive. Find a photographer in your scene, trade a gig for photos, do whatever you need to do. But phone selfies and dark blurry booth shots are not going to cut it. Your photos are the first thing a promoter sees and they set the tone for everything else.
Make the photos downloadable directly from your EPK. Do not make the promoter email you asking for high-res versions. That is an unnecessary back-and-forth that slows down the booking process.
3. Music
This is where a promoter decides if your sound fits their event. You need two types of music on your EPK:
- Produced tracks or releases — Embed or link to your best work on Spotify, Bandcamp, or SoundCloud. Pick three to five tracks maximum. Do not dump your entire catalog.
- DJ mixes — At least one recent mix that represents what you would play live. A promoter wants to hear how you build a set, how you mix, and what a room sounds like when you are playing. SoundCloud or Mixcloud links work. If you have a mix on a known platform like RA or a label mix series, lead with that.
If you only produce and do not have mixes, get one recorded. If you only DJ and have no productions, that is fine — your mixes do the talking. But you need at least one solid, recent mix.
4. Upcoming and Past Events
List your upcoming gigs if you have them. It shows you are active and in demand. For past events, list notable ones — recognized clubs, festivals, or event series. If you are just starting out and your gig history is thin, that is okay. List what you have and focus on making the rest of your EPK strong.
Do not list every single gig you have ever played. A promoter does not need to see that you played your friend's house party in 2022. Be selective. Quality over quantity.
5. Social Media Links
Link to your active profiles: Instagram, SoundCloud, Bandcamp, Spotify, Resident Advisor, whatever platforms you actually use and maintain. Do not link to a Twitter account you have not posted on in eight months. Every dead link or inactive profile works against you.
6. Booking Contact
This sounds obvious, but a surprising number of DJs build an EPK and forget to put a clear booking email on it. Use a dedicated email like booking@yourname.com or yourname.booking@gmail.com. Make it visible. Do not bury it in a footer. If you have management or an agent, list their contact instead.
7. Tech Rider
For larger bookings and festivals, promoters will want your tech rider — a document listing your technical requirements (what gear you need, monitor preferences, etc.). For club gigs, this is less critical since most clubs have a standard setup. But having a basic tech rider available shows professionalism. You can link to it as a downloadable PDF from your EPK or include a simple section on the page itself.
Common EPK Mistakes That Kill Your Chances
These are the mistakes we see constantly. Every single one of them makes a promoter's job harder, which means they make your booking less likely.
Sending a PDF
PDF press kits were standard in 2015. They are dead now. A PDF cannot be updated — so when you get a new gig, release a new track, or change your bio, you have to re-export the whole thing and re-send it to everyone. PDFs also cannot embed playable music. The promoter has to open a separate link to hear you. That is one extra step they probably will not take.
Your EPK should be a web page. A URL that is always current, always has your latest music, and always works on any device. When a promoter clicks the link six months after you sent it, it should show your latest info, not a stale snapshot from last year.
Google Drive or Dropbox Links
Sending a promoter a Google Drive folder with your photos, bio, and music scattered across files is deeply unprofessional. It signals that you did not care enough to put together a proper presentation. A shared folder is not a press kit — it is a homework submission.
Too Much Text
Your EPK is not a Wikipedia article. If a promoter has to scroll through ten paragraphs of text before they find your music or photos, you have already lost them. Be concise. Every word on your EPK should earn its place.
Low-Resolution Photos
If a promoter cannot use your photo on a flyer without it looking pixelated, you have created work for them. They will either ask you for better photos (adding days to the booking process) or just move on to someone else.
No Booking Contact
If a promoter likes what they see and cannot figure out how to book you within five seconds, that is a failure. Make your contact information impossible to miss.
Linking to Your Homepage Instead of Your EPK
Your personal website and your EPK serve different purposes. Your website is for fans. Your EPK is for industry. When a promoter asks for your press kit, send them directly to the EPK page, not your homepage where they have to navigate around looking for the info they need.
How to Write Your DJ Bio: A Practical Structure
Since your bio is one of the most important elements, here is a structure that works. Follow it paragraph by paragraph.
Paragraph 1: The headline. Who you are, where you are based, and what you do. One to two sentences. This is the version that gets copy-pasted onto event pages, so make it strong and self-contained.
Paragraph 2: The substance. Where you have played, who you have released with, any residencies or affiliations. This is your credibility paragraph. If you have played Berghain or released on Lobster Theremin, this is where it goes. If you have not, list what you do have — local residencies, community radio shows, label affiliations.
Paragraph 3 (optional): The color. What makes your sound distinctive, what influences you draw from, what a night with you behind the decks feels like. This is the paragraph that separates a functional bio from a memorable one. Keep it grounded — do not write poetry.
For a deep dive with examples and templates, read our full guide: How to Write a DJ Bio That Promoters Actually Read.
How to Send Your EPK to Promoters
Having a great EPK is half the job. The other half is getting it in front of the right people in the right way. Here is how to do it without burning bridges.
Find the Right Person
Do not send your EPK to a venue's general info email. Find the actual booker. Check the venue or event's website for a booking contact. Look at their social media. Ask around in your local scene. A personalized email to the right person is worth a hundred generic submissions.
Keep the Email Short
Promoters do not read long emails from artists they do not know. Your email should be five to six sentences maximum. Here is a template that works:
Subject: Booking inquiry — [Your DJ Name]
Hi [Promoter Name],
I am [Your Name], a [genre] DJ based in [City]. I have been following [Event/Venue Name] for a while and think my sound would be a good fit for your nights, particularly [specific night or event series].
Here is my EPK: [link]
I am available for upcoming dates and happy to discuss fees. Let me know if there is interest.
Best,
[Your Name]
[Booking email]
That is it. No life story. No five-paragraph essay about your journey. Just a clear introduction, a specific connection to their event, and a link to your EPK where they can learn everything else.
Follow Up Once
If you do not hear back in two weeks, send one follow-up. Keep it even shorter: "Hi [Name], just following up on my email from [date]. Here is my EPK again: [link]. Thanks." If you still do not hear back, move on. Do not send three or four follow-ups. That crosses the line from persistent to annoying.
Do Not Attach Files
Never attach MP3s, photos, or PDF press kits to your email. Attachments clog inboxes and often get caught in spam filters. Everything should be accessible via your EPK link.
Building Your EPK
You have a few options for building your EPK. You can code your own page if you have the skills, use a general website builder and set up a dedicated press page, or use a tool built specifically for DJs and musicians.
BLOT lets you build a DJ EPK for free — it is designed specifically for electronic music artists and includes everything covered in this guide: bio, photos, music embeds, events, socials, and booking contact, all on a single shareable page that you can update anytime. If you want to skip the setup and get straight to a working EPK, it is worth a look.
Whatever tool you use, the principles are the same: keep it current, keep it concise, and make it easy for a promoter to say yes.