The Allure of Concert Handbills What is a handbill? Is it a poster or is it a flyer? The distinction is blurry. Handbills are smaller than a poster, but some are the same size as a small poster. See? This is where the confusion on their definition comes in, but most collectors will tell you that it is just semantics. Handbills gained their name because they were designed to be "handed out" on the street by those promoting a show. Either that or left on the counter of box offices, coffee shops, record stores, or anyw...