Front of House

What is a FoH?

FoH stands for Front of House. In this context, the "house" refers to the stage at concerts and open-air events. The FoH is usually located in the centre of the audience in front of a stage.

This position offers lighting and sound engineers a good view of the entire stage. From the FoH, the lighting and sound for the show on stage can be professionally controlled and mixed.

How big is the FoH?

The size of an FoH depends on the type of show and the lighting and sound technology used. The distance from the FoH to the stage is determined individually according to the venue, the equipment used and the technical requirements of the performing artists.

For shows in halls, the FoH is usually integrated at ground level. For large events such as open-air events and festivals, the size of the FoH can vary. There are small, ground-level, covered FoHs, and there are three-storey structures.

Ground-level FoH are usually divided up so that the sound department is positioned at the front. Behind it, raised on a platform, is usually the lighting department.

For multi-storey FoHs, the event technicians are usually placed separately. The sound engineering is then on the ground floor, the lighting technicians are usually positioned on the first floor and the chasers often sit above them. The roof of a FoH can then still offer space for spectators with VIP tickets.

Why should the FOH be in the middle of the audience?

This position is perfect for technicians to offer the audience the best possible experience in terms of sight and sound.

The job of a sound engineer is to set up the sound system so that all influences (volume, weather, fluctuations of the artist, etc.) can be dealt with quickly. This also applies to lighting technicians. In the middle of the audience, the light show can also be staged as the artist wishes at the appropriate moments.

FOH in the theatre

In English-speaking countries, FOH also refers to the area accessible to the audience in front of the stage. The opposite is called the backstage area – "behind the stage".