What to agree before drafting

Before entering terms in the generator, compare the promoter’s audience market with the artist’s routing and existing commitments. Resolve these six points together.

Geography

Name the center point, distance, and units. Decide how distance is measured, such as straight-line distance from the venue rather than driving distance. If the deal protects named cities or a territory instead, define those boundaries explicitly.

Blackout window

State how many days apply before and after the performance, or use exact start and end dates. Clarify whether boundary dates are included. For a multi-day festival, identify which event date anchors the window.

Covered performances

Say which appearances count: headline shows, support slots, festivals, public ticketed events, or other bookings. Consider private, charity, promotional, and online appearances separately instead of relying on the word ‘performance’ alone.

Announcement timing

Decide whether the deal also limits announcing or promoting competing dates. Name the release date or approval process for an announcement hold; a performance blackout does not explain an announcement restriction by itself.

Exceptions and consent

List agreed existing bookings and carve-outs with enough detail to identify each show. Name the person authorized to approve new exceptions and require a written record of consent.

Changes and remedies

Agree what happens if the protected show is cancelled or rescheduled. Ask counsel to review notice requirements and remedies, and make sure the clause does not conflict with the rest of the booking agreement.

Hypothetical worked example

A 50-mile restriction around a club show

Imagine a promoter and artist agree to protect a ticketed club show on September 18, 2027. They choose a 50-mile straight-line radius from the venue, a window from 30 days before through 14 days after the show, and coverage limited to other public ticketed performances. One previously booked charity appearance is expressly excluded. These terms are illustrative—not recommended defaults or a standard for your market.

Illustrative radius clause wording

“For the Artist’s performance at [Venue name and full address] on September 18, 2027, Artist shall not perform another public ticketed live show within 50 miles, measured in a straight line from that venue, during the period beginning 30 calendar days before and ending 14 calendar days after that performance date, inclusive, without Promoter’s prior written consent. The previously booked charity appearance at [Event, venue, location, and date] is excluded. This paragraph does not impose an announcement restriction. Any change to the protected performance date, geographic scope, blackout period, or exceptions must be agreed by both parties in writing.”

Replace every bracketed detail. This sample addresses scope only; it is not a complete contract and does not supply cancellation terms, breach remedies, or jurisdiction-specific provisions.

How to apply those terms

• A second ticketed show 40 miles away, 10 days before: inside both the radius and the window, so it needs written consent unless specifically excluded.
• A ticketed show 60 miles away, 10 days before: outside this sample’s geographic restriction. Check the rest of the agreement for any separate territorial terms.
• A ticketed show 40 miles away, 20 days after: outside this sample’s time window. A different announcement hold could still matter if one is added elsewhere.
• The listed charity appearance: excluded by agreement. That exception does not automatically exclude every charity event.

Promoter and artist negotiation checklist

For the promoter, identify which competing dates could genuinely affect this show’s audience. For the artist or agent, check the proposed restriction against confirmed dates, holds, support appearances, and travel plans. If the scope blocks valuable bookings, discuss a narrower area, a shorter window, defined event types, or compensation for the exclusivity.

Avoid vague phrases such as “the local market” or “no nearby shows.” Check miles versus kilometers, whether festival dates overlap, and whether the artist is bound under the same performing name or a different project. Record the final exceptions and approvals in the agreement everyone signs.

Once the scope is agreed, carry the same terms into your artist offer sheet and booking contract draft. Check that the offer, contract, and any attachments do not describe different restrictions.