diff --git a/apps/client/src/common/hooks/useEntryAction.ts b/apps/client/src/common/hooks/useEntryAction.ts
index 4600c3618..8ac0c669d 100644
--- a/apps/client/src/common/hooks/useEntryAction.ts
+++ b/apps/client/src/common/hooks/useEntryAction.ts
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import {
   EntryId,
   isOntimeEvent,
   MaybeString,
+  OntimeBlock,
   OntimeEntry,
   OntimeEvent,
   Rundown,
@@ -11,7 +12,7 @@ import {
   TimeStrategy,
   TransientEventPayload,
 } from 'ontime-types';
-import { dayInMs, MILLIS_PER_SECOND, parseUserTime, reorderArray, swapEventData } from 'ontime-utils';
+import { dayInMs, generateId, MILLIS_PER_SECOND, parseUserTime, reorderArray, swapEventData } from 'ontime-utils';
 
 import { RUNDOWN } from '../api/constants';
 import {
@@ -71,6 +72,7 @@ export const useEntryActions = () => {
    * @private
    */
   const _addEntryMutation = useMutation({
+    // TODO(v4): optimistic create entry
     mutationFn: postAddEntry,
     onSettled: () => {
       queryClient.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: RUNDOWN });
@@ -83,7 +85,7 @@ export const useEntryActions = () => {
    */
   const addEntry = useCallback(
     async (entry: Partial<OntimeEntry>, options?: EventOptions) => {
-      const newEntry: TransientEventPayload = { ...entry };
+      const newEntry: TransientEventPayload = { ...entry, id: generateId() };
 
       // ************* CHECK OPTIONS specific to events
       if (isOntimeEvent(newEntry)) {
@@ -188,6 +190,7 @@ export const useEntryActions = () => {
           id: previousData.id,
           title: previousData.title,
           order: previousData.order,
+          flatOrder: previousData.flatOrder,
           entries: newRundown,
           revision: -1,
         });
@@ -355,6 +358,7 @@ export const useEntryActions = () => {
           id: previousRundown.id,
           title: previousRundown.title,
           order: previousRundown.order,
+          flatOrder: previousRundown.flatOrder,
           entries: newRundown,
           revision: -1,
         });
@@ -399,17 +403,14 @@ export const useEntryActions = () => {
 
       if (previousData) {
         // optimistically update object
-        const newOrder = previousData.order.filter((id) => !entryIds.includes(id));
-        const newRundown = { ...previousData.entries };
-        for (const eventId of entryIds) {
-          delete newRundown[eventId];
-        }
+        const { entries, order, flatOrder } = optimisticDeleteEntries(entryIds, previousData);
 
         queryClient.setQueryData<Rundown>(RUNDOWN, {
           id: previousData.id,
           title: previousData.title,
-          order: newOrder,
-          entries: newRundown,
+          order,
+          flatOrder,
+          entries,
           revision: -1,
         });
       }
@@ -462,8 +463,9 @@ export const useEntryActions = () => {
       queryClient.setQueryData<Rundown>(RUNDOWN, {
         id: previousData?.id ?? 'default',
         title: previousData?.title ?? '',
-        entries: {},
         order: [],
+        flatOrder: [],
+        entries: {},
         revision: -1,
       });
 
@@ -542,6 +544,7 @@ export const useEntryActions = () => {
           id: previousData.id,
           title: previousData.title,
           order: newOrder,
+          flatOrder: previousData.flatOrder,
           entries: previousData.entries,
           revision: -1,
         });
@@ -613,6 +616,7 @@ export const useEntryActions = () => {
           id: previousData.id,
           title: previousData.title,
           order: previousData.order,
+          flatOrder: previousData.flatOrder,
           entries: newRundown,
           revision: -1,
         });
@@ -662,3 +666,32 @@ export const useEntryActions = () => {
     updateCustomField,
   };
 };
+
+/**
+ * Utility to optimistically delete entries from client cache
+ */
+function optimisticDeleteEntries(entryIds: EntryId[], rundown: Rundown) {
+  const entries = { ...rundown.entries };
+  let order = [...rundown.order];
+  let flatOrder = [...rundown.flatOrder];
+
+  for (let i = 0; i < entryIds.length; i++) {
+    const entry = entries[entryIds[i]];
+    deleteEntry(entry);
+  }
+
+  function deleteEntry(entry: OntimeEntry) {
+    if (isOntimeEvent(entry) && entry.parent) {
+      const parent = entries[entry.parent] as OntimeBlock;
+      parent.events = parent.events.filter((event) => event !== entry.id);
+      parent.numEvents -= 1;
+    } else {
+      order = order.filter((id) => id !== entry.id);
+    }
+
+    delete entries[entry.id];
+    flatOrder = flatOrder.filter((id) => id !== entry.id);
+  }
+
+  return { entries, order, flatOrder };
+}
diff --git a/apps/client/src/features/rundown/Rundown.tsx b/apps/client/src/features/rundown/Rundown.tsx
index 3104d66f5..6ceb547ba 100644
--- a/apps/client/src/features/rundown/Rundown.tsx
+++ b/apps/client/src/features/rundown/Rundown.tsx
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import {
   type Rundown,
   isOntimeBlock,
   isOntimeEvent,
+  OntimeEntry,
   Playback,
   SupportedEvent,
 } from 'ontime-types';
@@ -93,7 +94,7 @@ export default function Rundown({ data }: RundownProps) {
   );
 
   const insertAtId = useCallback(
-    (type: SupportedEvent, id: MaybeString, above = false) => {
+    (patch: Partial<OntimeEntry> & { type: SupportedEvent }, id: MaybeString, above = false) => {
       const options: EventOptions =
         id === null
           ? {}
@@ -102,17 +103,10 @@ export default function Rundown({ data }: RundownProps) {
               before: above ? id : undefined,
             };
 
-      if (type === SupportedEvent.Event) {
-        const newEvent = {
-          type: SupportedEvent.Event,
-        };
-        if (!above && id) {
-          options.lastEventId = id;
-        }
-        addEntry(newEvent, options);
-      } else {
-        addEntry({ type }, options);
+      if (!above && id) {
+        options.lastEventId = id;
       }
+      addEntry(patch, options);
     },
     [addEntry],
   );
@@ -208,14 +202,14 @@ export default function Rundown({ data }: RundownProps) {
 
     ['mod + Backspace', () => deleteAtCursor(cursor), { preventDefault: true }],
 
-    ['alt + E', () => insertAtId(SupportedEvent.Event, cursor), { preventDefault: true }],
-    ['alt + shift + E', () => insertAtId(SupportedEvent.Event, cursor, true), { preventDefault: true }],
+    ['alt + E', () => insertAtId({ type: SupportedEvent.Event }, cursor), { preventDefault: true }],
+    ['alt + shift + E', () => insertAtId({ type: SupportedEvent.Event }, cursor, true), { preventDefault: true }],
 
-    ['alt + B', () => insertAtId(SupportedEvent.Block, cursor), { preventDefault: true }],
-    ['alt + shift + B', () => insertAtId(SupportedEvent.Block, cursor, true), { preventDefault: true }],
+    ['alt + B', () => insertAtId({ type: SupportedEvent.Block }, cursor), { preventDefault: true }],
+    ['alt + shift + B', () => insertAtId({ type: SupportedEvent.Block }, cursor, true), { preventDefault: true }],
 
-    ['alt + D', () => insertAtId(SupportedEvent.Delay, cursor), { preventDefault: true }],
-    ['alt + shift + D', () => insertAtId(SupportedEvent.Delay, cursor, true), { preventDefault: true }],
+    ['alt + D', () => insertAtId({ type: SupportedEvent.Delay }, cursor), { preventDefault: true }],
+    ['alt + shift + D', () => insertAtId({ type: SupportedEvent.Delay }, cursor, true), { preventDefault: true }],
 
     ['mod + C', () => setEntryCopyId(cursor)],
     ['mod + V', () => insertCopyAtId(cursor, entryCopyId)],
@@ -260,7 +254,7 @@ export default function Rundown({ data }: RundownProps) {
   };
 
   if (statefulEntries.length < 1) {
-    return <RundownEmpty handleAddNew={() => insertAtId(SupportedEvent.Event, cursor)} />;
+    return <RundownEmpty handleAddNew={() => insertAtId({ type: SupportedEvent.Event }, cursor)} />;
   }
 
   // 1. gather presentation options
@@ -292,15 +286,21 @@ export default function Rundown({ data }: RundownProps) {
               return (
                 <Fragment key={entry.id}>
                   {isEditMode && (hasCursor || isFirst) && (
-                    <QuickAddBlock showBlocks previousEventId={rundownMeta.previousEntryId} />
+                    <QuickAddBlock previousEventId={rundownMeta.previousEntryId} parentBlock={null} />
                   )}
                   {isOntimeBlock(entry) ? (
                     <BlockBlock data={entry} hasCursor={hasCursor}>
                       {entry.events.length === 0 && (
-                        <BlockEmpty handleAddNew={() => insertAtId(SupportedEvent.Event, cursor)} />
+                        <BlockEmpty
+                          handleAddNew={() => insertAtId({ type: SupportedEvent.Event, parent: entry.id }, entry.id)}
+                        />
                       )}
                       {entry.events.map((eventId, nestedIndex) => {
                         const nestedEntry = entries[eventId];
+                        if (!nestedEntry) {
+                          return null;
+                        }
+
                         const nestedRundownMeta = process(nestedEntry);
                         const isFirstInGroup = nestedIndex === 0;
                         const isLastInGroup = nestedIndex === entry.events.length - 1;
@@ -312,7 +312,10 @@ export default function Rundown({ data }: RundownProps) {
                         return (
                           <Fragment key={nestedEntry.id}>
                             {isEditMode && (hasNestedCursor || isFirstInGroup) && (
-                              <QuickAddBlock previousEventId={rundownMeta.previousEntryId} />
+                              <QuickAddBlock
+                                parentBlock={entry.id}
+                                previousEventId={nestedRundownMeta.previousEntryId}
+                              />
                             )}
 
                             <div
@@ -342,7 +345,7 @@ export default function Rundown({ data }: RundownProps) {
                               </div>
                             </div>
                             {isEditMode && (hasNestedCursor || isLastInGroup) && (
-                              <QuickAddBlock previousEventId={entry.id} />
+                              <QuickAddBlock parentBlock={entry.id} previousEventId={nestedEntry.id} />
                             )}
                           </Fragment>
                         );
@@ -371,7 +374,9 @@ export default function Rundown({ data }: RundownProps) {
                       </div>
                     </div>
                   )}
-                  {isEditMode && (hasCursor || isLast) && <QuickAddBlock showBlocks previousEventId={entry.id} />}
+                  {isEditMode && (hasCursor || isLast) && (
+                    <QuickAddBlock previousEventId={entry.id} parentBlock={null} />
+                  )}
                 </Fragment>
               );
             })}
diff --git a/apps/client/src/features/rundown/quick-add-block/QuickAddBlock.module.scss b/apps/client/src/features/rundown/quick-add-block/QuickAddBlock.module.scss
index a3fa9aec6..f62d5555c 100644
--- a/apps/client/src/features/rundown/quick-add-block/QuickAddBlock.module.scss
+++ b/apps/client/src/features/rundown/quick-add-block/QuickAddBlock.module.scss
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 
   margin: 0.25rem 0;
   font-size: calc(1rem - 3px);
+  margin-left: calc(2em + 0.5rem);
 }
 
 .quickBtn {
diff --git a/apps/client/src/features/rundown/quick-add-block/QuickAddBlock.tsx b/apps/client/src/features/rundown/quick-add-block/QuickAddBlock.tsx
index 76edd93f4..2875307bd 100644
--- a/apps/client/src/features/rundown/quick-add-block/QuickAddBlock.tsx
+++ b/apps/client/src/features/rundown/quick-add-block/QuickAddBlock.tsx
@@ -1,74 +1,69 @@
-import { memo, useCallback, useRef } from 'react';
+import { memo, useRef } from 'react';
 import { IoAdd } from 'react-icons/io5';
 import { Button } from '@chakra-ui/react';
 import { MaybeString, SupportedEvent } from 'ontime-types';
 
 import { useEntryActions } from '../../../common/hooks/useEntryAction';
-import { useEmitLog } from '../../../common/stores/logger';
 
 import style from './QuickAddBlock.module.scss';
 
 interface QuickAddBlockProps {
   previousEventId: MaybeString;
-  showBlocks?: boolean;
+  parentBlock: MaybeString;
 }
 
 export default memo(QuickAddBlock);
 
 function QuickAddBlock(props: QuickAddBlockProps) {
-  const { previousEventId, showBlocks } = props;
+  const { previousEventId, parentBlock } = props;
   const { addEntry } = useEntryActions();
-  const { emitError } = useEmitLog();
 
   const doLinkPrevious = useRef<HTMLInputElement | null>(null);
   const doPublic = useRef<HTMLInputElement | null>(null);
 
-  const handleCreateEvent = useCallback(
-    (eventType: SupportedEvent) => {
-      switch (eventType) {
-        case 'event': {
-          const defaultPublic = doPublic?.current?.checked;
-          const linkPrevious = doLinkPrevious?.current?.checked;
+  const addEvent = () => {
+    addEntry(
+      {
+        type: SupportedEvent.Event,
+        parent: parentBlock ?? null,
+      },
+      {
+        after: previousEventId,
+        defaultPublic: doPublic?.current?.checked,
+        lastEventId: previousEventId,
+        linkPrevious: doLinkPrevious?.current?.checked,
+      },
+    );
+  };
 
-          const newEvent = { type: SupportedEvent.Event };
-          const options = {
-            after: previousEventId,
-            defaultPublic,
-            lastEventId: previousEventId,
-            linkPrevious,
-          };
-          addEntry(newEvent, options);
-          break;
-        }
-        case 'delay': {
-          const options = {
-            lastEventId: previousEventId,
-            after: previousEventId,
-          };
-          addEntry({ type: SupportedEvent.Delay }, options);
-          break;
-        }
-        case 'block': {
-          const options = {
-            lastEventId: previousEventId,
-            after: previousEventId,
-          };
-          addEntry({ type: SupportedEvent.Block }, options);
-          break;
-        }
-        default: {
-          emitError(`Cannot create unknown event type: ${eventType}`);
-          break;
-        }
-      }
-    },
-    [previousEventId, addEntry, emitError],
-  );
+  const addDelay = () => {
+    addEntry(
+      // TODO(v4): add delays to blocks
+      { type: SupportedEvent.Delay },
+      {
+        lastEventId: previousEventId,
+        after: previousEventId,
+      },
+    );
+  };
+
+  const addBlock = () => {
+    if (parentBlock !== null) {
+      return;
+    }
+    addEntry(
+      { type: SupportedEvent.Block },
+      {
+        lastEventId: previousEventId,
+        after: previousEventId,
+      },
+    );
+  };
 
   return (
     <div className={style.quickAdd}>
       <Button
-        onClick={() => handleCreateEvent(SupportedEvent.Event)}
+        onClick={addEvent}
         size='xs'
         variant='ontime-subtle-white'
         className={style.quickBtn}
@@ -78,7 +73,7 @@ function QuickAddBlock(props: QuickAddBlockProps) {
         Event
       </Button>
       <Button
-        onClick={() => handleCreateEvent(SupportedEvent.Delay)}
+        onClick={addDelay}
         size='xs'
         variant='ontime-subtle-white'
         className={style.quickBtn}
@@ -87,9 +82,9 @@ function QuickAddBlock(props: QuickAddBlockProps) {
       >
         Delay
       </Button>
-      {showBlocks && (
+      {parentBlock === null && (
         <Button
-          onClick={() => handleCreateEvent(SupportedEvent.Block)}
+          onClick={addBlock}
           size='xs'
           variant='ontime-subtle-white'
           className={style.quickBtn}
diff --git a/apps/client/src/features/rundown/rundown.utils.ts b/apps/client/src/features/rundown/rundown.utils.ts
index 2ad16e3bd..54d443234 100644
--- a/apps/client/src/features/rundown/rundown.utils.ts
+++ b/apps/client/src/features/rundown/rundown.utils.ts
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ export function makeRundownMetadata(selectedEventId: MaybeString) {
     isNext: false,
     isNextDay: false,
     totalGap: 0,
-    isLinkedToLoaded: true,
+    isLinkedToLoaded: false,
     isLoaded: false,
   };
 
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ function processEntry(
   processedData.isLoaded = false;
   processedData.previousEntryId = processedData.thisId;
   processedData.thisId = entry.id;
+  processedData.previousEvent = processedData.latestEvent;
 
   if (entry.id === selectedEventId) {
     processedData.isLoaded = true;
@@ -65,19 +66,18 @@ function processEntry(
   if (isOntimeEvent(entry)) {
     // event indexes are 1 based in UI
     processedData.eventIndex += 1;
-    processedData.previousEvent = processedData.latestEvent;
 
     if (isPlayableEvent(entry)) {
       processedData.isNextDay = checkIsNextDay(entry, processedData.previousEvent);
+      processedData.totalGap += entry.gap;
 
-      if (!processedData.isPast) {
-        processedData.totalGap += entry.gap;
+      if (!processedData.isPast && !processedData.isLoaded) {
         /**
-         * isLinkToLoaded is a chain value that we maintain until we find an unlinked event
-         * or we find a countToEnd event
+         * isLinkToLoaded is a chain value that we maintain until we
+         * a) find an unlinked event
+         * b) find a countToEnd event
          */
-        processedData.isLinkedToLoaded =
-          processedData.isLinkedToLoaded && entry.linkStart && !processedData.previousEvent?.countToEnd;
+        processedData.isLinkedToLoaded = entry.linkStart && !processedData.previousEvent?.countToEnd;
       }
 
       if (isNewLatest(entry, processedData.previousEvent)) {
diff --git a/apps/server/src/services/rundown-service/RundownService.ts b/apps/server/src/services/rundown-service/RundownService.ts
index a554faddf..004042da6 100644
--- a/apps/server/src/services/rundown-service/RundownService.ts
+++ b/apps/server/src/services/rundown-service/RundownService.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 import {
   CustomFields,
-  LogOrigin,
   OntimeBlock,
   OntimeDelay,
   OntimeEvent,
@@ -17,12 +16,12 @@ import { getCueCandidate } from 'ontime-utils';
 
 import { block as blockDef, delay as delayDef } from '../../models/eventsDefinition.js';
 import { sendRefetch } from '../../adapters/websocketAux.js';
-import { logger } from '../../classes/Logger.js';
 import { createEvent } from '../../utils/parser.js';
 import { updateRundownData } from '../../stores/runtimeState.js';
 import { runtimeService } from '../runtime-service/RuntimeService.js';
 
 import * as cache from './rundownCache.js';
+import { getInsertionPosition } from './rundownUtils.js';
 
 type CompleteEntry<T> =
   T extends Partial<OntimeEvent>
@@ -40,10 +39,6 @@ function generateEvent<T extends Partial<OntimeEvent> | Partial<OntimeDelay> | P
   eventData: T,
   afterId?: string,
 ): CompleteEntry<T> {
-  // TODO: could we keep the UI ID to avoid the flash on create?
-  // we discard any UI provided IDs and add our own
-  const id = cache.getUniqueId();
-
   if (isOntimeEvent(eventData)) {
     const currentRundown = cache.getCurrentRundown();
     return createEvent(
@@ -52,10 +47,13 @@ function generateEvent<T extends Partial<OntimeEvent> | Partial<OntimeDelay> | P
     ) as CompleteEntry<T>;
   }
 
+  const id = eventData.id || cache.getUniqueId();
+
   if (isOntimeDelay(eventData)) {
     return { ...delayDef, duration: eventData.duration ?? 0, id } as CompleteEntry<T>;
   }
 
+  // TODO(v4): allow user to provide a larger patch of the block entry
   if (isOntimeBlock(eventData)) {
     return { ...blockDef, title: eventData?.title ?? '', id } as CompleteEntry<T>;
   }
@@ -67,41 +65,46 @@ function generateEvent<T extends Partial<OntimeEvent> | Partial<OntimeDelay> | P
  * creates a new event with given data
  */
 export async function addEvent(eventData: EventPostPayload): Promise<OntimeEntry> {
-  // if the user didnt provide an index, we add the event to start
-  let atIndex = 0;
-  let afterId: string | undefined = eventData?.after;
+  // 1. we allow the user to provide an ID, but make sure it is unique
+  if (eventData?.id && cache.hasId(eventData.id)) {
+    throw new Error(`Event with ID ${eventData.id} already exists`);
+  }
 
-  if (afterId) {
-    const previousIndex = cache.getIndexOf(afterId);
-    if (previousIndex < 0) {
-      logger.warning(LogOrigin.Server, `Could not find event with id ${afterId}`);
-    } else {
-      atIndex = previousIndex + 1;
+  // 2. if the user provides a parent (inside a group), we make sure it exists
+  let parent: EntryId | undefined;
+  if ('parent' in eventData && eventData.parent != null) {
+    if (!cache.hasId(eventData.parent)) {
+      throw new Error(`Parent event with ID ${eventData.parent} not found`);
     }
-  } else if (eventData?.before !== undefined) {
-    const previousIndex = cache.getIndexOf(eventData.before);
-    if (previousIndex < 0) {
-      logger.warning(LogOrigin.Server, `Could not find event with id ${eventData.before}`);
-    } else {
-      atIndex = previousIndex;
-      if (previousIndex > 0) {
-        afterId = cache.getIdOf(atIndex - 1);
-      }
+    parent = eventData.parent;
+  }
+
+  // 3. if the user provides an after or before ID, we make sure it exists
+  if (eventData?.after !== undefined) {
+    if (!cache.hasId(eventData.after)) {
+      throw new Error(`Event with ID ${eventData.after} not found`);
+    }
+  }
+  if (eventData?.before !== undefined) {
+    if (!cache.hasId(eventData.before)) {
+      throw new Error(`Event with ID ${eventData.before} not found`);
     }
   }
 
-  // generate a fully formed event from the patch
-  const eventToAdd = generateEvent(eventData, afterId);
+  const { afterId, atIndex } = getInsertionPosition(parent, eventData?.after, eventData?.before);
+
+  // generate a fully formed entry from the patch
+  const sanitisedEntry = generateEvent(eventData, afterId);
 
   // modify rundown
   const scopedMutation = cache.mutateCache(cache.add);
-  const { newEvent } = await scopedMutation({ atIndex, event: eventToAdd });
+  const { newEvent } = await scopedMutation({ atIndex, parent, entry: sanitisedEntry });
 
   // notify runtime that rundown has changed
   updateRuntimeOnChange();
 
   // notify timer and external services of change
-  notifyChanges({ timer: [eventToAdd.id], external: true });
+  notifyChanges({ timer: [sanitisedEntry.id], external: true });
 
   // we know this mutation returns an OntimeEntry
   return newEvent as OntimeEntry;
diff --git a/apps/server/src/services/rundown-service/rundownCache.ts b/apps/server/src/services/rundown-service/rundownCache.ts
index 56ef348b2..c30a2cef6 100644
--- a/apps/server/src/services/rundown-service/rundownCache.ts
+++ b/apps/server/src/services/rundown-service/rundownCache.ts
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ let currentRundown: Rundown = {
   id: '',
   title: '',
   order: [],
+  flatOrder: [],
   entries: {},
   revision: 0,
 };
@@ -101,6 +102,9 @@ export function generate(
     // we assign a reference to the current entry, this will be mutated in place
     const currentEntryId = initialRundown.order[i];
     const currentEntry = initialRundown.entries[currentEntryId];
+    if (!currentEntry) {
+      continue;
+    }
     const { processedEntry } = process(currentEntry, null);
 
     // if the event is a block, we process the nested entries
@@ -115,6 +119,10 @@ export function generate(
       for (let i = 0; i < processedEntry.events.length; i++) {
         const nestedEntryId = processedEntry.events[i];
         const nestedEntry = initialRundown.entries[nestedEntryId];
+
+        if (!nestedEntry) {
+          continue;
+        }
         const { processedData: processedNestedData, processedEntry: processedNestedEntry } = process(
           nestedEntry,
           processedEntry.id,
@@ -161,14 +169,22 @@ export function updateCache() {
 
   // update the cache values
   // eslint-disable-next-line @typescript-eslint/no-unused-vars -- we are not interested in the iteration data
-  const { entries, order, previousEvent, latestEvent, ...metadata } = processedData;
-  currentRundown.entries = entries;
-  currentRundown.order = order;
+  const { previousEvent, latestEvent, ...metadata } = processedData;
+  currentRundown.entries = metadata.entries;
+  currentRundown.order = metadata.order;
+  currentRundown.flatOrder = metadata.flatEventOrder;
   rundownMetadata = metadata;
   clearIsStale();
   customFieldChangelog = {};
 }
 
+/**
+ * Whether a given ID is exists in the current rundown
+ */
+export function hasId(id: EntryId): boolean {
+  return Object.hasOwn(currentRundown.entries, id);
+}
+
 /** Returns an ID guaranteed to be unique */
 export function getUniqueId(): string {
   if (isStale) {
@@ -177,19 +193,19 @@ export function getUniqueId(): string {
   let id = '';
   do {
     id = generateId();
-  } while (Object.hasOwn(currentRundown.entries, id));
+  } while (hasId(id));
   return id;
 }
 
-/** Returns index of an event with a given id */
-export function getIndexOf(eventId: EntryId) {
+/** Returns index of an entry with a given id */
+export function getIndexOf(entryId: EntryId) {
   if (isStale) {
     updateCache();
   }
-  return currentRundown.order.indexOf(eventId);
+  return currentRundown.order.indexOf(entryId);
 }
 
-/** Returns id of an event at a given index */
+/** Returns id of an entry at a given index */
 export function getIdOf(index: number) {
   if (isStale) {
     updateCache();
@@ -304,34 +320,60 @@ export function mutateCache<T extends object>(mutation: MutatingFn<T>) {
   return scopedMutation;
 }
 
-type AddArgs = MutationParams<{ atIndex: number; event: OntimeEntry }>;
+type AddArgs = MutationParams<{ atIndex: number; parent?: EntryId; entry: OntimeEntry }>;
 /**
  * Add entry to rundown
  */
-export function add({ rundown, atIndex, event }: AddArgs): Required<MutatingReturn> {
-  const newEvent: OntimeEntry = { ...event };
+export function add({ rundown, atIndex, parent, entry }: AddArgs): Required<MutatingReturn> {
+  const newEntry: OntimeEntry = { ...entry };
+
+  rundown.entries[newEntry.id] = newEntry;
+
+  if (parent) {
+    const parentBlock = rundown.entries[parent] as OntimeBlock;
+    parentBlock.events = insertAtIndex(atIndex, newEntry.id, parentBlock.events);
+  } else {
+    rundown.order = insertAtIndex(atIndex, newEntry.id, rundown.order);
+  }
 
-  rundown.entries[newEvent.id] = newEvent;
-  rundown.order = insertAtIndex(atIndex, newEvent.id, rundown.order);
   setIsStale();
-  return { newRundown: rundown, newEvent, didMutate: true };
+  return { newRundown: rundown, newEvent: newEntry, didMutate: true };
 }
 
 type RemoveArgs = MutationParams<{ eventIds: EntryId[] }>;
 /**
- * Remove entry to rundown
+ * Remove entries in a rundown
  */
 export function remove({ rundown, eventIds }: RemoveArgs): MutatingReturn {
-  const previousLength = rundown.order.length;
-  rundown.order = rundown.order.filter((id) => !eventIds.includes(id));
-  for (const id of eventIds) {
-    delete rundown.entries[id];
+  let didMutate = false;
+
+  for (let i = 0; i < eventIds.length; i++) {
+    const entry = rundown.entries[eventIds[i]];
+    if (isOntimeEvent(entry) && entry.parent) {
+      const parentBlock = rundown.entries[entry.parent] as OntimeBlock;
+      edit({
+        rundown,
+        eventId: entry.parent,
+        patch: {
+          events: parentBlock.events.filter((id) => id !== eventIds[i]),
+          numEvents: parentBlock.events.length - 1,
+        },
+      });
+      parentBlock.events = parentBlock.events.filter((id) => id !== entry.id);
+    } else {
+      rundown.order = rundown.order.filter((id) => id !== eventIds[i]);
+    }
+    didMutate = true;
+    delete rundown.entries[eventIds[i]];
   }
-  const didMutate = rundown.order.length !== previousLength;
+
   if (didMutate) setIsStale();
   return { newRundown: rundown, didMutate };
 }
 
+/**
+ * Remove all entries of a rundown
+ */
 export function removeAll(): MutatingReturn {
   setIsStale();
   return {
@@ -339,6 +381,7 @@ export function removeAll(): MutatingReturn {
       id: '',
       title: '',
       order: [],
+      flatOrder: [],
       entries: {},
       revision: 0,
     },
@@ -441,6 +484,7 @@ export function reorder({ rundown, eventId, from, to }: ReorderArgs): Required<M
 type ApplyDelayArgs = MutationParams<{ delayId: EntryId }>;
 /**
  * Apply a delay
+ * Mutates the given rundown
  */
 export function applyDelay({ rundown, delayId }: ApplyDelayArgs): MutatingReturn {
   apply(delayId, rundown);
diff --git a/apps/server/src/services/rundown-service/rundownUtils.ts b/apps/server/src/services/rundown-service/rundownUtils.ts
index 6a2ce2a56..3e2dc0142 100644
--- a/apps/server/src/services/rundown-service/rundownUtils.ts
+++ b/apps/server/src/services/rundown-service/rundownUtils.ts
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import {
   EntryId,
   RundownEntries,
   ProjectRundowns,
+  OntimeBlock,
 } from 'ontime-types';
 
 import * as cache from './rundownCache.js';
@@ -173,3 +174,38 @@ export function getRundownOrThrow(rundowns: ProjectRundowns, rundownId: string):
   }
   return rundowns[rundownId];
 }
+
+export function getInsertionPosition(
+  parentId?: EntryId,
+  afterId?: EntryId,
+  beforeId?: EntryId,
+): { atIndex: number; afterId: EntryId | undefined } {
+  if (afterId) {
+    const order = selectOrderList(parentId);
+    return {
+      atIndex: order.findIndex((id) => id === afterId) + 1,
+      afterId,
+    };
+  }
+
+  if (beforeId) {
+    const order = selectOrderList(parentId);
+    const atIndex = order.findIndex((id) => id === beforeId);
+    return {
+      atIndex,
+      afterId: order[atIndex - 1] ?? null,
+    };
+  }
+
+  return {
+    atIndex: 0,
+    afterId: undefined,
+  };
+
+  function selectOrderList(parentId?: EntryId) {
+    if (parentId) {
+      return (getEntryWithId(parentId) as OntimeBlock).events;
+    }
+    return cache.getEventOrder().order;
+  }
+}
diff --git a/packages/types/src/definitions/core/OntimeEvent.type.ts b/packages/types/src/definitions/core/OntimeEvent.type.ts
index 05d23e993..8b1e229de 100644
--- a/packages/types/src/definitions/core/OntimeEvent.type.ts
+++ b/packages/types/src/definitions/core/OntimeEvent.type.ts
@@ -55,8 +55,8 @@ export type OntimeEvent = OntimeBaseEvent & {
   timeDanger: number;
   custom: EntryCustomFields;
   triggers?: Trigger[];
-  // !==== RUNTIME METADATA ====! //
   parent: EntryId | null;
+  // !==== RUNTIME METADATA ====! //
   revision: number;
   delay: number; // calculated at runtime
   dayOffset: number; // calculated at runtime
diff --git a/packages/types/src/definitions/core/Rundown.type.ts b/packages/types/src/definitions/core/Rundown.type.ts
index 69fd3268f..94be1caa5 100644
--- a/packages/types/src/definitions/core/Rundown.type.ts
+++ b/packages/types/src/definitions/core/Rundown.type.ts
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ export type Rundown = {
   id: string;
   title: string;
   order: EntryId[];
+  flatOrder: EntryId[];
   entries: RundownEntries;
   revision: number;
 };