Hold

A hold lets a promoter plan a night before the deal is done: talk to the venue, check the budget, approach the rest of the line-up. It is not a confirmation. Nothing is announced or put on sale on a hold, and either side can drop it without costs. A show is confirmed only by an accepted offer and a signed performance contract.

Several promoters can hold the same night. Their order is the hold rank: the first hold may confirm first.

Example

On 1 October a club in Hamburg asks for Saturday 14 November and gets the first hold, valid until 15 October. On 6 October a festival in Rotterdam asks for the same night and gets the second. If the club confirms by 15 October, the festival’s hold is released. If the club lets its hold run out, the festival moves up.

What to watch for

• An expiry date. A hold without one blocks the night for everyone else. One to two weeks is usual for a club show; festivals often hold longer while their line-up comes together.
• Hold what you would confirm. Three dates held “just in case” cost other promoters their night and cost you goodwill.
• Ask before it runs out. If you need more time, say so before the expiry date. An extension is easier to get than a new hold behind someone else.
• One person, one night. If an artist plays under two names, a hold on one name holds the night for both.