In this solo episode of Production Value Matters, host Matthew Byrne takes you backstage—before the lights, before the walk-on music, before the chaos. Drawing from two decades of production experience, Matthew breaks down how a missed pre-event meeting can unravel even the most polished event in its first three minutes.

This is not a conversation about gear. It’s about leadership, communication, and making sure your AV team isn’t showing up blind. From initial creative downloads to wardrobe strategy, stage walkthroughs, and cue-to-cue rehearsals, Matthew outlines the critical checkpoints that separate seamless shows from show-saving scrambles.

Whether you’re a senior planner, executive, or production lead, this episode will reshape how you think about AV and why early alignment is the best insurance policy your event has.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why show disasters start months before the event, not backstage
• The must-have details to include in your initial creative download meeting
• How to align the C-suite, speakers, and AV team before the pressure is on
• Wardrobe as a critical (and overlooked) production decision
• The power of paper tech and cue-to-cue rehearsals without talent
• How to support presenters for maximum comfort and confidence on stage
• What a “production tie-down” meeting should include
• How strong pre-pro gives your team the flexibility to adapt when things change
• Why your AV team needs to be viewed as experience architects, not tech operators

Matthew Byrne is the Founder of Byrne Production Services and host of the Production Value Matters podcast. With over 20 years of experience in large-scale AV and event production, Matthew helps event leaders bring strategy, technology, and storytelling together to create unforgettable experiences.

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

• 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

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