Front of House
Encyclopedia
Front of house is primarily a theatrical
term, referring to the portion of the building that is open to the public. In theatre and live music venue
s, it typically refers to the auditorium
and foyer
, as opposed to the stage
and backstage areas. In theatre, the front of house manager is responsible for ticket sales, refreshments, and making sure auditorium is set out properly.
"Front of house" has also come into use in the food service industry, referring to the area where the general public dines. In this context, the kitchen is referred to as "back of house".
More generally, "front of house" may also refer to a company's reception area and its staff
.
and sound
operators, excluding the monitor engineers, are normally positioned in a small sectioned off area front of house, surrounded by the audience or at the edge of the audience area. From this position they have unobstructed hearing and a clear view of the performance, enabling the operation of the main speaker system, show control
consoles and other equipment. Therefore in this case Front of House can refer to both the general audience/public area or to the specific small section from where the show is mixed.
The front of house speakers are the main speakers that cover the audience, and the front of house desk is the desk that generates the front of house audio mix. In smaller venues the front of house desk may also produce foldback
(monitor) mixes for the monitor speakers onstage, whereas in larger venues there will normally be a second mixing desk for monitor control positioned just off the side of the main stage. The audio engineer that designs the front of house sound system and puts it into place for the show/event is the system engineer, and this role is often separate from the person who operates the mixing desk who is often employed by the band directly.
In stage lighting
, any lighting fixtures that are on the audience side of the proscenium arch are referred to as being FOH.
This term can also refer to the individuals whose primary work is dealing with patrons, including house managers
, ticket vendors, bartenders, merchandise vendors, ushers, and museum attendant
s.
Theatre
Theatre is a collaborative form of fine art that uses live performers to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place. The performers may communicate this experience to the audience through combinations of gesture, speech, song, music or dance...
term, referring to the portion of the building that is open to the public. In theatre and live music venue
Music venue
A music venue is any location used for a concert or musical performance. Music venues range in size and location, from an outdoor bandshell or bandstand or a concert hall to an indoor sports stadium. Typically, different types of venues host different genres of music...
s, it typically refers to the auditorium
Auditorium
An auditorium is a room built to enable an audience to hear and watch performances at venues such as theatres. For movie theaters, the number of auditoriums is expressed as the number of screens.- Etymology :...
and foyer
Foyer
A foyer or lobby is a large, vast room or complex of rooms adjacent to the auditorium...
, as opposed to the stage
Stage (theatre)
In theatre or performance arts, the stage is a designated space for the performance productions. The stage serves as a space for actors or performers and a focal point for the members of the audience...
and backstage areas. In theatre, the front of house manager is responsible for ticket sales, refreshments, and making sure auditorium is set out properly.
"Front of house" has also come into use in the food service industry, referring to the area where the general public dines. In this context, the kitchen is referred to as "back of house".
More generally, "front of house" may also refer to a company's reception area and its staff
Receptionist
A receptionist is an employee taking an office/administrative support position. The work is usually performed in a waiting area such as a lobby or front office desk of an organization or business...
.
Live venues
LightingStage lighting
Modern stage lighting is a flexible tool in the production of theatre, dance, opera and other performance arts. Several different types of stage lighting instruments are used in the pursuit of the various principles or goals of lighting. Stage lighting has grown considerably in recent years...
and sound
Audio engineering
An audio engineer, also called audio technician, audio technologist or sound technician, is a specialist in a skilled trade that deals with the use of machinery and equipment for the recording, mixing and reproduction of sounds. The field draws on many artistic and vocational areas, including...
operators, excluding the monitor engineers, are normally positioned in a small sectioned off area front of house, surrounded by the audience or at the edge of the audience area. From this position they have unobstructed hearing and a clear view of the performance, enabling the operation of the main speaker system, show control
Show control
Show control is the use of automation technology to link together and operate multiple entertainment control systems in a coordinated manner. It is distinguished from entertainment control , which coordinates elements within a single entertainment discipline such as lighting, sound, video, rigging...
consoles and other equipment. Therefore in this case Front of House can refer to both the general audience/public area or to the specific small section from where the show is mixed.
The front of house speakers are the main speakers that cover the audience, and the front of house desk is the desk that generates the front of house audio mix. In smaller venues the front of house desk may also produce foldback
Foldback (sound engineering)
Foldback is the use of rear-facing heavy-duty loudspeakers known as monitor speaker cabinets on stage during live music performances. The sound is amplified with power amplifiers or a public address system and the speakers are aimed at the on-stage performers rather than the audience...
(monitor) mixes for the monitor speakers onstage, whereas in larger venues there will normally be a second mixing desk for monitor control positioned just off the side of the main stage. The audio engineer that designs the front of house sound system and puts it into place for the show/event is the system engineer, and this role is often separate from the person who operates the mixing desk who is often employed by the band directly.
In stage lighting
Stage lighting
Modern stage lighting is a flexible tool in the production of theatre, dance, opera and other performance arts. Several different types of stage lighting instruments are used in the pursuit of the various principles or goals of lighting. Stage lighting has grown considerably in recent years...
, any lighting fixtures that are on the audience side of the proscenium arch are referred to as being FOH.
This term can also refer to the individuals whose primary work is dealing with patrons, including house managers
House management
In theatre, house management concerns the selling of tickets, the ushering of patrons in front of house areas, and the maintenance and management of the theatre building itself. House management staff usually work for the theatre, under the supervision of the house manager, and not for the...
, ticket vendors, bartenders, merchandise vendors, ushers, and museum attendant
Museum attendant
A museum attendant looks after a gallery in a museum for security reasons, to help museum visitors, and sometimes to help curators in moving objects or changing the gallery displays...
s.