DRY HIRE & SUB HIRE — MELBOURNE
Hire. Touring-Grade Gear.
Melbourne and Beyond.
Hire Gear
A professional dry hire and sub hire inventory across moving lights, static lights, LED screens, control, rigging, staging, cables, atmospherics, and site equipment. Each category links to its own page with fixture-level detail. Need it faster — download the hire list above or call direct.
Moving Lights
Lighting & Video Control
Rigging
Staging & Drapes
Site Equipment
PRODUCTION HIRE – FAQS
COMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT PRODUCTION HIRE
What's the difference between dry hire, sub-hire and cross-hire?
The terms are largely interchangeable in our Aussie industry — all three generally refer to hiring equipment without crew (to set them up or operate them). What’s included beyond the core fixtures depends on what you ask for. Supporting infrastructure such as lighting consoles, data distribution, and power leads can be added to a hire — just specify what you need when you enquire.
What does a hire from AABPS include?
Equipment hire covers the gear itself. Freight, delivery, setup, and crew can all be added to your quote if needed — just let us know when you enquire. How that equipment integrates with your production system, venue, and wider rig remains your responsibility as the hiring party. If you’re unsure what you need, a quick conversation when you are discussing your quote, before you book, usually sorts it out.
Do you hire to individuals or only to production companies?
Yes — we hire to production companies, event agencies, freelance lighting designers, technical directors, and individuals. What matters is an honest conversation about how the equipment will be used and who will be operating it. Some fixtures carry a replacement value of $6,000 or more, so we’ll want to make sure the hire is the right fit for your situation — and we’re happy to help you work that out.
A few things to be aware of if you’re collecting your hire from our warehouse: lighting fixtures and LED screens are delicate, heavy, and require their road cases for transport. We usually load them into our equipment using a forklift or electric tailgate. You’ll need suitable transport arranged before collection — that means adequate space, all-weather protection and a driver that can tie the load down securely and safely. If you think you’ll need assistance with this – flag this when confirming the quote.
What makes a hire run smoothly?
Start with the fixture you have in mind, but don’t stop there. A short conversation about the look you’re trying to achieve, the rig you’re supplementing, and the practicalities of your load-in often leads to a better outcome — sometimes a different fixture is a stronger fit on output, beam angle, or price. We’ll also want to know things like whether hired fixtures are going into an existing rig (firmware compatibility matters), who’s receiving delivery at the venue, and whether you need any supporting infrastructure. The more context you give us upfront, the smoother the hire runs.
How early do I need to lock in gear?
As early as you can. Show Season (September through March) fills fast. For touring quotes especially, getting your enquiry in early means first access to available inventory when you’re ready to confirm. When you’re ready to lock in, a PO helps us get your booking confirmed quickly. New to hiring from us? We may require payment upfront to secure the gear — it’s straightforward and we’ll talk you through it.
How is rental equipment prepared before I collect it?
All rental equipment is tested and prepared before it leaves the warehouse — that takes time to do properly, particularly across busy periods. Planning your hire request and confirmation with enough lead time means we can prep your equipment without rushing it. If you identify a fault on collection or delivery, contact us immediately. Responsibility for the equipment during the hire period is covered in your hire agreement, including protocols for damage, loss, and faults.
Can fixtures be pre-addressed (programmed) before delivery?
Yes. Fixtures can be pre-addressed to your DMX layout before dispatch — just include your address map with your hire enquiry. Less time patching on load-in, more time for focus and programming.
Consistent Care. Dressed for the job
Whether you’re sub-hiring one fixture or pulling an entire rig, gear leaves here prepped and ready. If it’s going on show at a high-profile event — for example visible truss and exposed baseplates — tell us upfront. We can assess whether the everyday working finish needs a step up.