# Stage people: a quick terminology question... **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 12, 2016, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stage-people-a-quick-terminology-question/768311 "2016-10-12T03:59:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![cornflakes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@cornflakes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cornflakes)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2016, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stage-people-a-quick-terminology-question/768311/1 "2016-10-12T03:59:02Z")
I used to work as a stagehand, but only for touring groups. Now, I’m looking into volunteering with a theater group. For touring acts, we did load in at the start of the night and load out after the show. Are there analogous terms for activities before and/or after a play or other nontravelling show? ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2016, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stage-people-a-quick-terminology-question/768311/2 "2016-10-12T04:05:56Z")
Setup and takedown? ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2016, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stage-people-a-quick-terminology-question/768311/3 "2016-10-12T04:06:18Z")
I’m a volunteer at a local fan convention, and we use “load in” and “load out” for setting up, and breaking down, the art show, dealers’ room, signage, and so on. (We rent a truck, so “load” is literal.) ---
**Author:** ![cornflakes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@cornflakes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cornflakes)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2016, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stage-people-a-quick-terminology-question/768311/4 "2016-10-12T04:11:41Z")
Takedown works for me! (I’m sure that load out would be understood as well, but it just brings to my mind 20+ semis full of stage floor and motor boxes.) Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_Hey\_Paula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hey\_Hey\_Paula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_Hey_Paula)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2016, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stage-people-a-quick-terminology-question/768311/5 "2016-10-12T04:16:07Z")
> [@cornflakes](#): > > Takedown works for me! > > (I’m sure that load out would be understood as well, but it just brings to my mind 20+ semis full of stage floor and motor boxes.) > > Thanks! I’ve usually heard “strike” for the process of taking down a set, whether for the night or at the end of a show’s run. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2016, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stage-people-a-quick-terminology-question/768311/6 "2016-10-12T05:01:31Z")
I am a professional stagehand; have been for over 35 years. Load in and load out are the most used terms. Strike is common for taking things down but does not necessarily mean the entire show/event is done and being sent out of the building. For examples: you strike the band riser. You strike the DJ booth. A video may be struck from the show/presentation/event. The show, however, loads out. Of course, it’s an informal world, so occasionally people do use setup and strike and teardown and build and a host of other terms, but load out and load in are the most widely used terms.