Backstage Etiquette, Safety, and Professional Conduct for First-Time Cast and Crew

Why Backstage Etiquette and Safety Matter

Backstage is a shared workspace with moving scenery, low light, cables, tools, quick costume changes, and people concentrating on precise timing. Etiquette and safety rules are not about being strict—they prevent injuries, protect focus, and keep the show consistent. Professional conduct also builds trust: everyone can do their job without surprises, distractions, or boundary violations.

Core Etiquette Norms (What “Professional” Looks Like)

1) Be on time (and “on time” means early)

Call times are designed so the work can start immediately. Arriving late forces others to wait, compresses safety checks, and increases mistakes.

• Target: arrive 10–15 minutes before your call time unless your production specifies otherwise.
• Plan for: parking, building access, warm-ups, costume/prop pickup, and bathroom breaks.

2) Sign in every time

Sign-in is a safety and accountability tool. If there’s an emergency, the team needs to know who is in the building.

Step-by-step:

1. Find the sign-in sheet or digital check-in location as soon as you arrive.
2. Sign your name and time (and any required notes, like “arrived with knee brace”).
3. If you must leave early or step out, notify the appropriate person and sign out if your production uses it.

3) Silence in the wings and backstage

Sound carries. Whispering can be heard by the audience and can distract performers waiting for cues.

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• Keep conversations offstage and away from entrances to the stage.
• Silence phones (no vibration if it can be heard on quiet scenes).
• Use quiet, purposeful movement: no running unless it’s an emergency.

4) Respect the chain of command

Backstage runs smoothly when information flows through the right channels. This prevents conflicting instructions and keeps responsibilities clear.

• If you have a question about a cue, entrance, prop, or backstage traffic pattern, ask the appropriate supervisor rather than “whoever is nearby.”
• If you disagree with a note or instruction, address it privately and respectfully through the proper person, not in the hallway or on headset.

5) Don’t give notes to other actors unless asked

Unsolicited notes can create confusion, undermine trust, and conflict with the production’s direction. Even helpful intentions can land as criticism.

• If you notice a safety issue (e.g., someone nearly trips), report it through the safety pathway described later.
• If you notice a performance issue, keep it to yourself unless you are specifically invited to share feedback.

6) Stay off the set unless cleared

“Set” includes the stage, platforms, stairs, and any scenic areas—especially during scene shifts, lighting focus, or technical work. Unplanned people on stage create trip hazards and can damage scenery or props.

Step-by-step:

1. Only enter the stage/set area when you are scheduled to rehearse, called, or assigned a task there.
2. If you need to retrieve something, ask permission first and wait for a clear “go ahead.”
3. Never step over cables, into taped-off zones, or behind moving scenery without confirmation it’s safe.

Backstage Safety Fundamentals

Lifting and carrying (protect your body and others)

Many backstage injuries come from rushed lifting. Use safe technique even when you feel pressure to move quickly.

Step-by-step safe lift:

1. Assess: Is it heavy, awkward, or fragile? If yes, get help or a cart.
2. Clear the path: Remove trip hazards and confirm doors are open.
3. Position: Feet shoulder-width apart, load close to your body.
4. Lift: Bend at knees/hips, keep back neutral, lift with legs.
5. Move: Take small steps; don’t twist—turn your whole body.
6. Set down: Lower with control; keep fingers clear of pinch points.

• Rule of thumb: if you can’t lift it smoothly while speaking normally, it’s probably a two-person lift.

Tool awareness (assume tools are “live”)

Tools and hardware appear backstage during build, notes, and maintenance. Even if you’re not using tools, you must treat the area as a worksite.

• Don’t pick up tools “just to help” unless you’ve been asked and you know how to use them safely.
• Never leave tools on the edge of platforms, ladders, or railings.
• Report loose screws, wobbling rails, or damaged steps immediately.

Spike tape and low-light visibility

Spike marks guide placement of scenery and performers. In low light, tape color and contrast matter for safety.

• Don’t remove or “improve” spike tape without permission—small changes can cause big spacing errors.
• If you can’t see a spike mark in performance lighting, report it so it can be adjusted (brighter tape, glow tape where appropriate, or a different marking method).
• Keep glow tape use controlled; too much can distract the audience or interfere with lighting design.

Fog/haze considerations (breathing, visibility, alarms)

Fog and haze can reduce visibility and affect breathing. Some people have sensitivities or medical conditions that require accommodations.

• If you have asthma, allergies, or migraines, disclose this early so adjustments can be made.
• Move more slowly in reduced visibility; assume edges and stairs are closer than they look.
• Never change fog/haze settings yourself. Report issues (too thick, uneven, lingering) through the proper pathway.

Trip hazards: cables, edges, stairs, and “temporary” clutter

Most trips happen because something “was only there for a minute.” Backstage is full of temporary placements—treat them as real hazards.

• Don’t step over cables in the dark; go around or use designated crossings.
• Keep bags, water bottles, and personal items in assigned storage areas.
• Learn where edges, steps, and trap doors are; use handrails when available.
• If you see a new hazard (fresh cable run, shifted rug, loose stair tread), report it immediately.

Personal Conduct: Boundaries, Privacy, and Respect

Consent and boundaries (especially intimacy and fight work)

Any physical contact beyond everyday incidental movement must be consensual, choreographed, and repeatable. This includes kisses, embraces, simulated violence, grabs, falls, and any staged intimacy.

• Consent is specific: agreeing to one action does not imply agreement to others.
• Consent is reversible: anyone can pause or stop if something changes or feels unsafe.
• Choreography is the rule: do not “improvise” new touches, holds, or intensity in performance.

Step-by-step for a boundary check-in before a physical sequence:

1. Confirm the agreed choreography (what happens, where hands go, how force is simulated).
2. Confirm any no-go zones and comfort limits.
3. Confirm a stop word or clear “hold” cue that pauses the action immediately.
4. Do a slow walk-through, then build speed only when both parties agree.

Costume and dressing room privacy

Quick changes and shared spaces require extra care. Privacy is part of professionalism.

• Knock before entering dressing areas; wait for permission.
• Don’t photograph anyone in costume or partially dressed without explicit permission.
• Respect robe/curtain rules and designated changing zones.
• Don’t comment on bodies, undergarments, or fit in a way that could embarrass someone. If there’s a functional issue (tear, pinching, unsafe shoe), report it discreetly.

Social media boundaries

What you post can affect safety, privacy, and the production’s public messaging. Treat backstage as a private workplace.

• Don’t post backstage photos/videos unless you have explicit approval and everyone visible has consent.
• Don’t share sensitive information: call times, security details, backstage layouts, or conflicts.
• Don’t post notes, cue sheets, or anything that reveals private production documents.
• If you’re unsure, don’t post—ask first.

Practical Do/Don’t Examples (Real-World Scenarios)

If Something Feels Unsafe: A Simple Reporting Pathway

You don’t need to prove a hazard to report it. If your gut says “this could hurt someone,” treat it as real.

Step-by-step:

1. Pause and protect: If immediate danger exists, stop what you’re doing and warn nearby people (a clear, calm “Hold!”).
2. Move to a safe position: Get yourself and others out of the hazard zone (off the set, away from moving scenery, away from tools).
3. Report to the right person immediately: Use the established chain for safety concerns (the designated supervisor for the area). If you can’t find them quickly, report to the nearest responsible leader who can stop the activity.
4. Describe facts, not blame: What you saw, where it is, when it happens, and what could go wrong (e.g., “Cable crossing at upstage right is loose; people are catching toes in blackout”).
5. Request a clear resolution: Ask what the temporary fix is now and what the long-term fix will be (re-tape, reroute, add light, add signage, change traffic pattern).
6. Follow up: If the hazard persists, report again. If you feel dismissed and the risk remains, escalate to the next level of leadership.

Use these phrases if you need them:

• “Hold, please—this feels unsafe.”
• “I’m not comfortable doing that without a rehearsal/clear choreography.”
• “Can we get a second person for this lift?”
• “I need a private moment to report a boundary concern.”