Members Vito Corleone Posted July 27, 2011 Members Share Posted July 27, 2011 Anyone know of a decent free (or cheap) software for creating a stage plot? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members wardjames Posted July 27, 2011 Members Share Posted July 27, 2011 Anyone know of a decent free (or cheap) software for creating a stage plot? Do mean like a stage plot to give to a venue? You could uee excel or powerpoint and use shapes for mics, amps, drums, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Zeromus-X Posted July 27, 2011 Members Share Posted July 27, 2011 pbrush.exe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Vito Corleone Posted July 27, 2011 Author Members Share Posted July 27, 2011 Do mean like a stage plot to give to a venue? You could uee excel or powerpoint and use shapes for mics, amps, drums, etc. Yeah, I have one I made up in Word using shapes. I was just wondering if there was something out there that was specific and maybe look better/cooler than what I can do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members JohnMCA72 Posted July 27, 2011 Members Share Posted July 27, 2011 I use CorelDRAW! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Padoobies Posted July 27, 2011 Members Share Posted July 27, 2011 Here's what I use: http://freestageplots.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Funkwire Posted July 27, 2011 Members Share Posted July 27, 2011 I did this in PowerPoint and saved it as a .jpg. I went to freestageplots.com but found it kind of limited. However, the price is right... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members kmart Posted July 27, 2011 Members Share Posted July 27, 2011 THIS... Here's what I use: http://freestageplots.com/ I've seen that free stageplots tool before. It looks like something a grade-school kid would make. IMO, clip art does not look pro OR cool.Also, simple basic block shapes, etc. are easier to understand on the fly than images. Guido-I do mine using Excel - it's way easier to create and manipulate shapes and Word-Art text in Excel than to move shapes around the text in Word (At least it is for me: I tried to build a plot in Word before, but it's a PITA to do a simple one). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members dan88z Posted July 27, 2011 Members Share Posted July 27, 2011 Kmart, you have a template you can share? Do you set the row/column sizes to be square like graph paper? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Padoobies Posted July 27, 2011 Members Share Posted July 27, 2011 I couldn't care less how cool it looks. I just want it to be functional, and for me it is. I have far better things to spend my time on that concerning myself with how visually appealing my stage plot is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members kmart Posted July 27, 2011 Members Share Posted July 27, 2011 Kmart, you have a template you can share? Do you set the row/column sizes to be square like graph paper? Google Docs is blocked by the work network, so I can't upload anything. When using Excel, I do not format the actual cells for shapes, etc.; that takes too much time/is not easy. I use the Insert/Shapes menu to place shapes (rectangles for amps, circles for drums/cymbals, trapezoids for wedges, etc.) on/over the cells. It's just easier to move/manipulate shapes without affecting everything else on the page in Excel than Word (for me). If I get a chance tonight I'll try to upload something from home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members kmart Posted July 27, 2011 Members Share Posted July 27, 2011 I couldn't care less how cool it looks. I just want it to be functional, and for me it is. I have far better things to spend my time on that concerning myself with how visually appealing my stage plot is. Functional for WHOM? The assumption would be that the stage plot is for someone who is not familiar with your band. That will be, in most cases, a sound engineer/house FOH guy, etc. My experience working production at venues from 200-2k capacity, and for a sound/backline company that provided PA for up to 10k crowds, is that a clean & simple block shape plot with simple text is what's standard AND what's preferred (and most functional). Something with the clip-art like on freestageplots would likely be laughed at, and probably completely ignored. YMMV, and if it has worked for you thus far, there's no reason to stop. I'm just saying it looks like a grade-school art project look AND would be perceived by many to whom it should matter, as unprofessional & useless. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members TrickyBoy Posted July 27, 2011 Members Share Posted July 27, 2011 I've never had to do one, but I'd assume Visio would do the trick quite nicely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members JohnMCA72 Posted July 27, 2011 Members Share Posted July 27, 2011 I've never had to do one, but I'd assume Visio would do the trick quite nicely. I'm sure Visio would work just fine. There might even already be suitable templates available. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members dcastar Posted July 27, 2011 Members Share Posted July 27, 2011 http://www.gliffy.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Padoobies Posted July 27, 2011 Members Share Posted July 27, 2011 Granted I rarely need a stage plot. We usually play the bar/club circuit where no stage plots are needed, and when we do do larger gigs (Earth Day festivals, Street dances ect....) the stuff at free stage plots looks a lot better and is easier to read than the hand drawn and scribbled stage plots on notebook paper that most bands hand in. I just don't see any point in spending any time worrying about how "cool" something like that is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members kmart Posted July 28, 2011 Members Share Posted July 28, 2011 Well that didn't work very well...I uploaded 2 different Excel versions to Google docs and the items on the 'page' shifted all over/got distorted & moved, so in essence, not very useful for viewing... I believe if you download them, they'll appear as intended, though.https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B3kfd4jybO2fMmIxODAyZWYtY2FiNS00OWVlLTk0NmYtOTc2MzlmZWJjMzI4&hl=en_US Here's an old version I made for a previous band in Word:https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B3kfd4jybO2fNjQ3ZGY5ZmMtZmVkZi00MDg0LWE5NDMtYWIyZGM2YzI2NzAx&hl=en_US Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Vito Corleone Posted July 28, 2011 Author Members Share Posted July 28, 2011 http://www.gliffy.com/ Oh I think I LIKE those. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members SpaceNorman Posted July 28, 2011 Members Share Posted July 28, 2011 I don't have to provide stage plot information all that often since we usually use our own PA. However, when I am asked to provide it - I give 'em two documents. One is a simple diagram I put together using Powerpoint - the other is a input list that I created in Excell. Note that the "Connection Location" information included on the Input List document refers to where the connection is made when I'm using my PA (which uses two small 6 channel drop boxes - one placed at the front of the stage for "front line" connections and one place at the rear of the stage for "back line" connections.) It's enough to give any sound company a pretty good idea of how we like to set up and what we typically use for microphones and inputs. Stage Plot Diagram Input List Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Outkaster Posted April 18, 2013 Members Share Posted April 18, 2013 Thanks. I was wondering what some people used. StagePlot Pro is OK but you have to buy it. The free version is cool but kind of limited. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members SLScott86 Posted April 18, 2013 Members Share Posted April 18, 2013 It's been a long time since we signed up, but I think if you are on Sonicbids , which I think is free in and of itself, and a good tool overall, they have a stage plot tool. This post was really vague. Sorry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Outkaster Posted April 19, 2013 Members Share Posted April 19, 2013 OK I went to the site and did not see it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Curlyqueues Posted January 3, 2015 Members Share Posted January 3, 2015 I know this thread goes back aways, but i just wanted to let you know that StagePlot Guru for iPad is free for limited use, and the pro version is only $4.99- it has GREAT reviews. http://www.stageplotguru.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Outkaster Posted July 24, 2015 Members Share Posted July 24, 2015 I did this in PowerPoint and saved it as a .jpg.I went to freestageplots.com but found it kind of limited. However' date=' the price is right...[/quote']I wonder if I could do it in Publisher? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members wesg Posted July 27, 2015 Members Share Posted July 27, 2015 I'm sure Publisher would be fine. I did this one in Photoshop. It's more usable and more accurate than the one I did last year in one of those fancy programs. Pictures aren't really necessary but I figure WTH, I like pictures. Like Norman, I do my input lists in a spreadsheet. I also use a spreadsheet for set lists. That helps me get the sent length correct. BTW don't copy my Leslie setup. Lower rotor bleed is excessive. I have to rethink my setup. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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