Locate the contract rider or coordinate with the event planner to determine what type of event is being planned.
Find out what electrical and sound equipment will be required so that chairs do not interfere with the cords, podium or speakers.
Determine how many people will need to be on stage. This will enable you to accurately account for the correct number of chairs to include in the seating chart.
Place the speakers on the stage in the diagram. This will give you a frame from which to build.
Decide if the event will require a podium. If so, place it in the diagram in the front center of the stage and have the appropriate number of chairs flanking it on either side. Don't place chairs behind the podium because the audience won't be able to see those people on the stage.
Place the most important people toward the front, if it's an event with speakers. The first or introductory speaker should be the closest to the microphone. The keynote speaker should be seated beside them.
Write the names of everyone else seated on the stage in order of importance, starting from the center to the outside of the stage and to the sequential rows.