Who Does Your AV Team Really Work For?

Rethinking “Convenient” AV in Conference and Event Venues

May 12, 2025 | Thomas Sterner (CMPS)

You’ve signed the venue. The menus are selected. Then comes the familiar line in the contract: “Audio Visual provided in-house.”

At first glance, it seems efficient. No need to source another vendor. One less moving part.
But behind the convenience lies a fundamental truth: in-house AV doesn’t work for you. They work for the venue.

That distinction matters.

At CMPS, we believe your production team should be an extension of your mission not just a line on your invoice. Our loyalty is to the show, the audience experience, and the success of your event not the margins of a hotel or convention center.

What’s the difference?

 • No Conflicts of Interest
We’re not tied to venue commissions, preferred vendor agreements, or profit-sharing schemes. Our budgets are built for your needs, not someone else’s revenue targets.

 • Production Without Constraints
We don’t design from pre-set packages or storage closets. We build from scratch scalable, flexible, and aligned with your creative vision.

 • Clarity in Cost
No mystery fees, bundled services, or “standard inclusions” that under-deliver. We tell you what it costs and why up front.

Case in Point:
At a recent association summit in St. Louis, CMPS replaced a venue-based AV solution that had delivered a forgettable experience the year prior. The issues were familiar: flat lighting, weak audio coverage, and embarrassing on-screen tech hiccups.

We reimagined the environment with custom scenic elements, theatrical lighting, multi camera IMAG, and a branded show flow that supported the message not just the schedule. The result? A seamless production, an energized audience, that crushed expectations.

Here’s the real insight:
Venue AV is often about cost containment and convenience. Independent AV is about creating an experience that reflects your brand, your values, and your goals. One preserves the status quo. The other unlocks potential.

So before you accept “what’s included,” ask yourself:
Does this AV provider answer to me or to the venue’s bottom line?

With CMPS, the answer is always clear: we work for you.