Music-industry glossary

The terms you'll see in bookings, venue profiles, and settlements —

plain definitions, no jargon left unexplained.

Getting paid

Guarantee — a fixed amount the venue promises the band, paid

regardless of turnout. " $300 guarantee" means you get $300 even if ten

people show.

Door deal — the band's pay is a cut of the door (cover-charge)

money: "70/30 door" means the band keeps 70% of what the door takes in.

Cover — the admission price fans pay at the door.

Draw — how many people a band can be expected to bring. Venues use

draw estimates to decide who to book.

Settlement — the after-show accounting: door take, guarantee,

expenses, and who gets paid what. On MusicXen the settlement is shared

so both sides see the same numbers.

Buyout — a flat payment instead of providing something (e.g. a

$25 food buyout instead of a meal).

Plus / versus — " $200 plus 60% of the door" (guarantee plus a

share) vs. "$200 versus 70% of the door" (whichever is greater).

The deal

Backline — the shared big gear: drums, bass amp, guitar amps. "Backline

provided" means you don't haul yours.

Rider — the band's requirements attached to the deal: hospitality

(food/drinks), technical (power, inputs), and stage needs.

Radius clause — a promise not to play within X miles for Y days

around the show, so you don't split your own crowd. Common on bigger

gigs.

Exclusivity — like a radius clause but broader: you won't play

competing shows/venues for a period.

Hold — a tentative claim on a date. A soft hold is "we're

interested"; a hard hold (confirmed) means the date is yours and

competing offers get released. On MusicXen, holds auto-release when

they expire.

Support slot — opening for the headliner; usually a shorter set.

Headline slot — the main act; plays last, longest set.

The night

Load-in — when gear comes through the door. The venue sets the

time; being late cascades into everything after it.

Soundcheck — testing levels before doors open. Headliner usually

checks last.

Door time — when fans are let in. Distinct from set time.

Curfew — the hard stop time for live music (often city law, not the

venue being difficult).

Comp — complimentary admission; "two comps" = two free entries.

Walk — when an act doesn't show. Venues can file a

no-show report.

Blackout dates — dates a venue (or band) marks unavailable. Proposals

on blackouts go nowhere.

Promo & paperwork

One-sheet — a single-page band summary for bookers: who you are,

draw, links, contact. MusicXen generates one from your band page.

EPK (electronic press kit) — the digital version: bio, photos,

music, video, stage plot, contact. Built from your profile.

Stage plot — a diagram of where everyone/everything goes on stage,

plus input list. Venues ask for this constantly — keep one current.

Street team — fans/friends who hand out flyers and spread the word.

Marquee — the sign outside the venue ("TONIGHT: …").

People

Dep (deputy) — a substitute player filling in for a regular member.

The dep pool lists players open to sub work.

Promoter — whoever puts the show together and takes the financial

risk; sometimes the venue, sometimes an independent.

Talent buyer — the venue-side person who decides which bands get

booked.