How it works
Catwalks vary enormously: a classic raised path between rows of seats, a long route around a hall, a street, a park, stairs or even water. Show venues increasingly become part of the collection's story.
Before the show models usually rehearse: they learn the route, where to stop, where to turn and where to look. The usual stop is at the end of the catwalk, facing the photographers' pit.
The English word catwalk comes from a path so narrow only a cat could walk it. In Lithuanian the word is podiumas, literally a raised stage.
In practice
The show is in an old factory, and the catwalk is a long loop between the audience. At rehearsal the producer shows the route, the stop at the end by the photographers' pit and the turn. The model walks it twice to memorise it and notices a slippery patch by the door. During the show he steps around it calmly and nobody notices.
What to watch for
- Memorise the route and stopping points at rehearsal.
- Check the catwalk surface: slippery or uneven.
- Look straight ahead, not at the audience.
Related terms
Frequently asked
01What is the difference between catwalk and runway?
They are synonyms: both mean the show platform and runway work.
02Is there a rehearsal before every show?
Usually yes, at least a short one, so models know the route and the order.