What is a Show Caller, and do I need one for my event?

A show caller is the person who runs the live show from the moment the doors open. Sitting at front-of-house with a headset and a running order, they call every cue in real time: content, audio, lights, staging, presenter changes; so the AV crew fires each element at the proper time. If your event has a stage, a screen, speakers walking on and off, and a program that has to begin and end on time, you need a show caller. The AV company builds and operates the technology, the Show Caller drives it. Without that single point of command, a keynote or general session runs on hope, and hope falls apart the moment a presenter goes off-script or a video won't roll.

​

How do I hire a corporate show caller in the New York area?

The reliable way to hire an experienced corporate show caller is directly, or through a referral from a production company or agency who has seen them work. Show callers are freelance and largely invisible on job boards, so the quality signal is word of mouth, not a search listing. When you reach out, be ready to share the event date, venue, format (single general session, multi-day conference with breakouts, product launch, hybrid), and how many rehearsal days you're planning. Jared Michael Brown is based in the NY metro area and calls corporate shows across the region and internationally. Reach out directly via email (jared@electricblue.nyc) with those details and I can tell you quickly whether I'm the right fit or point you to someone who is.

​

What's the difference between a show caller, a stage manager, and a producer?

They're three different jobs that often get blurred together. The producer owns the whole event: budget, creative, timeline, client relationship; and is accountable for the outcome. The stage manager runs the backstage: presenters, furniture changes, speaker transitions, making sure the right person is in the wings at the right moment. The Show Caller sits at front-of-house with the AV team and calls the cues that trigger every technical element during the live show. On a high-stakes keynote you want these roles separated out, because the Show Caller's entire job is to hold the show together in real time while everyone else handles their own elements. The Show Caller has the full authority during the show more often than not. 

 

Do show callers travel? Can a New York-based show caller work my event anywhere in the world?

Yes! An experienced corporate Show Caller travels to wherever the event is, and the good ones spend a large share of the year on the road and abroad. The Rundown paperwork, the AV Team Leadership, and the cue-calling craft are the same whether the room is in Manhattan, Mexico, or Paris... what changes is the venue's technical ecosystem, the local crew, and the logistics around them, all of which an experienced show caller is used to absorbing and collaborating with quickly. Jared Michael Brown is New York-based and regularly call shows nationally and internationally, so a venue outside the metro area is normal, not an exception.

 

What makes a good show caller, and what should I ask before hiring one?

A good show caller is calm when the show is going off the rails - being the thermostat in the room, not the thermometer. The craft isn't just reading a running order, it's staying composed and decisive the moment a presenter skips a slide, a video won't roll, or the CEO goes off-script, and keeping the whole technical team moving as one.

 

When you're vetting someone, ask what happens when a live show goes sideways and listen for a specific story, not a reassurance. Ask what kinds of events and venues they've called, how they run rehearsals and speaker prep, and how they handle a presenter who won't stick to the script.

 

Experience at demanding venues and with high-stakes corporate audiences is the signal that someone can hold a room together when it matters. Jared Michael Brown has nearly a decade of experience working in some of the most demanding rooms - from the UN General Assembly to Tech Keynotes for thousands. Reach out directly via email (jared@electricblue.nyc) to start the conversation on making your show a seamless experience.