Where do I put my cue sheet during a show?
Choose a safe, fixed spot
A cue sheet is only helpful if you can find it in a hurry. Pick one place offstage and use it every time, so your hands and eyes know where to go. A clipboard on a shelf, a hook near the entrance, or a stand clipped to a rolling rack are common choices.
Make sure the spot is out of the audience's sight and away from water, dust, and moving equipment. Many stage managers ask performers to keep sheets in folders with their name on them so they are easy to return after the show.
Make the sheet easy to read
Use large, clear print and highlight your cues or entrances. A brief note such as the next light change or costume item can save you from a mistake. Keep the sheet to one page when possible, since flipping pages in a dark wing is hard.
Check your sheet before each performance and replace it if it has been bent or smudged. A fresh copy is easier to scan under low light.
- Use the same spot for every performance
- Keep the sheet away from moving equipment
- Highlight cues and entrances in bold colors
- Print on one page if you can
Common mistakes
- Leaving the cue sheet in a bag or on a chair where it is hard to find in the dark.
- Using small, crowded print that is difficult to read under stage lights.
