How to Set Up a Portable Stage With a Small Crew

To set up a portable stage with a small crew, plan the layout, stage the folded decks beside the footprint, then set one deck at a time: unfold it, set the five legs, level it, and join it to its neighbor with wingnuts. One person sets up a MyStage deck in about a minute, with no tools.

This guide is for event crews and facility staff in Canada who set up and strike the same stage repeatedly. Where a step depends on your specific stage, follow the setup instructions supplied with it, and ask MyStage if anything is unclear.

What are the parts of a portable stage?

A MyStage stage is made of identical decks, the legs that hold them up, and the connectors that join them. Knowing the names makes crew instructions shorter and clearer.

• Stage deck: a 4 ft x 4 ft (1.22 m x 1.22 m) aluminum platform with a black diamond-plate surface. It folds in half to 2 ft x 4 ft (0.61 m x 1.22 m) and has a shoulder strap. Each deck weighs 42 lbs (19 kg) and is rated to hold up to 3,400 lbs (1,542 kg).
• Legs: five per deck, four angled legs plus a center leg that reduces bounce. Legs are included with every deck. Standard legs adjust from 4 to 28 in (10 cm to 71 cm). Shorties have 8 in and 10 in (20 cm, 25 cm) settings, and Biggies go up to 36 in (91 cm).
• Connectors: decks join to each other with wingnuts, so neighboring decks act as one surface.
• Accessories: railings in 4 ft (1.22 m) sections, stairs, a single step up, skirting, castors and a gear bag. Each is added after the decks are down and joined.

How many people do you need to set up a portable stage?

One person can set up a MyStage deck, because each deck is carried folded on a shoulder strap and sets up in about a minute with no tools. A second or third person mainly saves time on carrying, leveling checks and accessories, not on the deck itself.

The deciding factors are the number of decks and the distance from storage to the stage. An 8 ft x 12 ft stage is six decks, which is 252 lbs (114 kg) of decks in total, moved one 42 lb (19 kg) deck at a time. For guidance on lifting and carrying at work, see the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety page on manual materials handling.

Who does what on a small stage crew?

Give each person one job so nobody waits on anybody else. The table below is a planning assumption for a crew of one to three, not a MyStage requirement; adjust it to your venue and your people.

Role	Crew of 1	Crew of 2	Crew of 3	Main tasks
Lead	Same person does every role	Person A	Person A	Marks the footprint, sets the first deck, sets leg height, checks level, signs off the pre-use check
Carrier	Same person	Person B	Person B	Brings folded decks from storage in layout order, returns empty bags or carts
Deck setter	Same person	Person A	Person C	Unfolds decks, sets legs, joins wingnuts to the previous deck
Accessory fitter	Same person, last	Person B, after carrying	Person B, after carrying	Fits railings, stairs or step up, skirting; routes cables

On a crew of two or three, the carrier keeps one deck ahead of the setter so the setter never stops.

What should you do before the first deck goes down?

Plan the layout on paper and mark it on the floor or ground before you carry anything. A marked footprint stops the crew moving decks twice.

1. Confirm the layout. Stage sizes are whole decks, so an 8 ft x 16 ft stage is two rows of four decks. The Stage Builder shows the deck count for any footprint.
2. Choose the height. Decide on one leg setting for the whole stage and tell the crew. If the stage will be above 28 in (71 cm), you need Biggies, and the stairs accessory is made for stages up to 28 in (71 cm).
3. Check the surface. Indoors, look for floor transitions, drains and cables. Outdoors, walk the footprint for soft spots, holes and the high corner.
4. Mark the footprint. Use tape or chalk to mark the outer corners and the front edge. Mark where the stairs or step up will sit.
5. Stage the decks. Put the folded decks next to the footprint in the order they will go down, with the accessories in a separate pile.
6. Brief the crew. Name the lead, the order of decks and the leg setting. Agree that nobody climbs on the stage until the lead signs off.

How do you set up a portable stage, step by step?

Set the first deck in a corner, level it, then build outward one deck at a time, joining each new deck to the last before you move on. The numbered sequence below is the general order; the exact way the legs lock and the wingnuts fit is system-specific, so follow the instructions supplied with your stage.

1. Place the first deck. Carry the folded deck by its shoulder strap to the starting corner. Outdoors, starting at the highest corner of the ground usually means you only lengthen legs elsewhere, never shorten below your planned height (a general practice, not a MyStage rule).
2. Unfold and set the legs. Unfold the deck and set all five legs, including the center leg, to the agreed height.
3. Level the first deck. Put a level on the deck in both directions and adjust the legs until it reads level. Every other deck will be matched to this one.
4. Set the next deck. Unfold the second deck beside the first, set its legs to the same height, and push the edges together.
5. Join with wingnuts. Connect the two decks with the wingnuts, hand-tight, as the instructions describe. Check that the top surfaces are flush across the joint.
6. Repeat along the row. Finish the first row before starting the second, so the front edge stays straight.
7. Start the next row. Join each new deck to both its neighbors. Check level across the whole stage every two or three decks, not only at the end.
8. Fit accessories. Add railings in 4 ft (1.22 m) sections where people could step off an open edge, then the stairs or step up, then skirting. Skirting comes in 16 ft x 28 in (4.88 m x 71 cm) lengths in black or white and attaches with Velcro adhesive.
9. Run the pre-use checks below before anyone uses the stage.

What pre-use checks should you run?

Run a short, written check every time, even when the same crew set up the same stage last week. The lead signs it off before performers, presenters or equipment go on the stage.

• Every deck stands on all five legs, and every center leg is touching the floor or ground.
• Every leg is at the planned setting and locked as the instructions describe.
• Every wingnut between decks is in place and tight.
• The surface reads level across the length and width, and the joints between decks are flush.
• Railings are fitted on every open edge where your venue requires them, and the stairs or step up are firm.
• Skirting is attached and is not trailing where people walk.
• Cables are routed away from the stairs and taped down where they cross a walkway.
• The planned load is within the 3,400 lb (1,542 kg) rating per deck. Heavy items such as speakers or drum risers sit on joined decks, not on an open edge.

If any check fails, fix it and recheck that deck and its neighbors.

How long does it take to set up a portable stage?

The deck itself takes about a minute for one person, so the deck time for a stage is roughly one minute per deck: about six minutes for an 8 ft x 12 ft stage of six decks. That figure covers unfolding and setting legs only.

Carrying distance, leveling on uneven ground, joining decks and fitting railings, stairs and skirting all add time, and those depend on your venue. Time your first full setup, write it down, and use that number for future event schedules instead of a guess.

What photos should you take during setup?

Take a small set of photos at every setup so the next crew can repeat it and so you have a record if a question comes up later. Phone photos are enough.

• The finished deck layout from above or from a corner, showing the deck count and orientation.
• One close photo of a leg at the chosen setting, so the next crew knows the height.
• The finished stage with railings, stairs and skirting in place, from the audience side.
• Anything that looks damaged, worn or missing, with the deck labeled so you can find it again.

Keep the photos with the signed pre-use check.

How do you strike and store the stage?

Strike in the reverse order of setup: accessories first, then the decks from the last one set back to the first. This keeps every remaining deck supported by its neighbors until it is its own turn.

1. Clear the stage, then remove skirting, stairs or the step up, and railings.
2. Undo the wingnuts on one deck, fold it, and carry it to storage by the shoulder strap. Keep the wingnuts with that deck or in one labeled container.
3. Repeat until the first deck is folded.
4. Count decks, legs, railings and wingnuts before you leave the venue.

A gear bag holds one folded deck and protects it in storage and in vehicles. Castors (set of 5) with brakes are also available; ask MyStage how they fit your setup before you plan around them.

What do Canadian buyers need to know before ordering?

Canadian orders ship from our warehouse in Ajax, Ontario, to everywhere in Canada except Quebec, and there are no customs or brokerage steps for the buyer. Freight is quoted per order, so send the products and your postal code to MyStage for a shipping estimate before you order.

Prices are in US dollars, and your card issuer converts the charge to Canadian dollars at its own rate. Confirm any applicable taxes on your quote, and confirm remote and northern addresses when you request it. For the full buying process, read how to buy a portable stage in Canada, and for the freight side, portable stage shipping across Canada. You can browse every size on the portable stage page.

Frequently asked questions

Can one person set up a portable stage alone?

Yes. A MyStage deck folds to 2 ft x 4 ft (0.61 m x 1.22 m), weighs 42 lbs (19 kg), has a shoulder strap, and one person sets it up in about a minute with no tools. A larger stage simply means more decks for that person to carry and join.

Do you need tools to assemble a MyStage stage?

No. The decks set up without tools and connect to each other with wingnuts. A level is still useful for checking the surface, especially outdoors.

What order should accessories go on?

Set and join all the decks first, then fit railings, then the stairs or step up, then skirting. Skirting goes last so it is not in the way while the crew works around the legs.

Where can I find setup instructions for my stage?

Follow the instructions supplied with your stage for leg locking and wingnut connections. If you need another copy or have a question about a step, contact MyStage at info@mystagecorp.com or 858-229-8388.

How do I estimate setup time for an event schedule?

Start with about one minute per deck for unfolding and setting legs, then time your first full setup, including carrying, leveling and accessories, and use that measured time for later events.

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