What’s the Difference Between AV and Production?

My husband and I both work in the events world, but let’s just say our dinner conversations are… very specific.

He’s in AV. I’m in Production.And yes, there’s a difference. A big one.

Here’s the easiest way to explain it:

If it plugs in, it’s AV. If it doesn’t, it’s probably Production.

So, What’s AV?

AV stands for Audio Visual…think cords, cables, and control boards.The AV team handles:

• Microphones, speakers, and lights

• Projectors, LED walls, live-streaming setups

• Redundancies, backups, and all the blinking gear backstage

They’re the folks who make sure your keynote is seen and heard clearly, both in the room and online.

But once the gear is in place, who’s making sure the event itself flows smoothly?

Enter: The Production Team

Production is everything else. It’s the big picture. It’s the people moving the puzzle pieces.

A good production team manages:

Technical Flow

• The Run of Show: who’s speaking when, what happens second-by-second

• Every video roll, lighting cue, and "Voice of God" moment

• Rehearsals, cue-to-cues, and knowing when to press "GO"

Speakers & Talent

• Who’s presenting? Are they mic’d? Do they need a teleprompter?

• Are their slides loaded? Do they know where to stand?

• Is there coffee in the green room?

 Logistics & Strategy

• Venue power, ceiling height, rigging, can it support our vision?

• Load-in/load-out schedules

• Making sure the event aligns with business goals

Budget & Backups

• What’s the cost? Where are the overages?

• What’s the plan if the CEO’s flight is late or the mic dies?

TLDR?

• AV makes the tech work.

• Production makes the show work.

They’re two halves of a very important whole, and when they work together seamlessly, the audience doesn’t see a thing go wrong. (That’s the goal, anyway.)

So next time you're planning an event, don’t just ask, “Do we have AV?”Ask: “Who’s producing this thing?”

Because trust me, there’s a lot more going on than meets the eye…or ear.