PA System Rental for Private Parties & Backyard Events | NYC

Most party rentals come down to two things: music that fills the space without anyone shouting over it, and a microphone that works the one time somebody wants to make a speech.

Outdoors is harder than it sounds

A backyard, a rooftop, or a closed-off stretch of street has no walls and no ceiling to reflect sound back at your guests, so it simply swallows volume in a way an indoor room never does. The same system that is comfortable in a living room can feel thin outside. It is the single most common reason a party rental disappoints, and it is entirely predictable — so tell us it is outdoors and roughly how much ground you are covering.

The other outdoor question is power. Rooftops and yards often have one outlet, a long run from it, or nothing at all. Where the power is affects where the speakers can go, which affects what we send. Check before you inquire.

What usually matters at a party

• Playing music from a phone or laptop. Say which, and whether you would rather connect by cable or wirelessly — they fail in different ways, and a cable at a crowded party is the more reliable one.
• One microphone that definitely works. Toasts, a birthday speech, a graduation, someone introducing the band. It gets used for four minutes and those are the four minutes people remember.
• Coverage rather than volume. Sound reaching the far corner at a conversational level beats sound blasting the near corner. That is usually about placement and sometimes about a second speaker.
• Not annoying the neighbors. A system that covers your space evenly lets you run it quieter overall. Worth mentioning if you are on a block with close neighbors or a building with rules.

Things people forget until the day

Whether the gear can get where it needs to go — a walk-up, a roof hatch, a narrow gate. Whether there is shade or cover if the forecast turns, because none of this likes rain. Who is actually going to plug it in, and whether they will be there at the start rather than arriving with the guests. Mention any of these in your inquiry and we will plan around them rather than hope.

How the rental works

Questions we get asked

Where do I pick the system up, and can you deliver it?

Pickup and delivery are both curbside. You can collect the system curbside at Brothers Guitar Shop, 316 East 84th Street, New York, NY 10028, or we can bring it curbside to your address in the New York City area. Tell us where you are in your inquiry and we will confirm delivery before you book.

What does a rental cost?

We quote per event rather than publishing a rate card, because each system is put together for the specific room, headcount, and program. Send us those details through the contact form and we will come back with a price.

Which speakers and mixer will I get?

Our systems are unique rather than fixed packages, so we confirm the exact gear when we quote your event. Inquire for details and we will tell you what we would send for your situation.

Will you set it up and run sound at my event?

No. Pickup and delivery are curbside, and operating the system during the event is not part of the rental. Mention it in your inquiry if you need an operator and we will tell you plainly whether we can help.

Can I just plug my phone in and play a playlist?

Yes, that is the most common way these systems get used. Tell us whether you want to connect by cable or wirelessly and we will make sure what we send matches your device.

What if it rains on the day of my outdoor party?

The gear needs to stay dry, so have a covered position or an indoor fallback in mind. Raise it when you inquire and we will talk through the options for your date.

Is a PA system loud enough for a rooftop or backyard?

It depends on how much open ground you are covering and how many people are in it — open air absorbs far more than an indoor room. Give us the rough dimensions and headcount and we will spec for it rather than guess.

Where to find us