Bentley Meeker Lighting & Staging

What Bentley Meeker Lighting & Staging does

Bentley Meeker Lighting & Staging Inc. (BMLS) is a New York City-based event production company founded in 1990 by Bentley Meeker that provides integrated lighting, audio, video, and staging & rigging services for high-profile corporate, private, and entertainment events. The company operates with full ownership of what it describes as the largest inventory of lighting and technical equipment on the island of Manhattan, maintained at its 465 10th Avenue headquarters and available 24/7 for Manhattan deployments. BMLS is a factory-authorized dealer and trainer for premium audio and lighting manufacturers including D&B Audiotechnik, Adamson, L-Acoustics, Shure, Claypaky, Martin Professional, and ETC, and operates an embedded operational presence at The Plaza Hotel where a BMLS team member serves as General Manager of operations. Adjacent ventures include Bentley House Studios (recording and rehearsal space) and a fine-art practice under the founder's name.

The company serves an elite client base spanning Fortune 500 corporations (Goldman Sachs, Blackstone, JP Morgan, Bloomberg, Google, Microsoft, Nike, Mercedes-Benz), entertainment and media properties (NBC, Netflix, Vogue, Chanel, Versace, Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Adele, Paul McCartney), political and government clients (12 White House State Dinners under the Obama administration), and high-net-worth individuals for weddings and private celebrations. Cumulative output exceeds 10,000 events including concerts, fashion shows, Broadway and film premieres, museum galas, and corporate galas for institutions such as MoMA, the American Museum of Natural History, and the New York Philharmonic. The go-to-market motion is sales-led and relationship-driven: direct inbound via phone and email, embedded venue operations (The Plaza Hotel), referrals from high-profile clients and venues, and earned media coverage across New York publications and wedding-industry press.

Revenue is generated through project-based professional services engagements quoted per event, with no public pricing disclosed. The company remains founder-owned with no disclosed institutional investment and is led by Bentley Meeker (President/founder), Jeff Ledford (Chief Operating Officer, named VP Operations in 2019, with prior experience at Disney, Feld Entertainment, and Hard Rock), and Trevor Buchanan (Chief Financial Officer, previously CFO of Great Performances). The senior team is rounded out by technical designers, production managers, and venue partnerships personnel with theatrical and concert-touring backgrounds.

Name

Bentley Meeker Lighting & Staging

Legal name

Bentley Meeker Lighting & Staging Inc.

Website

https://bentleymeeker.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Bentley Meeker Lighting & Staging is a Manhattan-based event production company founded in 1990 that provides integrated lighting, audio, video, and staging services for Fortune 500 corporations, celebrities, high-net-worth individuals, and government clients across galas, weddings, concerts, and fashion shows.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Event Production Services

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)

akta.pro primary industry

Staging & Rigging Services (MPAGAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Studio Lighting & Grip Infrastructure Services (MPADAIAF), Dance Floor, Staging & Platform Rentals (HSACAFAD)

Keywords

• Event production services
• Event lighting design
• Audio visual rental
• Staging and rigging
• Corporate event production

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Event Production Services: Bentley Meeker generates revenue through comprehensive event production services including lighting, audio, video, and staging/rigging. Services are provided on a project basis for events ranging from intimate private gatherings to large-scale galas, concerts, fashion shows, and corporate events. The company serves high-profile clientele including celebrities, Fortune 500 corporations, and political figures.
2. Venue Partnership Services: The company maintains operational presence at premium Manhattan venues including The Plaza Hotel (General Manager position for operations), Gotham Hall, and other prestigious locations. This creates recurring service opportunities at these venue partners.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Bentley Meeker Lighting & Staging is an event production services company that delivers integrated lighting, audio, video, and staging & rigging for corporate galas, private social events, concerts, fashion shows, premieres, and product launches in Manhattan. The firm owns the largest inventory of lighting and technical equipment on the island of Manhattan and provides 24/7 availability for rapid deployment. Since 1990, it has produced unique lighting environments for over 10,000 events.

Product overview

Bentley Meeker Lighting & Staging is a New York-based event production company founded in 1990, offering a unified suite of services centered on lighting, audio, video, and staging & rigging. The core offering consists of four integrated service lines—Lighting Services, Audio Services, Video Services, and Staging and Rigging Services—that are delivered together as turnkey production management for events. These services serve corporate clients, social occasions, and entertainment venues across Manhattan and the broader New York area. The company operates its own inventory of lighting and technical equipment, which they describe as the largest on the island of Manhattan, allowing them to provide 24/7 availability and rapid problem resolution for clients.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Lighting Services

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 10,000 events completed since 1990
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers85 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and flagship.

• D&B AudiotechnikcoreTechnology or IntegrationBMLS is a dealer and factory authorized representative for D&B Audiotechnik line array systems, utilizing their equipment for premium audio installations at events.
• AdamsoncoreTechnology or IntegrationBMLS is a dealer and factory authorized representative for Adamson audio systems, utilizing their equipment for events.
• L-AcousticscoreTechnology or IntegrationBMLS is a dealer and factory authorized representative for L-Acoustics line array systems, utilizing their equipment for events.
• ShurecoreTechnology or IntegrationBMLS is a dealer and factory authorized representative for Shure Axient microphone systems, providing wireless microphone solutions for events.
• MidascoreTechnology or IntegrationBMLS selected Midas Pro Series Consoles for their outstanding audio quality and serves as a factory authorized representative.
• YamahasupportingTechnology or IntegrationBMLS carries Yamaha audio equipment for events, maintaining an authorized dealer relationship.
• SoundcraftsupportingTechnology or IntegrationBMLS carries Soundcraft mixing consoles as part of their audio equipment offerings.
• ClaypakycoreTechnology or IntegrationBMLS utilizes Claypaky lighting fixtures for their events, a leading manufacturer of professional lighting equipment.
• Martin ProfessionalcoreTechnology or IntegrationBMLS utilizes Martin Professional lighting fixtures including moving heads and effects for events.
• ETC (Electronic Theatre Controls)coreTechnology or IntegrationBMLS utilizes ETC lighting control systems and fixtures for event production.
• GLP (German Light Products)supportingTechnology or IntegrationBMLS carries GLP lighting fixtures for events requiring innovative lighting effects.
• Philips Entertainment LightingsupportingTechnology or IntegrationBMLS utilizes Philips entertainment lighting products for events.
• PanasoniccoreTechnology or IntegrationBMLS utilizes Panasonic professional video displays and projectors for events.
• BarcocoreTechnology or IntegrationBMLS utilizes Barco projection and display systems for video installations at events.
• ChristiecoreTechnology or IntegrationBMLS utilizes Christie professional projectors and displays for events.
• SamsungsupportingTechnology or IntegrationBMLS utilizes Samsung commercial displays for video installations at events.
• ApplesupportingTechnology or IntegrationBMLS utilizes Apple products for video production and control systems.
• AbsensupportingTechnology or IntegrationBMLS utilizes Absen LED display panels for video walls at events.
• Columbus McKinnoncoreTechnology or IntegrationBMLS utilizes Columbus McKinnon rigging and lifting equipment for safe event staging and suspension.
• WengercoreTechnology or IntegrationBMLS carries Wenger staging equipment for events requiring portable or modular stage systems.
• Stage RightsupportingTechnology or IntegrationBMLS utilizes Stage Right staging equipment for events.
• TomcatsupportingTechnology or IntegrationBMLS utilizes Tomcat staging and trussing systems for complex event setups.
• The Plaza HotelflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerBMLS maintains a deep operational partnership with The Plaza Hotel, with a BMLS team member serving as General Manager of operations at the venue. This represents the company's most significant venue partnership, providing an embedded presence at one of Manhattan's most prestigious event venues.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Production Resource Group (PRG): The largest global provider of event production services for live entertainment, corporate, and broadcast markets, with full-service lighting, audio, video, and rigging. PRG competes with BMLS on premium Manhattan projects but operates at a vastly larger, multi-continent scale across many verticals.
• Solotech: A major North American provider of audio, video, lighting, and rigging for live events, broadcast, and corporate activations. Solotech is a comparable direct competitor in the high-end event production space with a broader geographic footprint and integrated AVL offering.

Direct peers

• Christie Lites: A leading lighting equipment rental and production company serving concert touring, corporate, and special events. Christie Lites is a direct peer in the lighting rental/production model, competing on similar premium projects with similar manufacturer relationships.
• 4Wall Entertainment: A leading lighting and video rental/production company serving concert touring, corporate events, and broadcast. 4Wall operates a comparable equipment-ownership model with deep relationships to top fixture manufacturers, directly competing with BMLS in the same premium lighting and event production niche.
• AG Production Services: A New York-area event production company offering lighting, audio, video, and staging for corporate, social, and entertainment events. AG is a direct regional competitor in the NYC high-end event production market served by BMLS.
• Bandit Lites: A long-established concert and event lighting company providing touring and event production with its own substantial equipment inventory. Bandit is a direct comparable to BMLS for premium concert-tour and one-off event lighting work, with overlapping artist/corporate clientele.
• Massteknik: A live-event production company providing lighting, audio, video, staging, and rigging for concerts, corporate events, and broadcasts. Massteknik is a direct comparable to BMLS with a similar full-service AVL model and premium client focus.
• WorldStage: A US-based event technology and production company specializing in integrated lighting, audio, video, and rigging for corporate events, Broadway, and special productions. WorldStage directly competes with BMLS in the New York metropolitan event production market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company-beta/XXXXXX

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Bentley Meeker Lighting & Staging