Beyoncé would be impressed if she knew, while Eurovision dazzles audiences with pyrotechnics, ballads, and over-the-top glamour, there’s a hidden group of heroes backstage making sure the show never skips a beat. And if Beyoncé, known for her flawless live performances, ever graced the Eurovision stage, this is the crew she’d want behind her. Why? Because they’ve got just 35 seconds to tear down one performance and set up the next without a single hitch.
That’s 35 seconds to switch elaborate props, fix lighting cues, hand out custom microphones, reposition pyrotechnics, mop footprints off the floor, and ensure every performer hits their mark with cinematic precision. All while millions of viewers are watching seamless postcard videos between songs, blissfully unaware of the controlled chaos happening just off camera.
“It’s our version of a Formula 1 tyre change,” explains Richard van Rouwendaal, the ever-composed Dutch stage manager responsible for orchestrating this backstage ballet. “Each crew member has one job, one route, and one mission. If anyone deviates, there’s chaos.”
Rehearsed Like a Concert Tour
Preparation starts weeks in advance. Every country submits its staging plan, and before the actual contestants arrive, local stand-ins rehearse in full costume while the crew works out timing and logistics.
“In two weeks, we trim seconds off every transition,” says Richard. “Some crew members are quick runners; others are good at lifting or organising tight spaces. It’s like playing Tetris in real life.”
It’s also why changing a shoe can send ripples backstage.
“If a singer wears different heels on the final night, suddenly the mic stand is too short or too tall. That’s the kind of detail we obsess over.”
Magic Behind the Curtain
Precision and polish are everything. After each performance, ten cleaners sprint onto the stage to vacuum, mop, and prepare for the next act. Even a footprint can ruin a sweeping overhead camera shot.
And sometimes, the job really does require magic. Think of Sam Ryder’s performance at the 2022 Eurovision contest when a guitar appeared in his hands mid-song like it was conjured from nowhere.
“I placed it there myself,” Richard laughs. “We timed it perfectly with a wide camera shot so the audience never saw me. It’s choreography to the millimetre.”

Props, Sandstorms, and Secret Tunnels
This year, the crew is handling everything from a fallen chandelier for the UK’s Remember Monday to a sauna, a disco ball, and several kilograms of live sand used in France’s Louane’s performance.
“There’s even a dedicated smuggling route,” says Damaris Reist, deputy head of production. “Props enter from one side of the stage, exit from the other, and rotate in a tight backstage loop. The goal is to never stop moving.”
Some props, like Spain’s giant staircase, have to be constructed mid-show while the performance is already in progress. And yes, there are contingency plans in place for just about everything: failed lights, falling props, stuck performers, even broken cameras.
If things go wrong, the director buys time with audience shots or cuts to the green room. For worst-case scenarios, there’s always a synced recording of dress rehearsals ready to go live.
Long Days, Pancakes, and Stroopwafels
The job demands long hours, often stretching 20 hours a day, but Richard and his team find moments of joy in the madness. In 2008, one producer famously built a bunker under the stage complete with espresso machines and a PS3. Richard doesn’t have that setup, but he does bring a touch of Dutch comfort to the backstage crew.
“We have stroopwafels. Last week I made pancakes for everyone to celebrate King’s Day. It’s how we stay human.”
Despite the pressure, he keeps spirits high.
“Yes, we have to be as sharp as a knife. But we also have fun. That’s how you survive this circus.”
Unseen, But Unmissable
Eurovision’s grandeur may be broadcast across the globe, but without the invisible crew, the show would fall apart. From changing sand-covered canvases to making a guitar materialise on cue, these unsung heroes are the heartbeat of the show.
“We’re not invisible,” Richard says with a smile, “but we have to act invisible.”