Hiring AV isn't like ordering chairs. You're choosing the people who will be in the room when the CEO's laptop fails and the ask video needs to roll on time.
Vendor vs partner is a real distinction. A vendor drops gear. A partner owns the outcome with you.
Questions worth asking
- Who is on site the day of — names, not a staffing agency TBD
- Can I see a sample run-of-show from a similar event?
- What happens when the primary mic dies mid-ceremony?
- How do you coordinate with planner, DJ, and venue?
- What's included vs what shows up as a change order?
Listen for
Specific answers about cues, backups, and load-in windows. Vague enthusiasm about "making your vision come to life" is not a plan.
Green flags
- They walk the venue before quoting when the room is unfamiliar
- They push back on a request that will hurt the room
- They put rehearsal on the schedule without you begging
- References you can actually call
Red flags
- Lowest bid with no site visit
- "We'll figure it out on the day"
- No named lead on the paperwork
- Pressure to decide before you've shared the agenda
Pick the team you'd trust when something breaks — because something always tries to.
Ready for a real AV partnership?
Tell us about the event. We'll reply with a clear plan — and what we need from you to make show day calm.
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