If you’re planning an event in the near future then you may well have come across audio visual companies within your Google searches for items such as projector hire, speaker hire, or event lighting hire. That’s because these are the type of items that audio visual companies supply to all manner of events so that they can look, and crucially, sound their best.
But you might still be confused as to what it is precisely that audio visual companies (or AV companies for short) actually do. This post will aim to clear up what companies such as ourselves do, how we operate, and how we can help your event to become a resounding success.
What Do Audio Visual Companies Do?
Audio visual (AV) companies supply, install, and sometimes operate audio and visual equipment at events. The range of equipment that is considered to fall into the audio visual category is relatively broad, and often includes lighting fixtures, sound equipment (including microphones), projection apparatus, video technology, and live streaming hardware.
In almost all cases, AV companies will arrive before an event to set up all of the equipment hired by the event planner or venue. They may then be asked to stay and oversee the operation of said equipment during the event, before de-rigging and packing everything away at the end of an event.
Some AV companies offer this equipment on a “dry hire” basis, whereby they only deliver the AV equipment, and leave the installation and operation to whomever is running the event in question. However, most professional outfits offer a “wet hire” service where supply, installation, and disassembly are all included.
Which Types of Events Require the Services of an Audio Visual Company?
There are several events that benefit from AV technology, and it’s difficult to narrow it down to specific niches or industries. However, there are some industries which rely on AV companies to carry out their events.
One of those industries is conferences. No matter the size, scale, or sector, conferences of all descriptions will usually require AV equipment, including PA speakers, microphones, projectors or screens, lighting fixtures, and often video recording equipment.
However, as mentioned, the reach and scope of AV services is pretty broad. The below list is merely a representation of the types of events that might require the help of an AV company:
Weddings
Product Launches
Exhibitions
Trade Shows
Fashion Shows
Award Ceremonies
Gala Dinners
Music Festivals
Concerts
Corporate Events
Conferences
Sporting Events
What Are Some Examples of Audio Visual Installation?
To better illustrate what an AV company does, it may be helpful to run through some examples with you to give you an idea of how you can benefit from enlisting AV hire services.
Example Conference Audio Visual Installation
Conferences are one of the events most commonly associated with AV services, so let’s quickly run through an example set up for an event of this nature.
London Conference Event
Audience size: 250
Venue: London Hotel
For this event, you might want to arrange the following AV installation:
PA system (including main speakers, stage monitors, subwoofers, and amplifiers)
Wireless microphones (for guest speakers and presenters)
Mixing desk (to balance the sound levels on the microphones etc.)
Lighting fixtures (stage lighting fixtures, including spotlights for presenters)
Truss structures and rigging (to affix the lighting fixtures and potentially sound equipment too)
Projector and screen (for multimedia presentations and speaking aids)
Conference set or stage (to elevate presenters and speakers above audience level)
Live streaming or video recording equipment (to capture and live broadcast the content across the web or for creating an on-demand resource for a later date)
The above setup is only an example, and you may wish to add or remove specific elements based on your specific requirements.
Next, let’s look at an example AV installation for a private event, such as a wedding.
Example Wedding Audio Visual Installation
Weddings require all kinds of hire services, including AV equipment. Your specific AV installation will depend on several factors, including the venue, the number of guests, and your budget.
Surrey Wedding Event
Audience size: 150
Venue: Country Estate
For this event, you might want to arrange the following AV installation:
PA system for the live band and/or DJ (including main speakers, stage monitors, subwoofers, and amplifiers)
DJ Equipment
Wireless microphones (for wedding speeches and announcements)
Wired microphones (for vocalists within the band or the DJ)
Lighting fixtures (stage lighting fixtures, venue uplighters, disco lights)
Truss structures and rigging (to affix the lighting fixtures and potentially sound equipment too)
White tiered wedding stage (to elevate the happy couple during dinner and to accommodate the live band or DJ during the evening reception)
Stage drapes (in keeping with the overall wedding theme)
Once again, this is just an example installation. As an AV hire company, we have often installed much more and much less, depending on the requests made by the event planner.
What Are the Advantages of Using an Audio Visual Company for Your Event?
There are several reasons why you might want to enlist the services of an AV company for your event. First and foremost, full-service AV hire companies take care of the supply and installation of equipment at your chosen venue and then disassemble and pack it all away for you at the end of the event.
Furthermore, all-inclusive AV hire providers will also be able to supply technicians and engineers to oversee and operate your most crucial EV elements during the event. This option is perfect if you don’t happen to have any experience operating the AV equipment you intend to hire. Plus, once you are released from these responsibilities, you can then oversee other vital aspects of your event.
Secondly, you gain access to superior AV equipment. In almost all circumstances, the equipment you hire will be of a far higher quality than you could afford to purchase yourself or source from the venue. While we cannot speak on behalf of other AV companies, our policy is to invest in only the best equipment the industry has to offer.
Finally, you gain access to expertise. If you are an event planner, AV technology might not be your strength, and you may have little idea of how to plan, design, and execute a successful AV installation.
By approaching an AV hire company such as ourselves, we can handle all of that for you. We’ve been supplying AV installations to events for over two decades, so we know precisely which questions to ask you, and armed with that information, we can create exactly what you need.
Choose On Tour Events as Your Audio Visual Company
Hopefully, you now have an understanding of what an AV company is, what they do, and how they do it. You’ll probably also recognise the value of bringing an outfit such as On Tour Events on board to help put your event together.
As mentioned, we’ve been supplying AV equipment to events all over the UK for well over two decades. We boast more than three warehouses full of the latest and greatest equipment the audio and visual industries have to offer. We have intimate knowledge of some of the most popular venues in London, as well as preferred supplier status at dozens of locations across the country.
We specialise in providing full-service AV hire, including the supply, installation, operation (if required) and disassembly of equipment after your event has concluded. Once we have your specifications, we take care of the rest, leaving you to focus on other critical elements of your event.
So whether you have a wedding on the horizon or you are in the process of planning an important industry conference, please don’t hesitate to contact us on 020 8058 0093 or email us at info@ontourevents.co.uk to discuss your AV requirements.
On Tour Events: Technical Audio Visual Event Services London
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