# Stage Plot Maker

> App for building and sharing band stage plots with sound engineers. (iPhone/iPad app by Arlo Leach.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stage-plot-maker/id903691661 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Arlo Leach](https://appshunter.io/developer/353281976)
- Category: Music, Utilities
- Price: $3.99
- Rating: 2.00/5 from 8 App Store ratings · 71 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 12.0 · 2 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2015-03-04
- Data updated: 2026-08-27
- Monetization: free
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stage-plot-maker/id903691661/reviews.md

## What is Stage Plot Maker?

Stage Plot Maker helps you build clear, readable stage plots to communicate your band's technical requirements to a sound engineer. You can build a collection of stage plots for different kinds of gigs, then print or email them directly from your mobile device.

Running the app on a tablet is recommended for building stage plots. Once you build a stage plot, you can copy it to the phone app for quick access on the go.

Stage plots can include a diagram to show the placement of elements on stage; numbered input and output lists; a list of other required items like chairs and music stands; the name and photo of each performer; notes for the sound engineer; and your contact info.

Note that this app doesn't use pictures for small instruments like guitars, trumpets, etc. Instead, it uses symbols for the inputs that those instruments go into, like mics or DI boxes. You can label those inputs to show what instrument they are used for. This provides a streamlined display that shows sound engineers just what they need to set up the stage for you. The app does include symbols for large instruments like piano and drums that are typically placed on stage first with the inputs positioned around them. Please see the screen shots and demo video for examples.

*** If you have a problem or a suggestion, please contact me before writing a bad review. I respond promptly to all emails and posts in my support forum. ***

## Key features

- Build clear stage plots
- Communicate technical requirements
- Print or email plots
- Include diagrams and input lists
- Add performer info and notes
- Use symbols for instruments

## What do users think of Stage Plot Maker?

Overall sentiment: negative

**Pros**

- 👍 Easy to use (few users)
- 👍 Good for basic setups (few users)
- 👍 Helpful for communication (few users)

**Cons**

- 👎 Missing essential instruments
- 👎 Limited instrument options
- 👎 Difficult to use
- 👎 Poor user interface
- 👎 Not intuitive
- 👎 Cannot resize items
- 👎 Cannot zoom
- 👎 Clunky controls
- 👎 Expensive for features
- 👎 Basic functionality
- 👎 Amateurish design
- 👎 Unusable for many
- 👎 Bugs and crashes
- 👎 Poor execution
- 👎 Not professional
- 👎 Wasted money
- 👎 Limited icons
- 👎 Input/output list issues
- 👎 Stage size too small
- 👎 Items too large
- 👎 Editing screen obscured
- 👎 Cannot edit input list
- 👎 Cannot export/email plots
- 👎 Text too small
- 👎 Colliding lists and plot
- 👎 No guitar amps/monitors
- 👎 No drum kit option
- 👎 No mic stand symbols
- 👎 No horns/wind instruments
- 👎 No string instruments
- 👎 No DJ deck option
- 👎 No guitar pedalboard option

**Commonly reported bugs**

- App crashes frequently
- App closes out on itself
- Grey boxes stay on
- Cannot open or edit plans on other devices
- Cannot export or email plots
- Drafts erased when device goes to standby
- Settings page gets stuck
- Rotate function doesn't work
- Input list and 'other items' list clutter plot
- Cannot edit input list without adding to plot
- Cannot zoom in
- Cannot resize items
- Cannot resize stage
- Editing screen obscures view
- Items too big, stage too small
- No guitar amps or monitors, end up as drums
- Cannot label properly
- Text for input list too small
- Colliding lists and plot
- No DJ deck listed
- No guitar pedalboard position option

**Most requested features**

- Add guitars, basses, keyboards, amps
- Add mic stands
- Add horns, wind instruments
- Add string instruments
- Add DJ deck option
- Add guitar pedalboard option
- Improve instrument selection
- Allow resizing of items
- Allow resizing of stage
- Enable zooming
- Add free-form label creation
- Add power box indicators
- Add graphic for band members
- Add full drum kit graphic
- Improve input/output list display
- Allow editing of input list
- Add more icons for PA, recording, lighting
- Provide a grid for alignment
- Fix crashing issues
- Improve export/email functionality
- Add tutorial
- Add dark mode
- Add adjustable stage size
- Add editable instruments with custom names
- Improve touchscreen controls
- Allow importing custom icons
- Add photo import without crashing
- Fix standby mode erasing drafts
- Add sort function for objects
- Make it free or cheaper

## Recent user reviews (10 of 71)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stage-plot-maker/id903691661/reviews.md

### 1/5 — Stuck in the past

*2025-08-11*

If I were Barbara Dicksons tour manager in 1983, this would probably be brilliant. However in a world of digital triggers, complex pedalboards and multiple signal routing options it isn’t. Also why have a DJ deck listed and not the option to show the position of a guitar pedalboard ? 

Disappointed

### 1/5 — Who the hell’s rating this thing five stars?

*2025-08-09*

Obviously not anybody who’s actually tried using it. Went with this app for stage plotting because a much better one that I was recommended was retired before I could even try it out, so I went with this slop instead Lacks bare basic functionality. Try to place a riser, gotta place your finger just right on the expand tab or you’ll default to shrinking the riser so you can even touch it to get rid of it and try again. Zooming in and moving around? Sorry, that’s too much to ask of this app. DO NOT PURCHASED THIS APP. The developers have zero business charging money for this app and never fixing any of the many bugs. They should either release updates or dump the app entirely, because right now it’s worth less than free.

### 1/5 — Really bad

*2024-12-13*

Choix d’instruments extrêmement réduit ! À fuir

### 1/5 — Essentially Worthless-kiss $3.99 away

*2024-06-11*

Not easy to figure out, the app gets in the way instead of clearing the way- not sure what i expected for $3.99 But Stage -g*r* app is much more user friendly and quick, for $2 bucks more…sorry guys-work on this one. Even for FREE it doesnt do it.

### 1/5 — Not worth the 3.99

*2024-02-18*

You can do more on word

### 4/5 — Well worth the price

*2024-01-25*

While I agree with many other reviews that I wish I could visually represent instruments like guitars and basses and such, I don’t see that as a reason to knock more than a star off this app. It does what it needs to do well and intuitively. Many reviews just didn’t bother to actually learn how to use the app. The only other thing I’ve encountered so far is wishing for more options for the display of inputs and outputs. Like being able to resize those elements or have them overflow to a second column if necessary, and such. For example my outputs list had 5 outputs and then a bunch of space to the right so I couldn’t seem to move it over as much as I wanted. 

Still well worth $4 and gets the job done. I’m a long time avid Band Helper user but don’t want to pay double what I pay now when the only extra module I need is the Stage Plot so I decided to take a chance with this stand alone instead. Hopefully it keeps getting developed and improved but even as is, I’m quite happy with it.

### 1/5 — Don’t buy, impossible to use

*2023-07-04*

Useless mess.

### 1/5 — WHAT A MESS!

*2023-06-04*

This is the 2nd Stage Making app that completely wasted my time and money.    WHERE ARE THE INSTRUMENTS?   There is more in a band than pianos drums and violins.  Where are the guitars?  Basses? Keyboards?    The owner says he replies to e-mails?   Where is his e-mail because I want my $4.00 back.

**Developer response:** The app description explains how inputs versus instruments are handled. I didn't receive any messages about this app around the date you posted your review.

### 1/5 — Total Junk

*2023-03-07*

The illustrations are bad. You can’t resize them. The inputs are very limited. This should not cost money. Please read reviews before purchasing.

### 2/5 — target audience missed. so much nothing here

*2023-02-04*

Creating a plot is very basic and a bit labor intensive. you get to use circles and squares to build a drum kit and the circles are the same size for toms and cymbals. i could do better creating my own Icons in a word program with far more shape options to choose from. The "instruments" category doesn't even include guitars or amps, and most icons seem very geared to stage hands and techs rather than performers who usually see a stage plot in terms of where the amps go... not mics, DI's and PA lines.
There are some interesting features like the list that populates inputs and outputs but that again is only moderately useful to a performer and better suited to the audio tech. 

Which begs the question to the developer, who was this App actually designed for?
  
After reading a few reviews, (some as many as 4 or 5 years ago), it appears similar requests, concerns, and issues echoed my own. 
So I contacted the developer via their support to pitch the idea of making some changes and although response was same day, it never felt like my concerns were addressed, rather it came off as dismissive with a, "learn how to use our product because were not going to change anything" tone attached. 

Anyways, on that note, I will find my own solution to share with my clients. As for the $6.00CA, 
meh, keep it. At least you responded. 
Pete L.

**Developer response:** To answer your question, the app was designed for musicians to communicate their needs to the tech crew at a venue. It does include icons for amps to show their positioning. As for more detailed drum shapes and sizes, we believe a simplified diagram style is easier to read and better suited to the task than realistic images of instruments. We're sorry to sound dismissive and hope you would not take it personally if we prefer to stick to this vision for the app.

## Frequently asked questions about Stage Plot Maker

### What is Stage Plot Maker?

Stage Plot Maker is a mobile application designed to help musicians and bands create clear and readable stage plots. These plots visually communicate the band's technical requirements, such as instrument placement and input needs, to sound engineers for live performances.

### What information can be included in a stage plot?

Stage plots can include a visual diagram of stage element placement, numbered input and output lists, a list of required items like chairs and music stands, performer names and photos, notes for the sound engineer, and contact information.

### How does the app handle different instruments?

The app uses symbols for inputs like microphones or DI boxes, which can be labeled with the specific instrument. It also includes symbols for larger instruments like pianos and drums. This approach provides a streamlined display focused on the technical setup needs.

### Is this app free to use?

Yes, based on the provided information, this application is free to use. It does not have in-app purchases or advertisements, indicating a completely free monetization model.

### What devices is Stage Plot Maker compatible with?

While the app can be run on phones for quick access on the go, running it on a tablet is recommended for building stage plots due to the larger screen size. The app can be copied from a tablet to a phone.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 1.2.12 — 2024-09-06

• Updated the print window to make the Print button visible regardless of the device color theme.

### 1.2.11 — 2024-03-14

• Updated the stage plot import function to open files with a .stageplot.txt extension, for devices that don't recognize the .stageplot extension.

### 1.2.10 — 2023-12-17

- Fixed positioning issues when moving or rotating a group of stage plot items.

### 1.2.9 — 2023-05-16

- Updated alerts to work with current OS versions.

### 1.2.8 — 2023-04-16

- Fixed a crash when sharing some stage plots.

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## More apps by Arlo Leach

- [Jug Band](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/jug-band/id353281973)
- [Washboard](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/washboard/id363227793)
- [Autoharp](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/autoharp/id366274361)
- [Mouth Harp](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mouth-harp/id376563785)
- [My Music Alarm](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/my-music-alarm/id384494602)
- [Set List Maker](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/set-list-maker/id410496349)

All apps by Arlo Leach: https://appshunter.io/developer/353281976

## Related topics

[stage plot maker](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/stage-plot-maker) · [livetechpack stage plot](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/livetechpack-stage-plot) · [stage plot](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/stage-plot)

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-27.*