Agreed costs

In a door deal or a versus deal, the artist pays a share of every euro of cost. At 70% after costs, €100 more in costs means €70 less for the artist. That is why the list, with a cap on every line, is agreed before the show.

Example

A 500-capacity club, 70% of the door after costs, ticket income after VAT of €8,000.

€8,000 − €3,400 = €4,600, and 70% of that is €3,220 for the artist. Now say presale is slow and the promoter books another €600 of ads in the last week. Without the cap, that would cut the fee to €2,800.

What to watch for

• Fixed amounts or caps. Write “promotion up to €500”. A line that only says “promotion” has no limit.
• The promoter’s own venue. If the promoter owns the club, agree a flat venue fee instead of an invoice to themselves.
• Not the artist twice. The artist’s own guarantee, travel and hotel are not deductible costs unless the deal says so explicitly.
• Receipts. Every line is proven at the settlement. Agree that what can’t be shown isn’t deducted.