The CAVE tour always began at the entrance to ERF at 842 W. Taylor where the groups assembled. On gallery days, the tour assembled at the gallery and was led to ERF by a tour guide to arrive at the Taylor street entrance. It is at this point that standbys could be admitted into a tour group if space permitted. A group either began their tour immediately upon entering or progressed up to the third floor to a ``holding tank" where video tapes were shown to occupy guests. This was only used in the event of a delay and was not used often. Delay status was determined by the number of groups backed up in the access hallway between the video and dark adjust. Up to two groups could assemble in the hall and any others were sent up to the third floor.
The manager would float among all the stations along the tour and would communicate the status of the tours to the various tour guides. Although we planned the use of walkie-talkies, it never transpired, but footwork accomplished the job. At their appointed time, a group either descended to the second floor from the third floor via the freight elevator to the video at the end of the access hall or went directly to the video area. From here, they progressed to the CAVE and stood in the back where they could dark adjust. After experiencing the show, the group was led out the Taylor street entrance.