Jazz big band stage setup
The classic big band setup: five saxes in the front row, four trombones behind them and four trumpets at the back, often on risers, with piano, bass, guitar and drums on the side. Send the printed plot to the venue ahead of the gig so the risers and mics are ready when you arrive.
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What's in this template
- Seated players
- 17
- Music stands
- 13
- Stage deck drawn at
- 46 × 26 ft (14 × 7.9 m)
Also placed: piano, bass drum, vibraphone, plus podium and conductor.
The counts are a starting point, not a standard instrumentation. Edit them to match your roster.
Chairs by section
| Section | Chairs |
|---|---|
| Saxophone | 5 |
| Trumpet | 4 |
| Trombone | 4 |
| Bass | 1 |
| Guitar | 1 |
| Drums | 1 |
| Lead | 1 |
Setup tips
- Standard sax order, left to right from the audience: bari, tenor 2, alto 1 (lead), alto 2, tenor 1. Some bands flip it, so label the chairs.
- Put the trumpets on a riser behind the trombones so the brass projects over the saxes.
- Keep the bass and drums close together so the time stays locked. The piano and guitar should be able to see the drummer.
How to make it
- Open the Jazz Big Band template in the free maker. No account is needed.
- Drag, add or delete chairs, stands and risers. Click a chair to label it with a player's name.
- Check the clearance warnings for chairs that are too close together.
- Export a Letter, Tabloid or A3 PDF, or an SVG, with title block, scale bar and section legend.
Not sure the ensemble fits your stage? Try the orchestra stage size calculator.
FAQ
- How do you set up a big band on stage?
- The usual setup is three rows facing the audience: saxes in front, trombones in the middle, trumpets at the back (often raised), with the rhythm section to one side. This template follows that setup.
- Can I send this to the venue as a stage plot?
- Yes. Export a PDF or SVG with a title block and scale bar, or send a view-only link.
