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Free Stage Plot Template — Download or Build Your Own Online

Every band needs a stage plot. The question is whether you're going to spend an hour fighting with PowerPoint shapes or use a template that's already laid out for live production. Below you'll find stage plot templates for every common setup — from solo acoustic to full touring production — plus a walkthrough of how to build your own from scratch using a free online stage plot builder.

What a stage plot template should include

Before grabbing a template, make sure it covers the basics. Every production-ready stage plot needs:

• Stage outline with dimensions — or at minimum, your required stage size (e.g., "minimum 32' x 24'")
• Audience-perspective orientation — stage right on the left side of the drawing, stage left on the right
• Labeled positions for every item — instruments, amps, monitors, DI boxes, risers, mic stands
• Monitor mix assignments — "MIX 1" at the vocal wedge, "MIX 3 (stereo)" at keys
• Carried vs. provided legend — so the venue knows what you're bringing and what they need to supply
• Version number and date — because tours evolve and the PM needs the latest version

A template that doesn't cover these basics will save you five minutes on layout and cost you thirty minutes adding them back in. Start with the right foundation.

Stage plot templates by setup type

The problem with static templates

A PDF or PowerPoint template gets you started, but it has real limitations:

• It's frozen. You can't easily add items, reposition things, or adjust the layout without redrawing. Every tour date with a different stage size means re-doing the work.
• No input list. You have to maintain the I/O list as a separate spreadsheet and keep it in sync with the plot manually. They will drift apart — guaranteed.
• No 3D. A flat overhead view can't show you that your LED wall is blocking the upstage truss, or that the drum riser is too tall for the guitarist to see the monitor engineer.
• No collaboration. You email the PDF to the PM. They print it. You update the plot. Now there are two versions. The crew uses the wrong one. This happens every single tour.

Static templates work for your first gig. Once you're playing regularly, you need a tool that lets you iterate without starting over.

How to build your own stage plot in 5 minutes

Instead of downloading a template and modifying it in a drawing tool, you can build a production-quality stage plot from scratch in StageBuilder Pro in about five minutes. Here's the workflow:

1. Pick your stage size. Choose from presets (concert 60x40, club 24x20, theater 50x35) or enter custom dimensions. The grid adjusts automatically.
2. Drag items from the sidebar. 100+ items across audio, lighting, video, staging, and instruments. Everything snaps to the grid and to other items' edges.
3. Label and assign departments. Click any item to open the inspector. Set a label ("GTR 1 SR"), assign a department color, add notes.
4. Check it in 3D. Toggle between the 2D plan view and a full 3D perspective. Orbit the camera to check sightlines, stacking, and spatial conflicts.
5. Export. One click generates a PDF with the 3D view, 2D overhead, and auto-generated I/O list. Email it, print it, share a live link.

What to put on your stage plot (checklist)

Whether you're using a template or building from scratch, run through this checklist before you send it:

• Stage dimensions or minimum size noted
• Orientation from audience perspective (SR on left, SL on right)
• Every instrument position labeled with unique names matching your input list
• Monitor positions with mix numbers
• Wedge vs. IEM noted for each position
• Risers and platforms with dimensions and height
• Power drop locations marked
• Carried vs. provided legend
• Version number and date
• Contact info (PM name, phone, email)

For a deep dive on each of these, read the complete stage plot guide. For the mistakes that get your plot ignored, see stage plot mistakes that make house crews hate you.

Stage plot template FAQ

What format should I send my stage plot in?

PDF. Always PDF. It preserves layout across every device and printer. Never send a JPEG — it will get compressed, lose resolution, and look terrible printed in black and white. If the venue specifically asks for an editable file, send the PDF and offer to make changes yourself.

How often should I update my stage plot?

Every time your setup changes. Added a keyboard player? Updated plot. Dropped the second guitar amp? Updated plot. Changed from wedges to IEMs? Updated plot. Always increment the version number and put the date on it.

Should I include my input list on the stage plot?

Not on the plot itself — it clutters the diagram. But they should be delivered together as a matched pair, ideally in the same PDF. StageBuilder Pro does this automatically: the exported PDF includes the plot views and the I/O list on the following pages.

Do I need a stage plot for small gigs?

Yes. Especially for small gigs. Small venues have less space, fewer channels, and less margin for error. A clear stage plot helps the house sound person — who may be a bartender with a mixer — set up your show correctly without guessing. It's also the most professional thing you can hand a venue, and it takes five minutes.