Running a festival is a massive undertaking. You’ve got crowds to manage, artists to coordinate, and a schedule that has to run like clockwork. But there’s one thing that underpins the entire experience the AV production. Without the right sound, lighting, and staging, even the best line-up can fall flat. In this guide, we’ll break down what festival AV production involves, how to plan it properly, and what to look for in a reliable partner.

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Festival AV production covers all the technical elements that bring your event to life. It’s not just about setting up some speakers and plugging in a few lights. It’s a full-scale operation that needs to be designed, installed, tested, and run by professionals. Here’s what’s typically included:

• Sound Systems: From front-of-house line arrays and subs to on-stage monitors for performers, sound setup is the backbone of your festival. It has to be clear, powerful, and reliable.
• Lighting Design: Mood lighting, effects, colour washes, moving heads, strobes, and laser bars, all carefully programmed to match the performance and brand identity of the event.
• Visuals: LED screens for stage backdrops or crowd-facing displays. You might also need live camera feeds, projection mapping, or branded content playback.
• Staging & Rigging: Secure, modular stage platforms with trussing for lighting and screens. These need to be weatherproof and safe, especially for outdoor events.
• Power Distribution: Safe and efficient cabling, backup generators, and on-site electrical management.
• Crew & On-site Technicians: A competent AV crew to set up, manage changeovers, and troubleshoot on the fly.

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Why Festival Production Is Different From Standard Events

Festivals bring a unique set of challenges that require experience and planning. Here’s how they differ from your typical indoor event:

• Outdoor Environments: You’re dealing with wind, rain, mud, heat, and dust. Equipment needs to be rated for outdoor use, and staging needs to be secure in all conditions.
• Scale and Crowd Movement: Sound and lighting must cover larger, open spaces. Delay towers, side fills, and zoning become essential.
• Multiple Acts: Each artist may have a different technical rider, requiring fast transitions and flexible setups.
• Timing Pressure: Timetables are tight. If one act overruns due to tech issues, the whole day is affected.
• Health & Safety Compliance: Rigging, cabling, crowd barriers, and fire exits must all comply with regulations.

At Beatz Hire, we understand that festivals are living, breathing environments. We plan not just for the perfect scenario but for the problems that could happen too.

Our Festival AV Packages: Scalable for Any Size

Whether you’re running a local community festival or a multi-stage outdoor event, we’ve got packages that scale to suit your crowd, site, and budget. Here’s how our setups typically break down:

Local Festivals (300–500 attendees)

• Compact line-array or pole-mounted speaker systems
• Basic lighting wash and uplights
• Small modular stage setup
• NXS2 DJ package with microphones and mixing desk

Mid-size Festivals (1,000–2,000 attendees)

• RCF HDL line-array sound system with subs and monitor mixes
• Full lighting rig with colour chases, FX, and stage washes
• Large stage with fly frames or trussing
• CDJ-3000 DJ package or live band support
• On-site tech team for full-day support

Large Outdoor Events & Multi-Day Festivals

• 4-deck CDJ setups with DJM-A9 mixer and RMX unit
• Sound Package 500 (8x RCF HDL 36s, 4x 9004AS subs)
• Ultimate lighting package with intelligent controls
• Staging for multiple performance zones
• Full production crew for setup, operation, and de-rig

These setups are flexible. We build quotes around your specific needs nothing is off the shelf or forced.

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Real Festivals We've Powered

We’re not just talking theory. Beatz Hire has delivered festival AV setups across the South, including:

One2 Festival: When this growing festival relocated to a larger venue, we helped them scale their setup with sound, lighting, and staging that could grow with them. The brief was simple: make the new space feel like home. The result was a seamless transition with scalable infrastructure ready for expansion.

Loop Events: Known for its underground feel and 360° DJ booths, Loop has relied on us across eight sold-out events. From rider coordination to those now-iconic red laser bars, we’ve helped deliver an unforgettable audio-visual experience with tight turnarounds and fast de-rigs.

Festival AV Production Near You

We provide full AV solutions for festivals across the South, including:

• Festival Production in Guildford
• Festival Production in Reading
• Festival Production in High Wycombe
• Festival Production in Slough
• Festival Production in Farnborough
• Festival Production in Andover
• Festival Production in Woking
• Festival Production in Maidenhead
• Festival Production in Portsmouth
• Festival Production in Windsor
• Festival Production in Basingstoke
• Festival Production in Aldershot

We’re not just a kit supplier. We’re a trusted partner with boots on the ground, whether you need help with a small local stage or a full multi-day site.

Festival AV FAQs

Do you supply on-site crew for the whole event?
Yes. We offer full technical support for setup, operation, and breakdown.

Can you handle last-minute changes or late bookings?
We do our best to accommodate. The earlier you book, the more flexible we can be.

What’s the minimum package for a small festival?
We offer scalable options starting from single-stage audio and lighting setups.

Do you support live bands or just DJs?
Both. We provide full backline support, microphones, mixing desks, and monitoring.

Can you deliver and rig everything?
Yes, our team handles delivery, setup, and safe rigging on-site.

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Let's Build Something Unforgettable

Festival AV is about more than sound and lights. It’s about designing a technical experience that matches the energy of your crowd and the ambition of your line-up. At Beatz Hire, we bring the gear, the crew, and the expertise to help your event hit every mark cleanly, safely, and powerfully.

Get in touch today by filling out the form below and let’s plan your next festival the right way.