Stage Management - Calls - www.theatrecrafts.com

Stage Management Calls

Time (7pm show)	Time (7.30pm show)	Call
6.25pm	6.55pm	½ hr call (35 minutes before show start time) "Ladies and Gentlemen of the show name company this is your half hour call. 30 minutes please"
		Front of House call "Good evening ladies and gentlemen, (if pantomime or childrens show: "and boys and girls") and welcome to the theatre name theatre. This evenings performance of show name will begin at 7pm / 7.30pm. "
when house open		"Ladies and Gentlemen of the show name company - the house is now open. Please do not cross the stage."
6.40pm	7.10pm	15 minutes call "Ladies and Gentlemen of the show name company this is your fifteen minute call. 15 minutes please"
6.45pm	7.15pm	10 minutes call "Ladies and Gentlemen of the show name company this is your ten minute call. 10 minutes please"
6.50pm	7.20pm	5 minutes call "Ladies and Gentlemenn of the show name company this is your five minute call. 5 minutes please"
6.55pm	7.25pm	Beginners call "Ladies and Gentlemen of the show name company this is your beginners call for Act One. Beginners to the stage please: Miss Jones, Mr Smith, Mrs Jones. Standby stage management and technical staff"
		Front of House call "Good evening ladies and gentlemen, (if pantomime or childrens show: "and boys and girls") and welcome to the theatre name theatre. This evenings performance of show name will begin at 7pm / 7.30pm. "
As the first scene starts		"Lights up on Act One."

Headset

Beltpack

Mic switch (PTT - Push to talk), Headset volume control, Flash button.

Cans Etiquette :
The cans are the theatre's headset communication

"Quiet on cans please" other operators must respond by shutting up
"Going off cans" when any operator leaves the headset
"Standby LX Q 11" operator responds : "Standing By"
"LX Q 11 Go" operator may respond "Running" if its a cue which is not obvious, or is a long fade.

It is very important that the "Standby" is given at the start of the phrase, and the "Go" is at the end of the phrase. "Go" is the only word that can be used to initiate a cue. "Fade", "Stop" are NOT appropriate.

If the operator needs a reminder of what the cue actually does, then the following are appropriate.
"Sound Q 12 which is a fade, Go"
"Sound Q 13 to cut the music, Go"

For non-standard equipment, (eg Slide projectors, smoke machines) a less rigid cuing method is possible ; "Smoke GO".... "Smoke Stop" "Next slide GO" "Slide off GO" Where possible, one obvious action word should be used. This word should usually be "Go".

Volume
The headsets are extremely sensitive, and can detect the slightest whisper. All operators should talk quietly, so that you can all turn your listen volume up high. Try cuing with somebody sitting 4 feet away from you. They should not be able to hear you.

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