Stage lighting hire for bands and events
Build a small stock of lights and stands and hire them out, with delivery, to bands, churches and event companies.
- A$5k-25k
- Side hustle
- From home
Estimates for a small start in Australia, not guarantees.
What it is
A small hire fleet of LED par cans, moving heads, stands, controllers and cabling, stored in a garage or shed and delivered and set up for local gigs, shows and events.
Your first three steps
- Talk to local venues, churches and event companies about what they hire now and what they struggle to get
- Buy a starter stock of reliable, popular lights and a few packages you can price clearly
- Set up a simple website and booking sheet, then offer a discounted first hire to local bands and community groups
Who pays
Bands and venues, churches, school and community theatre groups, wedding and party organisers, and small event companies.
How it makes money
Daily or weekend hire rates per package, plus delivery, setup and pack-down fees. Bookings repeat when you become a reliable local supplier.
Skills that help
- Basic lighting and DMX control know-how
- Organised booking and stock tracking
- Safe lifting and setup
- Friendly, reliable customer service
Watch out for
- Public liability insurance, and cover for your hire stock in storage and transit
- Check electrical testing and tagging requirements for hire equipment in your state or territory
- Rigging lights overhead or at height needs proper safety knowledge and training
- Check with your local council whether you need approval to run a home-based business or store stock at home
- Damaged or lost gear, so use a hire agreement and consider a bond
Deep research report · Australia
Everything you need to start: stage lighting hire for bands and events
Researched with live web search for Australia: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.
- Startup costs with real prices
- Licences, registration and rules
- Pricing: what others charge
- Break-even example
- Finding your first customers
- 30-day launch plan
- Risks and how to reduce them
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to start a stage lighting hire business?
Startup costs are typically estimated around $5,000 to $25,000, depending on how much stock you buy, such as lights, stands, controllers and cabling, and what you spend on insurance and storage.
What should I check before hiring out stage lighting in Australia?
Check public liability insurance and cover for stock in storage and transit, plus electrical testing and tagging requirements in your state or territory. Also check council approval for home-based business or storage, and the safety knowledge needed for rigging at height.
How much can a stage lighting hire business earn?
Monthly revenue is typically estimated around $1,500 to $7,500, depending on the size of your hire stock, how often it is booked and your delivery area. Time needed typically starts from around 8 hours a week.
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