How to advance a show before anyone travels

A signed offer tells you what was agreed. It does not tell you that the loading dock is on a side street, that the house PA has no monitor desk, or that the promoter who signed has handed the night to someone you have never spoken to. That is what the advance is for.

When to do it

Start about two weeks out and close it the week of the show. Earlier, details are still moving. Later, there is no time to fix what you find.

What to confirm

• People: the day-of contact, a number that will be answered, and who settles at the end of the night.
• Times: load-in, soundcheck, doors, set time, curfew, load-out.
• Access: load-in address, parking, and how the guest list works.
• Production: stage, PA, monitors, backline, and what the artist brings.
• Money: guarantee, door deal, deposit status, how settlement is paid, and any deductions.
• Hospitality and merch: rooms, meals, a merch table, and the venue's cut.

Put it in writing

Every answer goes on one dated advance sheet, sent to the promoter and the artist. Calls are for asking, not for the record. If an answer differs from the offer, raise it now, in writing. A surprise at settlement is a dispute. A change flagged in the advance is a conversation.

Start from the offer, not the inbox

On KONNOVA the accepted offer already holds the date, load-in, set length, the money, technical and hospitality lines and cancellation terms, with both parties named. The advance confirms those details instead of rebuilding them from a DM thread. Deposits and settlement stay between you and the promoter: KONNOVA never holds funds.