Most organizations in Canada that need a stage start by renting one. Renting makes sense for a one-off event. Once a stage is needed several times a year, the question changes: is it better to keep paying for rentals, delivery and setup, or to own a stage that is ready whenever you are? This guide walks through how to compare the two honestly.
When renting a stage makes sense
- A single event. If you need a stage once, renting avoids storage and upfront cost.
- A very large production stage. Rental companies can bring crews, lighting and roofing along with the stage for a festival main stage.
- No storage space at all. If there is nowhere to keep a stage between events, renting keeps the problem with someone else.
When buying a portable stage makes sense
- You use a stage several times a year. Schools, churches, event companies, DJs and bands often need a stage for recurring events. Each rental adds booking, delivery and pickup to the calendar.
- You want to set up on your own schedule. An owned stage is there for rehearsals, last-minute changes and early setups without a rental window.
- You have a small amount of storage. MyStage decks fold in half to 2 ft x 4 ft (0.61 m x 1.22 m) and stack, so a stage fits in a closet, storage room or vehicle.
- Your team sets up without a crew. Each 4 ft x 4 ft (1.22 m x 1.22 m) MyStage deck sets up in under a minute with no tools, and one person can carry a deck with its shoulder strap.
How to compare the real cost
Compare what you actually spend per year on rentals with the one-time cost of owning. For renting, add up the rental fees, delivery and pickup, setup labor and the staff time spent booking and meeting deliveries for each event. For buying, price the stage you need in the Stage Builder, add freight to Canada, duties and taxes, and consider how many years you will use it. Because the answer depends on how often you use a stage, do the math with your own numbers rather than a rule of thumb.
What owning a MyStage looks like
A MyStage stage is a set of identical 4 ft x 4 ft aluminum decks that connect side by side and end to end. The same decks can be a 4 ft x 8 ft (1.22 m x 2.44 m) DJ riser one week and part of an 8 ft x 16 ft (2.44 m x 4.88 m) stage the next. Standard legs set the height from 4 to 28 in (10 cm to 71 cm), and you can add railings, skirting and stairs as your events need them.
Buying from Canada
MyStage prices are in US dollars (USD), and your card issuer converts the charge to Canadian dollars. We ship to Canadian addresses outside Quebec. We do not ship to Quebec. Freight to Canada is quoted per order, so contact us with the products you want and your postal code for an international shipping estimate, and ask about import duties, GST/HST and brokerage at the same time.
Quick decision checklist
- How many times a year will you need a stage?
- What size and height do you need most often?
- Where will the stage be stored between events?
- Who will set it up, and how much time do they have?
- What does each rental cost you, including delivery and staff time?
If the answers point to frequent use and in-house setup, size a stage in the Stage Builder and request a shipping estimate.
Questions to ask a rental company
- What is included: delivery, setup, pickup and any minimum charges?
- How early can the stage arrive, and how late can it be collected?
- What happens if your event time changes?
- Are railings, stairs and skirting included or extra?
Asking the same questions of every quote makes rentals easier to compare with owning.
Frequently asked questions
Can we add decks later?
Yes. Every MyStage deck is the same 4 ft x 4 ft size and connects to the others, so you can start small and add decks, railings or skirting as your needs grow.
How long does setup take?
Each deck unfolds and sets up in under a minute with no tools, so a stage takes about as many minutes as it has decks for a small team, plus time for railings, skirting and stairs.
Can a MyStage be used outdoors?
Yes. MyStage was designed to make a flat, level surface on uneven terrain outdoors, and its aluminum construction does not rust.
Are prices in Canadian dollars?
No. Prices are in US dollars, and your card issuer converts the charge.
Do you ship to Quebec?
No. We ship to Canadian addresses outside Quebec.
Questions: info@mystagecorp.com or 858-229-8388. For the full buying process, read How to Buy a Portable Stage in Canada.
