ShowTiming
Rundown timer software: prep is not live
Build the show plan calmly. Run the room from Control.
Teams often buy “a timer” when they really need two jobs done well: prepare a rundown before doors, then run remaining time under pressure. Rundown timer software only helps if it keeps those jobs apart — plan the segments offline, then make Control the only clock that matters once the show starts.
What rundown timer software actually means
On paper, a rundown is a list: titles, types, durations, order. In the room, it becomes a live state: which segment is active, how much time is left, and what happens when the plan bends. Good rundown timer software covers both — without pretending a prep sheet is a live clock.
- Segments with titles, types (talk, break, changeover…), and planned durations.
- A clear operator surface to start, pause, nudge, and advance.
- Floor displays that follow the same remaining time — read-only.
- A way to end access after the show so yesterday’s links do not linger.
Prep vs live: two jobs, one product
Mixing prep and live is how “we were only thirty seconds off” happens. Use this split:
| Job | Prep (before doors) | Live (doors open) |
|---|---|---|
| Durations | Agree order and lengths in the rundown | Only Control changes remaining time |
| Who owns time | Producer + operator lock the plan | One named operator on Control |
| Floor screens | Name Stage links; test brightness | Stage watches — never “helps” |
| Spreadsheet / phones | Fine for planning drafts | Retire them as clocks |
If the floor still runs a private stopwatch “just in case,” you do not have rundown timer software in production — you have two clocks again.
Discovery honesty: prep is free for a reason
ShowTiming’s free Discovery tier is built for preparation: build the event, shape the rundown, learn Control before the client is in the room. It is not a promise of unlimited live show days.
- One active event to prepare.
- Limited live minutes per event — enough to dry-run, not to fake a full festival on free forever.
- Up to two Stage links for tests.
- When show day needs full Pro rights on an event, activate a 7-day Pass or subscribe — after the rundown already exists.
That sequence matters commercially and operationally: do not wait until doors to invent the rundown. Prepare on Discovery; pay when the live window matters.
Checklist: build a rundown that survives show day
Print this before locking the plan:
- List every part that needs its own remaining time — including breaks and changeovers.
- Name segments the way talent will read them on Stage (not internal spreadsheet codes).
- Mark who owns each segment on radio — operator still owns the clock.
- Agree overrun policy: pause, nudge, or cut to next — before the keynote starts.
- Build Stage link names (lectern, prompt, wings) while the plan is calm.
- Dry-run Start → Pause → +10s / −10s with every display open.
- Lock a T−90 cut-off: after that, only Control edits live state.
- Write the teardown step: revoke Stage links after curtain.
When the rundown must flex mid-show
Plans bend. The rundown should absorb that without inventing local time:
- Speaker runs long → nudge remaining time from Control so Stage updates with you.
- Tech hold → pause so every monitor freezes together.
- Skip a filler → advance to next; do not leave Stage on a finished title.
- If unsure, pause first — then decide. A short freeze beats three private clocks.
Keep reading
Shared countdown on show day · Why Stage stays read-only · Rundown wiki · Product — Control and Stage · Stage timer landing
FAQ
- Is rundown timer software the same as a stopwatch app?
- No. A stopwatch is local. Rundown timer software plans segments, then runs one authoritative remaining time for operator and floor.
- Can I prepare the rundown for free?
- On ShowTiming, Discovery is for prep within its limits. Use it to build the event and rundown; choose a Pass or Pro when you need the full live window.
- Should speakers edit the rundown during the show?
- No. One operator owns Control. Speakers and crew read Stage — remaining time and titles — without operator buttons.
- Where do I learn segment setup?
- Start with the rundown wiki, then the product page for Control and Stage roles.