PA Hire Frequently Asked Questions

PA Hire Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Here is a list of frequently asked questions (and some we wish we were asked more often).  Our clients range from experienced music promoters to those fairly new to putting on an event. With this in mind we wish to be as helpful and supportive as we can. Here is a list of things to bear in mind concerning the sound in preparation for your event. The more organised ahead of time we can be the better!

Are you insured? Yes. I am covered by public liability insurance with indemnity up to £10 million. Also all electrical equipment is PAT tested. Please ask if you require any certificates.

How far ahead do I need to book? Some of our clients book months in advance but we often take bookings just a week or two ahead. Our advice would be to give as much notice as possible to ensure all equipment is available. Weekends and summertime are busy times in our diary.

Can you also provide lights? Yes we can provide basic stagelight setups on stands or as uplighters.

Can you also provide staging?  Yes. If you require a stage or stage risers let us know the measurements in advance and we will be happy to bring some quality aluminium deck staging along.

Do you hire out projectors and screens? Yes. Let us know if there are curtains or if you need an extra-bright projector to see images in daylight.

I’m putting on a live band and I need to hire a PA and engineer. How much time will you need to set up on the day and what information do you need in advance? This is not actually one of our most frequently asked questions – we’d love it if it was!  We generally allow two hours to bring equipment into the venue and set up. We’re happy to allow another hour or so to soundcheck. This makes for a relaxed working atmosphere. There are occasions where this amount of time may not be available either from the venue or the band. We can work around this in most cases. The best course of action is to be organised in advance.

Helpful Information for all live music PA bookings:

It will be helpful to know about available parking. It’s good to be able to leave the van somewhere nearby if possible.

Are there any stairs we need to navigate with our equipment – or is there a lift?

Firstly, a programme of how your event will run is invaluable. Please list all performance times and when we can first access the venue.

Channel list: This is a list of all the instruments in the band(s) and how they connect to the PA. Usually this is supplied by the band or their management. You’re welcome to put us directly in contact with the band(s) to clarify all this. An example of a festival channel list can be seen here. We are happy to combine info from the various acts to keep us organised on the day.

Stage plan: This is an illustration of how the musicians are arranged on the stage with their instruments. Providing a stage plan allows us to get set up ahead of the band arriving at the venue. Again, this is usually provided by the band.

What else physically will you need on the day? Firstly a table to put our mixing desk on will be essential. A cup of tea on arrival will be welcomed.  Any help loading in is greatly appreciated although not essential most of the time. Finally please let us know if there are any stairs to contend with and if there is a large distance between where our vehicle will be and the room where the PA is to be moved to. We’ll also need a place nearby to park our vehicle.

Do you also provide PA for events that don’t include live music? Yes. We can set up sound equipment for conferences, parties, and a range of other events where sound reinforcement is required.

If you have any further questions not covered here please do call and we’ll be very happy to discuss your requirements.

PA Hire Frequently Asked Questions