Awards ceremony & gala timer
Keep every award, presenter, and sponsor mention on schedule.
Put a clean countdown on the podium or confidence monitor while the stage manager runs the clock from backstage, moves category to category on schedule, and sends a private cue before a winner's speech runs long.
Product Demo
RunCue
Built for the stage manager running the night's full rundown.
Run the full night's rundown — presenters, categories, sponsor mentions, and the after-party cutover — from one browser room backstage, with no paper run sheet and no shared laptop on the podium.
Compare timers
Choose the setup that matches who needs to see and control the timer.
| Timer | Price | Speaker visibility | Producer control | Cue context | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stagetimer.io (Starter, free) | Free — Pro is $210/yr (~$17.50/mo), Premium $420/yr | Free plan caps you at 3 live connections and 3 timers per room | Full controller, but no private producer cue board | Color-coded on-screen messages, no dedicated cue card | A single small stage under the free connection cap |
| Ontime (free, open-source) | Free if self-hosted — Cloud PRO is $20/mo, Studio $80/mo | No connection limit, but you run and maintain the server, or pay for Cloud | Full rundown control across multiple stages once it's set up | Rundown notes and checkpoints, not a private producer cue board | Teams with the time to self-host, or budget for multi-stage Cloud plans |
| RunCue | $19/mo Pro, $49/mo Team | Separate podium or confidence-monitor link, hosted for you | Separate control link for the stage manager, nothing to install | Private cue cards for handoffs and wrap-up moments on every plan | Producers who want a dedicated awards-night timer without hardware or self-hosting |
Sources: Stagetimer.io for conferences and Stagetimer.io pricing and Ontime (getontime.no).
How it works
Build the rundown before doors open, then run the room from backstage.
Built for
Awards-show producers, gala and fundraiser event planners, hired AV vendors, and corporate-recognition or film-festival event teams.
Pricing
Try the live workflow for 15 minutes.
Keep the room active with every template and custom branding
$19/moPro plus white-label displays
$49/moMonth-to-month, no minimum term — cancel anytime from your secure purchase library, so subscribing for a single event is a normal way to use RunCue. Review the Terms, Privacy Policy, and Refund Policy.
Weighing it against a free stage timer? See the full price and feature comparison.
FAQ
Choosing a timer for awards ceremonies and galas
Isn't stagetimer.io free for an awards night?
Its Starter plan is free, but it caps you at 3 live connections and 3 timers per room and does not include a private producer cue board. Its Pro plan is $210/yr (about $17.50/mo), and Premium is $420/yr.
Isn't Ontime free and open-source?
Yes — Ontime is free if you self-host it, which means running and maintaining your own server for the night. Its Cloud PRO option starts at $20/mo, and Cloud Studio (for larger multi-stage events) is $80/mo.
Can the podium or the audience see the stage manager's cues?
No. The podium or confidence-monitor link only shows a clean countdown. Cue cards and controls stay on the stage manager's own control link, backstage.
Does the rundown auto-advance between award categories?
Yes. The control view moves to the next category or segment on schedule so the stage manager isn't manually resetting a timer between presenters.
Is RunCue free?
No. There's no permanent free plan. A 15-minute, no-card trial runs the full timer, then Pro is $19/mo and Team is $49/mo — Team also removes RunCue branding from display links, useful for a broadcast or livestreamed lower third.
Is there a trial?
Yes — and there's no rush to set it up. You get up to 7 days to build the run of show before any clock starts; the 15-minute live trial begins only once you press Start, and it includes the live timer, separate role links, cues, Reset, and segment editing before the room locks — no card required.
Get started