Equipment Hire

Getting it right with PA, Lighting and A/V Dry Hire/Audio and Lighting Equipment Hire

As most know “Dry Hire” indicates renting or hiring gear from a supplier without an operator.
There are several reasons to consider “Dry Hire”, however there are factors that need to be considered.
Know exactly what your needs are; (A good A/V hire company should be able to help you select the gear to suit your requirements in relation to your budget.

Let’s start with some pros and cons.

Pros

  • Cheaper than buying for one offs.
  • Generally low cost for just a few items.
  • Gives opportunity to try and evaluate before using longer term or purchasing.
  • Ability to select only the items required that meet the budget for event.
  • Most Hire company’s test their items prior to each hire, so you can be assured that it will work at your event.

Cons

  • Time Picking up and Returning Items
  • Item may require knowledge/Skill in order to get a good result
  • Hiring many individual items may be a costly exercise
  • Person who Hires accepts responsibility for any loss or damage during hire.

Factors that need to be considered;

  • Size of room
  • Estimated attendance
  • Daytime or Nighttime event? Is there Ambient lighting? These are big factors when dealing in Projection screens.
  • Your customers expectations, Sound Systems, Stage Lighting, Theme Lighting, A/V
  • Your budget allowance.

Some suggestions

  • If you find after quoting your event that some items are vague or costly, communicate with the client to clear up any issues. In some cases a hire budget may be approved. Many time the scope changes prior to the event.
  • It is possible that a production company will be able to provide a Sound/Lighting package with operator that is more economic than dry hire of many items.
  • Obtain a couple of quotes, however ensure you do your homework. For instance a $30 LED light hire may cover 2x the area and be 2x as bright as a $25 LED Fixture from another supplier. A speaker rated at 1000watts may be of lesser quality and have lower sound quality/output of a speaker rated at 500watts.
  • Talk to your supplier, most will offer some advise and training at no cost when you hire from them.

Before the Gig or Event.

  • Visit the Event location to get a visual and understanding of any potential concern.
  • Plan the equipment Pack/Bump-in/setup to ensure that nothing has been missed.
  • Talk to venue manager to go over any concerns.
  • Ensure available power requirements.
  • Plan how cables and leads are to be run. Are cable trays or matts required?

Above all; Have a Safe, Successful and Enjoyable event. Obtain feedback from your customer after the show.

For more information on our pricing, Equipment hire or anything else, get in touch with us on this page: