Venue: The physical location where the concert takes place, such as a stadium, ballpark, arena, or coliseum.
Front of House (FOH): The area where the sound and lighting consoles are located, typically located in the middle or back of the audience.
Backline: The equipment used by the musicians during their performance, including amps, monitors, instruments and turntables.
Soundcheck: A pre-show rehearsal where artists and sound engineers test microphones, instruments, and monitor mixes, ensuring optimal audio quality for the performance.
Setlist: The planned sequence of songs a band or artist will play during their performance.
Support Band/Opener: A smaller band or artist that plays before the main act to warm up the crowd.
Green Room: The backstage area where artists relax and prepare before their performance, such as a team suite or locker room
Production Load-in: The process of bringing in or building the stage on the field, and setting up the sound and lighting systems, in the days prior to the event date.
Rider: A document outlining the artist’s performance requests, including production needs like staging, lights, sound, backline, & inputs, and hospitality requests, like catering & green room accommodations.
Credentials: Passes that are issued to the artist, crew, event staff, and security to ensure people are not in unauthorized places.
Field Protection: Tough coverings, like DuraDeck or plywood, placed under the stage, trucks, and audience to protect the field or turf from damage.
Advance: The process of organizing and confirming the show details, production requirements, hospitality and day-of-show (DOS) schedule between the artist and venue teams prior to the show date.
Pro Forma: Projection sheet of potential expenses and revenues used to determine the feasibility of an event.
Mobile Stage: A semi-trailer able to be driven into place and unfold into a full covered stage. The scope and scale of the show will determine the mobile stage required.
Doors: When the venue opens to fans.
Will Call: A box office pickup option for tickets that were purchased in advance.
Merch: Short for merchandise. Think T-shirts, posters, vinyl, necklaces, hats, and sweatshirts.
VIP: Can include early access to the venue, access to VIP lounges, meet and greet, soundcheck, and exclusive merch.
Barricade: Refers to a physical barrier between the stage and the audience.
Billing: The size, prominence and order of artist’s names and images on any promotional materials.
General Admission: Access to a general standing area on the floor, often on a first-come, first-served basis.
Pit: The space between the stage and the barricade. This area is typically reserved for security & credentialled media.
Tour Manager (TM): Responsible for the logistical aspects of a tour, travel for the artist and crew, finances, venue coordination, and more.
Production Manager (PM): Oversees the technical aspects of the event, including sound, lighting, and staging.
Talent Buyer: Works on behalf of a client to research proper market value for artists, locate routed tours and assist with executing the event, charging a fee for their services, but typically not sharing in the risk or reward of the event.
Promoter: Takes the risk & puts up the costs to produce the event, in this case, paying the venue to rent the ballpark or stadium, and subsequently takes the ticket revenues (and sometimes part of the F&B).
What’s a concert term you’ve heard but never understood–until now?
Live music is a fast-paced world. If you want to understand it so you’re better prepared to host a concert in your stadium, knowing how to talk the talk helps you collaborate better with the pros in the music industry around you and makes the whole process smoother.
Don’t hesitate to reach out to Degy Entertainment to learn more about the process of booking a show and take the first step towards an unforgettable concert.