AV Provider Comparison: A Closer Look at Quality, Flexibility, and Value
Choosing the right AV provider for your event isn’t just about checking a box. It’s about protecting your budget, preserving your production quality, and ensuring your event runs exactly as you envision it. Yet, too often, organizers are pressured into choosing a venue-affiliated partner without fully understanding the implications. The truth is, not all AV servicers are created equal, and “in-house” doesn’t always mean what you think.
What Are “In-House” AV Teams?
Most “in-house” AV teams are third-party companies operating under an exclusivity clause that benefits the venue more than the event host. These arrangements often come with substantial revenue splits—some as high as 40% to 50% of your AV spend—going straight to the hotel. That added cost doesn’t always translate into better equipment, smoother execution, or even consistent staffing. What you end up paying for is proximity, not performance.
Let’s break down the key differences between venue-tied AV vendors and independent AV partners like Tallen.
What Your AV Provider Should Actually Deliver
An experienced AV team should act as a true production partner, not a gatekeeper. You deserve a team that starts with your goals and builds around them rather than around what’s easiest or most profitable. Tallen collaborates closely with clients to develop custom strategies that fit your needs, venue layout, budget, and timeline. There are no hidden markups, surprise charges, or required add-ons.
Our technicians are seasoned, show-ready professionals who stay on-site for the duration of your event, not freelancers eager to leave the moment their shift ends. Each member of your Tallen crew is dedicated solely to your production, not shared across other ballrooms or breakout spaces. We provide consistent staffing across your program, so you see the same trusted team members day to day, session to session, ensuring seamless execution and a true sense of partnership throughout.
Flexibility That Works for You
Inflexible packages and one-size-fits-all labor models create unnecessary friction. Quality AV services will adjust based on the scope of your program, not an arbitrary staffing matrix. Tallen builds production schedules that prioritize efficiency, adaptability, and cost control.
Venue-tied AV providers often add unnecessary roles that inflate your staffing bill without improving the result. If you decline their services altogether, some venues retaliate with inflated rigging, power, or internet fees that penalize you for using a more capable third-party partner. These tactics create a false sense of convenience at a very real cost.
Transparent Pricing, Tangible Value
Price transparency should be the baseline, not the exception. Independent AV teams like Tallen offer clear, itemized quotes so our clients understand exactly what they’re paying for. We don’t hide behind bundled rates or padded labor charges. An independent AV provider can help you negotiate smarter venue agreements, protect your production priorities, and avoid these hidden costs entirely.
Why Organizers Are Reconsidering the “In-House” Model
Professional planners are beginning to push back against AV contracts that serve the venue more than the event. They’re asking better questions, negotiating out exclusivity clauses, and choosing AV partners who prioritize performance over proximity.
Tallen believes organizers deserve better. We provide scalable, reliable production services and one of the highest satisfaction rates in the industry. Our work speaks for itself, but more importantly, so do our clients. Before signing your next venue contract, ensure that your team has the option to bring in outside AV partners without the venue increasing your internet and power costs. This will give you the power to choose an audiovisual partner that’s best for you and your event.