How to Create a Stage Plot in 2026

Updated April 2026 · 8 min read

A stage plot is the single most important document you send to a venue before a gig. It tells the sound engineer, stage manager, and production crew exactly where every musician, amplifier, monitor, DI box, and microphone goes on stage — before anyone loads in.

Whether you're a three-piece bar band or a 15-piece festival act, a clear stage plot eliminates guesswork, speeds up load-in, and ensures your show sounds the way you want it to. Here's how to build one from scratch.

What Is a Stage Plot?

A stage plot (also called a stage plan, stage layout, or stage diagram) is a bird's-eye-view drawing of the stage showing the position of every person and piece of gear. It's typically included as the first page of a tech rider — the full document that covers your band's technical requirements for a show.

Think of the stage plot as the map and the tech rider as the instruction manual. Most venues, festivals, and production companies expect both.

What Goes on a Stage Plot?

Musician positions — Where each player stands, with their name and instrument labeled
Amplifiers and backline — Guitar amps, bass amps, keyboard rigs, drum risers
Monitor wedges — How many, where, and which mix number each one is on
DI boxes — For keyboards, bass, acoustic guitars, laptop playback
Microphone positions — Vocal mics, instrument mics, and overhead mics for drums
Power drops — Where you need AC power on stage
Sub snakes and audio snakes — Cable runs from stage to FOH
Special items — Risers, set pieces, barricades, lighting positions, video screens

Step-by-Step: Creating Your Stage Plot

Step 1 — Set Your Stage Dimensions

Start with the approximate width and depth of the stage you're designing for. If you don't know the exact dimensions, use reasonable defaults: most club stages are 20–30 feet wide and 15–20 feet deep. Festival stages can be 40–60 feet wide or larger.

In a stage plot tool, this is usually the first thing you configure. It sets the canvas you'll be working on.

Step 2 — Place Your Musicians

Add each band member to the plot. The standard convention is:

Drums — Upstage center (back of stage, middle)
Bass — Stage right of drums (audience's left)
Guitar(s) — Stage left of drums (audience's right), or flanking both sides
Keys — Stage left or right, depending on the arrangement
Lead vocal — Downstage center (front of stage, middle)

Label each position with the musician's name and their instrument. If someone sings backup, note that too.

Tip: Stage directions are always from the performer's perspective facing the audience. Stage left is the audience's right. Stage right is the audience's left.

Step 3 — Add Amplifiers and Backline

Place guitar amps behind or beside the guitarist. Bass amps go near the bassist. Keyboard stands and rigs go at the keys position. If you have a drum riser, add that behind the drum kit.

Note any backline the venue or production company needs to provide — many riders specify "provided by artist" or "provided by venue" for each item.

Step 4 — Place Monitors and DI Boxes

Add monitor wedges in front of each musician who needs a floor mix. Number each monitor mix (Mix 1, Mix 2, etc.) and note what each musician wants to hear. Place DI boxes near keyboards, bass guitars, acoustic guitars, and any laptop or playback rigs.

Step 5 — Add Microphone Positions

Place vocal mics on stands at each singing position. Add instrument microphones for guitar amps (typically SM57 or similar), drums (kick, snare, hi-hat, toms, overheads), and any acoustic instruments. If you have specific mic preferences, note them — otherwise the house engineer will use what they have.

Step 6 — Label and Annotate

Add labels for power drop locations, sub snakes, audio snake positions, and any special requirements. If you need a specific AC circuit for a keyboard rig or a dedicated power drop for a pedalboard, call it out. More detail is always better than less.

Step 7 — Export and Share

Export your finished stage plot as a PNG, PDF, or .plot file. PDF and PNG are universal — any venue or production office can open them. The .plot format lets collaborators open and edit the file directly in Stageplot.

Send your stage plot and tech rider to the venue or production manager at least two weeks before the show. For festivals, submit as early as possible.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

No labels — Every position and piece of gear should be labeled. An unlabeled stage plot is barely better than no stage plot.
Wrong orientation — The audience is at the bottom of the plot, the back of the stage is at the top. Upstage = top, downstage = bottom.
Missing monitor info — If you don't specify monitor mixes, the house engineer will guess. Specify what each musician wants to hear.
Forgetting power — If you need AC power at specific positions, mark it. Don't assume there will be outlets where you need them.
Outdated info — Update your stage plot every time your lineup or gear changes. Sending a stage plot from two years ago causes confusion.

Stage Plot vs. Tech Rider

These terms are often confused, but they serve different purposes:

Stage plot — A visual diagram of the stage layout. Shows WHERE everything goes.
Tech rider — A written document covering ALL technical requirements: PA specs, monitor mixes, lighting needs, power requirements, backline, hospitality, and logistics.

The stage plot is almost always the first page of the tech rider. Together, they give the production team everything they need to set up your show correctly.

Build Your Stage Plot Now

The Hive Mind's Stageplot Creator lets you design professional stage plots in minutes — drag-and-drop interface, full icon library, and export to PNG, PDF, or .plot.

Launch Stageplot Creator →