Guide · Stage plot example

Stage plot example

A stage plot is a top-down view of the stage: who stands where, and where the monitors, amps and power points go. Below you'll see a clear example for a four-piece band — plus a duo and trio variant, and the symbols you use.

The trap is making your stage plot too complicated. An engineer wants to see the stage at a glance: it's a floor plan, not a work of art. Simple boxes with a label do exactly what they need to.

Stage plot example: four-piece band

Take a band with drums, bass, guitar and vocals. Drums sit centre-back (often on a riser), bass beside them, the guitarist stage left, and the singer front-centre. Monitor wedges sit up front, aimed at the people who need them.

Four-piece band — top-down view

Add a short note on the monitoring you need ("4 wedges" or "in-ears for vocals and guitar") and where the power should be. The venue needs no more than that to set you up.

Which symbols do you use?

There's no official standard, so keep it recognisable and label everything:

Boxes for gear and musicians (drums, amps, keys) — with a label on them.
A circle for a vocal or instrument position / mic up front.
A triangle or trapezoid for a monitor wedge, point facing the musician.
"DI" or "48V" as a text label where relevant.
Clearly mark front (audience) and back, so the orientation reads right.

Drag your stage plot together

With RoboRider you drag drums, amps, mics and monitors into place, with clean labels and dimensions — and it lands automatically in your rider PDF. Free to try.

Make your stage plot →

Stage plot example: duo and trio

For a duo or trio the plot is a lot calmer, but it's still useful — precisely because small line-ups often bring their own gear and cover double roles. An acoustic duo might place two vocal positions up front, each with a wedge, plus a DI for the acoustic guitar. A trio with drums, bass and guitar/vocals puts drums centre-back, bass and guitarist to the left and right in front, and two wedges up front.

The rule stays the same: show who stands where, where the monitors are and what power and DIs are needed. Simple and readable always beats pretty and busy.

From example to your own stage plot

Use the example above as a starting point and adapt it to your line-up. Draw it by hand if you like, but a tool keeps it tidy and lets you adjust it per venue — a bigger stage, an extra musician, a different monitor setup. In the builder you drag everything into place and your stage plot lands straight in your rider.