Event Planning Guide - Cost Estimate Sheet
Advance Sheet - Marketing Guide - Production Terms

Production Terms and Definitions

  
All Access Passes – Passes that allow access to anywhere, anytime. 

Amplifier – Electronic sound device wired to the mixing board used to increase the sound level put out through the speakers and monitors. 

Backdrop – A curtain behind the stage used as a backdrop, production screen, etc.  Obviously it will block view from specific seating. 

Backstage Passes – Passes that allow various degrees of access to backstage areas at various times.  They are distributed by the Promoter of the show.  Types include before/after show, all access, guest, house, crew, etc. 

Barricades – Barrier between stage and audience.  They may be made of wood, rope, fence, etc. and are usually manned by security.  May be brought by show or provided by Venue. 

Chain Winches – Large electric winches used to hoist Trussing and Speakers above the stage.  Most chain winches hold at least one ton.  Chain winches are used to “fly” things. 

Chase Pattern – A pre-programmed series of light changes causing the lights to appear to be “chasing” one another. 

Contract Rider – Attachment to the contract that states specific additional terms of the agreement.  It may include technical production information, hospitality, ticketing limitations or requirements, special show policies, etc. 

Dimmer Rack – A large rolling case, containing lighting dimmers, that is controlled by a lighting console.  It allows lights to dim, chase, flicker, etc.  Most stage lighting is hooked directly to a Dimmer Rack. 

Direct Box – It is used to directly convert the signal sent from a guitar to a microphone signal, allowing the use of less microphones and stands. 

 Drum Riser – A platform usually 8’x 8’ used to lift the drummer above the stage.  Most drum risers are at least 8” off the stage surface. 

Feeder Cable – Large heavy cables used to bring power to the sound, lighting, and stage. 

Front of House – Refers to any area in front of stage. 

Gel Color – Pieces of thin, colored, and transparent material used to change the color on a light. 

Gel Frames – Used to keep the gel color square in front of the light.

Guitar World – Refers to an area usually off to the left or right of the stage used to set-up and tune all guitars used during the show. 

Fly / Flying – It refers to hanging the sound & lighting equipment above the stage. 

Front of House Mix – The area in front of the stage used to mix the sound for the audience. 

Intelligent Lighting – Special lighting instruments controlled by a computer to move, change color, flash, etc. with a pre-designed program.  They are often referred to as I-Beams. 

Lighting Console – A board used to control all of the lighting effects used on stage.  They are usually placed out in front of the stage by the front of house mix. 

Lighting Instruments – Lights used to illuminate an area of the stage.             

            Ellipsoidals and Source 4’s – Lighting Instrument used to
             focus light on a specific area of the stage. 

            Par Cans / Cans – A round can shaped lighting instrument
             used like a flood light to illuminate the stage. 

Microphones – They are used to relay sound from the stage to the sound system.  They can be used for vocal or instrumental sound. 

Mixing – Term refers to changing the volume and mix of each channel of sound benig used for a show.  Also includes making variations in the high, mid, and low tones of music and/or vocals. 

Mixing Board – A control board for the monitors and sound system.  It can be on stage, next to stage, or a specific distance from the stage on a platform.  This may block sight lines or kill seats. 

Monitors – Speakers used on stage for the performers to hear a specific mix of the music and/or vocals being performed. 

Monitor Wedges – Most monitors are formed like a wedge so that the sound is angled up from the stage to the performers.  Often referred to simply as wedges. 

Monitor World – Area off-stage left or right used to mix sound being sent to the monitors on the stage. 

Multi-Cable – A large bundle of lighting control cable wrapped together as one cable run between the dimmer rack and the lighting instruments. 

Passes – Everybody that’s anybody has to have one.  Includes laminates, wrist bands, peel-and-stick.  Types includes backstage, after show, before show, all access, photo, press, etc. 

Production Kills – Seating that becomes unusable because of production requirements of the show.  Can be caused by stage configurations, backdrops, mixing boards, lighting consoles, wings, etc. 

Production Personnel – Usually refers to show or promoter’s personnel.  Crew involved with set-up and technical aspects of the show.  Includes road and stage crew, managers, electricians, riggers, sound & light technicians, etc. 

Proscenium Staging – Setup as for theatre.  Same as presidium staging. 

Production – 1. An event involving some degree of complexity in staging and arranging.  2. The various areas of work related to presenting an event.  

Rigging – Suspending equipment from ceiling structure by special cable arrangements.  Allows better stage view than stacking.  May also allow enhanced technical arrangements for better sound & lighting configurations. 

Rigging Plot – Drawing of venue with rigging points marked.  Includes distances , weight limits, permanent features, weirdness, panels, grids, notes, etc. 

Rigger – An individual certified to hang rigging points for flying trussing. 

Scrim Light – Lighting projected onto a backdrop to change its color or patterns. 

Showtime – House lights go down and show starts. 

Sight Line – View of the stage from seats.  May be blocked by stacked equipment. 

Snake – Long collection of sound cables wrapped as one unit to carry sound from microphones and instruments to the mixing board.  Can also be used to send sound from the mixing board to the amplifiers. 

Speakers and Subwoofers – Used to project sound directly into the audience.  Subwoofers are primarily used for bass or low end sound.  Both can fly or be stacked. 

Spot Lights – Large lights on special tripods able to pan and tilt to move light with a performer.  These lights are each operated by an individual operator.  These lights are usually placed on a walkway in the air several hundred feet out from the stage. 

Stacking – Placing equipment in stacks or groupings on or near the stage.  May block audience view.  Can cause sight line problems. 

The Deck – Term used to refer to the stage surface.  “To go to the deck,” means to go to the stage. 

Trussing – Steel frame pieces usually square or triangle shaped used to hold lights and or sound over the stage.  Trussing usually fly’s or is put up on towers. 

Venue – The room, building, or area in which the will take place. 

Wings – Additional platforms at the sides of the main stage used for sound mixing, instrument or equipment storage, etc. 

Wireless Systems – Can be either a microphone or direct box.  Allows the performer the freedom to move without being tied down to cables. 

Wireless Monitors – Similar to a hearing aid hooked directly to a hip receiver and controlled from monitor world. 

XLR Cable – Cable with 3 pins used to patch microphones to a snake or amplifier.