Production Support Services, Inc.

What Production Support Services, Inc. does

Production Support Services, Inc. (PSS) is a privately held, turn-key live event production company founded in 1985 and headquartered at 3655 Olive Street in St. Louis, Missouri. The company operates a single integrated service model that bundles professional-grade equipment rentals with full-service production, supplying lighting (Source Four PARs, Chauvet, Kino Flo), professional audio (Martin Audio W8LM/W8LMD line arrays, Lab Gruppen amplification, DX2 processors), video production gear (JVC 4K camcorders, robotic PTZ cameras, Roland switchers, MacBook Pro playback systems), teleprompters (Prompter People), and modular staging (Secoa). The underlying technology is conventional professional AV hardware rather than a software platform; the firm's competitive capability rests on the breadth of its in-house inventory, the skill of its union labor force, and its accumulated production management experience.

PSS generates revenue across six streams: full-service event production (the primary driver), equipment rentals, new equipment sales and installation, creative services and consultation, labor and payroll brokering as a union labor contractor for St. Louis entertainment unions, and in-house AV services for hotels and conference venues. Equipment is priced per-day, ranging from $10 for basic PAR fixtures to $500 for high-end playback laptops, with discounts available to non-profits, churches, schools, and professional users. The go-to-market is direct sales — consultative phone-based quoting, a website 'Request a custom quote' form, and word-of-mouth from an established client base. Customer segments include corporate enterprise (Microsoft, Anheuser-Busch, General Motors, AT&T, Monsanto, Centene, American Airlines), broadcasting (NBC, ESPN, HBO, KETC), government and political events (White House, presidential campaigns, televised mayoral debates), entertainment and awards (NATAS Emmy Awards, NHL Winter Classic, Bacardi Together Tour), and non-profit/institutional clients (Washington University, Webster University, Mercy). The firm has documented national and global production experience despite its St. Louis headquarters.

Name

Production Support Services, Inc.

Legal name

Production Support Services, Inc.

Website

https://productionsupportservices.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Production Support Services, Inc. is a St. Louis-based turn-key live event production company founded in 1985, supplying equipment rentals (lighting, Martin Audio line arrays, video, teleprompters, staging) and full-service production labor to corporate, government, broadcast, and entertainment clients nationally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Live Event Production Services

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Production (51211), Other Performing Arts Companies (71119)

SIC

Services-Help Supply Services (7363), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)

akta.pro primary industry

Event Technical Production Management & Crew (MPAGAKAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Event Production & Technical Services (Staging, Lighting, Sound, Video) (MPAGAAAG), Meeting & Events Support Services (Room Setup, AV Coordination, Hospitality) (IMAIALAE), Temporary Structures (Truss Roofs, Tents, Barricades) (MPAGAKAK)

Keywords

• Live event production
• Equipment rental services
• Audio visual services
• Stage lighting rental
• Event production management

Headquarters

HQ city

St Louis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Live Event Production Services: Full-service live event production including lighting, sound, staging, video, crowd control, drapery, special effects, and production management. Work with clients from concept to execution for live or streamed events. This is the primary revenue driver.
2. Equipment Rentals: Rental of their entire production equipment inventory including lighting, audio, video, staging, teleprompters, and accessories. Daily rental rates ranging from $10/day for basic PAR fixtures to $500/day for professional laptops with playback software. This is a significant recurring revenue stream from both production clients and independent rental customers.
3. Equipment Sales & Installation: Sale of new equipment including all brands used in production and rental operations plus additional models. Services range from simple replacement parts to complete theater renovation projects.
4. Creative Services & Consultation: Event and installation planning, creative problem solving, logistics, labor management, and time management consultation services to help clients achieve their project vision within budget.
5. Labor & Payroll Services: Supply of skilled personnel including general laborers, audio technicians, video technicians, and lighting technicians. Union labor contractor for all local unions working in live entertainment in the St. Louis area.
6. In-House AV Services: Full-service AV production at hotels, conference centers, ballroom complexes, and meeting spaces. Custom packages tailored to venue specifications and client needs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Production Support Services, Inc. is a turn-key live event production company that provides professional lighting, sound, staging, video, teleprompter, and special effects equipment along with skilled labor and production management for corporate meetings, conventions, concerts, theater, government events, and broadcast productions. The company also rents its equipment inventory to outside customers, sells new equipment with installation services, and provides creative planning, consultation, and union labor contracting for venues in the St. Louis area.

Product overview

Production Support Services, Inc. is a "turn-key" live event production company with over 35 years of experience serving the St. Louis area and national clients. The company operates as a single integrated service offering that combines equipment rentals with full-service production capabilities. Their portfolio includes five core equipment rental categories: Lighting Equipment (Source Four Pars, ellipsoidals, Fresnels, LED fixtures, Kino Flo panels), Martin Line Array Audio Equipment (speakers, subwoofers, monitors, amplifiers), Video Production Equipment (JVC cameras, Roland switchers, MacBook Pro playback systems), Teleprompters (Presidential-style and through-lens systems), and Portable Staging (Secoa modular decks, steps, railings, risers). These equipment offerings are complemented by six service categories: Event Production Services (complete show production with crew), Equipment Rental Services (customer-operated rentals), Sales & Installation Services (new equipment sales and installation), Creative Services & Consultation (planning and design), Labor & Payroll Services (skilled personnel and union labor), and In-House AV Services (venue-based AV support). The company positions itself as a one-stop provider handling all aspects of live and streamed events from initial planning through execution.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Lighting Equipment Rentals
• Martin Line Array Audio Rentals Martin Audio line array speaker systems including W8LM and W8LMD enclosures, WS218X subwoofers, LE1200 stage monitors, and DX2/Lab Gruppen amplification for professional sound reinforcement at concerts, theaters, and corporate events. Daily rentals range from $50/day for monitors to $125/day for subwoofers and amplifier racks.
• Video Production Equipment Rentals Video production gear including JVC 4K camcorders (HM-250), robotic PTZ cameras (PZ-100), Roland video switchers, Apple MacBook Pro playback systems with PlaybackPro Plus software, Marshall monitors, and green screen setups. Daily rentals range from $60/day for monitors to $500/day for MacBook Pro with playback software.
• Teleprompter Rentals Presidential-style and through-lens teleprompter systems from Prompter People with 19-inch monitors, beam-splitter glass, and Flip-Q Pro software with foot controller for broadcast, corporate, and theatrical applications. Priced from $150-300/day.
• Portable Staging Rentals Modular Secoa stage decks in various sizes (4'x8', 4'x6', 4'x4', 2'x8'), step units with handrails, safety railings, camera risers, choral risers, ADA ramps, and accessories for flexible staging configurations. Priced from $10/day per choral riser section to $50-60/day for stage decks.
• Full-Service Event Production Full-service live event production including lighting, sound, staging, video, crowd control, drapery, special effects, production management, and skilled crew for corporate events, concerts, theater, and conventions. The company works with clients from concept to execution for live or streamed events.
• Sales & Installation Services New equipment sales across all brands and models in the company's rental inventory, plus additional models and installation services ranging from simple replacement parts (such as wireless microphone components) to complete theater renovation projects.
• Labor & Payroll Services Skilled personnel supply including general laborers, audio technicians, video technicians, and lighting technicians. As a union labor contractor for all local unions that work in live entertainment in the St. Louis area, the company is familiar with rules and regulations for each union and each specific venue.
• In-House AV Services Full-service audio-visual production at hotels, conference centers, ballrooms, and meeting spaces with custom packages tailored to venue specifications and client needs, leveraging the company's skilled crews and expansive warehouse inventory.

Named customers20 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

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Freeman: Freeman is a leading event production and brand experience company providing AV, staging, and live event production services for corporate meetings, conventions, and trade shows. Comparable to PSS across corporate and convention segments, with significantly broader geographic and service reach.
• Encore Global: Encore (formerly PSAV) is the largest in-house venue AV and event technology provider for hotels, conference centers, and meeting spaces globally. Comparable to PSS's in-house AV service line and equipment rental capabilities, though Encore focuses on venue partnerships at much greater scale.
• Production Resource Group (PRG): PRG is one of the largest global providers of entertainment and event production technology, offering lighting, audio, video, staging, and rigging across concerts, theater, corporate, and broadcast events. Directly comparable in service mix to PSS, but at vastly greater scale with offices and crew worldwide.

Direct peers

• Swank Audio Visuals: Swank provides AV equipment rental, staging, and event production services for hotels, convention centers, and corporate events. Directly comparable to PSS's in-house AV and venue services offering, focused on hospitality channel.
• ShowPro: ShowPro is a regional live event production services company providing lighting, audio, video, and staging for corporate and entertainment events. Comparable to PSS as a turn-key production company serving similar customer segments.
• Rentex Audio Visual & Computer Rentals: Rentex is a national AV, computer, and event technology rental company serving corporate, broadcast, and live event customers. Directly comparable to PSS's equipment rental stream, with a national footprint and similar product categories.
• AVFX: AVFX is a mid-size event production and AV rental company providing lighting, audio, video, and staging for corporate events, conferences, and live broadcasts. Directly comparable to PSS as a turn-key regional production services company serving corporate and broadcast clients.
• 4Wall Entertainment: 4Wall is a national provider of lighting, video, and audio equipment rentals and production services for live events, concerts, and corporate productions. Directly comparable to PSS in equipment rental and lighting inventory, with multi-location U.S. offices.
• PRG Scenic Technologies: PRG Scenic (formerly PRG Scenic Technologies) specializes in scenic fabrication, staging, and custom event environments for live productions. Comparable to PSS's portable staging and event production capabilities within a larger parent group.

Others

• McCoy Rigging & Automation: McCoy Rigging is a rigging and hoist provider serving live events, theater, concerts, and broadcast productions. Related but specialized compared to PSS, which integrates rigging as part of broader turn-key production rather than as a standalone service.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Production Support Services, Inc.