What Your Venue Isn’t Telling You About Their AV Limitations
- Moonrise Audio Visual
- May 21
- 3 min read
That stunning ballroom? The rooftop with skyline views? The industrial-chic warehouse with exposed brick and beams? Gorgeous venues can steal your heart at first sight, but before you sign the contract, it’s worth asking: what are the AV limitations they’re not telling you about?
It’s not that venues are trying to be secretive. Many just aren’t thinking about AV the way you and your production team need to. And those oversights can lead to unexpected costs, technical headaches, and last-minute compromises.
Here’s what every corporate planner should ask (and know) before choosing a venue, because what you don’t know about the space could make or break your event.
“Yes, we have in-house AV” doesn’t always mean what you think it does.
When a venue says they “offer AV,” they could mean anything from a few ceiling speakers and a projector from 2008 to a fully staffed, professional-grade system. There’s a big difference.
Ask specifics:
What equipment is included, and how current is it?
Is there on-site support?
Are you required to use their AV partner or can you bring your own?
If in-house AV is exclusive, you may be locked into higher rates, less flexibility, or a team that isn’t a great fit for your event needs. Clarity now saves frustration later.
Power access can limit your AV setup.
This one’s often overlooked. Your venue may not have enough dedicated power circuits to safely run everything your event requires, especially for high-lumen projectors, LED walls, audio systems, and lighting. Ask:
How many 20-amp and 30-amp circuits are available?
Are there any three-phase power sources?
Is there a generator backup, or will you need to provide one?
If your AV partner has to bring in power distribution or rent additional generators, that’s time, logistics, and budget you’ll want to plan for.
Load-in and rigging restrictions may slow you down.
A jaw-dropping venue might have a beautiful entryway but zero freight access. Or low ceilings. Or no rigging points for lighting or screens. These issues affect if and how you can bring your AV design to life.
Important questions:
Is there a dedicated loading dock or service elevator?
What’s the ceiling height and weight capacity?
Are rigging and truss installs permitted?
Do load-in times conflict with other events?
Even a basic AV setup can become a challenge in a hard-to-access or tightly scheduled space.
Acoustics might sabotage your sound.
High ceilings, exposed concrete, and open layouts look great in photos, but they bounce sound like crazy. If your keynote is echoing across the room or your panel gets lost in the noise, your AV partner will be left fighting the space.
Ask if the venue has hosted events similar in size and type to yours. If possible, walk the space with your AV provider and do a quick sound test. The best AV teams can work around acoustic challenges, but only if they know about them in advance.
Wi-Fi isn’t always livestream-ready.
Venues love to advertise “Wi-Fi included,” but what they don’t say is whether it’s strong, secure, or stable enough to support a high-definition livestream or hybrid audience.
Questions to ask:
Is there dedicated bandwidth for AV use?
Can a wired connection be installed?
Are there additional charges for higher speeds or multiple access points?
Don’t assume your virtual audience will have the same seamless experience as your in-person guests unless the network is built for it.
Ask before it’s too late.
The most beautiful venue in the world won’t matter if your AV can’t perform. At Moonrise AV, we partner with planners early to evaluate venue logistics, flag potential issues, and build smart solutions. The only surprise should be how smooth everything runs.
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