Privacy Policy & Terms of Service

Privacy Policy

CrowdConnect ("we," "us," "our," or the "Platform") operates the website located at crowdconnect.club and all associated services. This Privacy Policy describes how we collect, use, store, share, and protect your personal information when you use our Platform, whether as a registered DJ, an organization administrator, or an audience member submitting song requests or shoutouts.

By accessing or using CrowdConnect, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with any part of this policy, you must discontinue use of the Platform immediately.

Information We Collect

1. Information Provided by Registered Users (DJs)

When you create a DJ account on CrowdConnect, we collect the following information:

• First Name and Last Name — Used for account identification and display purposes.
• Email Address — Used for account verification, password resets, username recovery, and critical service communications.
• DJ Name / Stage Name — Your public-facing display name visible to audience members.
• Username — A unique identifier used for login and routing to your public request page.
• Password — Encrypted using industry-standard bcrypt hashing before storage. We never store your password in plain text and cannot retrieve it.

2. Information Provided by Organization Administrators

Organizations that manage multiple DJ accounts provide:

• Company Name — Used for branding and identification.
• Login Credentials — Username and password (hashed with bcrypt).
• Branding Preferences — Custom color schemes for organization-managed interfaces.

3. Information Provided by Audience Members (Song Requesters)

Audience members do not need to create an account to use CrowdConnect. When submitting a song request or shoutout, we may collect:

• Song Title and Artist Name — The content of the song request.
• Display Name — An optional, freeform name field ("Requested By") that you may choose to fill in. This is not verified and does not constitute an account.
• Message Text — Short messages attached to song requests (limited to 25 characters) or shoutouts (limited to 100 characters).
• Payment Information — If the DJ has enabled request fees or tipping, payment card data is collected and processed entirely by Stripe. Card numbers, CVV codes, and full bank details are never transmitted to, processed by, or stored on CrowdConnect servers.

4. Financial and Payout Information (DJs)

DJs who wish to receive earnings from song request fees and tips may provide payout method information, including:

• Bank Account Details — Routing number and account number. For security, only the last four digits of the account number are stored in our database, along with a one-way SHA-256 cryptographic hash. Full account numbers are not retained after initial processing.
• Account Holder Name and Bank Name — Used to verify and identify the payout destination.
• Account Type — Checking or Savings designation.
• Digital Wallet Identifiers — If you choose PayPal, Cash App, Venmo, or Zelle, we store the associated email address or username necessary to process your payout.
• Stripe Connect Account — If you connect a Stripe Express account, Stripe stores your financial details under their own privacy and security policies. We store only your Stripe Account ID.

5. Automatically Collected Information

We collect minimal technical information automatically:

• Browser User-Agent — Used solely to determine whether to serve you the desktop or mobile version of the Platform. This information is not stored in our databases.
• Web Server Logs — Our hosting infrastructure may automatically record IP addresses, request timestamps, and URLs accessed as part of standard server operations. These logs are used for security monitoring and troubleshooting and are not cross-referenced with user accounts.

6. Information We Do NOT Collect

CrowdConnect is designed with privacy in mind. We do not collect:

• Geolocation or GPS data
• Device fingerprints or hardware identifiers
• Browsing history or activity on other websites
• Contact lists, photos, camera, or microphone access
• Third-party analytics data (we do not use Google Analytics, Facebook Pixel, or similar tracking services)
• Advertising identifiers or cross-site tracking cookies

How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect exclusively for the following purposes:

• Account Creation and Authentication — To create, verify, and secure your DJ or organization account.
• Service Delivery — To facilitate song requests, shoutouts, event management, queue management, and the core features of the Platform.
• Payment Processing — To process song request fees and tips through our payment processor (Stripe) and to facilitate payouts to DJs through their chosen payment method.
• Transactional Communications — To send essential emails including email verification links, password reset codes, and username reminders. We do not send marketing emails or newsletters.
• Earnings Management — To calculate, track, and display earnings, fees, and payout history for DJ accounts.
• Platform Security — To detect and prevent fraud, abuse, unauthorized access, and other harmful activity.
• Technical Operations — To route you to the appropriate mobile or desktop experience and to maintain Platform stability.

How We Share Your Information

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties for marketing purposes. We share information only in the following limited circumstances:

Third-Party Service Providers

• Stripe, Inc. — Our payment processor. When you make a payment or connect a Stripe Express account, Stripe receives the financial data necessary to process the transaction. Stripe's handling of your data is governed by the Stripe Privacy Policy.
• SMTP2GO / SendGrid — Our email delivery services. These providers receive recipient email addresses and email content solely for the purpose of delivering transactional emails on our behalf.
• Google Fonts — We load typefaces from Google's font CDN. This results in standard HTTP requests from your browser to Google's servers, which may include your IP address and User-Agent. Google's handling of this data is subject to Google's Privacy Policy.

Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information if required to do so by law, court order, subpoena, or other legal process, or if we believe in good faith that disclosure is necessary to:

• Comply with applicable law or regulation
• Protect the rights, property, or safety of CrowdConnect, our users, or the public
• Investigate or prevent suspected fraud, abuse, or violations of our Terms of Service

Business Transfers

If CrowdConnect undergoes a merger, acquisition, reorganization, dissolution, or sale of assets, your personal information may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will notify affected users of any such change in ownership or control.

Data Storage and Security

Security Measures

We implement the following security measures to protect your data:

• Password Hashing — All passwords are hashed using bcrypt before storage and cannot be reversed or decrypted.
• Sensitive Data Minimization — Bank account numbers are stored as last-four-digit fragments plus irreversible SHA-256 hashes. Full account numbers are not retained.
• PCI Compliance — Payment card data is handled exclusively by Stripe's PCI DSS-compliant infrastructure and never passes through our servers.
• Secure Token Authentication — User sessions are managed using randomly generated cryptographic tokens.
• Email Verification — DJ accounts require email verification before activation, with time-limited tokens that expire after 24 hours.
• Password Reset Security — Password reset codes expire after 15 minutes and are valid for one-time use only.

Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide services to you. Specifically:

• Account Data — Retained until you delete your account.
• Song Requests and Shoutouts — Retained as part of event history for service operation. DJs may archive or delete individual requests.
• Payment and Earnings Records — Retained for a minimum period necessary to comply with financial record-keeping obligations and to resolve potential disputes.
• Server Logs — Automatically rotated and deleted according to our hosting provider's retention policies.

Cookies and Local Storage

CrowdConnect does not use HTTP cookies for tracking, advertising, or analytics purposes.

We use your browser's localStorage and sessionStorage for essential functionality only:

• Authentication Tokens — To keep you logged in during your session.
• User Preferences — To store your active event selection and display settings.
• Request History — Audience-side request submission timestamps, stored locally on your device to enforce rate limiting. This data never leaves your browser.
• Pending Request State — To restore your request status if you refresh the page while awaiting DJ approval.

This data is stored entirely on your device. You can clear it at any time through your browser settings. Clearing this data will log you out and reset your local preferences.

Your Rights and Choices

Account Deletion

Registered DJs may delete their account at any time through the Settings page. Account deletion will permanently remove your personal information, profile, and associated data from our systems. Please note:

• You must withdraw any available funds before deleting your account.
• You cannot delete your account while payout requests are pending.
• Deletion is permanent and irreversible.

Data Access and Correction

You may view and update your personal information (name, email, DJ name, username) at any time through your Profile and Settings pages.

Communication Preferences

We only send transactional emails that are essential to the operation of your account (verification, password resets, username reminders). We do not send marketing or promotional emails, so there are no email subscriptions to manage.

Audience Members

Since audience members do not create accounts, we do not retain personally identifiable information about you beyond what is necessary for the song request or shoutout transaction. Payment data is managed by Stripe under their own policies. You may clear your locally stored request history by clearing your browser's localStorage.

Children's Privacy

CrowdConnect is not directed at children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us at the email address below, and we will take steps to delete such information promptly.

Users between the ages of 13 and 18 should obtain parental or guardian consent before creating an account or making payments through the Platform.

Terms of Service

These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your access to and use of CrowdConnect, including our website at crowdconnect.club, all associated pages, features, and services. By using CrowdConnect, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree, do not use the Platform.

We reserve the right to update or modify these Terms at any time. Continued use of the Platform after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms. We encourage you to review this page periodically.

Account Registration and Eligibility

Eligibility

To create a DJ or organization account, you must be at least 18 years old or the age of majority in your jurisdiction. By registering, you represent and warrant that you meet this requirement and have the legal capacity to enter into a binding agreement.

Account Responsibilities

When you create an account, you agree to:

• Provide accurate, complete, and current information during registration and keep it updated.
• Maintain the confidentiality of your login credentials and not share your account with others.
• Accept full responsibility for all activity that occurs under your account, whether authorized by you or not.
• Notify us immediately if you suspect unauthorized access to your account.
• Not create multiple accounts for the purpose of circumventing restrictions, rate limits, or bans.

Email Verification

All DJ accounts must verify their email address before the account becomes active. Verification links expire after 24 hours, after which you may request a new verification email.

Description of Services

CrowdConnect is a platform that connects DJs with their audience in real time. Our services include, but are not limited to:

• Event Management — DJs can create, configure, and manage live events (referred to as "parties" or "events") with customizable settings including request fees, tipping, shoutouts, song libraries, queues, and request acceptance requirements.
• Song Requests — Audience members can submit song requests to a DJ's active event, optionally with payment (request fees and/or tips).
• Shoutouts — Audience members can submit short text messages to be displayed to the DJ during a live event.
• Queue System — DJs can organize accepted requests into an ordered queue visible to the audience.
• Request Acceptance — DJs may enable a mode requiring them to approve or deny each song request before it is processed. If a request is denied, any associated payment authorization is automatically cancelled and the audience member is not charged.
• Earnings and Payouts — DJs accumulate earnings from request fees and tips, which can be withdrawn through supported payout methods.
• Organization Accounts — DJ agencies or event companies can manage multiple DJ accounts under a unified brand.

Payments, Fees, and Payouts

Payment Processing

All payments on CrowdConnect are processed by Stripe, Inc., a PCI DSS Level 1 certified payment processor. By making a payment, you agree to Stripe's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. CrowdConnect does not process, transmit, or store credit card numbers, debit card numbers, or CVV codes on its servers.

Payment Authorization Holds

When a DJ has enabled "Require Acceptance" for their event, payments submitted with song requests are authorized but not captured at the time of submission. This means:

• A temporary hold is placed on the payment amount on your card.
• If the DJ accepts the request, the payment is captured and the charge is finalized.
• If the DJ denies the request, the hold is released and you are not charged.
• If you revoke a pending request before the DJ responds, the hold is released and you are not charged.
• Authorization holds are temporary and, if neither captured nor cancelled, will automatically expire according to your card issuer's policies (typically 5–7 business days).

Song Request Fees

DJs may set a required fee for song requests on a per-event basis. The fee amount is displayed to audience members before they submit a request. Fee amounts are configurable between $0.00 and $100.00 per request. A minimum payment of $0.50 is required for any paid transaction.

Tips

DJs may enable tipping on their events. Tips are voluntary, initiated by the audience member, and are combined with any applicable request fee into a single payment transaction. Tips are non-refundable once processed.

Platform Fee Structure

CrowdConnect applies the following fees to each paid transaction:

Fee breakdowns are calculated transparently and recorded in the DJ's earnings history.

Payouts

DJs may request payouts of their available funds through the following supported methods:

• Bank Transfer (ACH)
• PayPal
• Cash App
• Venmo
• Zelle
• Stripe Express (direct deposit)

Payout terms and conditions:

• The minimum payout amount is $10.00.
• Bank transfers incur a processing fee of $0.25 or 0.5% (whichever is greater). Digital wallet payouts (PayPal, Cash App, Venmo, Zelle) are free.
• Payouts are processed on a periodic basis and are subject to review. CrowdConnect reserves the right to delay or withhold payouts if fraud, chargebacks, or Terms violations are suspected.
• DJs may enable automatic payouts when their balance reaches a configurable threshold.
• You must provide accurate payout information. CrowdConnect is not responsible for funds sent to incorrect accounts due to user-provided errors.

Refunds and Disputes

Payments for song requests that are denied by the DJ or revoked by the audience member before acceptance are automatically cancelled and never charged. For all other payment disputes:

• Refund requests should be directed to crowdconnectclub@crowdconnect.club.
• CrowdConnect will investigate disputes on a case-by-case basis and may issue refunds at our sole discretion.
• Chargebacks initiated through your card issuer may result in additional fees and may affect the DJ's account standing.
• Tips are generally non-refundable, as they represent voluntary gratuities.

User Conduct

You agree not to use CrowdConnect to:

• Submit fraudulent, abusive, harassing, threatening, obscene, or unlawful content in song requests, shoutout messages, or any other input field.
• Submit song requests containing hate speech, discriminatory language, sexual content, or content that promotes violence.
• Use the Platform to launder money, process fraudulent payments, or engage in any illegal financial activity.
• Attempt to circumvent request rate limits, fee structures, or other Platform restrictions through automation, scripting, or any other means.
• Interfere with or disrupt the Platform's infrastructure, servers, networks, or other users' access to the service.
• Impersonate another person, DJ, or organization.
• Attempt to gain unauthorized access to other users' accounts, our servers, databases, or any system or network connected to CrowdConnect.
• Scrape, harvest, or collect data from the Platform without express written permission.
• Use the Platform to distribute spam, malware, or unsolicited communications.
• Exploit the request acceptance or payment hold system to artificially inflate earnings or manipulate transaction volumes.

Violation of these terms may result in immediate account suspension or termination, forfeiture of pending earnings, and potential legal action.

DJ Responsibilities

As a registered DJ on CrowdConnect, you additionally agree to:

• Music Licensing — You are solely responsible for ensuring you have the legal right to play any music requested through the Platform. CrowdConnect does not provide music, music licenses, or performance rights. You must comply with all applicable copyright laws and obtain necessary licenses (e.g., ASCAP, BMI, SESAC) for public performances.
• Fair Request Handling — If you enable the "Require Acceptance" feature, you agree to respond to pending requests in a timely manner. Prolonged inaction on pending requests that have associated payment holds is discouraged and may be subject to review.
• Accurate Fee Representation — You agree to set reasonable and transparent request fees. Misleading fee structures or bait-and-switch pricing practices are prohibited.
• Tax Obligations — You are solely responsible for reporting and paying all applicable taxes on earnings received through CrowdConnect. We may provide earnings summaries but do not issue tax forms or provide tax advice. Consult a qualified tax professional regarding your obligations.
• Payout Accuracy — You are responsible for providing and maintaining accurate payout information. CrowdConnect is not liable for funds sent to incorrect accounts based on information you provided.

Intellectual Property

CrowdConnect's Intellectual Property

The CrowdConnect name, logo, website design, user interface, source code, and all related materials are the property of CrowdConnect and are protected by copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws. You may not copy, modify, distribute, sell, or lease any part of the Platform or its content without our express written consent.

User-Generated Content

By submitting content to CrowdConnect (including song requests, shoutout messages, and display names), you grant CrowdConnect a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to use, display, and process that content solely for the purpose of providing the Platform's services. You retain ownership of your content but acknowledge that submitted requests and messages are visible to the DJ and may be displayed publicly as part of the event experience (e.g., on a queue screen).

No Music Rights

CrowdConnect does not host, stream, distribute, or provide access to any copyrighted music. The Platform facilitates communication between audience members and DJs regarding song preferences. All music performance and licensing obligations rest entirely with the DJ.

Account Suspension and Termination

CrowdConnect reserves the right to suspend, restrict, or permanently terminate any account at our sole discretion, with or without notice, for reasons including but not limited to:

• Violation of these Terms of Service or the Privacy Policy
• Fraudulent, abusive, or illegal activity
• Excessive chargebacks or disputed payments
• Inactivity for an extended period
• Providing false or misleading account information
• Any conduct that we determine to be harmful to other users or the Platform

Upon termination:

• Your access to the Platform will be revoked.
• Any pending, unprocessed payouts may be withheld pending investigation.
• Available funds may be disbursed to you minus any applicable fees, chargebacks, or offsets, at our discretion.
• We reserve the right to retain transaction records as required for legal, regulatory, or dispute resolution purposes.

Disclaimers and Limitation of Liability

Service Provided "As-Is"

CrowdConnect is provided on an "as-is" and "as-available" basis without warranties of any kind, whether express, implied, or statutory. We specifically disclaim all implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, title, and non-infringement.

No Guarantees

We do not guarantee that:

• The Platform will be available at all times or operate without interruption, errors, or security vulnerabilities.
• Any DJ will accept or play a requested song, regardless of whether a fee was paid.
• Song requests, shoutouts, or other submissions will be delivered or displayed in any particular timeframe.
• Payout processing will occur within any specific timeframe.
• The Platform will meet your specific requirements or expectations.

Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, CrowdConnect and its owners, officers, employees, agents, and affiliates shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, punitive, or exemplary damages, including but not limited to damages for loss of profits, revenue, data, goodwill, or other intangible losses, arising out of or related to your use of the Platform.

In no event shall CrowdConnect's total cumulative liability to you for all claims arising from or related to the Platform exceed the total amount of fees you have paid to CrowdConnect in the twelve (12) months immediately preceding the event giving rise to the claim.

Third-Party Services

CrowdConnect relies on third-party services including Stripe for payment processing and SMTP2GO/SendGrid for email delivery. We are not responsible for the availability, accuracy, or performance of third-party services, and any issues arising from those services are governed by their respective terms and policies.

Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless CrowdConnect and its owners, officers, employees, agents, and affiliates from and against any and all claims, damages, losses, liabilities, costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising from or related to:

• Your use of the Platform
• Your violation of these Terms
• Your violation of any rights of a third party (including intellectual property rights)
• Any content you submit through the Platform
• Your failure to comply with applicable laws, including tax obligations and music licensing requirements

Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the United States, without regard to conflict of law principles.

Any dispute, controversy, or claim arising out of or relating to these Terms or the Platform shall first be attempted to be resolved through good-faith informal negotiation. If the dispute cannot be resolved informally within thirty (30) days, either party may pursue resolution through binding arbitration or in the courts of competent jurisdiction.

You agree that any legal action or proceeding related to CrowdConnect shall be brought exclusively in the courts located in the state where CrowdConnect operates, and you consent to the personal jurisdiction of such courts.

Modifications to the Service and Terms

CrowdConnect reserves the right to:

• Modify, suspend, or discontinue any feature or aspect of the Platform at any time, with or without notice.
• Update these Terms, the Privacy Policy, or the fee structure at any time. Material changes will be indicated by updating the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page.
• Change payout minimums, processing fees, or platform fee percentages with reasonable notice to affected users.

Your continued use of the Platform after any such changes constitutes your acceptance of the modified Terms. If you do not agree with a modification, your sole remedy is to discontinue use of the Platform and, if applicable, delete your account.

Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be unlawful, void, or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, that provision shall be deemed severable from these Terms and shall not affect the validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions. The remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.

Entire Agreement

These Terms of Service, together with the Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and CrowdConnect regarding your use of the Platform. They supersede all prior or contemporaneous communications, representations, or agreements, whether oral or written, relating to the subject matter herein.

Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy, these Terms of Service, or your personal data, please contact us:

We strive to respond to all inquiries within a reasonable timeframe. For account-specific issues (password resets, account deletion, payout inquiries), please include your registered email address or username to help us locate your account.