What are "Avails" and How Do I Get Them?

In the live music industry, "avails" (short for "availabilities") refer to the open dates that a venue has available for booking. These are the gaps in a venue's calendar where an artist, promoter, or booking agent can schedule a show.

How Avails Work

1. Venues Maintain an Avails Calendar
   • Venues keep track of confirmed shows, holds and open slots.
   • Open dates are often shared with booking agents and promoters to help with tour routing.
   • Dates with holds on can also be shared, with a note to say that they will be next in line on that date if they want it. This then opens up the possibility of a “challenge” process, where a promoter second in line for a particular date can “challenge” the promoter first in line to confirm or drop the date (this process is carefully managed by the venue).
2. Booking Agents & Promoters Request Avails
   • When planning a tour, agents/promoters will contact venues to check for available dates that align with the artist’s routing.
   • If an artist has a show in a nearby city, the agent/promoter may look for avails at surrounding venues within a reasonable travel distance.
3. Negotiation & Confirmation
   • If a venue has an avail that fits the artist's tour schedule, the agent will negotiate terms (fees, ticket splits, production needs, etc.).
   • Once both parties agree, the date is confirmed, and the venue marks it as "booked."

Why Avails Matter

• Tour Routing: Helps artists efficiently plan their tours by securing shows in logical geographic order.
• Venue Scheduling: Ensures venues maximize revenue by filling open dates.
• Competition for Prime Dates: High-demand dates (weekends, holidays, festival tie-ins) get booked quickly.
• Clarity for all involved: Getting avails help promoters find dates for their shows and helps venues gauge interest and streamline the booking process.