Stage Plot Designer. Print To save PDF, choose 'Save as PDF' from list of printers, devices, or destinations. SHOW DATE / TIME. DRAG GEAR TO STAGE (mouse only) Show / Hide. 6x10 Bass Cab. 6x10 Bass Cab. 6x10 Bass Cab. Stage plot maker free download - Stage Plot Maker, The Voice: On Stage by StarMaker, PhotoStage Free Slideshow Maker, and many more programs. By far the easiest solution is this free online tool called Stage Plot Designer: Fill out artist, venue, date/time, and optional input list and notes, and drag and drop graphic elements to your heart’s content. A stage plot is a visual representation that illustrates your band’s live performance setup, band member placement on stage, what gear you use, and any other helpful information to the venue. What do I include? Visual representation of where each member is positioned on stage.
How to make a Stage Plot (Stage Plan) for a Band
One day or other every band is asked to provide a STAGE PLOT / STAGE PLAN / INPUT LIST. Stage plot is an illustration of the band’s set up, location on stage or appliances you use. A stage plot is planned to help a sound engineer get an idea about your necessities. For instance, where on the stage all the instruments will be situated, how many microphones or what kinds of instruments will be used etc.
What should be mentioned in a stage plot:
- a primary visual that demonstrates where every member of the band is located;
- names of all band members and kind of instrument everyone plays;
- whether case keyboard and bass amplifiers be direct run or mic’d;
- number of monitors, DIs, microphones, and cables needed;
- type of sound gear (mics, DIs, etc.), if some, you will be providing;
- where the amplifiers will be located in relation to the players.
With the help of a stage plot, you will make your setup and sound check more effective and well-organized.
Create your own stage plot
If you need to create your first stage plot / stage plan, check out these two websites - Tecrider.com and Bosstweedbackline.com/stage-designer
If you like to play around, just check out the examples of stage plots below the article and try to build your personal design. You can use the next icons:
- use some circles to stand for the drum kit;
- mics are symbolized as X inside the circle;
- amplifiers are rectangular;
- stage wedges are triangles;
You can use your grade-school skills to draw keyboard, guitar, bass, DJ station etc. But remember that your tech team knows what a guitar looks like and they don't need a picture of it, they just need to know where they should put the DI box for it.
If you can’t create a stage plot, just try to do the following:
Simply write the number of people in your band and how many amplifiers, instruments, microphones you have got and how they are connected. That will be enough for most of your small gigs.
For example:
Rachel - drum set, microphones for kick and snare. Vocal microphone on boom stand....
Phoebe - acoustic guitar, stands front center stage. Vocal microphone on boom stand, DI…
Chandler - electric bass, stands stage right. Boom microphones for vocals, bass rig sits rear stage right…etc
So what should I do with my stage plot?
Send it to the agent, promoter, or someone else at the time your performance is confirmed. In addition, ask how you can get in contact with the live-sound engineer and send him some information. The booker or agent can also send you additional information about the concert. Don’t forget to check it.
So, think of the details, perform a great show, and sell some music :)
Some examples of stage plots stage plans input lists:
See Lighting Design: The Process for the thinking behind each of the stages of the design.
1. CUE LIST
Purpose: A list of the lighting changes required during the show. The complexity of this will vary according to the needs of the show.
Example: Cue list for a drama
Cue No. | Action / State | Page |
LX0.5 | Preset. House lights and dim state on stage | 1 |
LX1 | On clearance, house lights out and crossfade to light through window | 1 |
LX2 | As Mr Jones enters, build state | 2 |
LX3 | End of scene 1, check down to doorway as they exit | 4 |
LX4 | Scene change state | 4 |
LX5 | When set, general state for scene 2 – dawn | 5 |
LX6 | Build state as sun rises | 5 |
LX7 | Snap blackout | 8 |
LX8 | Scene change state | 8 |
LX9 | Scene 3 state | 9 |
2. LIGHTING PLAN (UK) known as the LIGHT PLOT in the US
Purpose: A layout (in plan view, from above) showing the individual lanterns, the bars on which they’re hung, their dimmer number, colour and any focus notes, drawn to scale.
The complexity of your lighting plan depends on how much time you have, who you need to communicate with, and the complexity of the show.
Preparing to draw the plan
Stage 1 – Once you have the cue list and a plan of the set, and have a clear idea of what is needed for the show and what the lighting needs to do, you can draw a pre-plan.
This is a roughly-drawn plan view of the stage, showing the areas that you’ve broken the stage into, and any pieces of set that need lighting. Use arrows to show where you want light to come from in each area.
Don’t worry about which type of lantern you want to use at this stage.
Stage 2 – The next stage is to draw a sketch of the rig, with arrows placed on lighting bars (or in other potential lighting positions) showing where you need lanterns. Again, don’t worry about types of lantern at this stage.
Stage 3 – Once all parts of the show are covered and you have lanterns in place to do all of those jobs, you can start allocating equipment to each job. Use coloured pens or other codes to identify which jobs are to be shared by a number of lanterns, so that you can see how many lanterns of each type you need. For example, the lanterns doing the general wash should all be the same, to ensure it looks completely even. All of the hard-edged spots that appear on stage together, should be the same type / wattage of lantern so they look identical.
Stage 1 – Once you have the cue list and a plan of the set, and have a clear idea of what is needed for the show and what the lighting needs to do, you can draw a pre-plan.
This is a roughly-drawn plan view of the stage, showing the areas that you’ve broken the stage into, and any pieces of set that need lighting. Use arrows to show where you want light to come from in each area.
Don’t worry about which type of lantern you want to use at this stage.
Stage 2 – The next stage is to draw a sketch of the rig, with arrows placed on lighting bars (or in other potential lighting positions) showing where you need lanterns. Again, don’t worry about types of lantern at this stage.
Stage 3 – Once all parts of the show are covered and you have lanterns in place to do all of those jobs, you can start allocating equipment to each job. Use coloured pens or other codes to identify which jobs are to be shared by a number of lanterns, so that you can see how many lanterns of each type you need. For example, the lanterns doing the general wash should all be the same, to ensure it looks completely even. All of the hard-edged spots that appear on stage together, should be the same type / wattage of lantern so they look identical.
By Hand or CAD?
In the days before computers, the options were limited. You had a number of different plastic templates to choose from, which contained many of the popular symbols. Drawing the plan involved marking out the lighting bars first in pencil, then drawing the symbols. Computer-based plan drafting has simplified the process considerably, and also automated much of the paperwork that is associated with a lighting design.
MORE INFORMATION COMING SOON.
In the days before computers, the options were limited. You had a number of different plastic templates to choose from, which contained many of the popular symbols. Drawing the plan involved marking out the lighting bars first in pencil, then drawing the symbols. Computer-based plan drafting has simplified the process considerably, and also automated much of the paperwork that is associated with a lighting design.
MORE INFORMATION COMING SOON.
When drawing the symbols onto the plan ensure you leave enough space around the lantern so that when rigged, it can be focussed in the appropriate direction, and to allow the focusser to get her/his hands wherever is necessary.
It’s not necessary to be absolutely accurate about the angle the lantern should be pointed in, as that happens as part of the focus, but pointing the symbol in roughly the right direction will aid you (and your crew) in seeing what is what.
See Lighting Rigging Positions for more information on how to represent lanterns rigged on floor stands, bars and booms on a plan
Essentials:
Title Block
This box should be included, and shows the name of the production, the venue, the scale, your name, the date of the drawing and any revision number.
Key
Each symbol used on the plan should be shown, alongside an indication of the instrument it represents.
Gels
The Gel requirements for each lantern should be shown as a number within the lantern symbol. A lantern with no gel should have ‘o/w’ (standing for open white) written inside it. If you’re using Rosco gels, indicate this by writing R in front of the number. Lee gels should have L in front. This avoids confusion when mixing between the two numbering systems.
Focus Note
A Focus Note for each lantern should be written at the front of the lantern – this is a very brief indication to the crew (and a reminder to you) of the function of the lantern.
Example focus notes, with an explanation in brackets:
DSC POOL (downstage centre pool)
A (area A – part of the general cover)
B/L (backlight – coming from upstage)
CHAIR DL (downlight on the chair)
Example focus notes, with an explanation in brackets:
DSC POOL (downstage centre pool)
A (area A – part of the general cover)
B/L (backlight – coming from upstage)
CHAIR DL (downlight on the chair)
There’s a collection of historic lighting plans from the Theatre Royal Drury Lane and the Northcott Theatre, Exeter in the archive section of this site.
3. CHEAT SHEET / MAGIC SHEET
Purpose: A simplified version of the lighting plan (see above) showing areas and the dimmer numbers that are lighting them – used by the lighting designer as a quick reference at the production desk.
Using a DMX input device (such as ArtNet) and Virtual Magic Sheet software from West Side Systems, a responsive magic sheet can be created on your laptop, which responds to DMX data produced by the lighting desk.
Many computerised lighting desk, including the ETC EOS range, can produce an electronic magic sheet on screen, which can respond visually to the output of the desk, all within the show file. Tremendously powerful and very useful.
4. PLOT SHEET
Purpose: A list of the cues to be performed by a lighting desk operator, enabling him or her to make notes about specific actions to perform, and to keep track of the show as it’s running.
5. FOLLOWSPOT PLOT
COMING SOON
6. HOOK-UP
A list of circuits around the theatre showing which dimmers they are connected to.
7. LANTERN SCHEDULE / INSTRUMENT SCHEDULE
![Plot Plot](/uploads/1/1/8/2/118299350/714256242.jpeg)
A list of the lanterns in use in the production.
Example coming soon.
8. COLOUR CALL
A tabular layout showing gel numbers down one side, and colour sizes (or lantern names) down the other, so that the member of the crew preparing gels for the rig can ensure she/he has the correct number. This call sheet also enables the crew to check that enough gel is in stock on receipt of the lighting plan.
Example coming soon.
Stage Plot Maker Online
Author: Jon Primrose
Last updated: January 2019
Last updated: January 2019