How to create professional stage plots and input lists for Indian venues, and why sending them in advance changes how venues treat you.
Part 1: Why Stage Plots and Input Lists Matter
In India's live music scene, many artists arrive at venues without any technical documentation. This creates friction: the venue's sound engineer has to ask basic questions during soundcheck, wasting time; backline or monitoring preferences are guessed rather than confirmed; and technical errors (wrong number of channels, no DI boxes, wrong mic placement) eat into soundcheck time.
A professional stage plot and input list says: we have done this before and we know what we need. Venues and engineers respond to this immediately.
Sending these documents at least 48 hours before the show also means the venue can flag technical limitations in advance, for example, if their PA system has fewer outputs than you need, giving you time to make arrangements rather than discovering the problem at load-in.
Part 2: the Stage Plot
A stage plot is a bird's-eye diagram of the stage showing where each musician stands or sits, where equipment is positioned, and where monitors should go.
What to Include
- Stage dimensions (if you know them)
- Position of each band member (labelled by name and role)
- Position of drums, amp cabinets, keyboards, DI boxes
- Position and direction of each floor monitor
- Side fill positions (if applicable)
- IEM (in-ear monitor) positions (if applicable)
- Power strip or power distribution locations
- Where the laptop / click track / backing track operator stands
- Any upstage elements (risers, keyboard stands at the back)
Creating your Stage Plot
Free tools: Stageplots.com, Stageplot Pro (iOS), Canva (manual layout), or simply a clean hand-drawn diagram scanned to PDF.
File format: Always send as PDF. Image files (JPG/PNG) are acceptable but PDF maintains quality across all devices.
Sample stage plot layout description (text version, adapt for your diagram):
STAGE (audience faces upstage)
Left Centre Right
(from audience POV)
[Guitar Amp 1] [DRUMS (centre back)] [Bass Amp] [Guitar Player] [Bass Player] [Keyboard Stand] [LEAD VOCALS, centre] [BG Vocals L] [BG Vocals R]
Monitor wedges:
- Drums: 1 wedge front of kit, angled up
- Lead vocals: 2 wedges (1 left, 1 right of vocal position)
- Guitar: 1 wedge
- Bass: 1 wedge (or DI feed to IEM)
- Keys: 1 wedge
Power requirements: 3 x 16-amp outlets stage left; 1 x 16-amp outlet stage right
Part 3: the Input List
The input list is a channel-by-channel breakdown of every signal going to the mixing desk. It corresponds directly to how the sound engineer patches the stage.
Standard Input List Format
TOTAL INPUTS: 20 channels
Phantom Power Required on Channels: 4, 5, 9, 10, 14, 15
Part 4: Monitor Mix Reference
Send this alongside the input list so the monitor engineer knows what each performer wants to hear.
Part 5: India-specific Technical Notes
Power Supply
India runs on 230V / 50Hz. Standard stage power outlets are 5A, 15A, or 32A depending on the venue. For large backline (multiple amplifiers, keyboard stacks), confirm the venue has adequate amperage available. Bring your own quality surge-protected power strips. Voltage fluctuations are common, especially in smaller venues and outdoor sites.
Backline Availability
Unlike venues in the UK or US, most Indian venues do not have standard backline available. You typically provide your own instruments and amplifiers, or rent locally. Rental sources: Furtados Music (Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi), Bharat Music (Delhi), Reynold's Music (Bengaluru).
Pa Systems at Common Venues
- Humming Tree: d&b audiotechnik PA, professional FOH setup
- High Spirits: In-house PA, confirm with sound team
- Antisocial venues: In-house systems vary by location; always confirm channel count and monitor availability
Outdoor/festival Stages
At NH7 Weekender and similar multi-stage festivals, stage managers typically have strict 20-30 minute changeover windows. Your stage plot and input list must be sent to the festival production team 2 weeks in advance and confirmed 1 week prior.
YOUR INPUT LIST TEMPLATE (blank)
Artist Name: Genre: Number of Band Members: Set Length: Total Channel Count Required: Phantom Power Channels: Backline Required from Venue: YES / NO
Document prepared by: Date:
Free to use · Part of the Indie Music India toolkit · Updated September 2026