Why doesn't it pay off for a smaller company to keep its own warehouse?

The rent, utilities and maintenance of your own storage space keep running even if the sets sit in one place for months. For a touring company, there's also the added transport risk of having to bring the props along from one performance to the next.

Self-storage, by contrast, only burdens the budget for as long as you actually need it — during the off-season you don't pay for unused capacity.

How do you estimate the storage space you need?

First, assess what type and quantity of items you'd be storing: how many set pieces, how many costumes, how large a technical equipment pool. That gives you a good approximation of the square metres you'll need.

It's worth counting separately the props that are moved regularly and taken out often, versus the sets stored long-term and used less frequently — this affects how easily accessible they need to be.

  • size and number of set pieces and furniture
  • boxed or hung quantity of costumes and props
  • technical equipment and accessories
  • how often you'll need access

What billing method suits a theatre season?

Theatre operations are rarely even: sometimes a production runs for weeks, other times a set rests for months until the next revival. That's why it's worth choosing a warehouse that offers daily, weekly and monthly billing, without a long-term commitment.

At ZedStore, the monthly fee is HUF 3,500/m² up to 20 m², HUF 3,200/m² between 21–50 m², HUF 2,900/m² between 51–100 m², and a custom quote above 100 m². For shorter periods, space can also be rented at a daily rate of HUF 100/m², so even a shorter production doesn't need a long-term commitment.

What should you ask before signing a contract?

Besides the price per square metre, clarify how much it costs to move larger items, and how quickly you can access your stored props before a rehearsal or performance.

At ZedStore, forklift handling costs HUF 15,000/hour, plus a HUF 1,000/pallet loading or unloading fee — for smaller quantities, the man-and-van service may be enough.