How does sub-rental margin math work... and why do some shops lose money on gear they don't own?
Because most operators price the sub-rental after they price the show. The client rate got set on...
Welcome to the GearSource Blog
Your source for news, reviews, and the latest insights from your GearHeads team!
How should rental houses handle the console upgrade cycle in 2026: when to replace, when to refurbish, when to sell?
Replace only when the rider actually demands it. Refurbish when the workflow still holds up but the...
Touring economics in 2026: where the money is actually coming from, and where it's leaking
The 2026 touring business is bigger than it has ever been and thinner than it looks. Mid-year data...
How can AI matching solve the cross-border regional rental imbalance in 2026?
By Marcel Fairbairn, founder of GearSource, 24 years in pro-AV marketplaces.
What has actually changed on the truss since the LED-hybrid and IP-fixture wave?
By Marcel Fairbairn, founder of GearSource, 24 years in pro-AV marketplaces.
Insurance, rigging, and risk are rewriting the cost stack of every show in 2026
By Marcel Fairbairn, founder of GearSource, 24 years in pro-AV marketplaces.
What did GearShare learn from its early stage cross-rental data?
The short version: cross-rental in 2026 is bigger, more structured, and more concentrated than most...
How do you spot a used gear deal from a used gear disaster in 2026?
The short answer is that diligence in 2026 looks different than it did in 2019. Price is no longer...
The crew shortage is real
The polite version of the crew shortage story is that the pandemic pushed people out, demand came...
Why is sub-rental now a survival strategy?
For most of the last twenty years, sub-rental was a side door. You picked up the phone, called the...
Used gear pricing in 2026: what is the secondary market telling us about new gear demand?
If you only look at one number this quarter to read where live events spending is going, look at...
The Rise of Intentional Media in 2026
The digital landscape in 2026 is being shaped by a major shift toward “Intentional media.” For...