I have been through the wringer trying to find a portable DJ booth solution. My daily driver is a Prius, so it has to be small and lightweight. I also didn’t want to spend $300 to $500 on a glorified table. Yet, I needed to look professional. I already had a great folding table that fit all of my gear, and some nice stretch covers for it. I just need that last piece to cover my cables and protect my gear from drinks. The solution was on Amazon: a 4-foot tabletop DJ facade made by Dragon Frontboards. And, it only cost me $39! I could not be more pleased with my decision.
Recommendation – Dragon Frontboards
I can’t say enough about Dragon Frontboards. They have a huge selection of high-quality DJ screens in all sorts of styles. Everything from standing DJ facades to the smallest tabletop screen that I bought. I chose a tabletop screen because I was already very comfortable with my DJ table. It’s just the right height at 36 inches tall, and it folds completely in half. Best of all, it’s got a plastic top, which keeps the weight super low. I throw a fitted cover over it and you can’t even tell that it’s a folding table.
The Dragon Frontboards 4 foot tabletop DJ facade is the perfect match to my skinny setup. I always thought I would have to drag around some giant, heavy folding DJ booth to make my gear look clean and tidy. This facade does all of that work for me. It’s four pieces of plexiglass connected together with bendable plastic hinges. The whole thing folds down to about 2 feet long and it weighs next to nothing. The plexiglass is opaque, so it completely covers my plugs and cables. I chose the white plexiglass because it will light up when I put LED lights behind it.
Mostly, at only $39 with free shipping on Amazon, it was an incredible deal. I got to keep my comfortable setup and look more professional at the same time. Even if the tabletop version isn’t for you, Dragon Frontboards has a huge selection of all sizes of DJ screens. Whether you want a full-length screen like this one, or one of their gorgeous padded leather tabletop models, there are a ton of great choices. Pro tip: I found they were selling my model for a lower price on Amazon, so check there too.
Why Do I Need a Frontboard?
You like money, don’t you? Frontboards both make you money and save you money. Having a clean-looking, professional setup will make you more appealing to clients. You’ll be able to take those drool-inducing photos for your website and social media. Most importantly, you won’t stick out like a sore thumb at classy events, like weddings and proms. There’s not much worse than a DJ table full of messy cables in the background of your client’s photos. Look at how much messier my exact same setup looks without a frontboard!
Additionally, frontboards save you money by protecting your gear. Think of them as a drink and grubby hand shield. Setting up a barrier will keep guests away from your stuff. My tabletop facade instantly solved the problem of guests putting drinks on my table. I cannot tell you what a stress relief that is. It seems like such a small thing, but how do you politely tell a guest that the beer they just set down poses an immediate danger to the thousands of dollars of equipment you own.
A frontboard tells them for you without saying a word. You don’t have to tell guests not to put things on your table. They can’t. You don’t have to tell them not to touch your gear. It would be super weird for them to reach over your frontboard to mess with something. Frontboards are that extra layer of protection against guest accidents.
Types of Frontboards
Tabletop
The smallest and simplest frontboard is the tabletop facade. It is designed to sit on top of your existing DJ table. Heights vary, so you can get something short to cover just your cables and tabletop, or a taller screen that will conceal all of your gear. I chose a 7” tall model that just makes my tabletop look neat. But it still keeps guests from putting drinks on my table. If you use a standard height table with risers for your gear, you’d be better off with a taller tabletop model. The height is really an aesthetic choice. All of your cables are covered either way. The question is: do you want all of your gear hidden, or are you cool with your laptop peaking over the top?
Freestanding
Freestanding facades are a great choice if you don’t have a “show ready” DJ table, or if you prefer to keep guests further away from your gear. If you are using a coffin-style setup, you don’t have a table to put a frontboard on. The beauty to the freestanding screen is that you can put whatever you want behind it. No matter how it looks. You don’t have to worry if your gear is a bit beat up. You don’t have to obsessively organize your cables. No need to keep a tablecloth clean. Just set up your gear and way you want to, and bam, the frontboard covers your mess.
But, like all of life, there are trade-offs. Freestanding frontboards are much bulkier to carry around. And, more expensive. And, you’ll probably have to buy a separate carrying case to keep it looking nice. Make your decision based on the gear and money you have. I personally find it easier and cheaper to have a separate folding table and tabletop facade.
Folding Booth
If you really want to go all out, and money is no object, look for a folding DJ booth that has an integrated frontboard. Just cable management isn’t enough. If it doesn’t have some sort of screen, your guests will be staring at the back of all of your gear. And, they will still be able to put a drink on your booth or touch your gear. A portable DJ booth will cost you a pretty penny, like $300 and up, depending on how fancy you get. Don’t waste your money by choosing one that won’t protect your gear. You want something that will meet all of your needs, like this one on Amazon:
Things to Look For in a Frontboard
First and foremost, you want any DJ facade to match your style of DJ booth. Do you already have a nice table with a drape? You probably just need a tabletop facade. Do you need to screen your stand and hide cables on the floor? You would be better off with a freestanding facade. Do you want to bring the full club experience with you? Look at a folding DJ booth with integrated facades.
For me, I like to keep my gear small and ultra-lightweight. That’s why I love the tabletop facade. Be sure to think about transporting and available space when you decide on the type of facade that’s right for you. Shaving a few pounds here or there can make a big difference with all of the gear you have to move. Many of the Dragon Frontboards free-standing facades give you the option to choose Lycra or Plexiglass panels. Lycra will reduce weight but may be less durable over time.
Once you determine the best type of frontboard for you, select one that matches your style and budget. You don’t have to stick with the traditional, plain, black or white panels. There are a huge number of styles to choose from. Pick something that will match the esthetic that you are going for with your music. The Plush collection from Dragon Frontboards is a great look if you are doing a lot of weddings, or if you are going for an ultralounge vibe. You can pick a standing facade with all sorts of designs, anything from aggressively industrial, to ornate, to bubbly and fun. Pick whatever works best for you. I only chose plain white because I do all different sorts of events.
In Summary…
Hopefully, you’ve seen the value in using a frontboard, or any sort of DJ facade. The more professional you look, the more money you can charge. And the best way to protect your gear is to prevent accidents in the first place. A small frontboard will make you look classy and protect you from spills for less than 50 bucks.