Prologue rational: the hole in the market or relax and delegate series
Face it, most event planners are weak in the area of technical knowledge. In a similar way, most Project Managers lack expertise in the realm of menu planning or best practices for booking blocks of rooms. This should not be seen as a failing. Rather think of it as an opportunity. A good PM, TD or Producer will share some of his wisdom as you should with him because a great event takes every element into consideration and weaves it into an overall experience for your clients and attendees.
Just as you know people in your area of specialty and how to speak with them, so does a Project Manager. Established relationships are expressways to access, getting things done and occasionally, preferred pricing. In addition to this, he speaks the language, so even if there is no exiisting relationship, a seasoned PM has credibillity. He or she can develop positive connections and deliver results, usually in short order.
Managing an event is challenging enough as it is. As an event planner, you wear lots of hats and play a dozen roles in the course of a show. Good, solid staff on your team make the diffence between success and failure. A Technical Project Manager can take a lot off your plate and save you money, even on those small shows . For example, do a line item check of the AV equipment specifications to spot potential shortages or excesses.