A load-in day, seen from the inside //
A load-in day starts before sunrise at the dock and often ends after dark. In between: unload, build, wait for a confirmation, check again, adapt a plan that changed. Nobody sees it in the show photos, yet it is what makes the show possible.
Call time
The call is early. So is the truck, in theory. The first minutes happen at the dock: finding the right gate, the right access, the person with the keys. Nobody talks before the first sip of coffee.
Unload, build
Flight cases come off the truck in a set order, because what comes out first gets built first. Every case has its place, every cable its path, and gaffer tape does the rest.
The brief that changes
There was a brief. Now there is the site. The PDF reaches revision 12, something is not on the plan, and plan B ends up becoming plan A. The job is adapting without losing the time.
Standby
Everything is ready, except the confirmation. You sometimes spend more time waiting for a cue than calling it. Then the last stage walk, which is never the last, and doors open.
After the show
The audience leaves, the crew stays. The load-out starts, often at night, while the city sleeps. The good photos never show that part. NOT MY DPT exists for the people of that part.
FAQ
How long is a load-in day?
It depends on the venue and the show. It often starts early in the morning and can end late, sometimes running straight into a night load-out.
Who works on a load-in?
Sound, lighting, video, stage and rigging crews, a stage management team, production and often local hands, coordinated by a technical director or production manager.
What does NOT MY DPT mean?
"Not my department": the answer every crew member has given or heard on a load-in.
Published 29 October 2026