Overview of the role
An assistant floor manager (AFM) plays a vital support role in the smooth delivery of a live or recorded broadcast, working directly under the Floor Manager to ensure operations on the studio floor or event location are executed to plan. The AFM helps bridge the communication between the studio gallery/OB truck and on-site contributors, crew, and audience, ensuring that all elements are in place and ready ahead of transmission or recording.
Responsibilities include cueing talent, liaising with on floor team regarding set and props, and supporting contributors and guests before and during the broadcast. The AFM is above all calm, confident and enthusiastic, and expected to be hands-on, organised, and attentive to detail, while maintaining a professional presence on set.
This role suits individuals who are proactive, quick-thinking, and have strong people skills, with the ability to interpret instructions and handle logistical tasks under pressure in a calm unflappable manner.
The majority of people working in this role have worked their way up from a runner or studio assistant position. Showing enthusiasm and aptitude for the role, offering to shadow or stand in to gain experience. AFMs often go on to become floor managers.
Core responsibilities
These core responsibilities are provided as a guide and are not exhaustive. The exact responsibilities in a particular job will vary depending on the scale, budget, genre of the production and whether the project is a series or a feature documentary.
- Attend rehearsals and tech runs to familiarise with the studio or OB setup, running order, and talent movement.
- Assist the floor manager in relaying cues and information from the gallery to contributors, performers, and audience.
- Stand-in for talent and contributors during camera rehearsals when required.
- Ferry talent and contributors to the studio floor/location in adequate time for rehearsals/on camera.
- Help coordinate props, set elements, and any technical setups as instructed by the floor manager or production team.
- Ensure contributors are briefed, in position, and aware of their cues and timings.
- Monitor set safety and flag any potential hazards to the floor manager or production team promptly.
- Support the floor manager in supervising runners and junior assistants, ensuring tasks are executed quickly and efficiently.
- Maintain a tidy, organised floor space and ensure quick changes (such as props or set moves) are handled smoothly.
- Relay any last-minute changes in script, contributor availability, or set layout to all relevant floor crew.
- Suggest any possible solutions to a create a more efficient schedule.
- Help manage audience movement, including seating, safety, and quiet during takes or live segments.
- Be attentive to the needs of talent and contributors, responding to questions or issues swiftly.
- Collect talent and contributors from the dressing room/green room, bringing them to the studio floor or set on location, when they are required, making sure they’ve been briefed by the editorial team and are camera ready.
- Ensure good communication with the FM, gallery, on-screen talent, contributors, and audience.
- When required liaise with sound, lighting, and camera departments to prepare for changes in shot setup or floor plan.
- Support the script supervisor or director in communicating timing or cue changes to floor contributors.
- Take direction from the floor manager and anticipate instructions, ensuring readiness for fast changes.
- Relaying gallery feedback or requirements to the on-set team when necessary.
- Alert talent and contributors of timings and relay any changes to makeup and hair when they will need to be camera ready.
- Cue presenters or contributors when instructed by the floor manager or director.
- React calmly and quickly to unexpected challenges or floor disruptions, always supporting the lead floor manager.
- Help with set resets and transitions between segments during live or pre-recorded production.
- Participate in post-show de-rig if needed, helping with set clearance and contributors leaving location.
- Maintain a respectful and collaborative attitude on set at all times.
- Act as a calm, dependable second-in-command to the floor manager, upholding production standards.
- Be approachable and supportive of contributors, especially first-time or nervous talent.
- Share ideas or thoughts that may improve floor efficiency or contributor experience.
- Remain discreet and professional when handling sensitive or confidential production matters.
Skills
Check out role specific skills, transferable skills and attributes for the role of assistant floor manager.
- Good communicator: able to pass on instructions quickly and clearly to talent and crew.
- Calm: maintaining a calm unflappable presence in an often fast paced, high pressured environment in key.
- Organised: keeps track of scripts, call sheets, props, people and timing requirements throughout the broadcast.
- Responsive under pressure: adapts quickly to changes and stays calm during live broadcast situations.
- Understanding of live production: familiar with the processes, terminology, and flow of live or recorded shows.
- Talent-friendly: comfortable interacting with a range of contributors and talent in a respectful and confident manner.
- Observant: notices issues before they escalate and reacts swiftly to maintain show flow.
- Flexible: willing to step into different support roles as required across the floor team.
- Multitasking: balances multiple responsibilities on the floor at once, without losing focus.
- Problem solving: thinks on their feet and supports the floor manager in overcoming production hurdles.
- Flexibility: works well with changing schedules, evolving editorial, and unexpected events.
- Collaboration: works effectively within a team structure and maintains good relationships with all departments.
- Initiative: spots opportunities for improvements and offers support without needing direction at every step. Often being able to read people and their requirements in advance of being told.
- Reliable: trusted to carry out delegated tasks accurately and without supervision.
- Punctual: always on time and ready to go, especially for call times, tech rehearsals, and live shows.
- Professional: maintains composure and focus in busy, high-pressure broadcast environments.
- Supportive: helps crew and contributors feel comfortable and respected.
- Discreet: handles private or sensitive information with care.
- Energetic: brings positive energy to the floor and encourages teamwork.
- Attention to detail: notices the small things that contribute to a smooth production.
- Confident: able to stand-in for talent and contributors, possibly reading scripts or autocue during rehearsals.
- Awareness of surroundings: being conscious and aware of surroundings on set and pre-empting any possible issues.
- Good communication: voicing needs or tasks in a clear calm manner and working to enact instructions from the floor manager or wider team.