The Truth About AV Monopolies: Do Event Planners Really Have a Choice? with Tim Lang, President of Proshow AV

Is your AV partner really your choice or your venue’s?

Event technology is no longer just background. It's the very fabric of how audiences experience events. In this episode of Production Value Matters, host Matthew Byrne speaks with Tim Lang, President of Proshow Audiovisual and President of the Canadian Audio Visual Providers Association (CAVPA), about the transformation of AV, industry advocacy, and the critical issues shaping Canada’s event landscape.

Tim brings over 30 years of experience in Canada’s AV and live events industry, with a career that spans technician work, operations, executive leadership, and now advocacy for Canadian-owned AV providers nationwide. Together, Matthew and Tim dig into everything from client expectations to venue monopolies, sustainability, and what keeps AV pros inspired.

What You’ll Learn:

• How AV has evolved from overhead projectors to LED walls and immersive video
• Why today’s AV technicians must also be network engineers
• The challenges and consequences of near-monopoly in-house AV contracts at venues
• How CAVPA is giving Canada’s AV industry a long-overdue voice with government
• The importance of transparency in venue contracts and RFPs
• Lessons from pandemic-era advocacy and the risks of future policy blind spots
• Strategies for Canadian AV companies to stay competitive in a global market
• Advice for young professionals entering the AV and live events industry
• The biggest wastes (poor pre-event planning) and greatest values (video technology and sustainability) in event production
• 
  

About the Guest:

Tim Lang is President of Proshow Audiovisual, leading a team that produces over 1,500 events annually, and President of the Canadian Audio Visual Providers Association (CAVPA). With more than three decades of experience, Tim has led thousands of high-profile productions for corporate, government, and non-profit clients. At CAVPA, he champions fair competition, workforce growth, and collaboration among Canadian-owned AV providers to ensure the industry continues to thrive.

Follow Matt on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/matthewbyrnecsep

Follow Tim on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timlang-bc/

For additional resources for #eventprofs visit www.productionvaluematters.com

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

For additional resources for #eventprofs visit www.productionvaluematters.com

Check out our 3 most downloaded episodes:

• Measuring Value in Your Events: Insights from Jodi Collen
• Educating Clients and Managing Expectations in Event Production with Fransiska Weckesser
• The Intersection of Event Planning and Psychology with Victoria Matey

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.