Convention center AV

In a convention center, is your AV quote about your show — or the building’s deal?

Convention centers run big general sessions and exhibit halls, often with a designated AV partner and facility labor rules. Both can inflate your AV number well past the cost of the production itself.

Get a free commission breakdown How the commission works

How the convention center deal works

What you’re really paying for.

Many convention centers name an in-house or “preferred” AV provider and layer facility labor requirements on top. The provider’s commission to the facility and its own margin still apply — and at general-session scale, those percentages are large dollars. An outside production partner can run the show while respecting the building’s labor and power rules.

It isn’t a scandal — it’s the business model. But once you can see the commission, you can decide whether your budget funds the show or the convention center.

Before you sign

Three questions for your convention center.

Ask which AV services are exclusive to the facility vs. open to outside production.
Clarify labor, power, and rigging rules early — an experienced outside team plans around them.
Compare a scoped Show Plan to the facility quote, especially on the general session.

The alternative

Buy production, not commission.

BËTR is the outside production company you bring into your convention center instead — one accountable team, the same senior crew every show, broadcast-grade gear, and a quote you can read line-for-line. We coordinate with the property on load-in, power, and rigging, so it’s the easy part.

The in-house AV alternative Breakout rooms

Convention & exhibition centers AV — FAQ

Can I use an outside AV company in a convention center?

Typically yes for production, though some facilities reserve certain services (rigging, power, internet) as exclusive. We plan around the building’s rules and coordinate the rest.

Why is convention center AV so costly?

Scale plus structure: a designated provider’s commission and margin, applied to large general-session and exhibit needs, and often facility labor requirements layered on top.

Do you handle union/facility labor rules?

Yes. We’re used to convention-center labor, power, and rigging requirements and build the plan to comply while keeping your production sharp.

Free, no obligation

Send us your convention center AV quote.

We’ll break down what’s commission and what’s markup — and what we’d charge to run the same show.