Mobile Stages began in New Zealand and now has its international headquarters in Melbourne, Australia. The company made its American debut in California in 1989 with its North American representative, John Iwasiw, who now resides in North Carolina. Mobile Stages evolved from constructing a mobile trophy presentation platform for the prestigious 1971 Melbourne Cup horse race. Directly after the race the stage was brought in and the presentation made. Unfortunately it poured rain, so for the next year a roof was added, then they wanted lights and a sound system and a band and a bigger stage etc, etc. Thus was born Mobile Stages.
Constructed of light-weight aluminum, these stages can be pulled behind a medium duty pickup truck and set up virtually anywhere. The small portable stages, which are available for rental or purchase, offer quick set-up and take-down features along with load-bearing roofs for the hanging of lights and set materials. When set, the stages feature a virtually seamless floor preferred by dancers and other performers who rely upon movement as part of their presentation. For festival producers who are dependent upon volunteer labor and for whom safety and the risk of liability are concerns, these professionally engineered and fabricated structures are a great resource (and comfort).
Mobile Stages recent credits include staging for the Charlie Daniels Band, Marshall Tucker, Wide Spread Panic and the numerous Beach Bands. The 1996 Atlanta Olympics provided Mobile Stages with another opportunity to be on the international stage as the company met the staging needs of the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympic Games. Even though they have worldwide experience, Mobile Stages treats every sale and rental as though it were the most important one they have ever done. Mobile Stages rentals are set up on location by an experienced crew and can generally be up and ready for the entertainers in one hour or less.