StagePlot Guide

How to use StagePlot - updated for version 1.5.4
Autosave friendly Back to StagePlot

Welcome

Guide for v1.5.4

StagePlot is a drag and drop stage plot builder. You can place players and gear on a stage, add inputs and monitor mixes, and print a clean one page handoff. It is meant to be fast, readable, and not a spreadsheet punishment.

Autosave: Everything saves automatically in your browser. No login. No cloud. If you close the tab and come back, it should still be there.
What you build
A stage plot plus a one page info sheet: inputs, mixes, and notes.
What you can share
Export a project JSON to send to the band or venue, then import it later.

Quick start

  • Pick your stage size in the Stage panel (small, medium, large, or custom).
  • Search the library and hit Add to drop gear on the stage.
  • Click an item to edit it in the One-page info panel (label, input, mix, notes, color, scale, rotation).
  • When it looks right, hit Print for the clean one page view.

What’s new in 1.5.4

  • Stage always stays inside the square at 100%: no more bottom edge getting cut off on desktop.
  • View Zoom slider: a second slider under Scale that zooms in/out inside the stage square.
  • Reset View button: snaps View Zoom back to 100% instantly.
Remember: Scale changes item footprint. View Zoom changes how zoomed your view is, without changing item sizes.

View controls (Scale + View Zoom)

StagePlot has two different “zoom-ish” controls on purpose. They solve different problems.

  • Scale (item scale): changes the selected item’s size on the stage.
  • View Zoom (new): zooms the view in/out within the stage square. Great for detailed placement without changing the plot’s print layout.
  • Reset View: sets View Zoom to 100% so you can always get back to the clean “fits in the square” view.
Best habit: Do your detailed placement using View Zoom, then hit Reset View before printing. (Print should look good either way, but this keeps everything consistent.)

Share the love

Please share the love.

If StagePlot saves you time (or saves your band from the “wait, where do you want the keys?” conversation), pass it along.

Open StagePlot link
QR code linking to StagePlot

Scan to open StagePlot: aim your phone camera at the QR code and tap the link.

Link:
https://petesimple.github.io/stageplot/
Tip: Printing this guide includes the QR code automatically, so the paper becomes a “scan to open” flyer.

Support StagePlot

Help keep this thing afloat

StagePlot is free, offline-friendly, and built by a working musician who got tired of bad stage plots and “wait, where do you want the keys?” conversations.

If this app saved you time, reduced confusion, or prevented at least one awkward load-in moment, you can help keep it alive by tossing a few bucks into the tip jar.

Toss a coin to your stage plotter
No pressure. No guilt. Just gratitude. And probably coffee.

Stage basics

The stage is measured in feet using Width x Depth. Upstage is at the top of the plot and audience is downstage at the bottom. Items are positioned relative to the stage scale, so if you change stage size later, your layout should stay sensible.

  • Stage preset: swaps stage W and D quickly.
  • Custom stage: type W and D yourself.
  • Click empty stage space: clears selection.

Mobile layout and accordions

On narrow screens, StagePlot switches to a stacked layout so you can work top to bottom. The library and info panels become accordions, and StagePlot remembers what you left open.

  • Stage goes first: stage panel is at the top for quick drag and place.
  • Accordion panels: Item library and One-page info can collapse to save scroll.
  • Auto open info on selection: when you add/select an item, the info panel opens automatically.
  • Desktop stays normal: wide screens keep the classic three panel layout.

Add items

Use the Item library panel to add stuff.

  • Search: type guitar, outlet, riser, mic, etc.
  • Category: filter by People, Instruments, Stage gear, Electrical, and so on.
  • Add: drops the item onto the stage near center.
  • Misc blocks: quick drop generic blocks for mystery gear, pedals, props, or the thing nobody can name.

Select and multi select

Single selection is default. Multi select lets you move a bunch of stuff together.

Multi select methods:
  • Shift + Click toggles an item into/out of selection.
  • Cmd + Click (Mac) or Ctrl + Click (Windows) does the same.
  • Drag select: drag on empty stage space to draw a selection box.
  • Click empty stage space: clears selection (unless using a modifier).

Move, nudge, center

  • Drag: click and drag an item to move it.
  • Group drag: multi select + drag any selected item to move the group.
  • Nudge: Shift + Arrow moves selection by 0.25 ft.
  • Center selection: centers selected group into a sensible position.
  • Duplicate: duplicates selected item(s). Also supports hotkey below.

Resize and rotate

Selected items show resize handles and a blue rotate dot.

  • Resize: drag corner/edge dots.
  • Rotate: drag the blue dot above the item.
  • Rotate snap: hold Shift while rotating to snap 15 degrees.
  • Reset rotation: use Reset rotation in the info panel.

Edit details

The One-page info panel is where the real world info lives.

  • Band name: prints at the top of the one-page output.
  • Label: what shows on the item (Pete Vox, Dave Guitar, etc.).
  • Input: channel/DI/multi/etc.
  • Mix: monitor mix label (M1, M2, IEM, etc.).
  • Notes: boom stand, DI after pedals, phantom power, etc.
  • Color: quick visual grouping (vocals, power, wedges, etc.).

Inputs and monitor mixes

StagePlot automatically builds two readable tables from your items:

  • Inputs table: lists channel + source, sorted by channel text.
  • Monitor mixes table: groups by mix and lists who is on it + notes.

Printing

Hit Print to get the one page view. StagePlot temporarily switches into a print-safe layout, then restores your normal layout after printing.

  • Best results: Portrait, default margins.
  • Tip: use the app Print button (not the browser menu) so the print layout hook runs.

Exporting a PDF

StagePlot uses your device’s built in print system to create PDFs. This keeps text sharp and preserves the one page layout.

Best practice: Click StagePlot Print then choose “Save as PDF” in your system print dialog.

Export and import

Two things can be exported and imported:

  • Project: stage size, items, band name, and show notes.
  • Library: your custom item types (export/import your personalized gear zoo).

Keyboard shortcuts

  • Cmd or Ctrl + D - Duplicate selected
  • Shift + Arrow - Nudge 0.25 ft
  • Shift + click - Multi select toggle
  • Cmd or Ctrl + click - Multi select toggle

Pro tips

  • Color code by role: vocals, instruments, power, wedges, IEMs.
  • Use the Mix field consistently (M1, M2, M3) for quick reading.
  • Use Show notes for the stuff that prevents ten questions at load in.
  • Export the project before a big edit spree (email it to yourself as a backup).
  • Do tight placement with View Zoom, then Reset View to 100% before printing.

Troubleshooting

Print preview is blank
  • Click the app Print button again (it forces a print-safe rerender).
  • Wait a second - some browsers lag before painting.
  • Try a different browser (Chrome, Edge, Safari).
  • If you installed the PWA, try printing from a normal browser tab once.
Stage looks cut off or “cropped” while editing
  • Hit Reset View to return View Zoom to 100%.
  • If you’re zoomed in (View Zoom > 100%), some edges may be off-screen by design - that’s the point of zooming in.
  • On smaller screens, the app switches layouts and the stage square can change size. That is normal.
My stuff disappeared
  • StagePlot saves in localStorage. If you cleared browser site data, it resets.
  • Use Export project as your backup habit.
  • Each browser/device has its own local save.
Built for speed and sanity. If something feels annoying, that is a bug with a personality and we can fix it.