What is a good consultant?

Having covered why you should engage the services of a consultant for your project, I thought that it would be appropriate to look into what I believe are the traits of a good consultant.

Experience
A good consultant should have hands on experience in the services that he is providing. Some level of practical experience is a must for consultants involved in the design of performance audio, video and lighting systems. Request information on previous work experience besides a project list. Take some time to visit their completed projects and look closely at the ergonomics and functional design of the installed systems. Speak to the users of the space. Ask them about stuff they like and issues they are having with the systems.

Communication
A good consultant is an excellent communicator, with top notch listening skills. This is crucial as there is a lot of information that flows thru each process during a project. Communications with the design team, client and staff via meetings, emails, documentation and instructions are crucial to the smooth and timely implementation of the project. The consultant must spend a good amount of time speaking to stakeholders, defining their vision and addressing their needs, with the end result of addressing technical infrastructure and operations for the client.

Details
A good consultant will look at every detail in the project. Many times, people have the impression that the only thing that involves audio system design is just matching pieces together. Unfortunately, issues such as acoustical finishes, physical constraints and aesthetics are major issues to consider in each design. The choice of seating or ceiling height will make a difference in the choice of loudspeaker type. Having a detailed consultant will also help to control project costs by reducing variation orders caused by last minute changes.

Education
A good consultant is always up to date with the latest development in the areas of acoustics, noise control and performance systems. He should be a member of a major society of peers and be kept abreast of the latest developments via peer reviewed journals and research. This will ensure that all projects will have the benefit of the latest developments in the industry in an age where new developments come at tremendous speed.

Tools
A good consultant should have a good set of tools for the job. Testing and measurement equipment, CAD and simulation software are essential in this day and age for aiding in the design of any system. Proper usage of these tools will allow designs to be confirmed and the results presented to you before the actual physical building is constructed. Problems can be identified early in the design process and rectified, avoiding potential disasters later on in the construction process.

That's all I can think of at this point. There are many other factors, but these few pointers should get you on your way to indentifying a good consultant from a mediocre one.