When an event client engages a production company, they typically receive a production manager as part of the package. That person coordinates the technical elements of the event, manages the crew, and ensures the show runs smoothly. On the surface, it seems like an efficient arrangement.
The problem is a structural one — and it affects almost every production company, regardless of how competent or well-intentioned their team is.
The Supplier Conflict of Interest
A production manager employed by a production company is, by definition, managing their employer's suppliers. Their AV kit. Their staging system. Their preferred crew. Their subcontractors.
When that kit performs well and those suppliers deliver, there's no tension. But when problems arise — when the lighting rig takes longer to fly than planned, when the AV package undersells what the client needs, when a subcontractor's pricing isn't competitive — the production manager's interests and the client's interests diverge.
An independent production manager has no financial relationship with any supplier. They have no preference for one rigging company over another, no loyalty to a particular AV house, no incentive to protect a subcontractor who isn't delivering.
Their only interest is the client's event.
What Independence Delivers in Practice
Genuine competitive tendering. When a production manager has no supplier relationships to protect, they can put technical packages to genuine competitive tender. For larger events, this routinely produces savings of 15–25% on production costs.
Honest budget assessment. An independent production manager will tell you what your budget will realistically achieve — not what needs to be said to win the contract. That conversation is harder but more valuable.
Supplier selection on merit. The best AV company for a corporate conference in London is not the same as the best for a festival in Manchester or an outdoor awards ceremony in Dubai. An independent manager selects on capability, not relationship.
Your interests on site. If something goes wrong during the build or show, an independent production manager escalates to the client and resolves in the client's interest. There's no supplier relationship to protect, no awkward conversation to avoid.
When to Hire an Independent Production Manager
Independent production management works well in several scenarios:
When you have existing supplier relationships. If you work with a preferred AV company or staging contractor, an independent production manager can manage those relationships on your behalf without any conflict.
When you want competitive tendering. If you want the production package put to market, an independent manager can run that process and provide an objective recommendation.
When you're working internationally. In overseas markets, the production manager's supplier relationships often don't transfer. An independent manager can source and assess local suppliers without preconceptions.
When you need a senior resource without agency overhead. Engaging a senior independent production manager is typically significantly cheaper than engaging a production agency for a comparable scope of work.
MPB Events provides independent event production management for events of all scales — in the UK and worldwide. Learn more or get in touch.