Create a professional stage plot in minutes. Our free stage plot designer makes it easy to communicate your band's setup to any venue or sound engineer.

(Scroll To Bottom For "How To" Guide)

Stage Plot & Input List Builder

Stage Plot & Input List Builder

Create professional stage riders with ease.

Stage Plot

Drag items from the library onto the stage. Click an item on the stage to move, edit, or delete it.

Input List

Ch Input Mic/DI Stand Power Notes

The Universal Language of the Stage: Crafting Professional Stage Plots with the Stage Plot Designer

The Universal Language of the Stage: Crafting Professional Stage Plots with the Stage Plot Designer
In live production, clear communication is paramount. A stage plot is a visual diagram that illustrates the band's on-stage layout, equipment, and technical needs. It is the single most important document for communicating with a venue's production team ahead of a show. The SITNS Music Stage Plot Designer is a tool created to help artists and crews generate clear, professional, and universally understood stage plots, preventing the on-site confusion and stressful last-minute changes that can derail a performance.
Why a Clear Stage Plot is Non-Negotiable
A professionally drafted stage plot, sent to the venue's production manager well in advance, demonstrates competence and preparedness. It allows the local crew to preset the stage, microphones, and cables before the band arrives, saving significant time during load-in and soundcheck. This efficiency reduces stress for everyone involved and sets a positive tone for the entire engagement. Conversely, a poor or non-existent stage plot creates unnecessary work and can signal amateurism.
The Designer Interface
The Stage Plot Designer provides a simple yet powerful interface for creating these diagrams. Its key components would logically include:
  • The Canvas: A grid-based digital space that represents the stage dimensions (e.g., 24ft wide x 16ft deep). The front of the stage (audience side) is clearly marked.
  • The Asset Library: A sidebar containing a comprehensive collection of standardized, drag-and-drop icons. This library would include symbols for drum kits, guitar and bass amplifiers, keyboard rigs, vocal microphones on stands, DI (Direct Input) boxes, monitor wedges, and power outlet locations.
  • The Input List Tool: An integrated feature that allows the user to create a detailed channel list that corresponds directly to the items placed on the stage plot.
3.3 Building Your Plot: Step-by-Step
Creating a plot with the designer is an intuitive process:
  1. Set the Stage: The user begins by selecting a canvas size that approximates the typical stages they play on.
  2. Place the Musicians: The user drags icons from the asset library onto the canvas to represent each musician's position on stage. The drum kit is typically placed first as the central anchor.
  3. Add Equipment: For each musician, the user adds the corresponding equipment icons: amplifiers, keyboards, etc..
  4. Indicate Inputs: Microphone and DI box icons are placed where needed (e.g., in front of the singer, next to the bass amp). Each input should be clearly labeled (e.g., "VOCAL 1," "BASS DI," "GTR AMP").
  5. Specify Monitoring and Power: The user drags monitor wedge icons and positions them for each musician who requires one, indicating their mix number (e.g., "MON 1"). Power outlet icons are placed wherever electricity is needed for pedalboards, amps, or keyboards.
Creating a Detailed Input List
A stage plot is incomplete without a corresponding input list. The designer's integrated tool facilitates the creation of this list, which provides the audio engineer with the precise technical details for the mixing console setup. The tool generates a table with the following columns:
  • Channel Number: The numerical order of the inputs (1, 2, 3, etc.).
  • Input: A description of the sound source (e.g., Kick Drum, Snare Top, Lead Vocal).
  • Microphone/DI Preference: The specific model of microphone or DI box preferred for that source (e.g., Shure Beta 52a, Shure SM57, Radial J48).
  • Stand Type: The type of stand required (e.g., Short Boom, Tall Boom, Straight).
 
Exporting and Distributing

Once the visual plot and the input list are complete, the tool allows the user to export the entire document as a single, clean PDF file. This file should include the band's name, a primary contact person's information (name, email, phone), and the date it was last updated. This professional document is then ready to be included in the advance email sent to every venue on a tour.