Considering a new production system for your venue ?

1. Considering a new production system for your venue ? Ian Nelson, Senior Engineer John Hughes, Sales Manager Suzanne Adams, Corporate Manager Adlib Solutions Ltd

2. What is this session all about ? • How should you approach acquiring new production equipment for your venue ? • How to get the best value for money • Pros and Cons of various approaches and ideas • What to look out for • Has anyone gone through this process before ? • How much of a headache was it ?

3. Who are we ? • Audio Hire • Lighting Hire • AV Hire • Sales, Installation & Design • Manufacturing

4. Who am I ? • Live sound engineer with 20 years experience • Touring clients such as • Placebo • The Prodigy • The Sneaker Pimps • The Bluetones • Duran Duran • Design Engineer • Specialist in audio integration • Digital Mixing Consoles • Touchscreen Control Systems • Manufacturers • Avid – Qualified Avid Instructor

5. Who have we worked with ? The Script, Bob Dylan, Kaiser Chiefs, Scissor Sisters, David Bowie, Capital Radio, Placebo, Texas, Mrs Browns Boys David Guetta, Swedish House Mafia Leeds University, Manchester University, Academy Music Group (Bournemouth, Sheffield, Leeds, Birmingham Academies), Bridlington Spa, Liverpool ACC

6. Capital FM Summertime Ball – Wembley Stadium

7. Bridlington Spa

8. Liverpool Arena & Convention Centre

9. Overall considerations • What do you want to do in the venue ? • What do you currently own ? • How much do you want to spend ?

10. Venue purpose • Live Events – What level of artist ? • Club Nights – High Profile DJs ? • Comedy Events • Corporate Events (Awards Shows etc) • Day time / evening opening with background music, video etc.

11. What do you already own? • An upgrade or refurbishment of existing equipment may be all you need. • Keep your existing system and move it to elsewhere in the venue • A service of older equipment may bring unused equipment back into use • Some older equipment is still specified. Don’t bin it yet !!

12. What do you need and who to ask for advice ? • Established installation companies with touring experience – Why ? • Production consultants • Agents & Promoters – ask to see sample artist technical riders • In house technical staff

13. How much do you need to spend? • Need to tailor your budget to suit the purpose of the venue • Get competing quotes • Make sure the designs and quotes represent good value for money • Cheapest quote is not always the saving you think it is

14. Pricing Examples • Live Venue 1 - £420,000 – 3 rooms – capacity 2800 • Live Venue 2 - £180,000 – 1 room – capacity 1800 • Live Venue 3 - £320,000 – 2 rooms – capacity 2000 • Live Venue 4 – £170,000 – ex hire equipment – capacity 1100 • Live Venue 5 - £5 - £6k / month – Long Term Rental – capacity 2400 • Club Venue 6 - £500 / week– Long Term Rental of ex-hire equipment – capacity 500

15. Stage your refurbishment • Spread your job over a few years as your budget allows • Address vital issues first eg Speakers & Amps / Lighting fixtures in Year 1 – Many productions will supply their own desks • Upgrade as budget allows eg New sound and lighting desks in Year 2, new monitor system / trussing etc in year 3 • A refurb of existing equipment now may allow you attract larger (and more selective) artists in the future • This allows you to perhaps, generate profit from your events • Use this profit to help fund a new installation further down the line. • A working, well maintained older system is a better option than a cheap, new, badly installed system. Many venues still have old equipment which is in good working order eg. Shepherds Bush Empire

16. Quote Examples • £158,000 – Tom’s PA Company • £152,000 – Dick’s PA Company • £148,000 – Harry’s PA Company

17. What did the quotes include • Tom’s PA Company - £158,000 • Equipment and installation as specified……..plus • 1 year on site warranty including advance replacement of faulty equipment and 2 x 6 monthly service visits • Complete training program for installed system • Complete system documentation and manuals

18. What did the quotes include • Dick’s PA Company - £152,000 • Equipment and installation as specified……..plus • 1 year equipment warranty – advance replacement of faulty equipment • Manufacturer’s training

19. What did the quotes include • Harry’s PA Company - £148,000 • Equipment and installation as specified……..plus • Manufacturer’s warranty of equipment – return to base. No advance replacement of faulty equipment

20. Look for “Value Added Items” included within the quoteThese will save you money in the long term and make you look good !!

21. Get the best value for money deal • If you batter the price down…..something has to go somewhere……look for what disappears from the quote if the price goes down • Peace of mind is worth a lot of money…….what warranty and support do you get • Best trade off between price, equipment spec and support

22. What are your options ? • You own everything in the system • Accounting advantages • Budgetary advantages • Longevity of design • You can specify exactly what you want • Technical staff know the system well Outright equipment purchase & installation

23. What are your options ? • Generally, all the equipment will be new • Equipment will be of modern specification which will support the level of artist you hope to attract • If Budget is an issue, look at ex-rental stock. • Well maintained (generally); specified in artists technical riders; known history Outright equipment purchase & installation

24. What are your options ? • Perhaps involves ex-hire, but well maintained equipment • In the short term, could be a cost effective option • Long term, you may end up spending more • Warranty and support issues go away as it is the responsibility of the rental company to keep the system in good order Long Term Hire

25. What are your options ? • Periodical upgrades of equipment without having to dispose of current equipment • Engineering support from established rental companies – perhaps removes a requirement to employ full time technical staff • Equipment will be tour level, specified equipment Long Term Hire

26. What are your options ? • Only hire the equipment when you need it. • Short term, cost effective, long term….not so much • No guarantee that the same equipment will turn up every week • No guarantee that the same crew will turn up every week • Familiarity breeds contempt…..standard of supplied equipment may slip over time • Limits use of venue to days when you have a production Periodical Hire

27. Ideas & Examples • Main loudspeaker system replaced with new equipment • Existing loudspeaker system serviced and moved to a smaller venue within the complex. • Brings another revenue stream into the facility • Helps to finance further upgrades in the future • DON’T THROW ANYTHING AWAY !!! Re-using existing equipment

28. Ideas & Examples • Old audio mixing desk moved from FOH to stage for a monitor mix • New FOH console purchased • Allows you to expand your monitor system • You can now perhaps facilitate larger bands than previously • Profit on your events may go up. Re-using existing equipment

29. Maximize the potential use of your system • Multipurpose space • Day Time Café Bar • Evening bar with background music and video • Sports events • Cinema • May require you to invest in a user friendly control system • For day to day use, you don’t need to employ technical staff • Only bring technical staff in for special events

30. Service Contracts • What happens when your warranty expires ? • Do Nothing ? • If something breaks, you have to get it fixed. • Who do you call ? • How much should you expect to pay ? EgLabour rates are about an average of £45 / hour • Set up a service contract with a reputable supplier • Regular service visits – Cleaning will negate most common faults • Repairs - Manufacturer authorized repair centre • Consumables – Smoke fluid, batteries, lamps, drivers etc.

31. In Conclusion • Choose a supplier you trust and work with them to design a system that you need and that will work for you, both in your venue and in your pocket • Go and visit their offices • Get demos • Try it out • Consider re-cycling your old equipment to new purpose • Create new spaces within your venue • Expand your system at lower expense • Push the supplier to include service agreements • Keep the equipment clean and serviced. It will last twice as long • Look at how you can maximize the use of your system in your event space • Open during the day / evening and include equipment that will allow you use the space for other events

32. In Conclusion • Tailor your budget and specification to a defined purpose for your venue • Talk to the experts and create a working relationship with your chosen supplier • Use your chosen partner to help promote your new system. Create a buzz within the industry that lets everyone know how good your new venue is • Look at a staged project. Eg Renewal over 3 years • Consider ex-hire equipment with good provenance and that is still currently specified • Consider long term hire, may be less of a headache • We would be happy to talk to you with no commitment required whatsoever.

33. Thankyou Adlib Solutions Adlib House, Fleming Rd, Liverpool, L24 9LS