A run of show for a moderated event lists every programme item with time, duration, responsible person, technology and the cue for the moderator. It grows out of the agenda, is aligned with show calling and the moderator, and carries buffers exactly where schedules typically tear.
Why the run of show is more than the agenda
The agenda tells the audience what is coming. The run of show tells everyone behind the stage how it comes: who enters when and from where, which microphone is live, when the video insert starts, what the moderator announces. Without this document, chance runs your event day. With it, show calling, technology and stage share the same picture of the evening, and the audience can feel that in the programme.
The columns that have proven themselves
In practice, a table with six columns is enough: time and duration, programme item, who is on stage, technology with microphones, inserts and light, the moderator's cue, and one column for remarks. The moderation column matters most: it records whether an item gets a full introduction, a bridge or just an announcement. Everyone in the team sees at a glance where the moderator holds the thread and where the programme runs on its own.
Buffers: where the evening actually tears
Schedules rarely fail because of the speeches. They fail at the transitions: stage changes, walks to the stage, technical switches, the buffet that takes longer than planned. That is where buffers belong, not as one lump at the end. A corporate reference by Jasmin Wölke shows how much rhythm a dense programme needs: at the Leadership Excellence Awards she hosted an evening with 250 guests and ten honours. Ten rounds of laudation, walk to the stage, photo and exit only work if every transition is in the plan and the moderator knows where to win time back.
What you can do now
Start with the agenda and add the transitions, then the owners, then the buffers. Share the draft early with the moderator and the technical team: both will spot gaps the organiser cannot see. What the moderator needs in advance is covered in the briefing checklist, what she delivers on the day in what an event moderator does, and how much lead time makes sense in when to book a moderator.