What is a Curfew?

A curfew is the latest time a show or event must finish, set by the venue, its licence or the local authority, after which music must stop and the audience must start leaving. Every show schedule is built back from the curfew, and overrunning it can be expensive.

How curfews work

Curfews come from several sources, and the earliest one applies:

  1. Licence: the venue's premises licence or event licence sets the latest time for live music.
  2. Noise conditions: outdoor events often have a curfew to protect nearby residents.
  3. Venue programme: venues that run a club night after a gig set an early curfew to clear the room in time.
  4. Transport: some events finish early so the audience can catch the last trains.

The curfew appears on the contract, the advance and the day sheet. If an earlier act overruns, later sets get shorter, which is why festivals track every set in a running order in Crescat.

Curfew vs load-out

The curfew is when the performance must end. Load-out happens after it, as the crew takes the show down. Venues may also have a later "access end" time by which everyone, including crew, must leave.

Example: working back from curfew

  • 23:00 Curfew
  • 21:30–22:55 Headliner, including encore
  • 21:00–21:30 Changeover
  • 20:15–21:00 Support act
  • 19:00 Doors

Each slot is planned backwards from 23:00, with a few minutes spare so a late start or long changeover doesn't push the headliner past curfew.

Frequently asked questions

What happens if a band plays past curfew?

The venue or promoter can be fined by the licensing authority, and repeated breaches can put the licence at risk. Many contracts pass costs on to the artist, often as a charge for every minute over curfew, and some venues cut the power.

Does the curfew include the encore?

Yes. The curfew is when all music must stop, so the encore has to finish before it. Experienced tour managers build the encore into the set length when they agree set times.

Why do some venues have early curfews?

Many venues run a club night after a gig, so the room must be cleared and reset by around 22:00 or 23:00. Others have licence conditions or neighbours that require an early finish.

Related terms