This fall I worked as a sender/ show assistant for the MB Fashion Week. The structure that our show team followed was:
-Director (runs rehearsals, supervises backstage and stage set up, advances show with designer and venue, actually calls show- light cues, sound cues, spot cues and models)
-Sender (physically sends the models out onto the runway as called by director, assists with backstage set up)
-Show Assistants (physically lines up models to go onstage, assists with backstage set up)
Backstage set up duties include: catering, clothing racks, show cards, posting signs, set up quick change areas, organize dressing area, direct traffic
Major differences from theatre/ dance/ opera:
-cameras of every kind are every where, interviews, tv, the works
-touching- weird, but it is common practice to touch the talent (as in take them by the arm and lead them where you want to go)
-celebrity walk-throughs (random celebrities will hang out backstage)
-pre-show can almost be a party (dj's, booze, food etc)
A show call is usually 5 or 6 hours. 4 hours of prep, then show, then strike.