After-work party DJ in Zurich – ideas, setups, playlists

Phase 1 – Arrival (30–60 minutes)

The first guests trickle in, most straight from the office. The mood is still subdued – laptops are closing, the workday is fading. The music needs to guide this transition gently:

• Sound: Lofi beats, organic house, acoustic edits. FKJ, Tom Misch, Khruangbin.
• Tempo: 90–105 BPM – calm but not sleepy.
• Volume: 60–65 dB. Effortless conversation must be possible.
• Mood: "Cool, relaxed, I'll stick around a bit."

Phase 2 – Networking (60–90 minutes)

The group grows, conversations get livelier, second drinks are ordered. Now I gently lift the energy:

• Sound: Nu-disco, funk-house, vocals start to appear. Satin Jackets, Franc Moody, Jungle.
• Tempo: 112–120 BPM – noticeably more drive.
• Volume: 68–72 dB. People still chat, but feet are tapping.
• Mood: "This is going to be a good evening."

Phase 3 – Peak (60–90 minutes)

The highlight of the night. Everyone still here wants to dance. Now the music takes centre stage:

• Sound: Club edits, classics, clear bass. Purple Disco Machine, Dom Dolla, Duck Sauce, David Guetta edits. Plus clever remixes: Fleetwood Mac – "Dreams" (Psychemagik edit) → straight into a current house banger.
• Tempo: 122–128 BPM – full dance floor energy.
• Volume: 75–80 dB (depending on venue and regulations).
• Breaks: Short pauses for "cheers!" moments – when the bass drops out briefly and everyone cheers, you know: the vibe is locked in.

Phase 4 – Cool-down (15–30 minutes)

Don't end abruptly. The last tracks bring the energy down gently:

• Sound: Deep house, melodic grooves, warm vocals.
• Tempo: Gradually from 124 back to 110 BPM.
• Mood: "That was an amazing evening. I'll be back next time."

Rooftop / Terrace

Zurich has fantastic rooftop locations – but they come with quirks:

• Volume: Often stricter regulations due to neighbours. I work with the sweet spot between 70–78 dB.
• Wind: Massively affects sound. Speakers need strategic placement.
• Weather plan B: Always have an indoor fallback. I work with weatherproof compact setups.
• Power: Often limited outdoors – I bring battery solutions when needed.

Office / Co-working space

The internal after-work in your own office – low barrier, high impact:

• Setup: Compact – 2 tops usually suffice. No sub needed if the room is small.
• Volume: Office buildings often have noise restrictions from 8 PM. I clarify this beforehand.
• Advantage: No travel for staff = higher attendance.
• Tip: Push desks aside and create a clear dance floor zone.

Bar / Restaurant

The classic – external venue, professional infrastructure:

• Advantage: Often has its own PA that I can use or supplement.
• Caution: Bar systems are sometimes outdated. I always bring my own controller and backup.
• Capacity: The dance floor must be clearly defined – otherwise people end up dancing between tables.

Tech setup: Compact, stylish, professional

After-work events don't need a festival rig. My standard kit:

• PA: 2 active tops (e.g. QSC K12.2) + compact sub. Enough punch for 50–100 guests, not too dominant in the room.
• Lights: 2–4 ambience lights (warm white) + 2 small moving heads for subtle dance floor accents. No disco overkill.
• Controller: Pioneer DDJ-FLX10 or XDJ-RX3 – compact, professional, reliable.
• Backup: Second audio interface, backup laptop, spare cables. Tech should never become the topic.

Volume management: The underrated art

Volume is the most sensitive topic at after-work events. Too loud = guests leave. Too quiet = no atmosphere.

• 60–65 dB: Arrival, conversations. Music is "background wallpaper".
• 68–72 dB: Networking phase. Music is noticed, feet start tapping.
• 75–80 dB: Peak. Dance floor active, conversations only close-up.
• 70–72 dB: Cool-down. Gentle decrease, final drinks. I actively manage volume throughout the evening – it's just as important as track selection.

Costs and planning

An after-work DJ set (2–4 hours) including equipment typically costs CHF 800 to 2,000 in Zurich – depending on duration, setup size and whether additional lighting is needed. For recurring events (monthly/weekly) I offer package deals.

How loud can an after-work event be?

That depends on the venue. In Zurich, most venues allow 80–85 dB as the upper limit for evening events. Outdoors and in residential areas it's often stricter (70–78 dB). I clarify the regulations beforehand and work within the limits – aiming to maximise atmosphere.

How much does a DJ cost for a 3-hour after-work set?

For a compact after-work set (3 hours including sound equipment), budget CHF 800 to 1,500. That includes planning, setup/breakdown, equipment and the DJ set itself. Recurring events get discounted packages.

What setup works for small rooms?

For rooms up to 80 square metres, 2 compact tops without a sub are enough. Add 2 ambience lights for mood. The setup takes little space but delivers enough sound for 30–60 guests. Setup and breakdown take about 30–45 minutes.