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Cue sheets

What is a cue sheet? Free cue sheet template

A cue sheet lists every technical moment in a show, in order: the lights going down, a microphone coming on, a video playing. Each one has a number, a department and the exact moment it happens. Download the free template to start yours.

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Free plan: 3 rooms, 3 timers and 3 screens per room. No card needed.

What goes on a cue sheet

One row per cue, in the order they happen. The template has these columns, with example cues from the start of a conference:

  • Cue: a number per department, such as LX 1 for lighting, SND 1 for sound and VID 1 for video.
  • Standby and go point: when to warn the operator, and the exact moment the cue happens, such as “host reaches the lectern”.
  • Action: what changes, in plain words.
  • Approximate time, called by and notes: roughly when it happens in the run of show, who calls it, and anything else to know.

How cues are called

  • Standby first. “Standby LX 1 and sound 1.” The operators reply that they're ready.
  • Then go. “LX 1 and sound 1, go.” The word “go” always comes last, so nobody fires early.
  • Give standbys early enough for the operator to prepare, usually 30 seconds to a minute before.
  • Add new cues with point numbers, such as LX 2.5, so the paperwork everyone already has stays correct.
Shotimer's Stage messages panel, with a list of ready-made messages, a message draft and the Show on stage button.

Silent cues to the stage with Shotimer

Shotimer doesn't control lighting, sound or video. What it does is time each segment and get silent messages to people on stage or backstage, which is often the cue that's hardest to give.

  • Time cues: “5 MIN LEFT” or “Please wrap up” on the speaker's screen, without saying a word.
  • Backstage screens: put a stage screen in the wings or green room to show the countdown and calls such as “Panel to the stage”.
  • A moderator link lets someone else send messages without being able to touch the timer.
A stage screen showing a smaller countdown with the message “Please wrap up” beneath it.
How it works

Ready in three steps.

Set up your running order

Create a free account, open a room and give each timer a title, a speaker and a duration.

Put the timer on a screen

Open the stage screen in a new tab, or scan its QR code on a TV, tablet or phone. Nothing to install.

Press Start

Every screen counts down together. Add a minute, send a message or move to the next timer from your laptop or phone.

Questions & Answers

Frequently asked questions.

A run of show plans the whole event by time. A cue sheet zooms in on the technical moments within it, such as lighting, sound and video changes, and when each one is triggered.
Standby warns an operator that their cue is coming, so they can get ready. Go is the moment to do it. The person calling the show gives both.
Number them in order within each department, such as LX 1, LX 2 for lighting and SND 1 for sound. If you add one later, use a point number such as LX 2.5 rather than renumbering.
No. Shotimer is a timer and messaging tool. It can time each segment and send silent messages to the stage and backstage screens, but it doesn't control lighting, sound or video equipment.
It's a CSV file, so it opens in Excel, Google Sheets, Apple Numbers and most other spreadsheet programs.

Learn more in the docs

More guides

Run of show template

What a run of show is, how to write one, and a free template to download.

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Call sheet template

What goes on a call sheet for an event or shoot, and a free template with call times and contacts.

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