What are Avails?

Avails (short for availabilities) are the open dates a venue or an artist has free to book, shared with agents and promoters when they plan shows and tours. Venue avails are gaps in the venue's diary; artist avails are dates an artist is free to play.

How avails work

Avails sit at the start of most bookings:

  1. Request: an agent or promoter planning a tour asks venues for avails across a window of dates, based on the artist's routing.
  2. Response: the venue replies with open dates, and dates that already have holds, noting where the new request would sit in line.
  3. Hold: the agent places a hold on the best date. If others are ahead, they can later ask the venue to challenge them to confirm or release it.
  4. Confirmation: once the fee, ticket split and production needs are agreed, the date is confirmed and comes off the avails list.

Venues answering several requests a day need an up-to-date diary that agents and promoters can trust, which is why many share availability through a booking calendar in Crescat.

Avails vs holds

An avail is a date that is open to book. A hold is a date someone has tentatively reserved but not yet confirmed. A date can be both: venues often offer "second hold" avails, where a new promoter would be next in line if the first hold drops.

Example avails reply

  • Fri 6 March: open
  • Sat 7 March: 1st hold, you would be 2nd
  • Thu 12 March: open, curfew 22:30
  • Fri 13 March: confirmed, not available
  • Sat 14 March: open, early show only

Frequently asked questions

How do you ask a venue for avails?

Email the venue's booker or programmer with the artist, the date range, expected capacity and the type of show. Include the routing if it's part of a tour, so the venue can see why particular dates matter.

What does "2nd hold" mean on an avail?

It means another promoter has already placed a hold on that date. You can take the date only if they release it, or if the venue challenges them and they choose not to confirm.

How far ahead do venues share avails?

It depends on the venue's size. Club venues often book three to six months ahead, while arenas and theatres can hold dates a year or more in advance.

Related terms

  • Holds: tentative reservations on a date
  • Pencils: another word for a tentative booking
  • Booking: what happens once a date is agreed
  • TBC: dates not yet confirmed
  • Artist Agent: who usually asks for avails