I use these guys often for rentals.
http://www.grandstage.com/images/pdf/RentalCatalog_PRINT.pdf
I don't rent from them, but they're pretty decent also
http://www.thelightingconnection.com/
Ship probably can get them for you as well.
Neither one delivers. If you need a local liaison who has contacts with a lot of people in the business in Chicago give me a
call.
Design Lab
http://www.designlab-chicago.com/
Chicago Spotlight
http://www.chicagospotlight.com/
ILC/Intelligent Lighting Creations - Skokie
http://www.intelligentlighting.com/
TLC / Theatrical Lighting Connection [formerly lite works]
http://www.thelightingconnection.com/
Performance Lighting, Inc. [formelry Petes Lights]www.performanclightinginc.com
Www.performancelightinginc.com
Frost Lighting
http://www.frostlighting.com/
Upstaging, Inc.
http://www.upstaging.com
Stage Depot
http://www.stagedepot.com/
heck, even OSA has
Leko's these days.
are also in the Chicago area. Rentals and deliveries with any of the above are dependant upoon how busy where you rent from is in having time for an extra delivery, this much less in general for
mark up, how long the production and what's available given their own busy production schedules. Lots more lighting companies in the Chicago area also - Len also in having one - I would be surprised if he didn't own any S-4 Lekos yet. Busy industry means at times yes, they might make available some fixtures but it costs more. When not busy prices might be less. Where I work also doesn't really rent to those that are not known to us much. Often one might get a higher price on an initial rental or two just to pay for the lack of knowing if you will take care of what's rented factor. I know I have said in the past while getting a light board all full of plaster... "FU@& it, it's a rental." This in not realizing we would be charged for screwing up a light board or might not get such availability at a good price next time.
Than beyond all this, it can also be a question of what the quality of gear is you are paying for. Really have cleaned cob webs out of one of the above companies rental light fixtures. This as opposed to where I work, a rental light is treated like a production
fixture in being prepped and factory spec. Always amazing what many rental companies
send us - as if they sent their worst gear so we can fix it for them, or more like, this gear was not prepped at all or even tested, simply wheeled out the door. AT some
point what might be really cheap might not work and require labor to make work in not making it worth renting cheaper. Sage advice but only after a time developing a sort of
system for who has what and what to expect from gear given the price.
Than as with others - price for volume, what comes with it
etc. Known in the industry thus trusted to take care of the gear also factors in as with length of show. Don't contact me, I stay far away from rentals other than pulling the spare lamps for them.