How to make a stage plot
A stage plot is a top-down drawing of the stage. It shows the crew at a glance who stands where and what's needed. Here's how to make one that's accurate — and readable.
What is a stage plot?
A stage plot shows the stage from above, with the positions of the musicians, their instruments, monitors, DIs and power points. The audience is usually at the bottom. It's a fixed part of your technical rider and saves an enormous amount of guesswork during setup.
What goes on a stage plot?
- Musicians & instruments — drums, keys, bass, guitar, vocals, horns, and so on, in place.
- Risers — with dimensions (e.g. 2×2×0.4 m), since these differ per band.
- Monitors — usually one wedge per musician, or in-ears.
- DIs and power points (230V) — where needed.
- The front (audience) — so the orientation is immediately clear.
Keep it readable
- View it strictly from above — no perspective or 3D.
- Label everything short and clear (KEYS, DRUMS, BASS, LEAD).
- Align things neatly; use consistent symbols.
- Make sure it's readable in black and white too — not everyone prints in colour.
Draw your stage plot online
In RoboRider you drag instruments, risers and monitors onto a stage and export everything as a clean PDF — together with your input list. Free to try.
Make your stage plot →Step by step
- 1. Decide your line-up — who's on stage and with which instruments?
- 2. Set the "back line": drums and keys/risers at the back.
- 3. Place the "front line": vocals, guitar, bass towards the audience.
- 4. Add monitors (one per musician) and power points.
- 5. Label, check, and export as PDF.
In RoboRider this happens automatically: you enter your line-up and the tool lays out a logical stage plot that you then fine-tune.
Read next: How to make a technical rider · How to make an input list