| A frame | Very tall step ladder with an additional straight extension ladder sticking out of the top of the "A" |
| Accom | pronounced A-Kom, accommodation (hotel/motel room, bus, tent, whatever) provided for the band and crew on tour. Varies in quality from heavenly to diabolical >> submitted by Tony G, RFL |
| Actor | See "prop" >> submitted by Uncle Fester |
| "afro" | Slang: Microphone windscreens >> submitted by Kelsey "Chainsaw" Hudson |
| air ride | Type of air cushioned trailer used in transporting fragile electronic equipment |
| Ampville | Section of underworld where sound is located >> submitted by Martin Crul |
| Anvil briefcase | Brand Name: briefcase of choice for Roadies |
| Anvil case | Brand Name: road case fabricator |
| apron | The very front edge of the stage |
| Aquarium | What guitar world turns into when it fills up with groupies, wives or posers during the performance that the tech has to swim through to get to the instruments >> submitted by Bogart |
| Arno | Brand Name: Gaffer's tape (reputed to be the best) >> submitted by Russ Jones |
| Arp | Brand Name: Keyboard related products, now out of business |
| Art Fag | Slang: see Lighting Designer >> submitted by Tony D |
| Ashly Audio | Brand Name: Amps, EQs, mixing boards. |
| a**hole | Cable full of knots either because it was not coiled properly, or because someone did an over under (zero wrap) incorrectly >> submitted by Shawn Insall |
| a**hole (2) | See: Tour Manager |
| audience blinders | Lights used to light up the audience, usually 8 or 9 light fays >> submitted by Eric Weston |
| ax | Slang: An electric guitar, bass or almost any musical instrument (corrected by Slash) |
| B-3 | Model of Hammond organ; distinctive sound caused by a spinning high frequency horn in speaker cabinet |
| backline (1) | Instruments, Amps and other things found upstage >> submitted by Mike O'Connell RFL |
| backline (2) | The persons responsible for setting up, maintaining and packing up said instruments >> submitted by Mike O'Connell RFL |
| backline (3) | Those a**holes who are in last, out first, make more and get more >> submitted by Mike O'Connell RFL |
| backstage pass | Usually a colorful printed self adhesive cloth patch that allows certain access and privileges during or after the show. Highly sought after, and has a high trade value (see also "groupie") |
| baggage (1) | sandbags >> submitted by Bink Knowles |
| baggage (2) | Emotional issues that a groupie might lay on your feet after she "earns" a tag >> submitted by Mike "tooth" O'Connell |
| balanced line | Refers to audio outputs, inputs and cables where the signal is carried on two wires instead of one, the two signals being identical but opposite in phase. Balanced circuitry has much better hum & noise rejection than unbalanced (single wire) circuitry >> submitted by Tony G RFL |
| Balc Fill | Smaller speaker cabinets angled upwards in a theater to fill the balcony (nosebleed) seats >> submitted by Mike "tooth" O'Connell |
| ballink | A chain device that can hold up to 4 lights. mounts to lighting truss >> submitted by tommy lee |
| bar bands | Bands that primarily play in local bars, lounges and pubs. Sometimes they "open" for a touring band |
| bar carp | Little fish crackers which are all you can get to eat at the hotel bar after waiting for the lighting crew to load out and get back to the hotel >> submitted by GFRproductionguy |
| Barcus Berry | Brand Name: Musical equipment electronic pick up used on stringed instruments (including electric violins and piano) >> submitted by Joe Cook, RFL |
| barfood | What is served to smaller scale bands and crews, operative word : Barf >> submitted by Neil Seigenthaler |
| barn doors | Metal doors hinged on the front of some lighting instruments to block off light that would otherwise hit off stage >> submitted by Gary |
| "beach" (1) | Slang: refers to where something will stay at. It's proper position. "That rack goes over to dimmer beach." See also "lives" >> submitted by Keith MacFarlane |
| beach (2) | sandbags >> submitted by Bink Knowles |
| Beijing Roadcase | Same as Mexican Roadcase, but no cardboard, just the foam >> submitted by DJ HERBIE |
| Betty | Slang: Groupie >> submitted by Matthew Tonjes |
| Bi-amp | Use of two amplifiers to reproduce bass and treble separately after electronically splitting the highs from the lows by use of a crossover |
| Bi-techxual | A sound tech or lighting tech that thinks he/she can do both jobs at the same time thereby making 2 tech fees or "saving the client some money" >> submitted by Kevin Busse |
| "bit" | Slang: To get hurt by a piece of equipment. "John got bit by the truss" >> submitted by RezPhreak |
| BJ Tag | (see "backstage pass" & "head (3)") >> submitted by Mike "The Tooth" O'Connell |
| blacks | Official uniform of roadies >> submitted by Tarrant Falcke |
| Blinkie | slang: Lighting Director (see also "squint") >> submitted by T Green |
| blow | slang: To play an instrument. "Who's blowing lead?" Taken from old horn player lingo >> submitted by Robot Tekk |
| board | (e.g. sound board, light board) Refers to a control panel typically situated somewhere out in the audience |
| board tape | A mysterious entity that is always disappearing before needed, and re-appearing after the gig... usually in cohoots with my Sharpie >> submitted by Mike "The Tooth" O'Connell |
| bobtail | Semi Trailer Truck with no trailer |
| bog | Slang: The toilet on a tour bus >> submitted by Gary |
| boner lounge | Rear bunk in the tour bus or RV >> submitted by Al Sekeet |
| book of lies | Slang: A tour itinerary, which are notorious for being incorrect/out of date >> submitted by Gary |
| boom | Type of microphone stand, used to get the base of the stand away from something (e.g. the singer, the drum kit) |
| booth | Short for Control booth, when the light & sound boards might be located. Usualy is soundproof and his its own monitor speakers. Sits high above and behind the crowd. >> submitted by Jason Hopkins, RFL |
| bootlegger | Someone illegally taping a show. Roadies are always on the look out for this vermin, bad things can happen when they are discovered |
| bottom end | The low frequency range of a sound system's frequency response curve >> submitted by Tony G, RFL |
| brand name act | Headliner act playing large venues, with a major record in heavy rotation >> submitted by ROTO |
| Briefcase Engineer | FOH engineer who does not touch the gear on load in, i.e. moves nothing heavier than a briefcase >> submitted by Evan Reisner |
| Brits | British Roadies (See also British Slang page) |
| bunk sock | (1) An article of clothing,traditionally worn on the foot, that takes the place of a "very close friend", during time spent living on a bus. (2) A roadies best friend? (3) An Article of clothing that is used by "lonely roadies" that need a little relief from the long lonely nights in the tour bus but don't want to leave any mess in the bunk. Basically the most disgusting thing you can find in a bunk. >> submitted by various roadies who prefer to remain nameless. |
| Butt Fill | Monitors behind a musician, used for purposes of Deafness, Ego, and... well.. deafness and ego >> submitted by Mike "The Tooth" O'Connell |
| "C" wrench | C-wrench: Crescent wrench, has screw-type adjustment to open jaws; The one tool every light tech or local crew working on lighting should have. >> submitted by Neil Bergman |
| "Cable Monkey" | Semi-derogatory term for sound crew, particularly Jr crew. >> submitted by Joe Schottman |
| Cadillac | Large roadcase with a single top-opening door made of 3/4" plywood. Usually not covered with carpet or Kydex, just painted black. >> submitted by Mark East |
| Cali Cab | (California Cab): The extended-type cabs driving the 53 foot trailers used to haul the show from venue to venue. Usually driven by IBT (Teamster) drivers. >> |
| cannon | Type of audio connector (see also XLR) Can also be used as slang for a mic cable..."Hey mate, pass me those 50 foot cannons" >> submitted by William Mitcheson |
| cans (1) | Slang: for headphones |
| cans (2) | Slang: for Par-Cans (lighting instruments). >> submitted by Mike "The Tooth" O'Connell |
| carabiner | Type of connector, formed as a complete loop. Features spring loaded entry gate. The entry gate is often locked shut in the closed position by using a screw gate ring. >> submitted by Piers from London, UK. |
| carp | Slang: carpenter. Also could be an electrician holding a hammer >> submitted by Bink Knowles |
| Carpenter Focus | Slang: When a piece of scenery, traveler track, etc. hits a lighting instrument. >> submitted by Tom Harvey |
| catering | Under-cooked, over produced meal-type substance (...usually) The light at the end of the tunnel (unless your in the Rhyman, then its at the top of the stairs) >> submitted by Mike "The Tooth" O'Connell |
| cattle | Slang: derogatory term for the audience (e.g open the doors, let the cattle in) |
| center stage | Middle area of stage |
| changeover | Time period where removal of an opening act and set up of the next act or the headliner is done |
| channels | (e.g. 32 channel, 24 channel) refers to the number of separate audio controls available to the sound man or the monitor man. Note: more than one microphone could be connected to one channel. Each channel typically controls the sound of one instrument, or one vocalist |
| Cheeseburger | Slang for a cheesbourgh clamp >> submitted by RezPhreak |
| Cherber | Cheap multi-tool from K-Mart >> submitted by Mike Bartle |
| C.H.I.P.S. | Cleverly Hidden In Plain Sight. As in, "looking for the gaff tape? CHIPS. Monitor board submitted by Jeff Brown RFL |
| Civilian | Any non-roadie who doesn't really understand.... i.e. "My present girlfriend is a civilian...I guess we wont be together long then" Also applicable to non production "visitors" backstage, especially those that get in the way hanging in the wings during a show or right after the end. "Somebody get those f*cking civilians outta my way..." Martin (Moonbeam) RFL |
| Clag | Slang: Any small items that dont have a case of their own... stuff that gets thrown into an empty space in the truck/trailer. Ex: foggers, loose cables, toolboxes, etc. Submitted by Blast RFL |
| click track (1) | A timing sequence sometimes used to coordinate the music with the light show. Pink Floyd's drummer, for instance, listens to a click track on headphones so the movie of the hammers walk in time to the nazi part of the Wall. >> submitted by Russ Jones |
| click track (2) | cheating.... >> submitted by Mike "The Tooth" O'Connell |
| "clown nose" | Foam mic cover used at windy festivals or when lead singers cannot control their spit output >> submitted by David G. Comeau |
| club mode | Scaled down version of normal band set-up due to space limitations (like in a nightclub) |
| cluster f**k | Frustrating and time consuming situation resulting from stupid people attempting to think. >> submitted by Shawn Insall |
| "cock hair" | Slang: Microphone windscreens on a penis mic (Shure SM-57) >> submitted by Kelsey "Chainsaw" Hudson |
| coil | Wire wrapped around the base of the cone or diaphragm that moves when motivated by an electrical current within the magnetic field of the speaker |
| College Crew | Students who volunteered to help with the load in... who also had no idea how hard it really is. See also INTERN >> submitted by Mike "The Tooth" O'Connell |
| Compression Driver | Kind of loudspeaker used to reproduce high frequencies TonyG RFL |
| condom (1) | Slang: refers to the think vinyl that covers a stage's roof (aka "skin") >> submitted by RezPhreak |
| condom (2) | Slang: A cover placed over speaker cabinets to prevent damage in transit, because owners are usually very vain >> submitted by Mike "The Tooth" O'Connell |
| condom (3) | What any roadie better have on hand, useful in many (MANY) ways >> submitted by >> submitted by Mike "The Tooth" O'Connell |
| condom (4) | Foam wind-screen placed over the end of a vocal mic'. i.e., put a condom on that thing to take some "pop" out >> submitted by Ward |
| condom (5) | short PVC pipe slices that snap over truss to prevent lighting instrument mounting hardware from digging a circular pit in the truss metal. AKA 'truss condoms.' >> submitted by Bink Knowles |
| conduit | Plastic pipes which keep permanent wiring away from non-roadies >> submitted by Tarrant Falcke |
| cones | (Speaker cone) Paper piston that pushes air in or out of the bass cabinet. When a speaker quits working it probably needs to be re-coned |
| conscription | Forcing random people to help set up >> submitted by Tarrant Falcke |
| console | Mixing console (see board) |
| Cotton Tech | Slang: Person who sells T-Shirts >> submitted by Troy Pierroz |
| crack and peel | Stick on backstage pass, useful in the search for the lovin >> submitted by Mike "The Tooth" O'Connell |
| Crew chew | Slang: fast food, sandwiches whose mayo has turned clear and meat sports a mysterious rainbow sheen, often accompanied by chips and SnappleÆ >> submitted by Rich Campbell |
| crossover | An electronic device, either passive or active, used to split an audio signal into the appropriate frequency ranges for the loudspeakers in the system. Sophisticated active crossovers may also "listen" to the amplifier outputs, providing useful things like phase compensation and loudspeaker protection >> submitted by Tony G, RFL |
| cross stage stack | Small PA stack set up off stage left and off stage right to supplement the stage monitors. Used with very loud bands to help raise monitor levels on stage |
| Crown | Brand Name: PA Amplifier |
| curtain | End of the show, or in some cases an actual fabric curtain that drops in front of the stage signifying the end of the show |
| curtain call | Encore, additional song or songs. Usually the first encore is automatic and pre-arranged |
| CYA | Cover Your Ass - Always make sure it can't come back and bite you. (do it right the first time, if you're in charge check it. If you're still not sure - do it yourself) >> submitted by Nathan Grange |
| Dave Clarks | Brand name: Headphones |
| dB | Abbreviation: decibel- a measurement of sound levels. Technically, the decibel is used to describe the *ratio* of two power levels, a known "reference" power and the power level being compared to it. It is also used to describe electrical signal levels (e.g. "line level"). amended by Tony |
| dB meter | Electronic device for measuring sound levels (in dBs) |
| DDA | "Doesn't Do Anything" see also DFA >> submitted by BJ |
| DDL | Abbreviation: Digital Delay |
| dead baby seal | Long Rubber Sand Bag >> submitted by Mike MacInnis |
| dead head (1) | A run on a truck or bus that is needed to begin or end a tour without freight or passengers.. ie: from home base to first stop on tour or from last gig to home base,p.s. bands still have to pay for fuel, lube and driver for these >> submitted by Richard Luckett |
| Dead Head (2) | Grateful Dead fan |
| Desk | Mixing desk (see also board) |
| Dew | What roadies drink when they're beat to hell and there's no coffee. Short for Mountain Dew. >> submitted by Jason Hopkins, RFL |
| DFA | Label on fake knob installed on mixing console to deceive bands when they wanted more treble/bass/volume or whatever, and turned it to full at their request. "DFA"? Well, it means "Does F*** All" (>> submitted by Wayne Dawkins) |
| DFW | Doesn't F**King Work" see also DFA >> submitted by BJ |
| DI box | Abbreviation for Direct Input. DI boxes are used to connect instruments, e.g. bass, keyboards, directly to the console, i.e. without using a microphone. They can be passive (containing no powered electronics) or active (with powered electronics) and they are usually fitted with ground lift and pad switches >> submitted by Tony G, RFL |
| diaphragm (1) | Mid range and high frequency equivalent to a speakercone. Usually made of a phenolic resin or aluminum. Not related to a preventative device used by some groupies |
| diaphragm (2) | diaphragm - what you hope she was using >> submitted by Mike "The Tooth" O'Connell |
| Digalo Relay | slang: Digital Delay >> submitted by Kenny Walden |
| digital delay | Digital device creates an echo or endless repetition of a recorded sound by using digital circuitry Aka: DDL |
| dildo (1) | Female to Female cable connector |
| dildo (2) | As seen in Paris Hilton Video |
| dimmer | Electronic controls that allow stage lighting to fade up or down slowly, as opposed to being on or off only |
| dimmer beach | Area where Dimmer racks are located, usually as far off stage as possible, as to prevent a visual obstruction, and to make the lighting peoples work extra hard running feeder >> submitted by Mike "The Tooth" O'Connell |
| Dimmer city | Place (in underworld) where dimmers are located >> submitted by Martin Crul |
| Door bitch | The girl (or guy) that collects the money / tickets at the door at smaller shows. Usually flanked by a couple of Big Dudes who, at a nod from the door bitch, will bounce your ass outta there. Maximum respect for this essential member of the crew >> submitted by Tony G RFL |
| Doris | AKA Doris Delay - Any kind of device capable of producing delay -Sven- |
| down-rigger | The guy not watching the chain and not listening to the uprigger that is screaming at him from 60 foot in the air >> submitted by Stacey "LilBit" Holmes |
| down stage | Portion of the stage closest to the audience. Comes from old stages that were "raked" or inclined, and were actually lower at the audience edge |
| dulcimer | Stringed instrument used by Blue grass bands. Can be played with a pick or small cane like devices called hammers |
| dykes (1) | Diagonal wire cutters |
| Dykes (2) | Lesbi-Friends >> submitted by Mike O'Connell RFL |
| Dykes (3) | Female fans commonly seen at Melissa Etheridge or Lilith Fair shows |
| ears | See In-ears >> submitted by Joe Schottman |
| Echoplex | Brand name device: creates an echo or endless repetition of a recorded sound by using a tape formed in a loop. Replaced later by digital delays (DDL) |
| ego riser | Short runway between DS (down stage) and barrier, so the lead VOX can get closer to the crowd >> submitted by Mike "The Tooth" O'Connell |
| EQ | Equalizer, critical to a good mix it raises or lowers the volume of specific frequencies to compensate for problems with the acoustics of the venue |
| E.S.O. | Equipment Smarter {than} Operator. To client: "Yes sir, we're pretty sure it was E.S.O....and intermittent to boot." >> submitted by Travis Redwine |
| E.W.O.T | Extreme Waste of Technology >> submitted by Mike "The Tooth" O'Connell |
| feedback | Sound of amplified sound recycling and re-amplifying itself very quickly causing a loud shrill tone. The Sound man's Moby Dick. Can be worse in some venues due to poor acoustics, and be partially controlled by use of equalizers |
| feeder (1) | High Amperage power cable >> submitted by Mike "The Tooth" O'Connell |
| feeder (2) | Those nice people in Catering >> submitted by Mike "The Tooth" O'Connell |
| Feeding the Fish | Guitar picks, drum sticks (broken or not) that are found on stage after the show and tossed (or sometimes even thrown) into the crowd >> submitted by Bogart |
| female end | A cable connector characterised by holes >> submitted by Tarrant Falcke |
| Fender | Brand name: Guitars and amplifiers including infamous "Stratocaster" |
| fills | Small PA stack set up off stage left and off stage right to supplement the stage monitors. Used with very loud bands to help raise monitor levels on stage (aka side fills, cross stage) >> submitted by Craig |
| fire curtain | A big pain in the ass (actually it's a heavy fire proof curtain that is designed to drop near the apron in the event of a fire on stage in an attempt to protect the audience, and kill the performers and crew. Most of the time... it just gets in the way) >> submitted by Mike "The Tooth" O'Connell |
| F.I.T.W.E | Slang: F**king In The Way Electrics >> submitted by Katy Ross |
| flame | to bring up all the "Main" lighting on the stage like flood lights for after the show during tear down. After a show you can usually hear a crew guy yelling FLAME IT, or just STAGE FLAME or FLAME meaning being all the lights up >> submitted by Chris Dishonestdons |
| flash pot | Pyrotechnical device that utilizes photographic flash powder to produce a blinding explosion, can be as simple as a coffee can with a thin wire and battery ignition system |
| flip-coil | It's the one loop normal, one loop sort of flipped under itself, alternate all the way down to the end -- so there's no net twist along the cable when you're done. Then you can also just hold one end and fling it out sideways, and it should just unwind tangle-free if you've grabbed the correct end in the first place. [If you grabbed the wrong end, you get a nasty series of knots...] also called "faking it," "over-under wrap," or a "carpenter's wrap" >> submitted by Hobbit |
| floods | Wide angle lighting instrument, could be a par lamp |
| Flying | The activity of suspending equipment from the truss or scaffolding (usually done with motorized chain hoists), e.g. loudspeaker clusters. "We spent two hours flying the stacks". Usual variations - flown, flew, etc apply. >> submitted by Tony G RFL |
| F.N.G. | F*****g New Guy, When something goes wrong blame it on the F.N.G. (>> submitted by Stash) |
| fog machine | Device to deliver large amounts of dry ice fog to a stage. Typically a 55 gallon drum full of heated water with a large blower and dryer vent hose |
| follow spot | A spotlight on a swiveling and tilting stand, so called because it can "Follow" an artist around the stage. See also "spots," "Trouper," and "Super Trouper". >> submitted by Dave B |
| FOH (1) | "Front of House" - Sound Engineer that "mixes" the sound heard in the audience |
| FOH (2) | "FOH only" pass.: Stands for "F*** Off Home". A special award to a crew member no longer required backstage. They can watch the show for the last time from the front and saves the production from buying a train ticket. >> submitted by Pete |
| frammis | Anything even remotely mechanical. ("Thingamajig" to the layman.) >> submitted by Uncle Fester |
| FRED | F*cking Ridiculous Electronic Device >> submitted by Matt C |
| frequency | Measurable amount that air vibrates at to produce certain tones. Audible range for human beings is generally considered to be 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz (but somewhat less for veteran roadies) |
| fresnel lamps | Pronounced {"fra-nell"} Traditional stage lighting instrument with fresnel lens and "barn doors" for fine tuning. They are also rarely used in live touring situations >> submitted by Gary |
| front fill | Small speaker cabinets placed on the DS of a stage to cover the front rows >> submitted by Mike "The Tooth" O'Connell |
| f*** it nut | Adjusting nut on a cast C-clamp which allows 4 pan adjustment. Not the 3/4 yoke mount! >> submitted by Troy Pierroz |
| F**cking the monkey | Running the show. "I'm not f**cking this monkey, I'm just holding his arms down." (in otherwords, I'm not in charge, don't ask me) >> submitted by Ken Horgan |
| fusion | Music genre part rock part jazz, fused together. Rarely include vocals |
]