Running the night

This page is for people running a venue or a night. If you’re a DJ looking to play, start here.

When you’re done, the screen will be running the night by itself and you will only need your phone if something changes.

What the screen does on its own

Before doors, point the screen at the night and leave it alone. It works to the clock, so it moves on at the printed time whether or not anyone is watching.

  • Before it starts — a countdown to the first set, with the sign-up code and the lineup beside it.
  • While a DJ plays — their name, how long they have left, and how many slots are still open. A walk-up you added from the console gets their name on the screen too, over your venue’s look — and so does a slot you blocked off with a name, during its time.
  • Between sets — the sign-up code, with the full lineup beside it. The lineup shows every slot, highlights the open ones, and adds each DJ’s name the moment they claim a slot. To show only the next three names on any of these screens, turn off Lineup beside the QR — it sits with the Your look controls on the live console and under Open Decks → Screen.
  • When nothing is on — a poster for your next night, with a code to sign up and that night’s lineup beside it.
The countdown turns amber for the last few minutes of a set, and keeps counting past zero if someone runs over. It is a nudge, not a cut-off — nothing stops the music.

The console on your phone

There is a live console built for one hand in a dark room. You will not need it most nights, but when the running order drifts it is the fastest way back.

  • Move on now — for when a DJ finishes early, or you want to cut a set short.
  • See what is next — without walking to the screen.
  • End the night — closes it off and triggers the summaries.

When reality and the schedule disagree

Nights run late. That is normal, and the screen handles it. The countdown goes past zero and keeps showing the current DJ until you move it on. Advance from the console and everything after it shifts along.

If a DJ does not turn up, advance past them. Mark the no-show the next day rather than during the night. It is not worth your attention while the room is full.

Between nights

Leave the screen on the Open Decks screen when nothing is running. It falls back to a poster for your next night with a sign-up code on it. A quiet Tuesday still recruits for the following month.

If something looks wrong

The screen is stuck on the wrong DJ. Advance from the console. It works to the clock, so a manual push realigns it.

The screen went blank. Reload the page. We store the night on our servers, not on that device, so you lose nothing.

A DJ says they are not on the list. Check Open Decks on your phone. If they claimed a slot they will be there; if they replied to a story instead, they are not.

Last updated 2026-09-16