Stage plot and input list templates

Updated November 2026 · Grounded in 2,017 published venue stage records

A stage plot and input list is a one-page technical diagram and channel chart that shows a venue sound engineer where every performer, amplifier, monitor wedge, power drop, and XLR input sits on stage. Across 16,612 open venues in No Stairs Please as of November 2026, 2,017 rooms publish stage and PA specifications.

1. Solo or acoustic duo stage plot and 4-channel input list

Use this 4-channel layout when advancing gigs at 1,498 breweries and taprooms, 1,197 wineries, 112 listening rooms, and 410 coffee shops. Always note whether you carry a self-contained powered speaker pair in case the room has no house PA.

Solo or acoustic duo · 4 channels · 2 monitor mixesFootprint 8 ft x 6 ft min

Ch	Instrument or source	Mic or DI	Stand	Position & monitor notes
01	Acoustic guitar, stage right	Active DI, Radial or house	Floor	Stage right pedalboard, requires 120V AC drop
02	Acoustic guitar or mandolin, stage left	Active DI, Radial or house	Floor	Stage left pedalboard
03	Lead vocal, stage right	Shure SM58 or Beta 58A	Tall boom	Heavy in MON 1, medium in MON 2
04	Harmony vocal, stage left	Shure SM58	Tall boom	Medium in MON 1, heavy in MON 2

2. 3-piece trio stage plot and 9-channel input list

For a drums, bass, and guitar trio playing 100-to-250 capacity clubs and bars with live music, keep the channel list to 9 inputs so a house engineer on a 16-channel compact digital console can soundcheck your band in 15 minutes.

3-piece trio · 9 channels · 3 monitor mixesFootprint 12 ft x 8 ft min

3. 4-piece full-band stage plot and 14-channel input list

This 14-channel layout fits standard club stages at 1,633 dedicated music venues and 3,349 halls and arts centers. Channels follow the universal drum-to-vocal snake order.

4-piece band · 14 channels · 4 monitor mixesFootprint 16 ft x 10 ft min

Ch	Source	Preferred mic or DI	48V	Stand	Stage position
01	Kick drum	Beta 52A or D112	No	Short boom	Upstage center
02	Snare top	Shure SM57	No	Short boom or clip	Upstage center
03	Rack tom	Sennheiser e604	No	Rim clip	Upstage center
04	Floor tom	Sennheiser e604	No	Rim clip	Upstage center
05	Overhead SR	Small-diaphragm condenser	Yes	Tall boom	Upstage right
06	Overhead SL	Small-diaphragm condenser	Yes	Tall boom	Upstage left
07	Bass guitar	XLR post-EQ out or active DI	No	Amp top	Upstage left
08	Guitar 1 amp, rhythm	Shure SM57 or e609	No	Short boom	Stage right
09	Guitar 2 amp, lead	Shure SM57 or e609	No	Short boom	Stage left
10	Keys left, mono sum if 1 ch	Passive stereo DI	No	Keyboard tier	Stage right
11	Keys right or acoustic DI	Passive stereo DI	No	Keyboard tier	Stage right
12	Backing vocal 1, stage right	Shure SM58	No	Tall boom	Downstage right
13	Lead vocal, center	Shure Beta 58A	No	Tall boom	Downstage center
14	Backing vocal 2, stage left	Shure SM58	No	Tall boom	Downstage left

How many venues publish stage and PA specs?

In the No Stairs Please directory, 2,020 venues publish room and stage descriptions and 2,017 publish specific stage equipment details. Coverage varies sharply by venue category, which tells you when to bring your own PA or vocal monitors.

Venue category	Open venues	Published stage specs	Median capacity	Typical house PA reality
Music venue	1,633	332	400	Full FOH PA, 3 to 4 monitor mixes, house engineer, and mic package
Hall & arts center	3,349	787	400	Full theatrical stage, lighting rig, and dedicated production advance
Bar & pub	3,383	293	150	Vocal PA with 8 to 16 inputs in music bars; corner rooms often require band PA
Brewery & taproom	1,498	113	140	Patio or corner area; acts usually supply their own powered speakers and mixer
Winery & tasting room	1,197	65	150	Lawn or tasting patio with 120V power; performers bring a compact column or 10-inch PA
Listening room	112	30	100	Tuned acoustic room with house vocal and instrument mics and low stage volume

Copy-paste technical and hospitality rider template

For rooms under 400 capacity, attach your hospitality and load-in notes to the bottom of your single-page stage plot rather than sending a multi-page contract rider.

STAGE PLOT & ADVANCE SHEET: [ACT NAME]
Touring party: [4 musicians, 1 van (Ford Transit, 20 ft length, standard parking)]
Day-of-show contact: [Name] · [Phone Number]

LOAD-IN & BACKLINE
- Load-in time: As scheduled by venue production (30-minute stage setup)
- Backline carried: Full drum kit, cymbals, snare, bass combo, 2 guitar combos, all pedalboards and DI boxes
- Requested from house: PA system, 4 monitor wedges on 3 to 4 mixes, vocal mics (3x SM58), drum mic package, and XLR cables

HOSPITALITY & GUEST LIST (SMALL CLUB STANDARD)
- Drinking water at stage (we carry reusable bottles if water station is available)
- 1 hot meal per touring member OR $15 to $20 per-person meal buyout, per venue policy
- 2 drink tickets per member for local tap or non-alcoholic options
- 4 guest list spots, subject to room capacity

Common questions about stage plots

What is a stage plot and input list?

A stage plot is a top-down diagram showing where each musician, amplifier, drum kit, DI box, vocal microphone, monitor wedge, and 120V power drop sits on stage from the perspective of the audience looking at the stage. The accompanying input list numbers every XLR channel from stage right to stage left so the sound engineer can patch the snake before load-in.

Is stage left from the band's perspective or the audience's perspective?

Stage directions are always named from the performer's perspective standing on stage facing the crowd. Stage right is on the performer's right hand, and stage left is on the performer's left hand. However, a stage plot diagram is drawn with Downstage at the bottom of the page so it matches what the front-of-house engineer sees from the mixing desk.

How do you number channels on an audio input list?

Standard live sound convention numbers channels in sequence starting with drums, followed by bass DI, electric guitars, keys or acoustic DIs, and finally vocals from stage right to stage left.