Common AV Mistakes That Ruin Events (And How to Avoid Them)

When planning an event, audio visual production plays a huge role in how your event looks, sounds, and feels. Over the years, we’ve seen a number of common mistakes that can seriously impact an event. The good news? They’re all avoidable with the right planning and the right AV provider – A.K.A Just Smile 😉

Here are the most common AV mistakes and how you can avoid them to make sure your event looks and feels high-quality:

1. Poor Sound Quality

There’s nothing worse than guests struggling to hear speeches or presentations clearly. Poor sound can instantly make an event feel unprofessional but it can also ruin key moments. A squeak of a microphone during your Best Man’s speech? Not ideal.

How to avoid it:
Make sure your AV provider uses high-quality sound systems and understands how to set them up properly for your venue and audience size.

At Just Smile, we ensure crystal-clear audio for speeches, seminars and music, ensuring everything runs smoothly for you.

2. Not Enough (or Too Much) Equipment

Booking too little equipment can leave your event feeling flat, but overloading with unnecessary kit can be just as bad (as well as expensive).

How to avoid it:
Work with a company that tailors the setup to your specific event, rather than offering a one-size-fits-all package. If a company only provides audio visual aid for meetings for 10 people and then tries to use the same equipment for a conference of 1000, there’s bound to be issues.

We always design setups around your event to make sure you get exactly what you need, no more, no less to ensure quality throughout whilst sticking to budget.

3. Ignoring Lighting

Lighting is often overlooked, but it has one of the biggest impacts on the overall atmosphere without people even realising.

Bad lighting = Dull Event, Low-Energy and less chance for Networking.
Good lighting = Professional, High-Energy and allows guests to SEE!

How to avoid it:
Think about lighting early on. Consider what you require for your event venue as all venues differ due to windows, venue lighting that is already in place and even room shape/size.

At Just Smile, lighting design is a key part of every setup we create and we can tailor the lighting set-up to suit your vision.

4. Leaving AV Until the Last Minute

AV is sometimes treated as an afterthought, which can lead to limited options, rushed setups and unnecessary stress.

How to avoid it:
Book your AV provider early and involve them in the planning process. This ensures everything runs smoothly on the day.

Although we do our best to help clients with last-minute requests, it is always best to contact us as early as possible to reduce stress for yourself.

5. Choosing Based on Price Alone

It’s tempting to go for the cheapest option available, but this often leads to poor-quality equipment, unreliable service or hidden costs later on.

How to avoid it:
Focus on value, not just price. Look at experience, reviews and previous work to make sure you’re getting a reliable service.

At Just Smile, we pride ourselves on delivering high-quality production that offers real value for money. Our extensive collection of reviews reflect this!