What a request-hold is
A request-hold is the first written record of interest in a concert. It is not a contract. It says: "We would like to engage this artist on these dates, for this fee range, on these terms — please consider it."
The artist (or their agent) reviews it and either accepts — placing a Hold — or declines.
How to file one
From any artist folio at `/artists/[slug]`, the "Request a hold" link opens the form. Required fields are intentionally short:
- Date of the engagement
- Venue and city
- Fee range you can authorise (or "by quote" if you need one)
- Programme notes, if you have them
- Your contact — the office that will receive the reply
If you are not yet signed in, the request is held against your application until your workspace is provisioned.
What happens after you submit
The artist is notified the same minute. The request is rate-limited at ten per hour from a single account, to keep the channel clean.
A request that sits unanswered after the relevant calendar threshold is flagged. We do not auto-decline.
If the hold is accepted
Acceptance places a Hold with an expiry. The calendar is checked for conflicts (existing engagements, blackouts, travel proximity) and you receive a confirmation by email and in your dashboard.
The Hold is not a commitment to perform — it is an exclusive option for a defined window. During that window the artist will not accept overlapping engagements.
From the Hold, the artist's office prepares a Quote. You accept the Quote, decline it, or wait for revisions. Approval flips the Quote to a Contract, which becomes the basis of the Invoice and, on payment, the Settlement.
If it is not accepted, or if the hold expires
A declined request returns a one-line reason and any suggested alternatives. An expired hold is released automatically; the date becomes available again to anyone, including you, with no penalty.
Where to next
- For presenters — season planning and talent pools
- Billing — what the Quote line items mean
- Safety and trust — how identity is verified