Stage Plot and Input List
How to create the documents sound engineers actually need to do their job well.
Stage Plot and Input List
A stage plot and input list are the core documents in your technical rider. They're the blueprints that let a sound engineer prepare before you arrive and set up efficiently when you do. Poor versions create confusion; good ones save 20 minutes of soundcheck scrambling.
What's a Stage Plot?
A stage plot is a bird's-eye-view diagram of your stage setup. It shows where each band member stands, which instruments are where, and which cables run where. It's not art—it's a functional map that prevents the engineer from guessing.
Draw it to rough scale on a standard piece of paper or digitally in Visio, OmniGraffle, or even PowerPoint. Show your stage as a rectangle. Mark where the drums are, where the bass player stands, where vocals are. Use symbols for monitor speakers, guitar cabs, and any other visible equipment.
Label everything. If the kick drum has a kick mic, label the cable. If the bass player has a DI box, show it on the plot. If you use a wireless mic, note the channel frequency if the venue might have conflicting wireless gear.
Critical Details for Sound Engineers
The input list is equally important. It tells the engineer exactly what channels to prepare and what to expect on each one.
Format it simply: instrument name, microphone or DI type, cable type, and any special routing. For example:
Kick Drum: Shure Beta 52A (hardwired to DI box) Snare: Shure SM57 (XLR to channel 3) Tom 1: Shure SM98A (XLR to channel 4) Bass Guitar: Radial DI (XLR to channel 5, requires phantom power) Guitar 1: Shure SM7B (XLR to channel 6) Vocals: Shure SM58 (Wireless, 2.4GHz, channel 7)
Specify wireless frequencies before you arrive. If you use multiple wireless systems, provide exact frequencies to prevent interference with the venue's existing wireless mics or IEMs.
Ordering Your Channels
Number your channels logically from top to bottom on your input list. Many engineers arrange by instrument type: drums first, then bass, then guitars, then keys and synths, then vocals last. Others go by stage position left to right. Pick a system and stick with it—consistency saves mistakes during setup.
Note which channels need phantom power (condenser mics), which need compression or EQ expectations, and which instruments share monitor mixes.
Monitor Requirements
Include a monitor section that specifies how many monitor mixes you need and what goes in each. For example:
Drums: kick, bass, vocals, click track Bass: kick drum, bass guitar, vocals Guitars: kick drum, bass, vocals, own guitar Vocals: kick drum, bass, guitars, backing vocals
This tells the engineer exactly which instruments each band member needs to hear and in what priority.
Common Mistakes
Don't hand over a stage plot that looks like it was drawn by a five-year-old. Engineers respect clarity. If handwriting is illegible, redraw it or type labels.
Don't list more inputs than you actually use. Engineers will set up channels you specify but don't need, wasting their time and creating clutter on the mixing console.
Don't change your stage plot between venues without updating the engineer. If your drummer moves to the other side of the stage for a particular show, send an updated plot ahead of time.
Before Tour Starts
Print or PDF copies of your stage plot and input list. Include them in your technical rider. Send them to venues at least one week before your show. The engineer has time to plan and will ask questions if something's unclear.
A professional stage plot and input list communicate that you take your craft seriously. Engineers will work harder for bands that make their job easier. A well-prepared show starts long before soundcheck.