Theater Equipment and Supplies

Find theater equipment and supplies to help you pack the house
By Nikki Davis Finding the right theater equipment and supplies is the key to providing your audience an aesthetically rewarding theater experience. From the lighting to the concession area, your theater will be judged on its appearance and its design creativity, so finding the right theater supply companies is critical to creating the right mix of items.

Equipment for theater houses can be easy to find, but knowing what you need before you jump into it is critical. Don't be afraid to confer with other neighboring establishments to see what theater supplies work and which ones don't. Do you need a theatrical scrim rental, or do they recommend that you purchase all of your theater stage supplies? You can also confer with the theater equipment retailers themselves, but be prepared for a biased opinion. To start your theatrical equipment search:

1. Make your wish list and your have-to-have list of theater supplies. These will often be totally different and cost dependent.

2. Set your theater gear budget.

3. Consider if purchasing used movie theater equipment will be more cost effective for you.

Know what theater equipment you need

If you are first starting out in the industry, you might not know theatrical equipment background information or what the terms mean. So finding out the background information and the correct terminology can help you purchase with ease.
Try:  Check out the Glossary of Theater & Stage Equipment Terms from J.R. Clancy. Find out about how rigging works and what safety steps are necessary with Rigging Safety.

Put lighting at the top of your theater supplies list

Theatrical lighting is a critical theater equipment item that not only impacts the stage, but your outdoor ambiance as well as your lobby and concession area. It sets the tone for the show both before and after the curtains go up.
Try:  Find lighting and supplies with free shipping on many items from StageSpot. You can find lighting, sound, pipe and drape, backline and barricade items from Zeo Brothers Productions, Inc. Look for lighting, cables, dimmers and more from The Stage Lighting Store. Find even more lighting products from Star Light and Magic, Inc.

Find a wide variety of other equipment for theater as well

Curtains, ticket machines, backgrounds and more all are additional theater supplies that you should keep in mind when setting your budget.
Try:  Studio Productions, Inc. will custom paint logos and screens. They also rent scrim sets. Sew What? specializes in customized drapes and fabrics. Look at their products, and check out their fabric swatches. Their manufactured drapes and soft goods have been used by numerous major artists, including Slip Knot, Maroon 5, Sting, Green Day, Don Henley, James Taylor, Madonna, Dave Matthews Band and Rod Stewart. Stagecraft Industries specializes in staging, rigging and drapery. You can find a wide variety of items from Theatre Service & Supply including ticket machines, poster cases, crowd control ropes and poles, mini marquees, reader boards, waste receptacles, frames and special signs.

• For high impact, choose a company that has worked with some of the biggest acts in the business. Using a company like that helps create buzz that is priceless in the public relations world.