A good looking / expensive stage is not always a safe stage. There are many things to consider when renting a mobile stage. Size, speed of setup, features, etc. But by far, safety must be the number one consideration.
We’ve all heard of the Indiana stage collapse back in 2011 at the Sugarland concert. That particular stage consisted of a truss roof separate from the stage deck below (not a mobile stage). A combination of extreme weather and untimely stage evacuation procedures resulted in the death of seven people and injuries to 58 others. A $50 million settlement was reached. Just one injury is too many!
Mobile stages (all in one trailer stage units) were invented a couple decades ago to solve two major problems. Speed of setup, and of course, safer staging.
Mobile stages have been around much earlier than the Indiana stage collapse, but ever since Indiana, mobile staging has grown exponentially in popularity.
Cities, municipalities, fire departments are now requiring mobile stages with engineering stamps, certificates of inspection, and at the very least, a liability insurance policy. There are many cities that still reference the Indiana stage collapse and only request mobile trailer stages.
Hands down, mobile trailer stages are the safest vs. a truss built structure of the old days. Some of the most popular mobile trailer stage brands are Stageline (Canadian), Apex (American), Stagemobil (German), Century (American), and Wenger (American). All of these companies make quality products. We have invested in Stageline, the pioneer in mobile stage manufacturing. They have been building mobile stages for over 25 years with an impeccable 100% safety rating. Not only are they safe. They are good looking, full of features, setup fast, low maintenance, and easy to transport.
Each of the stage companies listed has engineering specifying their wind and load ratings. This is important, because customers ask for certification that the stage has been inspected and tested by an engineer.
Just remember, small homemade stage roof systems on a budget can still collapse or blow away in even the lightest weather.
Make sure to keep your performers and attendees safe!
