Building Stage Plots

In the iOS or Android apps, you can build stage plots for your band with a drag and drop interface, then print or email them directly from your device. Currently, you can edit your notes and your contact information from the web interface or the apps but can only build stage plots in the apps. Stage plots are synchronized between devices automatically, so you can access them from any of the devices in your band.

You can see a brief demo of the current design and functionality from this video.

For a more detailed look at the functionality, you can watch this older video, but the following changes have occurred since then:

  1. To edit a stage plot, select it from the Stage Plots list and then tap either Edit Details or Edit Layout.
  2. Layout items no longer show their remove, resize, rotate and configure buttons by default, but you can tap an item to show the buttons, or tap the background to return all the items to the default state. You can still simply drag an item to move it.
  3. If you drag an area to select multiple items, you can rotate then together using any of the rotate buttons, or apply the same options to all of them using any of the options buttons.
  4. You can tap the options button for a selected group to copy it, then tap an empty area in the same or a different layout and select the Paste Items option to paste the items at the new location.
  5. If your stage plot has so many items that it's difficult to lay out neatly, you can reduce the sizes of the items with the Photo Scale, Icon Scale and Text Scale settings on the Edit Details page.

What should be on your stage plot

A stage plot's purpose is to communicate from the band to the venue what equipment you want them to provide and where you want them to place it on stage. The goal is to include just what the venue needs to plan and execute their job, and leave out any info they don't need that would be a distraction.

So as a general rule, BandHelper's stage plots show the inputs that your instruments go into rather than showing the instruments themselves. For example, if you're playing an acoustic guitar into a mic, you would add that mic to the stage plot. If you're playing a keyboard into a DI box, you would add that DI box to the stage plot. Then the venue can easily see what mics and DIs they need to set up for you. To help them choose the most appropriate equipment and plan their mix, you can label your inputs like "Acoustic Guitar Mic" or "Keyboard DI."

The exception to that rule is for large instruments that are placed in a fixed position on stage, with the inputs set up around them, like a drum set or a piano. You can add those instruments to BandHelper's stage plots so the sound crew can more easily visualize the stage layout and, especially in the case of a drum set, see your preferred mic locations.

Stage plots can also include non-instrument items that you're asking the venue to provide, like stools or music stands. They shouldn't include small items that you're bringing, like your guitar pedals or your own music stands. But they can include power outlets if you need those for your own equipment.

In short, the stage plot should represent what you would like to see set up for you when you walk onto the stage for your sound check.