How-to style article for company blog, aimed at customers (venue owners) in the hospitality sector, showcasing selected AV partners | Housed on Nightlife Music website | 2019

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We’ve all googled an ache and been convinced we have pinpointed the cause and can administer the cure.

And similarly, with a tech-ache, as tempting as it may be to diagnose and fix AV (audiovisual) issues yourself, it’s always best to seek professional advice!

Especially as there have been some amazing advancements in AV (and medicine) since Nightlife Jukeboxes came with three VCR drives or a 200 CD stacker.

The world of AV has changed significantly in those thirty years but our partnership with good AV professionals remains unchanged and they have the know-how to ensure your gear runs smoothly and your entertainment is flawless!

Their experience is crucial to getting the most out of your investment in equipment and making your venue sound amazing, from your Nightlife media player through to speakers, screens, players, projectors, displays, microphones, lighting and everything in between.

We’ve rounded up the top tips on working with your AV professional from some of our trusted partners.

Getting started

ADVICE: Wondering which suppliers to choose and whether their products will work with your venue? AV professionals have a wide range of experience with solutions for a variety of venue types. Whether you are looking at music, entertainment, advertising, sound, screen content and beyond, they can guide you
on what has proven to be a quality product and what will be fit for your purpose.

INSTALL: Your AV partner will help you install your chosen entertainment platform (no matter who it comes from) and connect this to your existing or new audio visual set up. They don’t provide music, advertising or entertainment products/services themselves.

INTEGRATE: Your Nightlife system integrates with any existing or new AV set up; a good AV technician will be able to do this no sweat.

QUIRKS: Carl Blewett of PAV Sales & Installation (Perth,WA) said that all product suppliers should advise their technician of any known quirks prior to installation – this makes the job faster and easier for them to install for you. Another thing to note: suppliers with a 24/7 support line make the technician’s life a lot
easier as they can call while onsite and receive advice immediately (Nightlife’s is 1800 773 468) – which makes it better for you!

Finding problems

IS IT ON: Paul Matthews from Audio Visual Engineering (Sydney, NSW) says one thing you can always do before getting a technician onsite is to check all the components are plugged in and switched on. This seems simple but you will be surprised how often this step is missed, especially for amps.

THE TELEPHONE GAME: It’s best if the staff member who found the AV problem speaks to the technician or is nearby when a manager calls your AV partner. Oftentimes if the person calling is not the person who saw the problem first-hand, it can be trickier to diagnose.

PIXELS: If the TV is pixelating, it’s due to an unbalanced signal – a meter will be required to fix this, and your AV technician will be able to help you.

WIRELESS: Amazing for adjusting your system from anywhere with a tablet or phone app, but when your venue is packed it can become less reliable. Having a back-up that’s hard-wired somewhere in the building will give you peace of mind.

KNOW THE PATH: Dylan Hooper from Twisted Pair (Brisbane, QLD) advises that at least knowing the audio signal path from your media player to your speakers will be the most important thing to learn from your AV tech. A good tip is if you can see the video working but you can’t hear it it’s not your media player; it’s a problem down the line with a cable, your zone mixer or amplifier.

We all know that prevention is better than a cure and it’s the same with your equipment.
Keep it performing at its best with a little remedial therapy in the form of service and maintenance!

Maintenance

SERVICING: Get your equipment serviced regularly to ensure each component is in tip-top shape and won’t fail when stressed.

DRY RUN: Testing your gear at least 24 hours before a big event will give you the chance to check everything is in shape. Test connections and make sure that staff who will be working the event are trained on switching visuals, adjusting audio and using all the equipment. Leaving it to the 11 hour can cause your team a lot of stress.

HIRE A TECH: There aren’t many massive nights in the calendar and hiring a technician to be there during an important event insulates you from issues, and costs less than a last-minute callout. It’s worth the investment and gives you peace of mind.