Lots of Fancy Words (Important live event Terminology)
Advance – As in “advance the show.” The process of reviewing all show details with the artist and all relevant parties.
Backdrop – A large curtain that is sometimes hung behind the stage.
Backline – A band’s musical equipment requirements. Sometimes (such as when a band flys to a date) acts need you to supply drums, amps, keyboards, etc. when they can’t bring their own.
Barricade – A barrier between the stage and the audience. This is usually manned by security.
Bonuses / Overages – Extra monies paid to an act depending on number of tickets sold and / or revenue generated.
Bid / Offer – What you offer a performer with the hopes that they will come perform for you. Bids should be made in writing and spell out all the details of your proposed show, including date, location, and money offered. When you make an offer remember the following: (1) They are binding – do not make an offer unless you are certain you want to pursue the act, and (2) Just because you make an offer does not mean the act is going to accept it.
Box Office Statement / Ticket Manifest – A report of how many tickets were sold, and at what value.
Break Even Point – The point at which the amount of revenue generated from ticket sales equals the amount of money spent to produce the show.
Configuration – How the room is set up.
Contract – The legal piece of paper that details the specifics of your show. If your bid / offer is accepted, a contract will be issued to you. Contracts are legally binding and can only be changed in writing if both parties agree.
Disclaimers – Warning statements, usually printed on tickets and/or posters. Items such as “no refunds” and “no recording devices of any kind” are common.
Drop – The ripped ticket stubs. These are especially important when bands are being paid bonuses.
Front of House (FOH) – The area of your venue designated for an act’s mixing and lighting boards. Most often set up in the crowd (and possibly requiring some seats around it being left unsold)
Fly – This relates to sound and lights; to fly means to hang sound and/or lights from the support beams of your venue’s ceiling.
In-House – Applied to materials and or personnel supplied by the venue. For example, some schools have their own in house staging.
Manifest – An exact and detailed account of seating and available tickets.
Merch Rate – A percentage of the revenue generated by the sale of merchandise that the school gets. A split of 85 percent to artist and 15 percent to school is common, with 100 percent of recordable sales going to the artist.
Middle Agent – People who work for schools. They do not represent acts or manage bands. Their job is to help you produce a show.
Mixer – A control system for lights, sound, and monitors. Each group/act will typically require its own mixer console.
Production Kills – Seats that are lost due to production. Often mixing boards force seats to be lost.
Proscenium Staging – A permanent, curved stage often found in theaters.
Rider – A rider accompanies a contract and spells out the specific requirements of a show. A rider will tell you what type of production you need, what sort of food the band wants, and various performance requirements.
Rigger – The individual who climbs around your building and hangs equipment.
Rigging – Suspended equipment used to “fly” sound and lights
Settlement Sheet – A detailed form that lists all expenses and revenue.
Will Call Window – At the box office, where reserved, comp, and pre-ordered tickets are held.
Wings – Small additional stage sections that are used to hold speaker stacks.