trading passes for the right to place one-sheets, half-sheets, and panels in store windows. The purchased billing stand locations and boards were paid by the use of an “outside bill poster check” to be presented at the ticket wagon on the day of exhibition. The advance team might hire local youths to distribute heralds door-to-door. Beginning in the 1950s, there was a union for bill crews: the International Alliance of Billers, Billposters and Distributors. When a show played towns with a Billposters' local, union-member crews were required, and the paper would be rubber-stamped with a small "union bug" (union logo) indicating that the posters were put up by union members. This practice was often ignored in towns where there was no Billposters' local or where there was nota strong pro-union sentiment. (See "Agent" below)

Advise — The official schedule, posted on the outside of the backdoor and elsewhere, listing the current revision of the time and sequence of the acts.

Aerialist — Performer who performs suspended above the ground on a trapeze or similar equipment (wire walking is not an aerialist act).

Ag ent — The advance team was divided into three phases: the 'contracting agent' would get all necessary contracts signed for a show's upcoming date, the 'general agent' would coordinate the show's annual route (on carnivals these two functions might be combined) and the 'special agent' would travel ahead with the advance team to oversee the placement of show advertising and also sell ads in the program to local merchants.

AGVA — The American Guild of Variety