Bandit Lites, Inc.
Bandit Lites is a US live entertainment lighting company founded in 1968 that rents professional fixtures and provides crews and production support for concert tours, system integrations, special events, and athletic venues. It serves touring artists, venues, and event organizers across North America.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1968
- HeadquartersKnoxville, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Bandit Lites, Inc. does
Bandit Lites, Inc. is a US-based live entertainment lighting company founded in 1968 by Michael T. Strickland and headquartered in La Vergne, Tennessee. The company rents professional stage lighting fixtures and supplies trained crew and production support to touring artists, concert venues, special events, athletic facilities, and permanent installation projects. Operations span three US offices (La Vergne TN headquarters, Knoxville TN, and Huntersville NC) plus a 10,000+ square foot free rehearsal and pre-visualization facility (Venue One) near Nashville. The firm supports tours and events globally through on-site delivery while anchoring its footprint to the Southeastern United States.
The service portfolio comprises five core lines: Touring & Live Production (the largest revenue driver), System Integration (permanent venue and architectural installations), Special Events (weddings, galas, brand activations), Athletic/Sports Lighting, and Rehearsal Space. Bandit maintains an extensive multi-thousand-unit inventory of fixtures from manufacturers including Chauvet, Claypaky, Elation, Robe, Ayrton, GLP, and ACME, supported by a proprietary shop-side prep process called "The Bandit Standard." Crew sourcing runs through the wholly-owned Best Techs subsidiary and a pipeline of educational partnerships with Belmont University, the University of Tennessee, MTSU, Full Sail University, UNCSA, and the University of Cincinnati.
Bandit operates on a professional services revenue model with project-based, quote-driven pricing. Named clients include Alice Cooper, Reba McEntire, Brooks & Dunn, Widespread Panic, Creed, HARDY, Jackson Browne, Billy Strings, Gary Clark Jr., Dude Perfect, and the University of Tennessee athletics program. The company reports a 90% customer return rate on System Integration work and has won 31 Parnelli Awards for Lighting Company of the Year since 1993, including recognition at the January 2025 NAMM ceremony. The company is privately held, founder-led, and reported retaining all employees on full pay during the COVID-19 disruption.
Bandit Lites, Inc. firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Bandit Lites, Inc.
- Legal name
- Bandit Lites, Inc.
- Website
- https://banditlites.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1968
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Bandit Lites is a US live entertainment lighting company founded in 1968 that rents professional fixtures and provides crews and production support for concert tours, system integrations, special events, and athletic venues. It serves touring artists, venues, and event organizers across North America.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Bandit Lites, Inc. industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Live Entertainment Lighting Services
- NAICS
- Commercial, Industrial, and Institutional Electric Lighting Fixture Manufacturing (335132)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Lighting Design & Lighting Equipment Rentals (THAHAEAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Lighting & Power Rentals (Uplighting, Generators, Distribution) (HSACAFAE)
Keywords
Where Bandit Lites, Inc. is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Knoxville
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
Bandit Lites, Inc. business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Touring & Live Production Services: Equipment rental, crew provision, and production support for concert tours, festivals, and live events. Includes lighting design collaboration with artists' preferred lighting designers.
- System Integration: Custom lighting system design and installation for permanent venues, attractions, hotels, cruise ships, museums, and architectural installations.
- Special Events: Lighting services for weddings, charity galas, corporate events, brand activations, and private events. One-off and recurring event support.
- Athletic/Sports Lighting: Lighting solutions for sports venues including football stadiums, arenas, and athletic facilities.
- Free Rehearsal Space: World-class rehearsal facilities provided as value-add to touring clients, including 10,000+ square feet 15 minutes from downtown Nashville.
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels10 records
Bandit Lites, Inc. product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Bandit Lites provides full-service live entertainment lighting, renting professional moving-light and fixture inventory along with expert crews and production support to concert tours, festivals, sporting events, and corporate or private events. The company also designs and installs permanent lighting systems for venues, attractions, hotels, cruise ships, and museums, and operates a free 10,000+ square-foot rehearsal and pre-visualization facility near Nashville.
Product overview
Bandit Lites is a full-service live entertainment lighting company offering a portfolio of interconnected services centered on stage lighting equipment, expert crews, and production support. The core offerings include Touring & Live Production (tour-tested gear and crew for concert tours), System Integration (custom installation design for venues), Special Events (weddings, galas, brand activations), and Rehearsal Space (10,000+ sq ft private facilities in Nashville). Additional specialty services cover Athletic/Sports Lighting and One-Off event support. The company maintains an extensive inventory of professional lighting fixtures from manufacturers including Chauvet, Elation, Robe, Martin, Ayrton, Claypaky, and GLP, providing equipment and operational crew rather than proprietary branded hardware products.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Touring & Live Production Stage lighting equipment rental, professional crew provision, and full production support for concert tours, festivals, and live events. Includes collaboration with artists' lighting designers and on-site execution.
- System Integration Custom lighting system design and installation for permanent applications, leveraging over 80 years of combined experience on the integration team. Serves venues, attractions, hotels, cruise ships, museums, and architectural installations.
- Special Events Lighting Lighting services for weddings, charity galas, brand activations, corporate events, and private celebrations. Delivers world-class gear, prep, and professionalism for visually striking one-off and recurring events.
- Venue One Rehearsal Space Private rehearsal and pre-visualization studio near Nashville featuring over 10,000 square feet of rehearsal and programming suites, offered free to touring clients.
- Athletic / Sports Lighting Lighting solutions for sports venues including football stadiums, basketball arenas, and athletic facilities. Includes pre-game and halftime show programming, crowd illumination, and integration with existing stadium systems using IP-rated fixtures for outdoor use.
- One-Off Event Lighting Short-term lighting rental and production services for individual concert dates or single performances outside of full touring packages.
Quantifiable outcome
- 9 out of 10 customers return for system integration projects
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Bandit Lites, Inc.
Customer profileNamed customers24 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Bandit Lites, Inc. technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Bandit Lites, Inc. partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- ClaypakycoreBandit Lites expanded touring inventory with significant purchase of Claypaky lighting fixtures through Inner Circle Distribution (ICD), Claypaky's exclusive US distributor and service network partner. This expansion ensures Bandit clients have access to cutting-edge fixtures for touring demands.
- Chauvet (Chauvet Professional)coreLong-term partnership with Chauvet Professional. Bandit ordered initial stock of 100 Color Strike M units before release. Purchased 100 Strike 4 Array units and 60 Maverick MK Pyxis. Company has 'long-term friendship' with Albert and Chauvet team.
- Inner Circle Distribution (ICD)coreExclusive US distributor and service network partner for Claypaky products. Bandit works with ICD for Claypaky equipment purchases and service support.
- Belmont UniversityLong-standing partnership with Belmont University Showcase Series - student-led program providing real-world concert production experience. Bandit donates lighting equipment, resources, and staff time. Partnership described as transforming student's experience through immersive learning.
- University of Tennessee Haslam College of BusinessminorNearly 20-year partnership providing production expertise for annual fundraiser. Bandit's leadership has served in advisory roles, demonstrating philanthropic commitment. Transforms venues into memorable, branded experiences.
- Youth Leadership KnoxvilleminorBandit sponsors Youth Leadership Knoxville program, providing investment in leadership development for area high school students. Creates opportunities for students to discover leadership potential.
- Junior AchievementminorBandit provides fundraising and educational support for Junior Achievement organization.
- Leadership KnoxvilleminorOngoing partnership supporting Leadership Knoxville and Youth Leadership Knoxville. Investment has given area high school students meaningful opportunities to connect, discover leadership potential, and engage with community.
- University of TennesseeminorBandit provides donations and production support for UT graduation ceremonies and alumni events. Also lights Vols football games with massive light shows. Lighting designer Alex Becker is a UT graduate.
- Medal of Honor CeremonyminorBandit provides professional production for Medal of Honor Ceremony events.
- Full Sail UniversityminorEducational institution partnership - Bandit supports educational programs and training initiatives. Part of network including UNCSA, Belmont, UT, and others.
- University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA)minorEducational institution partnership - Bandit supports educational programs and mentorship opportunities for emerging professionals.
- Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU)minorEducational partnership supporting production industry training. Intern programs draw from MTSU.
- University of CincinnatiminorEducational institution partnership - Bandit supports educational programs across several campuses.
- University of TennesseeminorAthletic department partnership for Vols football light shows. Over 20-year relationship with Haslam College of Business.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Bandit Lites, Inc. competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- PRG (Production Resource Group): PRG is the largest global provider of entertainment and event production solutions, offering lighting, video, and rigging equipment rental for concert tours, corporate events, and broadcast. Directly comparable to Bandit Lites across touring production services and system integration.
- Solotech: Solotech is a major North American provider of audio, video, and lighting rental and production services for live entertainment, with operations in the U.S., Canada, and Europe. Directly competes with Bandit Lites for touring lighting contracts and large-scale event production.
- Upstaging: Upstaging is a leading U.S. provider of concert touring lighting, motors, and rigging rentals, serving major national acts. Closely comparable to Bandit Lites in equipment rental and crew services for touring productions.
- Christie Lites: Christie Lites is a major North American entertainment lighting rental company with offices across the U.S. and Canada, serving concert tours, theatre, corporate events, and special events. Directly comparable to Bandit Lites in equipment rental scale and touring client base.
- 4Wall Entertainment: 4Wall Entertainment is a U.S.-based lighting and rigging rental company serving concert touring, television, corporate events, and theatre. Directly competes with Bandit Lites in touring lighting equipment and crew services with a similar multi-office U.S. footprint.
- Morpheus Lights: Morpheus Lights is a U.S. entertainment lighting rental company specializing in concert touring and corporate events with extensive moving-light inventory. Directly comparable to Bandit Lites in touring lighting rental and event production services.
- Atomic Lighting: Atomic Lighting is a U.S. concert and event lighting rental provider serving touring acts, corporate events, and special productions. Compares directly to Bandit Lites in mid-market touring lighting rental and production services.
Emerging players
- Premier Global Production: Premier Global Production provides concert touring and event lighting rental services, focused on the country music and Nashville touring market. Comparable to Bandit Lites as a regional/specialty competitor with overlap on Nashville-rooted country music tours.
- Lightswitch (lighting design consultancy): Lightswitch is a U.S. lighting design and consulting firm serving architectural, entertainment, and event markets with design-led services. Partially overlaps with Bandit's System Integration segment in custom venue and architectural lighting design.
Others
- Inner Circle Distribution (ICD): ICD is the exclusive U.S. distributor and service partner for Claypaky lighting fixtures, supplying major touring and event rental companies including Bandit Lites. Adjacent supplier/distributor enabling Bandit's equipment inventory rather than a direct competitor.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Bandit Lites, Inc. social profiles
Digital presenceBandit Lites, Inc. financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Bandit Lites, Inc. leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
Bandit Lites, Inc. subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Bandit Lites, Inc. funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Bandit Lites, Inc. M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Bandit Lites, Inc.
What does Bandit Lites, Inc. do?
Bandit Lites provides full-service live entertainment lighting, renting professional moving-light and fixture inventory along with expert crews and production support to concert tours, festivals, sporting events, and corporate or private events. The company also designs and installs permanent lighting systems for venues, attractions, hotels, cruise ships, and museums, and operates a free 10,000+ square-foot rehearsal and pre-visualization facility near Nashville.
Is Bandit Lites, Inc. a public or private company?
Bandit Lites, Inc. is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Bandit Lites, Inc. founded?
Bandit Lites, Inc. was founded in 1968. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Bandit Lites, Inc. based?
Bandit Lites, Inc. is headquartered in Knoxville, United States, in the North America region.
How does Bandit Lites, Inc. make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Touring & Live Production Services are the primary driver. The others are system Integration, special Events, athletic/Sports Lighting and free Rehearsal Space.
Who are Bandit Lites, Inc.'s main competitors?
Direct peers on record are PRG (Production Resource Group), Solotech, Upstaging, Christie Lites, 4Wall Entertainment, Morpheus Lights and Atomic Lighting. Emerging players are Premier Global Production and Lightswitch (lighting design consultancy). Inner Circle Distribution (ICD) is listed as an others.
Does Bandit Lites, Inc. have an API?
No public API is recorded for Bandit Lites, Inc..
What industry is Bandit Lites, Inc. in?
Bandit Lites, Inc.'s product category is Live Entertainment Lighting Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAHAEAB, Lighting Design & Lighting Equipment Rentals, with a secondary code of HSACAFAE, Lighting & Power Rentals (Uplighting, Generators, Distribution). Its NAICS code is 335132 and its SIC code is 7900.