# StageWise

> Backstage management software for theaters and performing arts venues. Replace spreadsheets with a purpose-built tool for inventory, productions, crew, and budgets.

StageWise is a cloud-based SaaS platform designed specifically for small and medium theaters, kulturhuse, and performing arts venues. It handles everything from equipment inventory and barcode scanning to production planning, crew scheduling, budget management, and inter-department communications — all in one affordable, multi-language platform.

## Who Is StageWise For?

- Small and medium-sized theaters (10-100 staff)
- Performing arts venues and kulturhuse
- Community theaters and amateur theater groups
- School and university theater departments
- Any venue that owns equipment and runs productions

StageWise is NOT a rental management tool. It is built for venues that own and operate their own gear across productions and seasons.

## Core Features

- **Inventory Management**: Track all equipment, props, costumes, and set pieces with photos, categories, and custom fields. Barcode and QR code scanning for fast lookups.
- **Production Planning**: Create productions with timelines, assign inventory, manage budgets per production, and track what is in use where.
- **Crew Scheduling**: Schedule crew, track availability, manage departments, and coordinate across productions.
- **Multi-Location Support**: Manage inventory across multiple storage rooms, stages, and venues.
- **Budget Tracking**: Per-production budget management with cost tracking and financial overview.
- **Communications Hub**: Internal messaging, bulletin board announcements, production-specific channels, polls, voting, and urgent notifications.
- **Document Management**: Store and organize production documents, technical riders, and manuals.
- **Show Reports**: Nightly show runner reports with templates, email delivery, and PDF archive.
- **Season Planning**: Plan entire seasons with production calendars and resource allocation.
- **QR Code Labels**: Generate and print QR labels for physical asset tracking.
- **Venue Network**: Borrow and lend equipment between venues in your network.
- **Multi-Language**: Full support for English, Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, and German.
- **Mobile-Friendly**: Responsive design works on phones and tablets for backstage use.

## Pricing

### Free — 0 DKK/month
For individuals and small groups exploring StageWise.
- 1 user, 50 items, 1 location, 250 MB storage
- Inventory management with barcode scanning
- Perfect for personal item tracking or trying out the platform
- No credit card required, no trial expiry

### Starter — 29 DKK/month (~4 EUR)
For small teams getting organized.
- 2 users, 500 items, 1 location, 1 GB storage
- Inventory management, CSV export

### Pro — 299 DKK/month (~40 EUR)
For active theaters running productions.
- 5 users (expandable), 5,000 items (expandable), 3 locations, 10 GB storage
- All modules: productions, crew, budgets, documents, show reports, communications
- Custom fields, season planning, 1-year audit log

### Enterprise — Custom pricing
For large venues, multi-site operations, and institutional theaters.
- Unlimited users, items, locations, and storage
- SSO, API access, webhooks, custom domain
- Priority support with SLA and dedicated contact
- Contact us for pricing

## StageWise vs Spreadsheets

Most small theaters track inventory in spreadsheets. Here is what they are missing:

| Capability | Spreadsheets | StageWise |
|---|---|---|
| Barcode/QR scanning | No | Yes |
| Photo documentation | Manual file linking | Built-in per item |
| Multi-user real-time | Conflict-prone | Native multi-tenant |
| Production assignment | Manual cross-referencing | Automatic tracking |
| Crew scheduling | Separate tool needed | Built-in |
| Budget per production | Manual formulas | Automatic rollup |
| Loan/checkout tracking | No | Built-in with history |
| Mobile access backstage | Awkward | Purpose-built responsive UI |
| Audit trail | None | Full history |
| Equipment search | Ctrl+F | Filters, categories, barcode scan |

## StageWise vs Rental Software (Rentman, Cheqroom, EZOfficeInventory)

Rental management tools like Rentman, Cheqroom, and EZOfficeInventory target AV rental companies, not theaters. They are designed for renting out equipment to external clients — a fundamentally different workflow from managing equipment across your own productions and seasons.

| Aspect | Rental Software | StageWise |
|---|---|---|
| Target user | AV rental companies | Theaters and venues |
| Cost for 10-person team | 750-11,000 DKK/month | ~300 DKK/month |
| Production planning | No | Yes — core feature |
| Crew scheduling | No | Yes |
| Season planning | No | Yes |
| Show reports | No | Yes |
| Department management | No | Yes |
| Theater-specific workflows | No | Purpose-built |
| Free tier | Rarely | Yes — free forever |
| Multi-language (Nordic) | Limited | DA, NO, SV, DE, EN |

StageWise is 10-30x more affordable than rental software for equivalent team sizes, with features designed specifically for theater workflows rather than generic asset rental.

## Getting Started

1. Sign up for free at the StageWise website — no credit card required
2. Add your inventory items (manual entry or CSV import from existing spreadsheets)
3. Create departments and invite crew members
4. Set up your first production and assign equipment
5. Print QR labels for physical asset tracking
6. Start managing your backstage — from any device

Most venues are up and running in under 30 minutes.

## Company

- **Name**: StageWise
- **Location**: Denmark
- **Market**: Nordic performing arts venues, expanding to Europe
- **Languages**: English, Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, German
- **Website**: https://www.stagewise.eu
- **Sign Up**: https://www.stagewise.eu/signup
- **Why StageWise**: https://www.stagewise.eu/why-stagewise