Advancing
Advancing is the work between the signed contract and show day in which the artist side and the promoter confirm every practical detail of a show: schedule, tech, hospitality, travel, hotel, guest list and contacts. The result is a shared, current plan, usually summed up in a day sheet, so artist, crew and venue work from the same information on the night.
What gets advanced
Advancing goes through the show point by point. The schedule: load-in, soundcheck, doors, set times and curfew. The production: the tech rider against the venue's tech spec, backline, changeover times for support acts. Hospitality: catering, dressing room, guest list spots. Logistics: flights or trains, hotel, ground transport, parking, wifi and the contact person on site. Money belongs in the advance as well: how the balance is paid, any deposit already paid and who signs the settlement on the night. Each point gets a confirmed answer in writing, and any later change goes out as an update to everyone involved.
Who advances and when
On the artist side, the tour manager or the booking agent usually leads the advance; for smaller acts, the artist or their manager does it. Opposite them sits the promoter or the venue's production manager. Advancing starts once the contract is signed and runs through the weeks before the show, with the final confirmations close to show day. The output is the day sheet: one page per day with times, addresses, contacts and travel, sent to artist and crew.
Advancing in the BBN Agency Suite
In the BBN Agency Suite, the advance lives on the booking: load-in, soundcheck, doors, curfew, on-site contact, parking, wifi and catering. The promoter fills in the advance sheet through their portal link and can exchange documents and message your team there. Ten checks show what is still open, from the signed contract and riders to travel and hotel per artist; for local artists, travel and hotel are skipped. The itinerary goes to artist and crew as a link that needs no login. Promoters advance from their side in the BBN Event Suite, where a signed contract adds the advancing task with its lead time and one structured request collects tech and hospitality details.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between advancing and a rider?
The rider states what the artist needs. Advancing confirms, point by point, how promoter and venue will meet it on the day, along with schedule, travel and contacts.
When should advancing start?
Once the contract is signed. Starting early leaves time to solve gaps between the rider and the venue, and the final confirmations follow close to show day.
What is a day sheet?
The summary of the advance for one day: times, addresses, contacts, travel and hotel. Artist and crew carry it on show day.