?Should we do this AVL install ourselves or hire a contractor?? is a question I?m asked all the time. Too often, the question is decided based on dollars. On paper, it looks like hiring a contractor is always a more expensive option, but this is rarely the case when all factors are considered. The illusion of cost-savings comes from the fact that most churches (and many companies) don?t factor in the cost of labor for their staff. But there is always a cost, and a wise manager will take that into account. This isn?t to say that doing a DIY job in-house is a bad idea; it?s simply a matter of weighing the options and determining the best approach for a particular project. Here are some guidelines that I use when trying to decide how to proceed.
Do the job in-house when:
You Have the Skills In-House
Some churches have highly skilled tech staffs, and it makes total sense to use that skillset to do the work of an install. The team will be working with the equipment day in and day out anyway, so installing it may make sense. Having people on staff who can lay cable runs, pull said cable, solder, interconnect, and commission systems is a blessing to many larger churches. If you have the skills, by all means, proceed.
You Have the Manpower In-House
Sometimes a church has one or two highly skilled people on staff who can install a bunch of new equipment, but is that enough? Depending on the size of the project, more hands may be required. Often, larger churches will have larger tech staffs who can put in significant time on an install project, so again, this makes sense.
You Have the Time
Larger churches with sizable tech staffs have those large staffs because the church is very busy doing ministry. If the project is not extremely time-sensitive, it?s entirely possible that this team can get the job done. A two-week window just before Easter to install a new video system may not allow the in-house team enough time to get the job done, though.
The Budget is Tight
Sometimes we have to do installs or stage designs within a tight budget, and the easiest way to save money is to self-install. Even factoring in the costs that really do exist with self-install, it?s often easier to stomach that bill than paying a contractor. Sometimes it can even mean the difference between getting the job approved or not.
Note that the order of those criteria is intentional; budget is last in my decision-making process. As a church technical director, I led some install projects and most of our stage designs with our team. When I had the help, it was a lot of fun to work on projects together. But we did those projects because the first three criteria were met. Saving money was a bonus.
Hire a contractor when:
You?re Hanging Things Overhead
Very few church tech staff are truly qualified to hang hundreds (or thousands) of pounds of speakers or other stuff over people?s heads. And even if you are, why would you want the liability? Even for small projects, I hired a contractor to fly the speakers. I could have done it, but I don?t want to take the risk that anything could go wrong.[quote]Few church tech staff are truly qualified to hang hundreds of pounds of speakers or other stuff over people?s heads.[/quote]
Time is Tight
Some projects have very tight timelines and the in-house staff doesn?t have the bandwidth to get it done. This is a perfect contractor job. They can bring in additional installers who do this every day, and will probably do better work in less time. Just because you can do it doesn?t mean you should. Your job is probably not lead installer. You may find your time is better spent building your teams and working on weekend services rather than pulling cable or hanging heavy set pieces over your stage.
Manpower is Limited
A solo technical director will probably have a tough time installing a complete AVL system by himself. Even if he can pull in some volunteers, it?s going to be a long, hard install. Churches that don?t have professionals on staff will almost always come out ahead when they hire a reputable contractor.
The Church Wants to Protect Its Staff
Some churches are wise enough to know that pushing the staff to the limit all the time will not result in long-term employees who are committed to the organization. Sometimes it?s a smart call to let the highly qualified, fully capable tech staff leave at 5 while someone else does the install. As a church leader, would you rather have energized, fully engaged and excited or tired, disengaged and exasperated staff? I know of way too many church techs who left right after a big project was finished. You make the call.[quote]I know of way too many church techs who left right after a big project was finished.[/quote]
Sometimes a hybrid approach is best: install what you can and bring in a contractor for the rest. I generally recommend hiring the rigging, because it?s just safer. But pulling cables, installing amp racks, consoles, patch bays, and the like can easily be handled in-house, especially if the install company has helped with the design, making sure things are well thought out.
This decision-making process is not hard, but it should not be taken lightly. It?s almost never as easy as, ?We?ll save so much money?? so be sure to think it through. You may find that at the end of the project, everyone will be better off if the install was handled by professionals.
