Audio Visual Equipment Hire in West Yorkshire

Ayre - The Live Comms Company provides professional event production, audio-visual, lighting, staging and audio equipment hire for a wide range of events, from conferences and awards dinners, charity and gala dinners, to private functions such as birthdays, weddings and other family celebration events. Read on for some really helpful, in-depth advice on choosing a similar provider with care.

What do you need to know from an organiser in order to provide a comprehensive quote?

Whilst it is possible to put together a quote for a client on limited information; the more information provided in the first instance speeds up the entire process and gives you a better quote which meets your needs without having to go backwards and forwards. The typical information which we require to give you an accurate quote is the date of the event – this is essential, as a busy production company, we need to be able to see that your job will fit into our diary first of all. Type of event – again this helps us to understand what equipment is required, a small get together won’t require as much equipment or support as a large awards dinner. The potential number of guests and venue – having this information is paramount, like the type of event, a large number of guests require a totally different setup to a small get together, but so does the venue. All of the above have a direct relation to the logistics, equipment, technical crew and get in and get out times, so the more info the better.

What advice would you give to a customer looking to hire a provider in your area of work?

You don’t have to understand all the technical talk, but you do have to pay close attention to any Event Production or AV Rental partner you're looking to use. There are many companies in this industry who provide outstanding services for their clients, but (like many other industries) there are a few who don’t. Hiring the right Event Production / AV Rental company is paramount to the success of your event for many reasons and not to just the obvious. You have to ensure they work safely; after all, you don’t want your event to be remembered for having a major accident! Check their social media channels, have they done similar work to what you're looking to contract them for in the past. Do they have a Health & Safety policy in place – this may not be publicly accessible, so ask them for it! Whilst testimonials give you an idea of other businesses they have worked with, they don’t necessarily tell the full story; so don’t rely on these as heavily. Ask them to explain how they work with clients (the processes of consultation, planning, delivery etc) this gives you a good indication of what to expect when working with them on your project. If applicable (larger events) ask to meet with the key team members who will be responsible for delivering your event (you need to ensure you can build a good rapport with them, after all you will be working very closely with these people and trusting them to delivery your project).

Please tell us a little bit about how and why you started the business.

AYRE was founded on the basis that creating events should be fun, full of enthusiasm and creative; with a little experimentation thrown in for good measure! After all, if you’re not excited about your event, how can you expect your guests and delegates to be?
Our talented and experienced team, lead by Chris Ayre with over 15 years’ experience in the industry are on hand to bring your vision to life and support you from conception through to delivery, providing as much or as little guidance as you need. We have the insight and knowledge to enhance your ideas and deliver a truly unique experience, with a flexible approach to suit every size, location and budget.

Please tell us about a booking you've had through Add to Event, how did it go? Would you recommend us to others?

We constantly receive requests for quotes via Add to Event which is great. We won a particularly interesting job last year to provide AV rental for a charity dinner in an Abbey for 200+ guests. The client commented on our swift response to their quote request, clear transparent communication, and attention to detail when on site. We provided such a good service they approached us directly to support their event again this year. Add to Event made this possible and supported the client to find their supplier.