April 18, 2025 • 8 mins
Join us and discover Main Light's 42-year legacy in live event production, plus their recently expanded inventory featuring CHAINMASTER D8 hoists, and the rigorous equipment testing in their state-of-the-art facilities in all locations. Our hosts share personal experiences, emphasizing the role of reliability, innovative solutions, and exceptional service from Mainlight.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:19):
This week on Future Tech, we're going to talk about a great live
events dry hire rental company with some recent updates.
So Main Light's been around for what, 42 years now?
Pretty much a cornerstone in thelive events industry when it
comes to dry, higher rental services.
Their reach is massive. Wilmington, Teterboro,
Nashville, Las Vegas, they've got these huge facilities to
(00:42):
back it up. That's a long run for any
company, especially in such a demanding industry, right?
And I mean, the fact that they've got facilities in those
key cities, that's kind of a bigdeal.
Absolutely. It's not just about having a
footprint, but maintaining quality across those locations.
Like they've got 60,000 square feet in Wilmington, 70,000 in
(01:03):
Nashville, and even 40,000 in Vegas.
That's space not just for storing equipment, but for
testing and prepping it to high standards.
Reliability is everything, especially when your clients are
production companies juggling major live events.
And you can tell they've got that whole reliability thing
down. I remember this one show in
Nashville, Huge deal, lots of moving parts and the main light
(01:26):
gear. We used it, it just worked.
I mean no issues at all. And honestly their stuff
elevated the entire production. The visuals were insane.
That doesn't surprise me. They've built their reputation
on delivering high quality lighting and effects.
And it's not just the gear, it'sthe customer service.
There are teams known for being on top of things, making sure
(01:48):
every rental package meets the client's needs.
It's funny though, customer service doesn't always get
highlighted in this industry. But but when something goes
wrong, that's when you realize how important it is.
Main Light seems like one of those companies that gets that.
Yeah, they're one of the few with a reputation that's lasted
decades and that speaks volumes.You know, we were just talking
(02:10):
about Main Light's reputation for reliability and attention to
their clients needs and it feelslike their inventory expansion
really reflects that. Recently, to improve their
rigging department, Main Light have added a large number of
chain master D8 hoists to their line up.
That's impressive. These are the top of the rigging
(02:30):
hoist food chain, one ton, 1/2 ton, even 1/4 ton hoist with 80
feet of lift capacity. It's a serious asset for any
major production or rental company.
Wait, 80 feet? That's like lifting an entire
theatre set up, right? I mean, what's the practical use
for something like that in your world?
Oh, tons of applications. Think big arena tours or outdoor
(02:53):
festivals. You've got lighting trusses,
speaker arrays, or even video screens to get into precise
positions. Chain master hoists are known
for their durability and precision, which you know stops
your event from turning into a disaster if something slips.
Yeah, that sounds critical. And I'm guessing they don't just
stop at the. Hoist exactly.
Main lights gone all in. By pairing these hoists with
(03:15):
Motion Labs 8 channel portable motor controllers.
These give you super precise control over the hoists.
You can synchronize lifts, adjust speeds, the whole deal.
And get this. Motion Labs also ships them with
handheld remotes that, let me tell you, are possibly the most
rugged pieces of gear I've ever seen.
Polyamide and polyester enclosures Practically
(03:36):
indestructible. So it's like handheld control on
steroids? Sounds perfect for something
where timing and weight distribution are key.
Exactly. It's all about safety and
efficiency. I mean, you're moving rigs that
weigh literally thousands of pounds.
Having gear you can trust makes a huge difference.
Makes sense, but what stands outhere?
Like what makes this equipment special compared to the regular
(04:00):
stuff people might be used to? Well, these hoists are designed
to integrate seamlessly into existing production setups.
They have advanced motor protection, which means fewer
breakdowns even under heavy use,and motion lapse controllers tie
it all together beautifully. It's a system that's reliable
from top to bottom, ideal for, let's say, back-to-back tours
(04:20):
where downtime isn't an option. That reliability, it's got to be
a massive selling point. I can see where this would come
in handy for events with tight schedules.
No doubt I've seen setups where these kinds of hoists literally
save the day. Imagine a high pressure load in
where timing is everything. The last thing you need is
(04:40):
finicky gear slowing you down. These hoists, they just work.
Speaking of reliability, let's talk about the main light
facilities. Wilmington and Nashville are
perfect examples. These are enormous high tech
spaces with 60,000 square feet in Wilmington and 70,000 Danoir
in Nashville. They're not just storage
(05:02):
warehouses, they're cutting edgelabs where they test and
maintain industry leading gear to make sure everything's in top
condition before it heads out toan event.
Yeah. And that's something you don't
usually think about, right? But those final checks, they
must be a show saver, especiallyfor big events with no room for
error. Exactly.
Every single item is prepped to meet industry standards.
(05:25):
Lighting fixtures, trusses, controllers, the works.
They test, they inspect, they double check, and then they
ship. That's why their gear has such a
solid reputation. When it arrives on site, you
know it'll perform no surprises.And it's not just the tech,
right, their whole team. What strikes me is they're super
(05:46):
invested in making their clientssucceed.
Like they're not just handing you a box of equipment and
wishing you luck. They actually seem to care.
Totally. The human element's a big deal
in this industry. They're technicians, account
managers, they're experts at what they do and they've got
your back. What I've always respected about
Main Light is that they combine cutting edge technology with old
(06:08):
school customer service. It's rare.
Yeah, and you feel that when youwork with them.
I've been on shows where everything could go wrong.
It's high stress, high stakes, knowing you've got main light
equipment and their team in yourcorner.
It's like this huge weight off your shoulders.
Couldn't agree more. And here's the thing, rental
(06:29):
equipment is the backbone of so many events.
If the gear is unreliable, you're sunk.
That's why partners like Main Light are crucial.
Right. And I think that's what sets
them apart. They're invested in the
technology, yeah, but also in people, whether it's their crew
or the end user. That's rare these days.
Absolutely. It's funny reflecting on it now.
(06:50):
It's not just the lights or the hoists or controllers, it's this
whole package they've built through decades of experience.
You get reliability, innovation and real human support.
That's a killer combo. No kidding.
Honestly, Chris chatting throughthis stuff makes me appreciate
the behind the scenes even more.The tech, the people, the prep,
(07:10):
there's so much that goes into making live events happen.
Yeah, it's fascinating how something as simple as a well
tuned piece of equipment or great customer service can make
or break an event. Kudos to Main Light for nailing
that balance. Absolutely.
And on that note, I'm I think we've covered it all for today.
Thanks for hanging out on Geezers of Gear Future Tech
Chris. Thanks Laci, always great
(07:33):
chatting and thanks to all of you for listening.
Until next time, stay creative, stay inspired.
Future tech is here. Come on, you make the specs so
clear. Oh La La with music to your
(07:57):
ears. Hey, hey, hey, let's go.
New gear vibes, new tech jive gear hits unite.
We keep it live.
This week on Future Tech, we're going to talk about a great live
events dry hire rental company with some recent updates.
So Main Light's been around for what, 42 years now?
Pretty much a cornerstone in thelive events industry when it
comes to dry, higher rental services.
Their reach is massive. Wilmington, Teterboro,
Nashville, Las Vegas, they've got these huge facilities to
(00:42):
back it up. That's a long run for any
company, especially in such a demanding industry, right?
And I mean, the fact that they've got facilities in those
key cities, that's kind of a bigdeal.
Absolutely. It's not just about having a
footprint, but maintaining quality across those locations.
Like they've got 60,000 square feet in Wilmington, 70,000 in
(01:03):
Nashville, and even 40,000 in Vegas.
That's space not just for storing equipment, but for
testing and prepping it to high standards.
Reliability is everything, especially when your clients are
production companies juggling major live events.
And you can tell they've got that whole reliability thing
down. I remember this one show in
Nashville, Huge deal, lots of moving parts and the main light
(01:26):
gear. We used it, it just worked.
I mean no issues at all. And honestly their stuff
elevated the entire production. The visuals were insane.
That doesn't surprise me. They've built their reputation
on delivering high quality lighting and effects.
And it's not just the gear, it'sthe customer service.
There are teams known for being on top of things, making sure
(01:48):
every rental package meets the client's needs.
It's funny though, customer service doesn't always get
highlighted in this industry. But but when something goes
wrong, that's when you realize how important it is.
Main Light seems like one of those companies that gets that.
Yeah, they're one of the few with a reputation that's lasted
decades and that speaks volumes.You know, we were just talking
(02:10):
about Main Light's reputation for reliability and attention to
their clients needs and it feelslike their inventory expansion
really reflects that. Recently, to improve their
rigging department, Main Light have added a large number of
chain master D8 hoists to their line up.
That's impressive. These are the top of the rigging
(02:30):
hoist food chain, one ton, 1/2 ton, even 1/4 ton hoist with 80
feet of lift capacity. It's a serious asset for any
major production or rental company.
Wait, 80 feet? That's like lifting an entire
theatre set up, right? I mean, what's the practical use
for something like that in your world?
Oh, tons of applications. Think big arena tours or outdoor
(02:53):
festivals. You've got lighting trusses,
speaker arrays, or even video screens to get into precise
positions. Chain master hoists are known
for their durability and precision, which you know stops
your event from turning into a disaster if something slips.
Yeah, that sounds critical. And I'm guessing they don't just
stop at the. Hoist exactly.
Main lights gone all in. By pairing these hoists with
(03:15):
Motion Labs 8 channel portable motor controllers.
These give you super precise control over the hoists.
You can synchronize lifts, adjust speeds, the whole deal.
And get this. Motion Labs also ships them with
handheld remotes that, let me tell you, are possibly the most
rugged pieces of gear I've ever seen.
Polyamide and polyester enclosures Practically
(03:36):
indestructible. So it's like handheld control on
steroids? Sounds perfect for something
where timing and weight distribution are key.
Exactly. It's all about safety and
efficiency. I mean, you're moving rigs that
weigh literally thousands of pounds.
Having gear you can trust makes a huge difference.
Makes sense, but what stands outhere?
Like what makes this equipment special compared to the regular
(04:00):
stuff people might be used to? Well, these hoists are designed
to integrate seamlessly into existing production setups.
They have advanced motor protection, which means fewer
breakdowns even under heavy use,and motion lapse controllers tie
it all together beautifully. It's a system that's reliable
from top to bottom, ideal for, let's say, back-to-back tours
(04:20):
where downtime isn't an option. That reliability, it's got to be
a massive selling point. I can see where this would come
in handy for events with tight schedules.
No doubt I've seen setups where these kinds of hoists literally
save the day. Imagine a high pressure load in
where timing is everything. The last thing you need is
(04:40):
finicky gear slowing you down. These hoists, they just work.
Speaking of reliability, let's talk about the main light
facilities. Wilmington and Nashville are
perfect examples. These are enormous high tech
spaces with 60,000 square feet in Wilmington and 70,000 Danoir
in Nashville. They're not just storage
(05:02):
warehouses, they're cutting edgelabs where they test and
maintain industry leading gear to make sure everything's in top
condition before it heads out toan event.
Yeah. And that's something you don't
usually think about, right? But those final checks, they
must be a show saver, especiallyfor big events with no room for
error. Exactly.
Every single item is prepped to meet industry standards.
(05:25):
Lighting fixtures, trusses, controllers, the works.
They test, they inspect, they double check, and then they
ship. That's why their gear has such a
solid reputation. When it arrives on site, you
know it'll perform no surprises.And it's not just the tech,
right, their whole team. What strikes me is they're super
(05:46):
invested in making their clientssucceed.
Like they're not just handing you a box of equipment and
wishing you luck. They actually seem to care.
Totally. The human element's a big deal
in this industry. They're technicians, account
managers, they're experts at what they do and they've got
your back. What I've always respected about
Main Light is that they combine cutting edge technology with old
(06:08):
school customer service. It's rare.
Yeah, and you feel that when youwork with them.
I've been on shows where everything could go wrong.
It's high stress, high stakes, knowing you've got main light
equipment and their team in yourcorner.
It's like this huge weight off your shoulders.
Couldn't agree more. And here's the thing, rental
(06:29):
equipment is the backbone of so many events.
If the gear is unreliable, you're sunk.
That's why partners like Main Light are crucial.
Right. And I think that's what sets
them apart. They're invested in the
technology, yeah, but also in people, whether it's their crew
or the end user. That's rare these days.
Absolutely. It's funny reflecting on it now.
(06:50):
It's not just the lights or the hoists or controllers, it's this
whole package they've built through decades of experience.
You get reliability, innovation and real human support.
That's a killer combo. No kidding.
Honestly, Chris chatting throughthis stuff makes me appreciate
the behind the scenes even more.The tech, the people, the prep,
(07:10):
there's so much that goes into making live events happen.
Yeah, it's fascinating how something as simple as a well
tuned piece of equipment or great customer service can make
or break an event. Kudos to Main Light for nailing
that balance. Absolutely.
And on that note, I'm I think we've covered it all for today.
Thanks for hanging out on Geezers of Gear Future Tech
Chris. Thanks Laci, always great
(07:33):
chatting and thanks to all of you for listening.
Until next time, stay creative, stay inspired.
Future tech is here. Come on, you make the specs so
clear. Oh La La with music to your
(07:57):
ears. Hey, hey, hey, let's go.
New gear vibes, new tech jive gear hits unite.
We keep it live.
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