Touring Industry Glossary

Plain-English definitions of the terms tour managers, talent buyers, agents, and crew use every day. Curated from operating concert tours, not scraped from anywhere.

59 terms · last updated October 2026

Money & Deals

Revenue share above breakeven, paid after guarantee.

The ticket count at which the buyer recovers all costs.

Up-front payment, typically 50% of the guarantee, due at signing.

Artist takes a straight percentage of the door, no guarantee.

Facility Maintenance Fee (FMF)

Per-ticket fee venues collect and keep.

The flat fee an artist receives regardless of ticket sales.

Daily cash allowance for meals and incidentals.

The post-show reconciliation between buyer and artist.

Guarantee OR percentage of net box office, whichever is greater.

Walkout Potential

The artist's projected payout if the show sells out.

Production & Stage

Pre-show coordination between artist team and venue.

Instruments and amps the venue provides for the band.

The hard end time imposed by venue, ordinance, or contract.

The time the venue opens to ticketed audience.

FOH (Front of House)

The mixing position in the audience that handles the main mix.

Hospitality Rider

The artist's catering, dressing room, and amenity requirements.

Custom-molded earpieces feeding a personal monitor mix.

Moving gear from truck to stage at the start of show day.

Tearing down and packing gear after the show.

What musicians hear through wedges or in-ears on stage.

Document listing the artist's technical + hospitality needs.

Run of Show (ROS)

Minute-by-minute schedule for show day.

When the artist actually goes on stage.

Pre-show test where the band plays to dial in the mix.

Diagram of where everything goes on stage.

Technical Rider

The artist's PA, lights, monitors, and backline requirements.

Personnel & Roles

Monitor Engineer

Mixes what each performer hears on stage.

Production Manager (PM)

Owns the technical side of show day for the artist.

On-call driver/errand person for the production day.

Venue-provided labor that helps load gear and set the stage.

Tour Accountant

Owns money on the road: settlements, per-diems, taxes.

Tour Manager (TM)

The artist's on-the-road operations lead.

Travel & Logistics

The single-page operations doc for one show day.

US program for expedited international-arrival processing.

The full multi-show schedule and travel plan for a tour.

Known Traveler Number (KTN)

TSA PreCheck identifier used to expedite US airport screening.

A day on the tour without a scheduled show.

Government-issued international travel document.

How shows are sequenced geographically across a tour.

Sleeper coach for overnight drives between cities.

Personal travel documents and preferences stored per crew member.

Documents

The signed performance agreement between buyer and artist.

Buyer's bid for an artist to perform on a specific date.

Bound document with every itinerary detail for the run.

Pre-tour financial plan of expenses + projected revenue.

Show Lifecycle

When a lower hold demands the higher hold submit or release.

Show is locked in: deal accepted, deposit due, contract issued.

Reservation on an artist's calendar pending offer review.

When tickets first become publicly available for purchase.

Pre-public ticket sale to fan club or sponsor lists.

How a venue's capacity is divided into priced ticket tiers.

Venues & Formats

Tour of 500–1,500 capacity rooms with mixed deal structures.

Sequence of festival dates clustered geographically.

Show where the band flies in/out rather than driving the bus.

GA (General Admission)

Standing-room or open-seating ticket with no assigned seat.

Show sold via ticketing platform with a specific event listing.

Recurring shows at the same venue over a period.

Nightclub-style show where revenue comes from door + bar.

Premium ticket tier with extra perks beyond admission.

All terms A–Z

Advance Back-End Backline Break-Even Challenge Club Tour Confirmed Contract Curfew Day Sheet Deposit Door Deal Doors Facility Maintenance Fee (FMF)Festival Run Fly Date FOH (Front of House)GA (General Admission)Global Entry Guarantee Hard Ticket Hold Hospitality Rider In-Ears (IEMs)Itinerary Known Traveler Number (KTN)Load-In Load-Out Monitor Engineer Monitor Mix Off Date Offer On-Sale Passport Per Diem Presale Production Manager (PM)Residency Rider Routing Run of Show (ROS)Runner Set Time Settlement Soft Ticket Soundcheck Stage Plot Stagehand Technical Rider Ticket Scaling Tour Accountant Tour Book Tour Budget Tour Bus Tour Manager (TM)Travel Profile Versus Deal VIP Walkout Potential