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How to make a stage plot
Updated October 7, 2026 · 3 min read
A stage plot is a top-down drawing of your stage setup: where each musician stands, where amps, drums, keyboards and monitors go, and where you need power. With your input list, it is the most useful document a sound engineer receives from you.
Free templates for this guide
Download and edit these for your own tour. No sign-up, no email required.
Stage plot template (printable PDF)
A blank stage outline with a grid, audience edge and symbol key, plus a filled-in example for a four-piece band.
Input list template
A 16-channel input list with mic or DI, stand, 48V and monitor mix columns, ready to edit for your band.
Tech rider template
Stage, power, PA and FOH, monitors, backline, lighting, video and crew needs, with references to your input list and stage plot.
See the complete free resource library for budgets, riders, checklists and more.
What a stage plot should show
- Audience direction: label the front of stage clearly.
- Each musician’s position with their name or role and instrument.
- Amps, drum kit, keyboards and DI boxes.
- Vocal mics and other mic positions.
- Monitors: wedges and where in-ear packs are used, with mix numbers.
- Power drops: where you need AC on stage.
- Risers with sizes, if you use them.
- Notes: anything unusual, like a drum riser that must be at the back, or a keyboard rig that needs a stand provided.
Step 1: Use stage left and right correctly
Stage left and stage right are from the performer’s point of view facing the audience. On a plot with the audience at the bottom of the page, stage left is on the right side of the page. Label both sides to avoid confusion.
Step 2: Draw it simply
Engineers need clarity, not art. Use simple labeled shapes. Keep it to one page. Add the channel numbers from your input list next to each source so the plot and the list match.
Step 3: Add monitors and mixes
Show where each wedge goes and which mix it is. If you use in-ears, note which players use them and where the transmitters live.
Step 4: Note power and riders
Mark power drops and any needs such as risers or drum carpets. Put details in the notes, not cluttering the drawing.
Step 5: Update and send
Update the plot whenever the setup changes. Send it with your input list and tech rider during the advance, and keep a printed copy for the day.
Common stage plot mistakes
- Stage left and right reversed.
- Monitors not numbered, or not matching the input list.
- A plot that doesn’t match the current lineup.
- Too much detail: band logos, decoration, tiny text.
Example layout (EXAMPLE)
A four-piece rock band plot might show: drums centered upstage on a riser, bass amp stage right of the drums, guitar amp stage left, lead vocal mic downstage center with a wedge, backing vocal mics stage left and right with wedges, and power drops behind each amp and the drum riser. Label each item with the musician’s role and the input channel numbers.
Plots for different stages
Small stages may not fit your usual layout. Have a compact version (drums off the riser, amps side by side) for tight rooms. For festivals, show your setup on a rolling riser if you use one.
Hand-drawn vs digital
A neat hand-drawn plot is fine if it’s clear. Digital plots are easier to update and send. Either way, keep it to one page and readable at arm’s length.
How TRMNGR helps
The Stage Plot on TRMNGR’s Stage tab is drag-and-drop with the audience marked at the front. Tap + to add a Musician / Instrument, Mic or Monitor, tap any item to set its Label, Musician and Icons, drag it into place, and press and hold to delete. Add Stage Plot Notes for FOH and monitors. Export PDF creates a printable plot (with musician names if you turn that on in Preferences), saved in Files › Stage Plots. The free printable template below is for drawing one by hand.