HOLD Please is a stage management soundboard for theater, film, and rehearsal. Tap any button to play a pre-recorded vocal cue — “Hold Please,” “Places,” “Standby,” “Go,” and more — organized into sections for Stage Cues, Timing, Production, Movement & Lighting, Quiet & Wrap, and Calling the Show.

Getting Started

Playing a cue

1. Scroll to find the cue you need. Cues are grouped by category (Stage Cues, Timing, Production, etc.).
2. Tap a green button to play the cue. The button turns red while it’s playing.
3. Tap the red button again to stop playback immediately.

Master volume

At the top of the screen is a master volume slider with a live VU meter (the bar of colored segments). Drag the slider to adjust output level for every cue. The meter shows real-time output level so you can confirm sound is actually playing.

Playing multiple cues

You can tap several cues in a row — each plays independently. Tapping the same button while it’s playing stops just that cue.

Troubleshooting

I don’t hear anything when I tap a button

Try these in order:

1. Check the silent / ring switch on the side of your device. HOLD Please is set to play through the playback audio session, so it should sound even when the ringer is muted — but it’s the most common cause of “no audio” reports.
2. Turn up the master volume slider in the app (top of the screen). Confirm the percentage is above 0%.
3. Turn up your device volume using the hardware volume buttons.
4. Watch the VU meter when you tap a cue. If the green/yellow segments light up, audio is playing — the problem is your speaker, headphones, or output device, not the app.
5. Disconnect Bluetooth headphones / AirPlay. If audio is being routed to a paired speaker, headset, or CarPlay device, that’s where the cue is playing. Toggle Bluetooth off in Control Center to force playback through the device speaker.
6. Force-quit and reopen the app. Swipe up from the bottom of the screen (or double-click Home), then swipe HOLD Please off the top.

Audio cuts out when another app plays sound

HOLD Please uses the standard iOS playback session. Music apps, video calls, and other audio apps may interrupt or duck playback. Pause the other app and try the cue again.

Audio stops when I lock the screen or switch apps

Cues are designed to play in the foreground. If you need a cue to fire during a show, keep the app open and the screen awake. You can disable auto-lock during a performance in Settings → Display & Brightness → Auto-Lock → Never (remember to set it back afterward).

The VU meter is moving but I still hear nothing

This almost always means audio is routing somewhere else:

• Bluetooth speaker or headphones still paired
• AirPlay session active
• A wired headset plugged in

Open Control Center, tap the audio output picker (top-right of the music card), and switch output to iPhone or iPad.

A button stays red and won’t stop

Tap the same button once more — that toggles playback off. If it still won’t release, force-quit the app and reopen it. The button state resets on relaunch.

The app feels sluggish or buttons are slow to respond

• Close other apps to free up memory.
• Restart your device.
• Make sure you’re running a current version of iOS / iPadOS.

Audio sounds distorted or crackly

• Lower the master volume slider to about 75% — pinning to 100% combined with a loud cue and a small speaker can clip.
• Try a different output (built-in speaker vs. Bluetooth) to rule out the accessory.

I miss the cue I need / can I add my own sounds?

The current version ships with a fixed library of professionally recorded cues. Custom user-recorded cues are not supported yet — if there’s a phrase you’d like added in a future update, send us a request.

Tips for Show Calling

• Pre-test in the venue. House PA systems vary wildly. Plug in or connect to the venue’s speaker system and run a few cues before doors.
• Use a wired connection when possible. Wired audio has lower latency than Bluetooth — important when calling “Go” against a click.
• Keep the device plugged in. Continuous use with the screen on drains battery quickly.
• Disable Do Not Disturb notifications so a text or call doesn’t interrupt a cue mid-show. Better yet, enable Airplane Mode during the performance and re-enable Wi-Fi if you need it.
• Set Auto-Lock to Never for the duration of the show, then change it back.

Requirements

• iPhone or iPad running a current version of iOS / iPadOS
• A few megabytes of free storage for the bundled audio library

Privacy

HOLD Please does not collect personal data, does not require an account, and does not connect to the internet to play cues. All audio is bundled with the app and plays locally on your device.