Skip to content

Running the production

Show now and next on screens backstage and at the side of the stage

Stage managers, green room staff and artist liaisons all need to know who is on and how late the stage is running without radioing the show caller. A TV on the wall that follows the run of show answers that question for everyone backstage at a glance.

Put the act on now, the act next, the time left and how late each stage runs on any TV backstage or at the side of a stage. The TV opens it from a private link with no sign-in, updates by itself from your run of show and shows no personal details.

For
Keeping backstage teams on time with the running order
Takes
4 minutes

Before you start

  • You are an owner, admin or producer on the event. The event's Operations page opens for those roles only.
  • Your run of show has the day's cues on each stage.
  • The TV has a web browser, such as a smart TV, a tablet or a laptop plugged into the TV.

  1. Open Backstage screens

    Open the event, select Operations, select Now and next, then select Backstage screens.

    Note: Each TV link shows its name, its stage, until when it works and when it was last shown.

    Ticket Fairy Backstage screens and calendars dialog, with screen links for the side of the main stage and the green room TV and a calendar link
    Your backstage TV and calendar links.

  2. Make a screen link

    Select New screen or calendar, choose Backstage screen, then enter a name for the TV.

    Note: Use where the TV is, such as Main stage side screen or Green room TV.

    Ticket Fairy Make a desk link dialog for a backstage screen, with its name, the stage it shows and until when it works
    A new backstage screen link.

  3. Choose the stage

    In Stage, choose one stage for a side-of-stage screen, or Every stage for a backstage room.

  4. Make the link

    Select Make link.

    Note: Leave Works until empty to stop the link the day after the event ends.

  5. Open the link on the TV

    Copy the link or scan its QR code, and open it in the TV's browser.

    Note: The address shows only once. The TV page needs no sign-in and updates by itself.

Now and next on the TV

For each stage, the TV shows the act on now with the time it ends and the minutes left, the act next with its start time, the changeover between them and whether the stage is on time or running late. A clock shows the event's time. It asks for new times every 20 seconds, and without a connection it keeps showing the last update and says when that was. It never shows notes, phone numbers or names of your team.

Ticket Fairy backstage screen on a TV, with the act on now and next on the Main Stage and The Tent, minutes left and how late each stage runs
Now and next on a backstage TV.

Or have it done for you

Fai makes a backstage TV link for every stage or one stage, lists your TV links with when each was last shown, and stops a link, after you confirm. She never shows a link's address, so copy it in Now and next.

In your dashboard, with Fai

Make a backstage screen for the side of the Main Stage at <EVENT NAME>

Let Fai do it for you

Fai works inside your Ticket Fairy dashboard. Create your account, open Fai and paste the prompt above.

Create a free account Book a demo

No setup fees. No required monthly ticketing fee. No credit card required.

Stop showing a TV

  1. Stop the link

    In Backstage screens, select Stop link on the TV's link, then confirm.

    Note: The TV stops within 20 seconds and says the link no longer works. Make a new link to show it again.

Fai stops a TV link when you ask, after you confirm.

In your dashboard, with Fai

Stop the green room TV screen at <EVENT NAME>

Questions you might have

Where do the times come from?
From your run of show. When your show caller marks a cue live or a set runs over, the TV shows it within 20 seconds.
Is a changeover shown as the next act?
No. Next names the act after the changeover, and the changeover shows as the gap in minutes.
Is it safe to put on a screen anyone can see?
It shows act names, stages and times only. Anyone with the link can open it, so stop the link when the event ends or if it reaches someone it should not.
How do I know a screen is working?
Each TV link says when it was last shown, or Not opened yet.

Still have a question?

Book a demo and we will answer it on a call, on your kind of event. Or create your account and see it for yourself.

Book a demo Create a free account

No setup fees. No required monthly ticketing fee. No credit card required.

Related guides

Do this on your own event

Create your account, build your event and follow the steps in your own dashboard. You do not need to book a sales call.

Create a free account Book a demo

Book a demo

See how Ticket Fairy handles your tickets, on-sale and event entry. Pick a time that suits you.

45-Minute Video Call
Pick a Time That Works for You