Concerts and Touring: Local Crew for Load-In and Load-Out

Touring productions bring their own specialists but rely on local crew for the heavy lifting. Planning that local team well keeps the day on schedule.

By Stage Hands UK · Practical guide

What local crew do

Local crew unload the trucks, move cases, build staging and set, help the touring team rig and then reverse it all after the show. They work under the production manager and the venue.

Details your supplier needs

Call times, the number of trucks, the load-in route, the venue contact and your production schedule. Say if the venue provides any of its own crew, and whether there are union or house rules.

Load-in

Load-in often has a tight window ahead of soundcheck. Unload in the order the touring team needs, and agree the staging area before the first case comes off.

Show day

Local crew might support changeovers, barriers, runners and catering deliveries. Keep a small team on call and brief them on the show running order.

Load-out

Load-out is fast. Plan for the doors to open at the end of the show, the trucks to be loaded in the right order and the venue to be cleared quickly. A crew chief on the get-out helps keep order.

Local knowledge

Crew who work in the area know the roads, the docks and the venue staff. That saves time on the day.

Planning checklist for local crew

Confirm call time, load-in route, number of trucks and venue contacts. Share the production schedule. Agree the staging area for cases. Plan who leads the local team. Confirm the load-out time and the truck order.

Common problems

Trucks arriving late, blocked docks, unclear staging areas and a load-out that is not planned in order. All can be reduced by a clear call sheet and a crew chief who talks to the production manager.

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