Curriculum
Six modules that follow a programme from first draft to handover, with preparation notes and answers to common study questions.
The modules
Six modules, each ending in a document you can use
Every module has one practical activity at its centre and produces a working document: a rundown, a timing sheet, a cue sheet, a rehearsal plan, a panel plan or a handover. Work through them in order or return to the one you need.
- 01
Foundations of the Running Order
You start with a rough agenda and turn it into a sequence of segments, each with a start time, an owner and a fallback option. Along the way you learn to spot gaps, overlaps and unclear responsibilities before they reach the stage.
- 02
Segment Timing and Pacing
You time each segment of a sample programme, add buffers and rehearse the decisions needed when the show runs long or short. The activity ends with a revised timing sheet that shows what you would cut, move or stretch.
- 03
Writing Cue Sheets
You write a cue sheet for a sample show, then revise it so presenters, camera operators and sound technicians can each find their line quickly. Attention goes to layout, wording and the order of information on the page.
- 04
Rehearsal Schedules
You build a rehearsal schedule that respects venue access and the limited availability of speakers. Blocks, tech checks and walkthroughs are placed with realistic changeovers, and you explain your choices in a short note.
- 05
Streamed Discussion Planning
You prepare a plan for a streamed panel, covering moderator briefings, guest arrival and remote contributors. Handover points are marked clearly, so the team knows who speaks, who cues and who steps in.
- 06
Production Handovers and Notes
You assemble production notes and a handover document for a finished programme. The aim is that a different team could run it from the page alone, including contacts, decisions and contingency steps.
What to bring and how to prepare
The course is open to beginners, and no earlier production credits are expected. A few habits and simple tools will help you get more from each module and from the feedback you receive.
Background and mindset
You do not need to have worked on a live show. Curiosity about how programmes run, and some patience with detail, matter more than experience. If you have helped organise a meeting, a talk or a community event, you already have useful material to draw on. Be ready to revise your work, because most documents improve with a second pass. Expect to compare your version with the instructor's and to explain why you chose a particular order.
Tools and materials
A computer with a word processor or spreadsheet is enough for most exercises. Many learners also like a printed copy of their rundown and a pen, because marking up paper is a good way to find problems. A stopwatch, or the timer on a phone, is useful for the timing module. Keep a folder for your drafts so you can see how a document changes over time. You do not need specialist software.
Study habits that help
Read each exercise brief once before you begin and note who will use the document. Work in short, focused sessions rather than one long sitting. When you finish a draft, set it aside and read it again as if you were a presenter seeing it for the first time. Write down questions as they arise and bring them to your instructor. Small, steady practice builds the confidence this course is about.
Questions to ask before you begin
Many learners wonder whether they are ready, how the modules fit together and what the work will look like day to day. scenepulse has taught live programme planning since 2017 from Chattanooga, and the instructors, Marcus Reynolds, Elena Brooks and Daniel Whitfield, answer questions from people at every starting point. The Study Questions page collects the most common ones on prerequisites, pacing and feedback. If yours is not there, the contact page is the quickest way to ask.
Teaching Approach