A day sheet is one page that tells everyone working the show what happens when, and who to ask. If it’s on the day sheet, it’s true. If it’s not, it lives in someone’s head.
What to put on it
- 1
The header
The show’s title, the date, the room, and who presents it. Mark it clearly if it’s provisional. - 2
Key times
Doors and curfew at the top, big enough to read across a room. - 3
The schedule
Load-in, crew calls, soundchecks in order, doors, every set time, changeovers, curfew and venue clear. - 4
The line-up
Every act, their set time and length, and any second sets. - 5
Contacts
The duty manager, the tour manager and the promoter’s rep, with phone numbers. - 6
Crew on duty
Who’s on, in what role, and when they finish. - 7
Venue details
Address, parking, load-in route and anything the band needs to find you. - 8
Notes
Anything the whole team should know: a stage time that can’t move, a curfew fine, an accessibility need.
Keep it to one page
Nobody reads page two at 9pm. Leave out anything only one person needs, and point to where the detail lives instead. Leave space at the bottom for notes on the night.
Send it, then print it
Send it the day before so people can plan, then print copies for backstage, the desk and the door on the day. If times change, reprint: an old day sheet on the wall is worse than none.