What is a Day Sheet?

A day sheet (also written daysheet) is a one-page schedule for a single show day that lists load-in, sound check, doors, set times, curfew and key contacts for the artist, crew and venue. On tour, a new day sheet is issued for every date.

How a day sheet works

A day sheet pulls together everything agreed for the day:

  1. Advance: the tour manager confirms times and details with the venue in the advance.
  2. Draft: they lay out the day in time order, adding venue, hotel and contact details.
  3. Issue: the day sheet goes to the touring party the night before or first thing in the morning, and is often posted backstage.
  4. Update: if timings change, a revised version is sent so everyone works from the same plan.

Venues and festivals produce their own version for each day, built around the running order. Many keep it live by managing the running order in Crescat, so changes reach everyone at once.

Day sheet vs run of show

A day sheet covers the whole day for the touring party, from bus call to hotel. A run of show covers only the show itself, minute by minute, with every cue and segment. Concert tours use day sheets; conferences and award shows rely more on the run of show.

Example day sheet

  • Date and venue: Saturday 14 March, venue name, address, capacity
  • Contacts: promoter rep, venue production manager, tour manager
  • 09:00 Bus arrives, 10:00 load-in
  • 15:00 Headliner sound check, 16:30 support sound check
  • 17:30 Dinner, 19:00 Doors
  • 20:00 Support 30 minutes, 21:00 Headliner 90 minutes
  • 23:00 Curfew, 23:15 load-out
  • Hotel: name, address, check-in time
  • Notes: guest list deadline 17:00, parking instructions, Wi-Fi details

Frequently asked questions

Who writes the day sheet?

On tour, the tour manager writes the artist's day sheet. Venues and festivals often send their own production schedule, which the tour manager uses to fill in the details.

What is the difference between a day sheet and an itinerary?

An itinerary covers the whole tour, day by day, with travel and hotels. A day sheet zooms into one show day in full detail.

How is a day sheet shared?

Day sheets used to be printed and taped to dressing room doors. Most are now shared as PDFs or through touring and event apps, though many crews still post a printed copy backstage.

Related terms