How do I check the sound and lighting gear owned by a DJ company?
Ask for a full equipment list with make, age, condition and proof of ownership for each item. Then see the gear set up and running, not just stored. Check for financed or leased items, and ask which pieces carry most events so you know what must be replaced first.
Begin with the list. For speakers, mixers, controllers, lighting rigs, cables and cases, ask for the age, the purchase receipt and any repair history. Compare the list with what you can actually count in storage and in the vehicles. Gaps are worth a conversation.
Next, see it run. Ask to watch a full setup and a short test of the sound and lights. Listen for hum, crackle and dead channels, and look for worn cables, damaged cases and patched repairs. Ask a technician you trust to come along if you are not sure what you are hearing.
Then ask about ownership. Is any gear financed, leased or owned by a contractor or another DJ who works for the company? A lender may hold a claim over financed items, so your lawyer should check. Finally, ask what the main kit would cost to replace, and which pieces are used at nearly every event. Ask whether spares exist, because a single failed mixer on a wedding night is a costly morning-after conversation for any new owner.
Key takeaways
- Match the written equipment list to what is in storage and the vehicles.
- Watch a full setup and test the sound and lights yourself.
- Ask whether any gear is financed, leased or owned by others.
- Identify the pieces used at nearly every event and ask what spares are kept for them.
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Sources
This answer is checked against primary sources. Links were last confirmed on the dates shown.
- 01Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentHow to conduct due diligence when buying a business
- 02Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentEquipment valuation: How to do it
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