Lighting Supplies

[Dani]

Where have you guys purchased lighting supplies and parts from? What are some of the best places to work with?

[icewolf08]

BMI Supply is a good place, as well as Production Advantage. You also should look into local companies in your area. Sometimes if you start up a good relationship with a local company they will start to try and give you the best deals they can.

[gafftaper]

Although you can beat them with price sometimes, you can't beat the service of having a relationship with a local dealer. Having the ability to call your buddy and have something waiting for you to swing through and pick it up is great. Over time you will get deals nearly as good as the internet as they know you and cut you a deal. Finally where do you go when your console needs repair? Having a local dealer you trust is critical at times like that.

I don't know your local scene but Barbizon is a nationwide chain with regional reps that you can work with. They are really nice people.

[stantonsound]

I will third that motion. About a year ago, I found myself needing 2 clamps and 2 lamps at 8pm on a Friday night. I called the shop manager at the place in town that I buy my gear and they not only were able to help me, the shop manager had one of the techs pick them up from the shop and bring them to my job site. There was no additional cost for the extra service! I now get a discount on everything that I rent and pay no more than 10% over their cost for all of my gear.

When I do buy used gear online, I buy from usedlighting.com (4Wall's site) and www.aceydecy.com. I have been very happy with both.

[BillESC]

You'll find friendly and knowledgeable people at www.entsyscorp.com

[stantonsound]

Sorry Bill. Your company is great also! I was just pricing gear on your website last night.

[gafftaper]

Originally Posted by BillESC

You'll find friendly and knowledgeable at www.entsyscorp.com

If you are shopping the net do give Bill a call he's been a good supporter of Control Booth for a couple years now and deserves a few of our dollars.

Again back to local service... I was renting some gear from my local shop and one of the units wasn't working. The owner came out well after closing to swap it out with another unit. If I have a problem that I'm not sure if I can repair myself or if I'm just troubleshooting. I call my friend Carl the repair guy at the local shop and ask him. 15 years of customer loyalty has it's benefits.

[soundlight]

Premier Lighting
Stage Lighting Store
Production Advantage
My favorites.

Premier Lighting has a heluva deal on Source Fours and S4 Juniors.

[stantonsound]

Originally Posted by soundlight

Premier Lighting
Stage Lighting Store
Production Advantage
My favorites.
Premier Lighting has a heluva deal on Source Fours and S4 Juniors.

Well, it depends on how you look at it. I ordered a handful of lights from BMI not that long ago, and the price of their S4 Leko's were $289.60, as compared to $268.99 at Premier Lighting. My local shop gave me a quote that was the same as Premier's. At BMI, however, the fixture comes with a lamp (take your pick between 575 or 750 watt), a megaclamp, and a safety cable. I think that this is a better deal. I think the $21 difference is worth a lamp, a cable, and a clamp (about a $30 value - lamp $15+, cable $2.50+, clamp $10+).

[ship]

Yup, lots of good lighting companies about, I can think of at least six primary theater suppliers in the Chicago area and that's not including production companies that also retail. Most cities will have at least one or two or more.

Than there is also McMaster Carr - they sell everything, if they don't stock it, they can get it - and normally at a very decent price.