How to become An Audio Visual Specialist

• Audiovisual Technician
• Audio Video Technician
• Audiovisual Tech
• Audio Technician
• Audiovisual Production Specialist
• Multimedia Specialist

What do Audio Visual Specialists do?

An Audio Visual Specialist would typically need to:

• Operate and maintain audio and video equipment in recording sets and other venues; set up equipment to prepare for events such as meetings, broadcast productions, and sporting events or musical performances; dismantle it on completion of events
• Work with diverse equipment for recording as well as with projectors, sound systems, video screens, and lighting
• Work with the AV team to produce or present media; assess needs and limitations of the current project and organisation and adapt tasks to fulfill them
• Store and transport AV and lighting equipment safely, as and when and where it is needed; maintain, troubleshoot, and repair the equipment
• Position the AV and lighting equipment to enable broadcasts and recordings; ensure high-quality broadcasting by connecting, tuning, and configuring the appropriate AV technology
• Operate software to control AV technologies, prepare teleprompters with scripts; monitor live feeds to ensure transmission quality
• Communicate with people daily, whether over the phone or via email or in person; write weekly letters and memos
• Collaborate with teachers and other school staff when working in educational institutions, and with other departments and staff if working for organisations

Depending on the project or assignment, Audiovisual Specialists may work indoors in a studio or office or at a live entertainment venue either indoors or outdoors. They could work in a stadium or a large concert hall or arena. They work with a range of AV equipment, including soundboards, mics, cameras, lighting, and teleprompters. Travel to meet clients or to event venues may be required.

Audiovisual Specialists typically work full time, although part-time work is also a possibility. While a set schedule is the norm, you may need to work on weekends, nights, and holidays. You will usually chalk up about 39-41 working hours a week.

Finding a new job might seem challenging. Audiovisual Specialists can boost their job search by asking their network for referrals, contacting companies directly, using job search platforms, going to job fairs, leveraging social media, and inquiring at staffing agencies.

Audiovisual Specialists are generally employed by:

• Recording Studios
• Video & Motion Picture Industry
• Radio & Television Broadcasting Industry
• Educational Institutions
• Government
• Museums
• Computer
• Historical Sites

Professional associations and organisations, such as AVIXA (Audiovisual and Integrated Experience Association), are crucial for an Audiovisual Specialist interested in pursuing professional development or connecting with like-minded professionals in their industry or occupation. Membership in one or more adds value to your resume while bolstering your credentials and qualifications.

• Occasional exposure to high noise levels during concerts and sound recordings
• Pressure to meet deadlines and to be exact and free of errors
• Repetitious physical tasks; cramped workspace occasionally, leading to awkward postures while positioning equipment
• The occasional need to place and operate AV equipment at great heights or in hazardous conditions
• High operating and legal project costs
• Skilled labor in short supply for installation
• The need to shift to software applications for deployment; miscommunication issues
• Difficulties in monitoring AV equipment availability, due to its diversity and complexity, with multiple kits comprising various items, including microphones, projectors, video walls, and lighting booms
• Difficulties in tracking equipment, especially manually or across multiple locations, and particularly for smaller parts such as cables and connectors
• Risk of equipment theft and damage, particularly in terms of smaller inventory; project delays due to equipment damage during transit; costly and inconvenient to replace lost or damaged items on short notice; missed installation deadlines and lost revenue
• Unexpected equipment breakdowns since maintenance is typically done reactively only when needed, leading to unscheduled downtime, which hinders project completion, harms equipment health, and raises the total cost of assets ownership

Typically, most Audiovisual Specialists require training in vocational schools or periods of supervised internship followed by related on-the-job experience.

A pathway into this career is through an advanced internship as a creative venue technician or live event technician.

In a smart home technician advanced apprenticeship, you would install and set up digital technology in people's houses, such as sound and lighting systems, security measures, and home cinema.

As in any career, reading as much as possible about the profession and interviewing those working as Audiovisual Specialists are other important ways to explore your interest.

A high school diploma is mandatory for Audiovisual (AV) Specialists, preferably with subjects such as computer applications, any of the humanities, English and world languages, accompanied by courses in public speaking, An associate degree in audiovisual technology or related fields, such as digital media, is helpful. Some employers prefer candidates to have a bachelor’s degree with majors such as audiovisual production, video production, multimedia operations, journalism, broadcasting, and communications.

Certification demonstrates an Audiovisual Specialist’s competence in a skill set, typically through work experience, training, and passing an examination. When earned from an objective and reputed organisation, it can help you stand out in a competitive job market, carry a significant salary premium of up to 18 per cent, increase your chances of advancement, and allow you to become an independent consultant. Successful certification programs protect public welfare by incorporating a Code of Ethics.

Audiovisual Specialists typically earn certification and professional credentials from AVIXA (Audiovisual and Integrated Experience Association). These credentials are recognised worldwide, and the certification remains with you.

To start as an Assistant Technician, you would typically need to be experienced and qualified in broadcast and sound technology, or electronics. As an Installer, you would be responsible for equipment set-up. You would work your way up to the role of an Audiovisual Specialist.

With experience, you may even take on the role of Project Manager, overseeing all aspects of the audiovisual experience while adhering to time and budget guidelines or manage the entire audiovisual department. As Technology Manager, you would manage the daily experiences in a firm or educational institution. You could choose to specialise in lighting or sound design. You could also change track and head to equipment and services sales.

If you wish to diversify, you can become a Designer or a Live Events Professional/Events Manager and creatively enliven experiences in classrooms and board rooms or at large public events such as football games and concerts.

Working as a self-employed or freelance Audiovisual Specialist, you would set up audiovisual equipment in people's homes. You could expand your role depending on the nature of your assignment. Some clients may wish to hire you as their audiovisual team member or give you independent charge to handle their audiovisual needs, which would include selecting and setting up appropriate technologies and ensuring their calibration for effective operation.

With growing dependence on AV technology in diverse fields, AV Specialists will improve their job prospects by acquiring experience and higher academic qualifications and specialising in particular areas of audiovisual equipment or techniques.

Continuing professional development (CPD) will help an active Audiovisual Specialist build personal skills and proficiency through work-based learning, a professional activity, formal education, or self-directed learning. CPD allows you to upskill continually, regardless of your age, job, or level of knowledge.

AVIXA (Audiovisual and Integrated Experience Association) offers online and in-person education in diverse areas of AV technology and application. These include general knowledge, installation, designing the AV facility and system, live events, networking & technology, technology management, and project management & business best practices.

The AV Specialist’s Toolkit

Among other skills, AV Specialists must be adept at handling multimedia production equipment and computer systems. Word processing skills are handy, as are writing, reading comprehension, speaking, and active listening, as communication with clients and the team is an essential part of the job. AV Specialists must have excellent interpersonal skills to understand client requirements to deliver the best suited and feasible AV solution.

It is important to monitor the AV system and technology you instal and evaluate their performance to ensure that the client can operate it seamlessly. Not only do you need to meet strict deadlines for projects, but you must employ critical thinking, for instance, when your solution runs into issues or if there are equipment procurement issues. Coordination amongst team members and with the client will help you fulfil the project needs effectively and according to time and budget guidelines. Above all, keeping a service orientation will help you build a network of clients who rely on your AV services repeatedly and with confidence.

Tackling Equipment Management Challenges

Issues that arise due to poor equipment management can be solved if companies remove internal inefficiencies. One solution is to invest in AV equipment tracking software. Rather than relying on manual entries which lead to human errors, the software automates equipment management, keeping a timely and precise log of assets. This way, AV Specialists can track equipment without letting problems interfere with project outcomes.

Rewinding a Bit

Looking back into history shows us that audio technicians were the source of many sound-related innovations and inventions. For instance, Edgar Villchur, a WWII radio repair technician in the US army, invented speakers, audio components, and hearing aids. Les Paul, a guitarist, is credited with having added on a recording head to tape recorder and with pioneering multitrack recording. The sliding fader control, still used on sound mixing consoles, owes its origin to Tom Dowd, a college physics major who became an engineer for Atlantic Records. Audio technicians have risen to the opportunity time and again to foster advances in sound, broadcasting, and recording technology, spurred by a need, curiosity or purposeful design.

Home automation, the Internet of Things, and seamless integration are some of the latest trends in AV technology, with home automation a significant application.

Audiovisual Specialists help create a well-rounded sensory experience for the audience, one that draws attention, facilitates understanding, and fosters engagement, through a combination of visual and auditory stimuli. The audience that benefits from the expertise of AV Specialists may include schoolgoing students, spectators at a show, or management executives in a meeting. AV technology, applications and equipment are diverse and specialised to suit a variety of needs. It takes the skills and knowledge of AV professionals to put them to practical and successful use.

The right combination of lighting can transform your event from the ordinary to the extraordinary. As an Audiovisual Specialist, you can assess the best way to help your clients mesmerise their audience and make the event a memorable one for all stakeholders.