Plot Revision TrackerEasyStagecraft Course · Tier 1B · Module 4 (Reading a Lighting Plot) · v1.0 · version history so nothing slips

 
 
 
 
 
 
Why this matters. Lighting plots get revised. The LD adds 2 movers Tuesday + drops a follow-spot Wednesday + adds a gobo Friday. Without a revision tracker, your hire quote drifts, your gel cut list is wrong, and your circuit list goes out of date. This template captures every change with date, reason, and cost impact.

Worked example · plot revisions for a fictional production

Rev # Date Who requested Change Reason Cost impact Notified
v1.0 2026-04-10 LD Initial plot First draft after director read-through A$0 (baseline) PM, supplier
v1.1 2026-04-22 Director + 2 movers on LX2 (Mac Aura) "More movement in dance number 3" — director note A$2,880 PM, supplier, producer
v1.2 2026-04-25 PM − 2 movers (revert), + 1 mover Producer pushback: 2 too many, but 1 is justified. A$1,440 (vs v1.0) PM, supplier, producer, LD
v1.3 2026-04-28 LD + custom glass gobo (window) Scene 7 specific need A$150 + 7-day lead PM, supplier
v1.4 2026-05-02 Director Drop 4 cyc lights (ground row) Producer's budget request −A$2,880 PM, supplier, LD
v1.5 2026-05-05 LD Substitute L201 → R3202 (Rosco equiv) Gel supplier substitution A$0 PM
v1.6 (LOCKED) 2026-05-08 PM LOCK for bump-in 3 days before tech-week. No changes from here. — (committed total) All

Net change from v1.0 → v1.6: +1 mover (A$1,440), +1 custom gobo (A$150), −4 cyc lights (−A$2,880) = −A$1,290 in 4 revisions. Total reduction of A$1,290 against original v1.0 budget.

Note the "LOCKED" marker on v1.6 — this is the production manager declaring the plot final. Any further changes from this point should be discussed before being made (they cost overtime + emergency-order fees).

Blank revision tracker — fill in for your production

Rev # Date Who requested Change Reason Cost impact Notified
v1.0  Initial plot A$0 (baseline) 
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       

Revision discipline · the rules

  1. Every change gets a row. Even a gel substitution.
  2. Cost impact must be calculated, not estimated.
  3. Notify everyone affected on the same day.
  4. Lock the plot at least 3 days before tech-week.
  5. Post-lock changes require explicit producer approval + may carry expedited-order fees.
  6. Keep the previous version until the new one is fully distributed. Don't overwrite.

Communication template (when sending a revision)

Email template for sending plot revisions:

Subject: [Production] · Plot revision v1.X · [date]

Team,

Plot has been updated to version v1.X.

Change: [one-line summary of what changed]

Reason: [why]

Cost impact: [A$ change + cumulative total]

Action needed: [supplier to update hire quote / LD to update circuit list / gel order to be adjusted].

Attached: plot v1.X PDF.

Lock date for any further changes: [date].

— [PM name]

One email per revision. Threading these together gives a complete audit trail.