Live sound and performance · updated 2026-08-16

STAGE PLOT AND INPUT LIST

A diagram of where everyone stands and a numbered list of what plugs in where. Send both ahead of the show.

A front-of-house position at a concert venue before doors: digital mixing console, laptop and racks facing the stage — the live rig behind the FOH, monitor and PA terms here.
Live sound and performance — A front-of-house position at a concert venue before doors: digital mixing console, laptop and racks facing the stage — the live rig behind the FOH, monitor and PA terms here.

Photo: McFly Power to Play Tour, Bridlington Spa front-of-house pre-show (opens in a new tab) by Hullian111 (opens in a new tab), via Wikimedia Commons — CC BY-SA 4.0 (opens in a new tab)

Key takeaways

  • A diagram of where everyone stands and a numbered list of what plugs in where.
  • Send both ahead of the show.
  • Together they let a venue set up before you arrive and are the difference between a smooth and a chaotic load-in.
  • Send both as a single-page PDF with the advance email, and update it whenever the lineup changes.
  • Watch out: sending a plot that does not match what turns up.

Quick checklist

  • Can you define stage plot and input list in one sentence without looking?
  • Can you point at stage plot and input list in a real session, mix or contract?
  • Have you tried the practical move above at least once?
  • Would you catch the common mistake before it costs you a take?
  • Have you opened one of the primary sources below rather than a forum thread?

STAGE PLOT AND INPUT LIST IN DEPTH

A stage plot shows where each performer, amp and monitor sits; the input list numbers every source with the mic or DI it needs. Together they let a venue set up before you arrive and are the difference between a smooth and a chaotic load-in.

How it works in practice

Send both as a single-page PDF with the advance email, and update it whenever the lineup changes.

The mistake people make

Sending a plot that does not match what turns up. The crew builds to the document, and corrections cost changeover time.

WHERE STAGE PLOT AND INPUT LIST SITS

Stage plot and input list belongs to live sound and performance in the Sampled music glossary. The stage vocabulary: what the engineer means when they wave at you.

TEST YOURSELF

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3 quick questions on stage plot and input list. Answers are marked instantly — nothing is sent anywhere.

  1. 1. Which statement best describes stage plot and input list?

  2. 2. What is the mistake people most often make with stage plot and input list?

  3. 3. In practice, which of these applies to stage plot and input list?

Ready for the full thing? Take the 25-question terminology test and get a certificate with your name and score.

SOURCES AND CITATIONS

Free, primary references for stage plot and input list — standards bodies, manufacturers, government offices and university course material. Each one lists the line of this entry it backs up.

  • Shure live sound resources (opens in a new tab)

    Primary reference · shure.com

    “A diagram of where everyone stands and a numbered list of what plugs in where.”— the claim this source supports

    Why it counts: Published by the organisation responsible for the thing being defined, so it is a first-hand source rather than a summary of one.

  • Yamaha Pro Audio (opens in a new tab)

    Primary reference · yamaha.com

    “Send both ahead of the show.”— the claim this source supports

    Why it counts: Published by the organisation responsible for the thing being defined, so it is a first-hand source rather than a summary of one.

RELATED TERMS IN LIVE SOUND AND PERFORMANCE

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