Technical Stage Services: Managing Rentals and Crew with Confidence
Bringing Clarity to Chaos
Technical Stage Services (TSS) is a dynamic live event technology company operating out of Selby, just outside of Leeds. Whether it’s a single microphone for a school theatre or a full touring production, TSS brings the right tech and people to the job.
When Jonathan Fowkes, now Business Development Manager, was managing TSS’s hire department, he recognized it was time for a change.
With the company eager to move away from in-house servers, the search for a cloud-based solution led them to Rentman.
We’d outgrown our old system. We were using HireTrack, but it just couldn’t do what we needed anymore.
A Seamless Fit
From day one, Rentman became the backbone of TSS’s hire department.
It’s our primary asset management, quoting, and crew scheduling tool. We use nearly every module — except for time tracking, which we already handle elsewhere.
He was especially impressed by how intuitive the software felt. “A lot of rental software feels like an old Access database. Rentman’s UI is modern and easy to use — it just makes sense.”
Crew Scheduling That Works
One of the biggest wins? Crew management.
Before Rentman, managing a large and diverse freelancer pool was a real challenge. “You’d always go back to the same handful of people,” Jonathan recalled. “It wasn’t intentional. It’s just hard to keep everyone in your head.”
Now, the team tags freelancers by skills and certifications. “We’ve built a skill cloud using Rentman’s tagging system. If someone calls in sick, anyone on our team can filter and find the right replacement — say someone with a PASMA qualification — within seconds.”
The result? A more balanced, responsive, and fair approach to staffing.
From the Warehouse to the Stage
Barcoded inventory makes scanning quick and accurate. Freelancers use the Rentman mobile app to access packing lists, reducing errors and confusion on-site. “It’s great for crew. If someone asks, ‘Did we pack the 5-to-3 pin adapters?’ they can just check the app,” Jonathan said.
And while TSS hasn’t yet made the switch to RFID, Jonathan sees it as a future step.
We’re not quite there yet, but for someone starting fresh, RFID through Rentman would be a no-brainer.
Scalable, Evolving, and Future-Focused
Jonathan appreciates Rentman’s modular structure. “I like that we only pay for what we use.”
He’s also impressed by the pace and relevance of product updates.
Rentman listens. The new features that roll out actually solve real problems. They’re not just fluff.
Looking ahead, TSS is exploring how Rentman could power more of the business, including installations and sales. “We’re in talks about getting our project department onto Rentman. Once a few tweaks are made, I think it’ll be a perfect fit.”
A Partner in Progress
For Jonathan, Rentman is more than just software — it’s a partner. “Support is always friendly and helpful. I still talk to Sylvia from the support team. We have a real relationship.”
With a clear vision and the right tools, Technical Stage Services is scaling smart, delivering tech, talent, and top-tier service, all powered by Rentman.