Changeover is time the audience watches and nobody is paid for. It is scheduled in the run of show and it is the first thing cut when the night runs late.
How long it gets
- Club night with three artists: 20 to 30 minutes each
- Festival stage: 15 to 45 minutes, depending on the size of the stage
- Large production: an hour or more, often with rolling risers
What has to fit inside it
Clear the last artist's gear, set the next stage plot, patch the inputs, line check, and get the artist to the wings. Shared backline and positions marked on the deck in tape cut the time roughly in half.
Who runs it
The Stage manager counts it down out loud and closes it at the set time. When an artist plays over, the changeover pays for it, and the last artist on the bill loses the minutes against curfew.