Event staffing glossary
Every term you’ll hear on the floor, explained in a sentence or two.
A
1 entry under AB
7 entries under BBack of houseAt an event, back of house is every area guests don't see, such as the kitchen, storage and loading dock, and the staff who work there.Also: BOH, heart of house
Banquet serverCarries plated courses and clears tables at galas, weddings and banquets, working a section under a captain.Role page →
BarbackKeeps the bar stocked with ice, glassware and product so the bartenders can keep pouring.Role page →
BartenderServes drinks at event bars, from festival tents to gala service, keeping lines moving and pours legal.Role page →
BEOAt an event, a BEO (banquet event order) is the document that lists the timings, menu, room setup and staffing a venue or caterer has agreed to.Also: banquet event order, event order
Box officeSells and scans tickets, resolves will-call and handles cash and card at the venue entrance.Role page →
Brand ambassadorRepresents a brand at activations, launches and expos: greeting, demoing, sampling and gathering leads.Role page →
C
7 entries under CCall timeAt an event, call time is the time you must be on site, checked in and ready to work. It's usually well before guests arrive.Also: report time, crew call
Cash barAt an event, a cash bar is a bar where guests pay for their own drinks, while the host covers the bar setup and staff.Also: no-host bar, pay bar
Catering attendantSets buffets, runs coffee breaks and keeps food stations stocked at conferences and receptions.Role page →
Coat checkChecks and returns coats, bags and umbrellas at galas, weddings and corporate dinners.Role page →
ConcessionsSells food and drinks at stadium and arena stands, keeping the line moving and the register accurate.Role page →
Consumption barAt an event, a consumption bar is a hosted bar where the host pays only for the drinks guests actually order, counted by drink or by bottle.Also: bar on consumption
E
4 entries under EEvent coordinatorRuns the floor on the day: briefs crew, keeps to the run of show and is the point of contact for venue and client.Role page →
Event managerLeads the event team on the day and is accountable for the event running to plan and budget.Role page →
F
1 entry under FFront of houseAt an event, front of house is every area guests can see, such as the entrance, bar and dining room, and the staff who work there.Also: FOH
G
1 entry under GGuest servicesAnswers questions, solves problems and points people the right way at stadiums, arenas and large venues.Role page →
H
2 entries under HHosted barAt an event, a hosted bar is a bar the host pays for, so guests drink free. It's another name for an open bar, billed by package or by consumption.Also: host bar
HostessGreets guests at the door, checks lists and seats or directs them so the event starts smoothly.Role page →
L
2 entries under LLoad-inAt an event, load-in is when equipment, decor and supplies come into the venue and get set up before the event starts.Also: load in
Load-outAt an event, load-out is when everything brought in for the event is taken down, packed and removed from the venue after it ends.Also: load out, strike, breakdown
N
1 entry under NNo call no showOn a shift, a no call no show is when someone misses a booked shift without calling or messaging anyone beforehand.Also: no-call no-show, NCNS
O
1 entry under OOpen barAt an event, an open bar is a bar where guests don't pay for drinks. The host covers the cost, either as a package or by what is poured.
P
2 entries under PProduction assistantSupports the production team at shows and shoots: running errands, handling paperwork and keeping crew and talent on schedule.Role page →
Promo modelRepresents a brand at trade shows, launches and nightlife events, drawing people to the stand and handing out product.Role page →
R
3 entries under RRegistrationChecks attendees in at conventions and conferences, prints badges and solves the first problem of the day.Role page →
Run of showAt an event, the run of show is the minute-by-minute schedule of everything that happens, from doors to the last cue, and who is responsible for each part.Also: ROS, run sheet, show flow
RunnerKeeps an event moving: fetches, restocks, relays messages and fixes small problems before anyone notices.Role page →
S
4 entries under SSetup and teardown crewBuilds booths, pipe-and-drape, tables and carpet before a show opens and strikes it all when the doors close.Role page →
Split shiftOn a work schedule, a split shift is a workday broken into two parts with an unpaid gap between them that is longer than a normal meal break.Also: split-shift
Stage managerRuns the stage on the day: calls the cues, keeps the run of show on time and directs the crew.Role page →
StagehandLoads in, builds and strikes staging, lighting and sound under a stage manager at festivals, concerts and corporate shows.Role page →
T
2 entries under TTip outOn a shift, a tip out is the share of your tips you pass to the staff who helped you serve, such as a barback, runner or busser.Also: tip-out, tipout
Tip poolOn a shift, a tip pool is when all tips go into one pot and are shared among the team, usually by hours worked or by a points system.Also: tip pooling, tip share
U
1 entry under UUsherScans tickets, walks guests to their seats and keeps aisles clear at stadiums, arenas and theatres.Role page →
V
1 entry under VValet attendantParks and returns guests' cars at the venue entrance and keeps the line moving.Role page →