Reading Sheet Music on a Tablet on Stage and Outdoors

A tablet that's easy to read in the living room can be hard to see under stage lights, in a dark pit, or at an outdoor wedding. Here's how to keep your music readable, your tablet cool and charged, and your group on the same page wherever you play.

Beat the Glare

• Turn the brightness all the way up for outdoor and brightly lit gigs. On iPad, swipe down from the top-right corner and drag the brightness slider; on Android, swipe down from the top.
• Angle the screen away from the light. Tilting the tablet a few degrees on its stand often moves a reflection off the music entirely.
• Put the sun behind the screen, not behind you. When you can choose where to set up, face the light so it falls on the back of the tablet.
• Add a matte screen protector. A matte or "paper-feel" protector scatters reflections, so lights and windows don't mirror in the screen. The trade-off is a slightly softer image.
• Use shade when you can: an umbrella, a canopy, or the shadow of a tent pole helps more than any setting.

Dim Stages and Orchestra Pits

A bright white page can glare in a dark theater and light up your face for the audience. In a Page Turner room, open ☰ and turn on Dark Stage: the music shows as light notes on black, with colored markings keeping roughly their colors. Dark Stage changes only your own screen, so each player can choose. Turn the screen brightness down too, until the music is just comfortable to read.

Heat and Cold

Apple designs iPads to be used between about 32 and 95 °F (0 to 35 °C). In direct sun or a hot car, a tablet can get hotter than that: it may dim its screen, stop charging, show a temperature warning, and eventually sleep until it cools down. Other tablets behave similarly.

• Keep the tablet in the shade, or in a bag, until it's time to play.
• Never leave it in a parked car before a gig.
• A light-colored case absorbs less heat than a black one.
• In the cold, the battery runs down faster. Keep the tablet warm, in a pocket or bag, until you need it.
• For long outdoor sets in summer, bring a backup: a printed copy or a second device in the room.

Wind and Weather

A tablet can't blow its pages away, but wind can blow the tablet over. Hold it in a clamp-style holder or a tablet stand rather than resting it on a music stand's ledge; see how to hold a tablet on a music stand. Weigh down the stand's base if it's gusty. Most tablets aren't waterproof, so keep yours covered if rain is possible.

Power for a Long Gig

• Start at a full charge. A bright screen kept awake for hours uses more battery than everyday use.
• Turn on Low Power Mode (iPad, in Settings → Battery) or your tablet's battery saver once you're set up.
• Bring a power bank. A USB-C power bank that supplies 20 watts or more can charge an iPad while you play; a 20,000 mAh bank is a common size for tablets.
• Use a long cable, such as a 10-foot USB-C cable, so you can plug in at the stand during breaks.

When the Wi-Fi Is Bad

Venue Wi-Fi is often the weakest link. Page Turner saves each room's music on every device in the background, so a dropped connection doesn't stop the show:

1. Open the room on every device before the gig, while you have a good connection.
2. Check the room's Set List: it says when every piece is saved on that device.
3. If the connection drops mid-set, saved pieces keep opening and viewers can turn their own pages. Everyone catches up to the leader when it's back.

A phone's hotspot makes a good backup network for the whole group.

Popular Gear

A few popular choices for glare and power. Check that a screen protector matches your exact tablet model before buying.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Matte Screen Protectors

• Paperlike screen protector on Amazon
  A matte, paper-feel film made for iPad, popular with musicians who write with an Apple Pencil.
• ESR paper-feel screen protector on Amazon
  Matte tempered glass with a paper-like finish, sold in two-packs with an alignment tray.
• Mothca matte glass screen protector on Amazon
  An etched matte glass protector that cuts glare and fingerprints.

Power

• Anker Prime power bank (20,000 mAh) on Amazon
  A high-output USB-C power bank with two USB-C ports and a USB-A port.
• Anker 737 power bank (PowerCore 24K) on Amazon
  A larger USB-C power bank with a built-in display showing how much charge is left.
• 10-foot USB-C cable on Amazon
  Long enough to run from a power bank or outlet up to the stand.

Gig-Day Checklist

• Tablet charged to 100%, plus a power bank and long cable
• Room opened on every device, with every piece saved
• Screen brightness set for the room: up for sun, down (with Dark Stage) for dark stages
• Tablet held securely in a holder, and the stand's base weighted if it's windy
• A page-turner pedal paired, if you use one
• A backup: a printed copy or a second device

Getting the music ready? See how to organize a set list for a gig. Questions? See the FAQ or contact us.