Choosing an audio-visual production company is one of the most important decisions you’ll make for your event. Get it right and your event runs flawlessly. Get it wrong and no amount of great content or beautiful venue will save the day. Here’s exactly what to look for and the questions you should be asking before you sign anything.
London has no shortage of AV companies. A quick search will return dozens of options, all promising professional results and competitive pricing. So how do you tell the difference between a company that will genuinely deliver and one that will leave you scrambling on the day? The answer lies in knowing what to look for and what questions to ask.
1. Look for relevant experience, not just general experience
Ten years of experience producing nightclub events is not the same as ten years of experience producing corporate conferences. Ask specifically about events similar to yours in scale, format, and audience. A company that regularly produces church services, award nights, or product launches will understand the specific technical and logistical demands of your event in a way a generalist may not.
Ask for a portfolio or case studies relevant to your event type. A professional AV company should be able to show you examples without hesitation.
2. Assess their communication before you’ve booked them
How an AV company communicates before you’ve paid them is a strong indicator of how they’ll communicate on the day of your event. Are they responsive? Do they ask intelligent questions about your event? Do they offer ideas and solutions, or do they just take orders?
A great production company will want to understand your event the audience, the tone, the objectives not just the technical spec. If a company is only asking about equipment lists and not about what you’re trying to achieve, that’s a warning sign.
3. Understand what is (and isn’t) included in the quote
AV production quotes can vary enormously in what they include. Some companies quote for equipment hire only and charge separately for engineers, delivery, and setup. Others include everything in a singleprice. Make sure you understand exactly what you’re getting before you compare costs.
Key questions to ask: Is a dedicated engineer included? Who handles setup and breakdown? What happens if a piece of equipment fails on the day do you have backup gear? Is there a site visit or technical recce included before the event?
4. Check that they have proper insurance and professional credentials
Any professional AV company operating in the UK should carry public liability insurance typically a minimum of £5 million cover. This protects both you and your venue in the event of an accident. Do not work with a company that cannot provide proof of insurance.
For corporate events in particular, check whether the company has worked in your venue before, and whether your venue has any approved supplier requirements that need to be met.
5. Ask about their contingency planning
Every professional production company should have a clear answer to the question: “What happens if something goes wrong on the day?” This includes equipment failure, personnel issues, and unexpected venue problems.
A company that hasn’t thought about contingency is a company that hasn’t run enough events to know how often things don’t go to plan. Experience breeds preparedness.
FKLEF TIP
Never book an AV company without speaking to someone on the actual production team not just a sales contact. The person you speak to before the event should be the same person leading your production on the day, or you should at least meet them during the planning process.
Why Fklef Productions
At Fklef Productions, we’ve been delivering professional audio-visual production for events across London and the UK for over 10 years. From corporate conferences and product launches to church services and music festivals, we bring the same commitment to quality, communication, and flawless execution to every event we work on.
We’re not just a hire company, we’re a full production partner. We’ll work with you from initial brief through to the final moment of your event to make sure everything is exactly as it should be.
Planning an event in London or the UK?
Talk to the Fklef Productions team about professional audio-visual production for your next event, church service, corporate conference, concert, or festival.
Contact us: fklefproductions.com/pages/contact-us | +447443024117
