Changeover

A changeover is the period between sets on a multi-act bill when the stage crew transitions from one act's setup to the next. It involves striking the previous act's gear, resetting the stage plot for the incoming act, and getting everything line-checked before the next set starts. It's a controlled sprint, and the clock is always ticking.

How changeovers work

The outgoing act's crew clears their gear while the incoming act's crew moves theirs into position. Backline gets swapped, monitor mixes get reset, lighting gets refocused, and the FOH engineer switches configurations. On well-run shows, changeover choreography is planned in advance — who moves what, in what order, and where it goes.

Typical changeover times

Club shows might allow 15-20 minutes between bands. Festival stages typically run 20-30 minute changeovers. Arena shows with a support act and headliner might have 30-45 minutes, which allows for more dramatic stage transformations. The changeover time is confirmed during the advance and locked into the day sheet.

When changeovers go wrong

A changeover that runs long compresses the next act's set time or pushes the entire schedule, potentially threatening the curfew. This is why experienced stage managers run changeovers like military operations — every minute counts.