How to read a DJ, band or solo musician profile on SoundCheck Aotearoa

Tiers show how much an act has invested in their public profile - DJ, band or solo musician. Not a measure of skill on its own, but a signal of commitment. Band & musician tiers run on their own pricing schedule; solos and duos pay the same as DJs.

Badges only appear once a SoundCheck Aotearoa admin has verified them. They are not self-claimed.

• Business verified - we've confirmed an NZBN registration (and GST registration where applicable). You're dealing with a real, registered business.
• Insured - current public liability insurance has been sighted by our team. Important for venues that ask for proof of cover.
• Identity verified - we've matched the account holder to a verified identity document. The person you message is who they say they are.
• No badge isn't a red flag on its own - it just means the entertainer hasn't supplied that documentation yet.

Every star on SoundCheck Aotearoa is human-verified. We don't accept anonymous on-site reviews - instead, ratings come from two checked sources:

• Customer ratings - left by a customer whose booking was confirmed on SoundCheck Aotearoa. They can only rate after the event is marked booked.
• Verified Google reviews - performers can submit links and screenshots of their public Google reviews. Our admins verify each one against the source before it counts toward the profile rating.

If a review can't be verified, it doesn't appear on the profile. The "X reviews" count next to the star only includes verified, approved reviews.

Regions show where an entertainer regularly travels for work. Premium profiles can cover multiple regions and can choose one whole island. Agencies and collectives can select up to six distinct regions or one whole island.

"From" price is the entertainer's minimum booking and a starting point for typical gigs. The final Estimate depends on travel, hours, extra services (lighting, MC, PA, photo booth) and date.

The cheapest Estimate isn't always best value - compare ratings, services and fit before booking.

The PRIDE Verified badge tells you a DJ has formally pledged to welcome LGBTQIA+ clients and that a SoundCheck Aotearoa admin has reviewed their public profile against that pledge.

To earn the badge, a DJ must:

• Use gender-neutral forms and language where possible (e.g. "partner" rather than assuming bride/groom).
• Respect stated pronouns in all communications with clients and guests.
• Provide a non-discriminatory experience to LGBTQIA+ couples, wedding parties and guests.

No badge isn't a red flag - many great DJs haven't gone through this process. You can filter for PRIDE Verified DJs on the search step if it's important for your event.

Entertainers can self-declare cultural audiences they've successfully catered to - from Māori, Pasifika and Indian weddings through to Korean, Greek, Jewish and many more.

When filtering by a cultural tag, you'll see DJs who list relevant experience first. We encourage DJs to use the "experience notes" field to describe what they actually bring: languages spoken, ceremonial timings they know, traditional songs in their library, MC familiarity, and so on.

Cultural tags are self-declared, not admin-verified. Treat them as a starting point and confirm the specifics in your enquiry - a quick chat about karakia, baraat timing, fa'alavelave protocol or any other particular need will tell you a lot about fit.

Some DJs specialise in one style of room. Knowing the difference helps you brief the right kind of DJ for your event.

• DJ (Club-Style) - focused on a single genre or scene (e.g. house, techno, drum & bass, hip-hop). Plays longer mixes that build energy on the dancefloor, and is typically booked for clubs, festivals or themed nights where guests are there for that sound.
• DJ (Open-Format) - comfortable jumping between genres and eras to read a mixed crowd (e.g. weddings, corporate, birthdays, school balls). Expect Top 40, classics, throwbacks, Pacific, Māori, country, dance and more - chosen on the fly to keep everyone moving.

Neither is "better" - it's about fit. A wedding usually wants open-format; a warehouse rave usually wants club-style. Ask the DJ how they'd approach your specific event and crowd.