What Absolute Production Services does

Absolute Production Services is a Chicago-based, privately held corporate event production company founded in 1995 by Frank Nicosia. The firm provides full-service event production including audio-visual services, lighting, staging, rigging, video production, and general contracting, serving Fortune 500 enterprises (Nike, Ferrari, Chrysler, Amazon, Google, Walmart, United Airlines), non-profit organizations (Chicago Police Memorial Foundation, Respiratory Health Association, Ray Graham Association), educational institutions, and government agencies. The company holds approved AV and Production Contractor status at McCormick Place and Navy Pier, Chicago's two largest event venues, and maintains a dedicated on-site office at McCormick Place for embedded venue support.

The company's core technology stack comprises broadcast-quality A/V, lighting, rigging, and staging equipment, augmented by a 'Powered by Absolute' virtual events platform featuring portable virtual event studios, green screen and virtual scenery technology, multi-camera setups, and creative technologies including video mapping, image blending, and hologram displays. These capabilities support in-person, virtual, and hybrid event formats, with the virtual and hybrid segment launched during the 2020 pandemic pivot and now treated as a core service line.

Revenue is generated on a project-based professional services model with quote-based pricing determined by event scope, duration, equipment, labor, and venue requirements. The go-to-market is primarily direct sales via website contact forms, phone, and email, supplemented by venue partnerships and referral-driven repeat business. The company also accepts cryptocurrency via a 2021 partnership with CoinFlip, making it the first US-based corporate event production firm to do so. Marketing emphasizes a 30-year track record, award-winning portfolio (Cannes Lions, MAAW Globes, EX-Awards), and 'Powered by Absolute' brand identity, leveraging content marketing, PR, portfolio case studies, and Instagram presence.

Name

Absolute Production Services

Legal name

Absolute Production Services, Co.

Website

https://absolutepros.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Chicago-based full-service corporate event production company founded in 1995, providing A/V, lighting, staging, rigging, and virtual/hybrid event production for Fortune 500 enterprises, non-profits, and educational institutions as an approved contractor at McCormick Place and Navy Pier.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Corporate Event Production Services

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Production (51211)

SIC

Services-Allied To Motion Picture Production (7819)

akta.pro primary industry

Event Production & Technical Services (AV, Lighting, Staging) (BPAFAGAB)

Keywords

• Corporate event production
• Audio visual services
• Virtual event production
• Trade show general contracting
• Experiential brand activation

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Event Production Services: The primary revenue stream is professional event production services including A/V, lighting, staging, rigging, video production, and general contracting. Services are billed on a project basis for specific events, with pricing based on event scope, duration, equipment needs, and labor requirements.
2. Virtual and Hybrid Event Production: Revenue from producing fully virtual or hybrid events with broadcast-quality production, live streaming, audience engagement tools, and custom virtual environments. This stream has grown significantly since the pandemic and is now a core service offering.
3. A/V Installation Services: Installation services for permanent A/V systems including concept through documentation, equipment procurement, construction, and completion, as well as consulting services.
4. Cryptocurrency Payment Acceptance: Absolute became the first US-based corporate event production company to accept cryptocurrency for events, expanding payment options for clients.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Absolute Production Services is a Chicago-based full-service corporate event production company founded in 1995 that delivers in-person, virtual, and hybrid event experiences for Fortune 500 brands, non-profits, educational institutions, and government clients. Its offerings cover the complete production stack including audio-visual services, lighting, staging, rigging, video production, AV installation, general contracting, labor management, brand activation, and turnkey event production with broadcast-quality virtual broadcasting under its "Powered by Absolute" platform.

Product overview

Absolute Production Services is a Chicago-based corporate event production company founded in 1995, offering a comprehensive suite of event production services. The company operates as a single unified service offering rather than a software platform, providing virtual events, in-person events, and hybrid events as its core event formats. These are supported by specialized services including Video Production, Audio Visual Services, AV Installation, Event Lighting, Event Staging, General Contracting, Labor Management, Rigging Services, and Turnkey Event Production. The company also provides event-specific production for Corporate Events, Experiential Events, Press Events, Trade Shows, Brand Activations, Community Events, and Live Events. The service architecture is organized around two main divisions: Production Services (A/V, installation, lighting, staging, contracting, rigging) and Event Production (branded experiences, corporate events, virtual events, trade shows).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Virtual Events Fully customized, broadcast-quality virtual event production with live streaming, green screen virtual scenery, audience engagement features, secure endpoint delivery, and password protection for online fundraisers, galas, sporting events, concerts, commencements, and meetings.
• In-Person Event Production Full-service corporate event production from initial concept design through A/V and lighting support to full production management execution for Fortune 500 companies and well-recognized brands.
• Hybrid Events Combined virtual and in-person event production that adds a virtual element to make events more accessible, profitable, and enduring.
• Video Production Complete video services including script writing, studio selection, filming, and editing for broadcast-quality production.
• Audio Visual Services Professional A/V equipment and technical support for events, including video mapping, image blending, and interactive displays.
• AV Installation Installation services covering concept through documentation, equipment procurement, construction and completion, including consultation for efficient and cost-effective AV solutions.
• General Contracting General contractor services for vendor exhibit areas at McCormick Place, Navy Pier, and venues nationwide, handling rules, regulations, and work specifications.
• Turnkey Event Production Complete event production management from planning through execution.
• Corporate Event Production Full-service corporate event production including meetings, seminars, conferences, and general sessions.
• Experiential and Brand Activation Events Brand activation and experiential marketing events including cross-country bus tours, big-tent events, and beach parties for thousands of attendees.

Quantifiable outcome

• Respiratory Health Association's virtual fundraiser exceeded projection by $40,000
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers27 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• CoinFlipminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 2 December 2021Absolute Production Services partnered with cryptocurrency payment provider CoinFlip to become the first US-based corporate event production company to accept cryptocurrency for events. This forward-thinking innovation expanded payment options for clients.
• Chicago Police Memorial Foundation (CPMF)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 October 2021Absolute Production Services is the Official Event Production Company for CPMF: Chicago Police Memorial Foundation, marking ten years of partnership supporting an organization that honors fallen police heroes and assists those in need. Absolute has produced multiple CPMF events including the Virtual Valor Awards, fundraisers, galas, and fun runs.
• Choose ChicagocoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAbsolute Production Services is a Choose Chicago Partner and provides video, audio, lighting, and labor services for the Choose Chicago Annual Meeting of Partnership. They promote Chicago's tourism industry and meetings/events sector as a Choose Chicago Partner.
• Chicago Cook Workforce PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAbsolute served as general contractor and AV provider for the Chicago Skilled Trades Fair hosted by the Department of Family and Support Services along with Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership, connecting thousands of CPS students with skilled trades opportunities.
• McCormick PlacecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAbsolute Production Services is an approved AV and Production Contractor at McCormick Place, Chicago's largest convention center. They also maintain a dedicated office at 2301 S Martin Luther King Jr Drive at McCormick Place for on-site support.
• Navy PiercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAbsolute Production Services is an approved AV and Production Contractor at Navy Pier, providing audio-visual and production services at this major Chicago venue.
• Healthy Meetings ChicagominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMcCormick Place and Choose Chicago partnered to create Healthy Meetings Chicago, a one-stop resource for safety precautions at Chicago events. Absolute participated in this initiative as an event production partner committed to safe events.
• Momentum WorldwideminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAbsolute Production Services worked with Momentum Worldwide on the Nike Church of Basketball project, transforming a Chicago church into a youth basketball facility. This collaboration resulted in a Cannes Lions Industry Craft Lions award.
• DineAmic GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAbsolute worked with hospitality experts at DineAmic Group to produce Somm Madness (now Wine Rival), a blind tasting tournament event at Prime & Provisions in Chicago, providing full event production support with dynamic lighting design and immersive AV.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• George P. Johnson Experience Marketing: GPJ designs and produces brand experiences, product launches, and corporate events for global brands — directly comparable in serving Fortune 500 clients on experiential event production like Absolute's Nike, Ferrari, and Amazon work.
• Freeman: Freeman is the largest brand experience and event production company globally, offering AV, staging, digital, and event strategy to Fortune 500 clients — the closest large-scale analogue to Absolute Production Services' full-service model across in-person, virtual, and hybrid events.
• Sparks: Sparks is a global experiential marketing agency producing brand activations, pop-ups, and live events — directly comparable to Absolute's experiential events and brand activation portfolio.
• GES (Global Experience Specialists): GES provides event and tradeshow services including AV, general contracting, and production at major convention venues — directly comparable to Absolute's McCormick Place / Navy Pier contractor model and event services portfolio.
• Encore (formerly PSAV): Encore is the leading provider of AV and event technology services to hotels, convention centers, and meeting planners — competing head-to-head with Absolute for corporate event AV contracts at major venues.
• MCI Group: MCI is a global meetings, events, and association management company serving enterprise and association clients — a comparable end-to-end event production and management services provider.
• Jack Morton Worldwide: Jack Morton is a global brand experience agency producing events, activations, and immersive experiences for major brands — an experiential peer competing for the same Fortune 500 experiential budgets.

Others

• Hubilo: Hubilo is a virtual and hybrid event platform — adjacent rather than directly competitive, but increasingly relevant as event production firms like Absolute layer virtual capabilities (Powered by Absolute) atop third-party platforms or compete for the same client budgets.

Regional players

• bear.audio (BearCom): BearCom is one of North America's largest AV integrators and event services providers — offering comparable event AV and production capabilities but with a broader geographic footprint across multiple US regions rather than a single-market concentration.

Broad incumbents

• PRG (Production Resource Group): PRG is one of the world's largest providers of entertainment and event production technology — lighting, audio, video, rigging — overlapping directly with Absolute's production services but at a much broader scale across entertainment and corporate.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/absolutepros
• Facebookfacebook.com/absolutepros

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Absolute Production Services