Navigating Rising AV Costs

Skyrocketing travel, equipment costs and a sudden talent shortage have made affordable audiovisual services a challenge. PCMA’s article Navigating Rising AV Costs for Events: ‘It’s Not 2019 Anymore’ provides some timely advice.

Annette Suriani, principal and chief meeting strategist at AMS Meetings Solutions and executive director of the Association of Meeting Professionals (AMPs), is mitigating costs by communicating with venues about AV setups of events taking place immediately before hers. “See what they used, what rigging has been done, what lighting has been set up already. And piggyback off that.”

Suriani also says that looking locally to cut AV costs has helped lessen the astronomical costs associated with travel. At a recent event, her AV provider negotiated and rented equipment from an in-house company. “Whatever you source locally,” she said, “you’re going to save some money.”