Hold
A hold is a provisional reservation of a date for a show, placed before the deal is confirmed. Venues, promoters and booking agents use holds to keep a date open while the terms are negotiated. Holds are ranked: the first hold has priority on the date, and lower holds move up when it is released. In German-speaking markets the same thing is often called an option.
How holds work
A hold reserves a date without committing either side. A promoter asks a venue to hold a night, or an agent holds a date for an artist that a promoter has asked about, and the date counts as taken for now. Several parties can hold the same date at once, so holds carry a rank: first hold, second hold, third hold and so on. The first hold has priority. If it turns into a confirmed show, every lower hold on that date falls away. If it is released, the second hold moves up. To keep a date from staying blocked indefinitely, most holds carry an option date by which the holder confirms or lets go.
What a challenge is
A challenge lets a lower hold force a decision. When the holder of the second hold has a firm offer ready, they can challenge the first hold. The first holder then gets a short, agreed period to confirm the date or release it. If they confirm, the challenger's hold drops. If they release, the challenger moves up and books the date. Each venue and agency sets its own rules for who may challenge and how long the response window runs, so ask for the house rules before you challenge. A challenge is a normal part of booking and keeps popular dates from sitting on a first hold that does not turn into a show.
Holds in the BBN Agency Suite
In the BBN Agency Suite, every booking sits on one calendar across the roster, with month and agenda views and an ICS feed for any calendar app. When the option date of a hold passes, it becomes a task for your team. Before you save a date, the suite checks the artist for overlapping shows on the same day. Promoters and venues work the other side in the BBN Event Suite: hold is one of its four pipeline stages, and holds, confirmed shows, announce and on-sale dates share one calendar that shows an overlapping hold before you confirm.
Frequently asked questions
Is a hold a booking?
No. A hold reserves a date while the terms are negotiated. Neither side is committed until the deal is confirmed, usually with a signed contract.
What is the difference between a first and a second hold?
The rank. The first hold has priority on the date. A second hold gets the date only if the first is released, including after a challenge.
How long does a hold last?
Until the option date agreed with the venue or agent, or until it is confirmed or released. Terms differ from house to house, so agree the option date when you place the hold.