What are Ticket Holdbacks?

Holdbacks (also called holds or ticket allocations) are tickets kept out of the general sale, set aside for the artist, promoter, sponsors or production, or released later once the stage layout is final. They explain why a show can appear sold out and then have more tickets appear close to the date. Every show has some holdbacks; the question is how many and why.

How ticket holdbacks work

Holdbacks are managed in five steps:

  1. Agree allocations: the promoter, artist and venue agree how many tickets each can hold.
  2. Hold for production: seats that may be blocked by the stage, sound desk or cameras are held until the layout is final.
  3. Allocate: held tickets go to the artist, sponsors, fan clubs, press or accessibility bookings.
  4. Release: unused holds are put on sale, often in the final weeks before the show.
  5. Report: held, released and used tickets are tracked for the settlement.

Many artist and promoter allocations end up as named guests on the door, which venues manage with guest lists in Crescat.

Holdbacks vs comps

A holdback is any ticket kept out of the general sale, which may later be sold or given away. Comps are free tickets. Some holdbacks become comps; others are sold to fan clubs, sponsors or the public later.

Common reasons for holdbacks

  • Production holds for the stage, mix position and cameras
  • Artist and band allocations
  • Promoter and venue allocations
  • Sponsor and partner tickets
  • Accessible seating and companion tickets
  • Presale and fan club allocations
  • Tickets for competitions and radio partners

Frequently asked questions

Why do tickets appear after a show sells out?

Usually because production or allocation holds have been released once the final layout and guest numbers are known. Returned or cancelled tickets can also come back on sale.

Are holdbacks fair to fans?

Some holdbacks are necessary, such as production and accessibility holds. Large holdbacks for other reasons can frustrate fans, so many promoters aim to keep them small and release them openly. Clear communication about later releases helps.

Do holdbacks count towards capacity?

Yes. Every held ticket is part of the show's capacity, so it must be tracked to avoid overselling. Good box office systems show held and sold tickets side by side.

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