Frequently Asked Questions at the USITT Stage Expo

Is there a trial period?

Yes. Every subscription comes with a 30 day trial period. We encourage you to use VirtualCallboard for 30 days, and if you decide it's not for you, just inform us and we will not send you a bill.

What makes VirtualCallboard different from using Google Groups, Yahoo Groups, or Google Documents?

While a Google/Yahoo Group might suffice for a small production or educational institution, there are key differences to VirtualCallboard:

1. Privacy and Security
With VirtualCallboard, all of your company information is secured behind a login page. There are NO publicly accessible pages in VirtualCallboard. You do not need to expose your documents or reports publicly on the internet, as with Google, so you protect your sensitive intellectual property and keep your reports private.

2. Personalization
When you log in to your VirtualCallboard, you are immediately presented with a personalized homepage, which shows you your messages, your schedule for the day, reports you need to read, and files which have been shared with you. Google Documents are helpful, but at the end of the day all you've done is published a document from your PC to the web. VirtualCallboard goes one step futher. It has the intelligence to actually filter through all the company information and present only the information which is pertinent to you.

3. A "Systems" Approach
VirtualCallboard is an integrated system for managing all your company's information. Rather than spending your valuable time figuring out a frankenstein system of online groups and documents, all of which might require multiple logins and accounts, sit back and let VirtualCallboard be the powerfully integrated system behind your production needs.

Let us focus on the technology, so you can focus solely on the art!

Can cast members log in too?

Yes. All of the users you put into the system have the ability to log in and see their own personalized information.

Do I need a separate VirtualCallboard for every production?

No. The magic of VirtualCallboard is that it unifies all your production information onto a single web portal. When you log in, it will display the information from all the productions you are involved with.

When will the price go up (is the pricing introductory)?

Our prices are NOT introductory prices and do not go up after a planned number of months. While we reserve the right to review the competitiveness and value of our pricing periodically, there are currently no planned price increases.

To guarantee your pricing for at least a year, you can select the "One Year Contract" and receive an extra 10% discount.

What about my regular callboard? I'm not sure all my collaborators are going to buy into this...

When I use VirtualCallboard in my profession stage management work, I don't use it to replace the callboard entirely. I actually use VirtualCallboard to supplement and enhance my regular information dissemination processes. VirtualCallboard makes updating all of the other callboards and communication mechanisms easier for me. I just make printouts directly from the web to quickly update my regular callboard or rehearsal hotline.

How much training does it take to learn how to use this?

Hardly any. VirtualCallboard is designed for ease-of-use and intuitiveness. Some administrative or managerial functions may require some explanation or training, but most basic functions are simple enough for any person to perform.

Does the system require upkeep?

No. As a hosted service, we do the upkeep for you. Go ahead and focus on your art, not on the technology.