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Run of Show Template for Events

Which run of show template fits your event?

A run of show template is a blank running order you fill in for your own event. The right one depends on the event: a conference has parallel rooms, a gala has a dinner and awards, a trade show has exhibitors and a hybrid event has two audiences.

This page gives you four blank, copy-ready templates, one for each type. Pick the closest, copy it into a spreadsheet or document and replace the prompts with your own details.

For a single filled-in table, see the main run of show guide. For finished samples, see the run of show examples guide.

Updated by the Eventdex team

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4.7/5 from 39 reviews on each

The event program agenda in the Eventdex mobile app

Choose the template that matches your event

All four templates share a header, a time and segment table, a contact list and a contingency plan. What changes is the set of columns and the extra blocks.

Use this table to pick one.

Which run of show template to use
Event typeUse this template whenWhat it adds
ConferenceYou have a main stage and several breakout roomsA room column and a session-change checklist
Gala or awards nightYou have a dinner, presenters and a winner listPresenter, award and walk-up music columns
Trade showYou have exhibitors, show hours and a floor to manageMove-in and move-out blocks and floor checkpoints
Hybrid eventSome people are in the room and some are onlineA stream column and a remote-audience block

Conference run of show template

Use this for a one-day or multi-day conference with a main stage and breakouts. Make one copy per day.

List the main stage first, then add rows for each breakout room at the times they run.

Conference run of show template

CONFERENCE RUN OF SHOW
Event:
Day / date:                 Venue:
Version:                    Last updated:           By:
Show caller:                Radio / phone channel:

KEY TIMES
Crew call:
Doors open:
First session:
Last session:
Venue curfew / load-out:

TIME | LENGTH | SEGMENT | ROOM | OWNER | SPEAKER / HOST | AV CUES | NOTES
     |        |         |      |       |                |         |
     |        |         |      |       |                |         |
     |        |         |      |       |                |         |
     |        |         |      |       |                |         |

SESSION CHANGE CHECKLIST (each room, each change)
[ ] Previous speaker off, slides closed
[ ] Next speaker mic checked
[ ] Room reset (chairs, signage, water)
[ ] Room host in place
[ ] Schedule change sent to attendees, if any

CONTACTS
Producer:
Stage manager:
AV lead:
Room hosts:
Registration lead:
Catering contact:
Venue contact:

CONTINGENCIES
If a speaker is late:
If a session overruns:
If a room is full:
If the projector or sound fails:
Segments that can be shortened or cut (in order):

Gala or awards night template

A gala runs on a fixed order: arrivals, seating, dinner, awards and close. This template adds columns for presenters, award names and the music or slide that goes with each moment.

Gala or awards run of show template

GALA / AWARDS RUN OF SHOW
Event:
Date:                       Venue:
Version:                    Last updated:           By:
Show caller:                Radio / phone channel:
Host / emcee:

KEY TIMES
Crew call:
Rehearsal:
Doors open:
Seating call:
Dinner served:
Awards start:
Close:
Venue curfew:

TIME | LENGTH | SEGMENT | OWNER | ON STAGE | AWARD / ITEM | MUSIC / SLIDE / LIGHTING | NOTES
     |        |         |       |          |              |                          |
     |        |         |       |          |              |                          |
     |        |         |       |          |              |                          |
     |        |         |       |          |              |                          |

AWARD LIST (one line each)
Award name | Presenter | Winner (sealed until the moment) | Slide no. | Walk-up music

SPEAKING NOTES
Sponsor thanks to include:
Names to pronounce (phonetic spelling):
Housekeeping announcements:

CONTACTS
Producer:
Stage manager:
AV lead:
Catering lead:
Venue contact:
Photographer / video:

CONTINGENCIES
If a winner is not in the room:
If a presenter is missing:
If dinner service runs late:
Segments that can be shortened or cut (in order):

Trade show run of show template

A trade show runs across days and has two audiences: exhibitors and visitors. This template starts with move-in and ends with move-out, and adds floor checkpoints so someone walks the hall at set times.

Trade show run of show template

TRADE SHOW RUN OF SHOW
Event:
Dates:                      Venue / hall:
Version:                    Last updated:           By:
Show manager:               Radio / phone channel:

EXHIBITOR MOVE-IN
Move-in window:
Loading dock opens / closes:
Early-access passes (who):
Booth inspection time:

SHOW DAYS (one copy per day)
Date:
Exhibitor access from:
Visitor doors open:
Show floor closes:

TIME | LENGTH | ITEM | LOCATION | OWNER | CHECKS / CUES | NOTES
     |        |      |          |       |               |
     |        |      |          |       |               |
     |        |      |          |       |               |
     |        |      |          |       |               |

FLOOR CHECKPOINTS
Time | Who walks the floor | What they check
     |                     |

ON-FLOOR PROGRAM (stage talks, demos, receptions)
Time | Session | Stage / area | Host | Cues
     |         |              |      |

EXHIBITOR MOVE-OUT
Show closes:
Move-out starts:
Hall must be clear by:

CONTACTS
Show manager:
Registration lead:
Exhibitor services:
Venue contact:
Security:
Freight / drayage:

CONTINGENCIES
If doors open late:
If a power or network outage affects booths:
If a stage talk runs over:
If a speaker or demo is missing:

Hybrid event template

A hybrid event serves people in the room and people online at the same time. This template keeps both on one timeline and adds a stream column, so the online audience is planned for in every row.

Hybrid event run of show template

HYBRID EVENT RUN OF SHOW
Event:
Date:                       Venue:
Version:                    Last updated:           By:
Show caller:                Stream producer:
Radio / phone channel:      Producer chat channel:

KEY TIMES
Crew call:
Stream test:
Virtual doors open:
Venue doors open:
Start:
End:

TIME | LENGTH | SEGMENT | OWNER | IN-ROOM CUES | STREAM CUES (camera, graphics, audio) | REMOTE AUDIENCE ACTION | NOTES
     |        |         |       |              |                                       |                        |
     |        |         |       |              |                                       |                        |
     |        |         |       |              |                                       |                        |
     |        |         |       |              |                                       |                        |

REMOTE AUDIENCE BLOCK
Who monitors chat / questions:
When questions from remote viewers go to the host:
Polls: when opened, who launches:
Holding slide for breaks:

CONTACTS
Producer:
Stage manager:
Stream producer:
AV lead:
Remote moderator:
Venue contact:

CONTINGENCIES
If the stream drops:
If audio to remote viewers fails:
If a remote speaker cannot connect:
Backup recording:
Segments that can be shortened or cut (in order):

How to fill in any run of show template

Start from the public agenda, then add what attendees never see. Work through the steps below in order.

  1. Fill in the header and key times

    Name the event, date and version. Set crew call, doors, start, end and curfew first, because every other time hangs from them.

  2. Copy in the public sessions

    Paste the agenda in order. These are your fixed points.

  3. Add the hidden segments

    Add sound checks, speaker briefings, rehearsals, room resets and load-out.

  4. Name one owner per row

    Use a person, not a team. That person is who the show caller talks to.

  5. Write the cues

    For each change, write what the audience sees and hears and who triggers it.

  6. Add buffers and contingencies

    Leave a few minutes where speakers or rooms change, and list what to cut if you fall behind.

  7. Version it and send it

    Add a version number and time to every copy. Send it to everyone named in it and say which version is current.

Where Eventdex fits

Eventdex is not a show-calling or cueing tool, so these templates stay in your own spreadsheet or document. Eventdex holds the attendee-facing schedule.

Export it to XLS or CSV to start your own sheet, and send changes to attendees from the app.

  • The published schedule

    Sessions with a room, track and speaker, imported from a file or exported to XLS or CSV.

    Conference management software
  • Push notifications

    Sent to chosen ticket types or tags, now or at a scheduled time.

    Event mobile app
  • Hybrid events

    The hybrid event page describes running in-person and online audiences from one event.

    Hybrid event platform
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FAQ

Run of Show Template for Events: common questions

Is there a free run of show template for events?

Yes. Each template on this page is plain text. Copy it into a spreadsheet or document and replace the blank lines with your details.

Which template should I use?

Use the conference template for stages and breakout rooms, the gala template for dinners and awards, the trade show template for exhibitors and the hybrid template when part of the audience is online. For a webinar, use the webinar run of show template.

What are run of show documents?

They are the files a team works from on the day: the running order itself, plus attachments such as the award list, contact sheet and contingency plan. This page puts those together in one template per event type.

Which columns does a run of show need?

At minimum: time, length, segment, location and owner. Add cues, notes and any column the event needs, such as presenters for a gala or a stream column for a hybrid event.

Should I use a spreadsheet or a document?

Most teams use a shared spreadsheet, because rows and columns suit a running order and everyone can see the latest version. A word processor works for short events. Pick the one your crew already uses.

Does Eventdex include a run of show template?

Eventdex's pages do not describe a run of show or cue sheet tool. They describe a published attendee schedule that you can import from a file or export to XLS or CSV, which gives you a starting list for these templates.

Publish your event schedule on Eventdex

Start with a free interactive floor plan, or talk to an event specialist on +1 (866) 434-5088.