Forward Planning
Not always easy, but for most stage systems and truss packages it makes sense to really plan what you’re buying so as to futureproof as best as you can, and the same goes for audio equipment, especially for installation. Whilst many professional products are backwards compatible with older versions, appearances and designs can change, so if you’re going to need 8 stage decks, but will only be using 4 initially, it’s far better to buy the complete set to ensure they match when needed.
Budget
When you’re looking at professional equipment, costs can add up fast. Staging, Trussing and Pro Audio should be thought of as an investment rather than a purchase as they are business tools. Looked after correctly they will provide many years of service and a good return on that investment, so always buy the best or most suitable equipment for its planned usage and avoid having to replace or upgrade. This goes for all purchases, but is especially important for fixed installations where alteration or upgrade at a later date will be costly. If you have a limited project budget than allow the SC Projects team to plan and prioritise for you, ensuring your spending in the most sensible and long term way.
Measurements
It should go without saying, but if you are planning to purchase a truss system, or stage decks, risers, tiered seating etc then you need to know how much space you have available. Numbers on a page, on an advert, are often misleading and can lead you to big headaches. With trussing this is especially so as you are factoring height into the mix, which becomes a problem real fast if it’s going indoors. You need to be sure of dimensions, weight restrictions, and any other factors that will present a major problem later down the line if overlooked.
SC Projects will never just sell you off the shelf or custom built equipment without fully checking, double checking and agreeing on dimensions and loadings, as it is simply unsafe to do so.
Equipment Capability and Suitability
What are you standing on the stage decks? What are you hanging from the truss ? What level of output is your lighting or audio system going to have required of it ?
Purchasing professional equipment is always a good plan, but that doesn’t automatically mean it will suit your particular needs.
Many factors come into play, especially for outdoor use equipment such as stage roof systems and speaker array towers when environmental forces can have drastic effect on the safety of a structure. Wet weather, cold and heat, and the most important being wind, which can place immense forces on a truss structure, quickly turning a canopy into a giant wing.
Not all truss is the same even if it appears so, and proper specification at the planning stages is vital. The same is true of stage decks, with design uniformity across a range hiding the fact that some models have significantly more load handling than others.
Though a different type of capability to truss and stage, a good sound system isn’t just about power, or expense. When looking at professional audio there are many design factors that will separate the suitability of a system for various needs, be it a rental or touring rig playing to open air crowds, or the intimate yet intense experience required for a nightclub, manufacturers create systems and product lines to cover these most opposite of tasks, which means you need to know exactly what you’re buying and why, not just pick a brand you may have heard of and hope for the best.
