Credentials

Credentials are identifiers given to touring personnel, guests, and local crew that show they are allowed to be in certain locations at the venue or festival grounds. Primarily for safety — ensuring the correct people are where they need to be and the general public is not in restricted areas. Types include wristbands, laminates, and stickies. Some artists will skip credentials entirely and ask that venue security remember their faces.

Common credential types

AAA (Access All Areas) grants access to every part of the venue. All Access is similar but sometimes excludes specific areas like the artist's dressing room. Backstage credentials allow access to production areas but not the stage during the show. Local crew credentials are for venue stagehands and day-of-show workers. Photo passes grant pit access during designated songs. Guest wristbands allow general admission and sometimes limited backstage access.

How credentials are managed

The tour manager determines the credential plan for the tour — how many types, what each grants, and the color/design scheme. Credentials are confirmed during the advance and distributed on show day, often at a production office or credential table. The stage manager and security team enforce access based on what credential someone is wearing.

Why credentials matter

Without clear credential systems, backstage becomes chaotic. Unauthorized people in production areas create safety and security issues. A good credential system is invisible when it works — people move through the venue without friction — and obvious when it doesn't.