AB AV Rentals FAQ Hub

Pricing depends on equipment type, rental duration, and delivery scope. As rough benchmarks: sound systems for a small event start around $250/day; projector + screen packages start around $200/day; LED video walls run $1,495–$3,495+/day depending on size and indoor/outdoor. Full event production packages (sound + lighting + video + techs) typically start at $2,500 for a half-day event. Request a custom quote and we'll size it to your event.

Yes — all quotes are free with no obligation. Most quotes come back within a few hours during business days. For complex events or permanent installs, we may schedule a 15–20 minute discovery call to understand your space and goals before quoting.

Yes. We typically require a 50% deposit at booking to hold equipment and crew for your date, with the balance due before delivery or on event day. For long-term rentals and installs, payment terms are structured around milestones. Corporate clients with net terms and repeat clients often qualify for different arrangements.

We accept all major credit cards, ACH transfer, checks, and wire transfer. Corporate purchase orders are accepted from established clients. For installs, we can also work through commercial equipment financing partners for qualifying projects.

Yes. Most of our rental categories have starter, standard, and premium package tiers to keep pricing predictable and comparison easy. Custom event packages are also available — many events don't fit a template, and we scope them from the ground up during the quote process.

For standard event rentals, 2–4 weeks ahead is comfortable. For weekends during peak seasons (spring/fall for weddings and galas, Fiesta week in San Antonio, SXSW week in Austin), 6–8 weeks ahead is safer. For large-format LED video walls or complex event production, 4–6 weeks minimum. For permanent installs, 3–6 months from initial call to install day depending on panel lead times and permits.

Often, yes. We keep a working inventory in our warehouse ready to deploy same-day or next-day when the equipment is available. Same-day fees may apply. During peak weekends inventory can be tight — call us directly at 281-235-7444 rather than emailing for anything urgent.

Cancellations 14+ days before the event get the deposit refunded minus any custom fabrication or freight costs already incurred. Inside 14 days, the deposit is typically forfeited. Inside 72 hours, the full rental fee applies since crew is already scheduled and equipment is committed. We handle weather and force majeure situations case by case — reach out if something changes.

Yes. We operate 7 days a week, 24 hours a day for event delivery windows. Standard delivery hours are 8am–8pm; after-hours delivery is available with advance notice (extra fees may apply for overnight or holiday setups).

Standard flow: (1) You submit a quote request or call us with event details, (2) we send a quote within a few hours, (3) you approve and pay the deposit, (4) we confirm delivery time and on-site contact, (5) our crew delivers, sets up, and operates as needed, (6) we tear down and haul out after the event. For installs the process is longer — see the install process page for details.

Full range: sound systems and PA (from small speech systems to concert-scale line arrays), wireless microphones, DJ equipment, LED video walls (indoor and outdoor), projectors and screens, flat-panel TVs (32"–100"+), stage lighting (wash, spot, moving heads), truss and rigging, staging and risers, video switchers, and live streaming rigs. If it's AV and it exists, we probably rent it — browse our full equipment catalog.

Yes. Every rental includes optional on-site technicians who handle setup, live operation (audio mixing, video switching, lighting control), and teardown. For simple setups (small speaker system, TV drop-off) tech services can be waived to save cost. For anything with multiple sources, live camera, or complex cues, on-site techs are strongly recommended and often required.

We bring redundant equipment for critical components (spare microphones, backup speakers, spare projector bulbs, spare cables) on every event of size. If a primary system fails, we swap to backup within minutes. Our techs carry manufacturer service tools and know how to troubleshoot on the fly. In 19+ years, equipment failure has almost never caused an event to stop — the systems and habits are built around preventing that.

For any event with live audience or broadcast, yes — redundancy is standard practice, not an upsell. For smaller rentals we assess event-critical components and bring backups for those. Ask during quote if you'd like specific redundancy called out in writing.

Most rentals include delivery and setup — we're a full-service AV company, not an equipment yard. That said, for small items (single speaker, mic package, TV) some clients prefer to pick up and return. Contact us to discuss whether pickup makes sense for your rental.

Corporate meetings and conferences, weddings and receptions, galas and fundraisers, concerts and festivals, trade shows, church services and religious events, private parties, watch parties, brand activations and product launches, and live broadcast productions. We've done everything from a 20-person board meeting to a 5,000-person outdoor concert.

Yes — we regularly work at venues across Houston (George R. Brown Convention Center, Toyota Center, hotel ballrooms across downtown, The Woodlands venues), Dallas (Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, Uptown hotels, Legacy West corporate spaces), Austin (Austin Convention Center, downtown music venues, Domain area hotels), and San Antonio (Henry B. González Convention Center, Riverwalk hotels, Pearl District venues). We know load-in procedures, dock access, house AV systems, and union requirements at most major properties.

Yes. We carry full commercial general liability and equipment coverage. COI is available on request at no charge — typically same-day turnaround for standard $1M/$2M limits. Higher limits or additional insured requirements are accommodated when required by the venue.

We're familiar with venue policies including union labor requirements, exclusive AV vendor arrangements, decibel limits, and load-in windows. If a venue requires their in-house AV for certain services, we scope our rental around what they don't provide. Send us the venue name early and we'll flag any restrictions before you commit.

Yes. We have weatherproof outdoor-rated equipment including IP65-rated outdoor LED walls, weather-covered sound systems, and generator support for locations without adequate power. Outdoor events do require more advance planning (weather contingency, permits, power) — start these conversations 4+ weeks out when possible.

We cover all of Texas. Our home base is Missouri City (Greater Houston), and we routinely deliver to Houston, Dallas / Fort Worth, Austin, San Antonio, Corpus Christi, and everywhere in between. We also do out-of-state work when clients bring us on for events — travel and freight are line-itemed transparently in the proposal.

Delivery fees depend on distance and equipment weight/volume. Greater Houston deliveries typically run $75–$250. Dallas / Austin / San Antonio deliveries run $350–$750 for standard rentals. Large-format LED walls or complex setups may include additional freight. All fees are itemized upfront — no surprises on your invoice.

Yes — festival grounds, park venues, private ranches, brewery patios, hotel rooftops, and construction site activations are all normal for us. We'll ask about site access, ground conditions, power availability, and shade/weather cover during quote.

Yes. Many corporate events, trade shows, and worship services require pre-dawn load-in or overnight tear-down. We build after-hours crews into the quote when your event window requires it.

Yes. We install permanent indoor and outdoor LED video walls for churches, corporate lobbies, sports bars, retail, control rooms, hotels, and stadiums throughout Texas. Turnkey scope: site survey, engineering, panel supply, mounting, electrical integration, content management setup, staff training, warranty. See our LED video wall installation page for full details.

Renting is right when you need the display for a specific event or short window — you pay a day rate, we deliver and remove. Installing is right when the display becomes permanent infrastructure — one-time capital cost, warranty coverage, and it's yours to update whenever you want. If you're renting the same setup 6+ times a year, an install typically pays back within 2–3 years.

Typical installs range from $30,000 for a small lobby wall (8'x5', fine pitch) up to $500,000+ for large sanctuary or sports venue installs. Cost drivers include pixel pitch, indoor vs outdoor, total square footage, mounting complexity, and content system integration. Every install ships with the manufacturer's warranty plus our service response plan.

From signed proposal to fully commissioned display, most installs run 8–16 weeks. Panel lead times drive the biggest chunk (4–8 weeks), engineering and permits take 2–3 weeks, and physical installation is typically 3–7 days on-site. For new-build corporate campuses we coordinate with your GC to hit your Certificate of Occupancy date.