Free stage plot maker

What is a stage plot?

A stage plot is a top-down map of your band's setup: who stands where, where the amps and the drum kit go, where each mic and monitor wedge needs to be, and where you need power. You send it to the venue or the sound company before the gig, so the stage is ready when you arrive instead of being worked out during your soundcheck.

What to put on a stage plot

• Every player's position, labelled with their name or instrument.
• Backline: drum kit, amps and keyboards, and whether you're bringing them or need the venue's.
• Every mic and DI, so the engineer knows how many channels and stands to set out.
• Monitor wedges, and which players share a mix. If you use in-ear monitors, say so.
• Power drops where you need them, especially for keys, pedalboards and amps.
• Risers, if the drummer or horn section needs one.
• A contact name and number for questions on the day.

Stage plot vs input list

The stage plot shows where things go. The input list says what goes into which channel on the mixing desk: kick on 1, snare on 2, and so on through to the vocals. Engineers want both, which is why this maker builds the input list from the plot as you go. Together they're the core of a band's technical rider.

Tips for a plot sound engineers like

• Keep it to one page, and keep it simple. Clear beats pretty.
• Draw it from the audience's point of view, with downstage at the bottom, the way this maker does.
• Update it when your lineup changes. A plot showing a horn section that isn't coming wastes everyone's time.
• Send it with the rest of the gig details, not as an afterthought the night before.

Getting the details to the band

The stage plot gets the venue ready. The band still needs the call time, the address, the attire and the set times. GigPenguin sends each band member their own gig sheet by text or email, shows you who has opened it, and tells everyone when something changes. See what call time means and how to set one.