Which statement best describes the difference between a run of show and a master schedule in event management?

• A. Run of Show is the minute-by-minute event schedule; master schedule includes planning milestones, procurement, and project timelines.
• B. Run of Show is the macro project timeline; master schedule is the minute-by-minute event schedule.
• C. Run of Show focuses on budgeting; master schedule focuses on staffing and procurement.
• D. Run of Show tracks attendee registrations; master schedule tracks vendor contracts.

Answer: (A)

The main idea is distinguishing two kinds of scheduling in event management: an on-the-day, operational plan versus a planning, project-wide timeline. The run of show is the minute-by-minute schedule used during the event to coordinate exactly what happens, when certain actions occur, and who cues what—think stage cues, AV transitions, speaker entrances, and timing for each segment. The master schedule, on the other hand, is the broader planning document that maps out planning milestones, procurement steps, contract deadlines, and overall project timelines and dependencies laid out before the event.

So the best description is that the run of show is the minute-by-minute event schedule, while the master schedule includes planning milestones, procurement, and project timelines. This captures the on-the-ground, execution-focused nature of the run of show versus the higher-level, planning-focused nature of the master schedule.

The other options mix up the scope: the macro project timeline is the master schedule, not the minute-by-minute run of show; budgeting or staffing and procurement are parts of planning but the run of show is not primarily about budgeting, and attendee registrations are not the focus of the run of show.