Blog: Don’t Forget We Need to Learn Basics in the A/V Industry.
Frederick J. Ampel Blog
While other industries place a premium on people with certifications and credentials, the A/V industry does not.
By Frederick J. Ampel

August 09, 2012

It’s one of those unspoken realities that makes people uncomfortable. Unlike, say 20 years ago, when new hires were “pushed” to take advantage of the on-the-job training, apprenticeship-like programs, and extensive free industry education opportunities, today it appears that very few people in our industry are learning the fundamental principles behind the work they’re doing.

While our brethren in the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) world are getting the basic education and training they need, and as the norm work their way through the ranks with trainee, apprentice and journeyman certifications, we still struggle with making this an across-the-industry reality. Organizations like InfoComm, NSCA, CEDIA, the Imaging Science Foundation (ISF), CompTIA and others offer extensive opportunities, but the drive to use these resources seems to be missing from many employers and employees.

There remains a substantial lack of perceived ROI for these programs, and the percentages of “trained and certified” employees versus the workforce size is still well under other industries like automotive repair (Automotive Service Excellence, or ASE, certification is extensively used as a marketing tool) and various IT segments (Microsoft certifications, Cisco certifications and so forth). Even beauty salons and hair stylists have better percentages than we do.

Why? I think it’s because we have failed to establish a clear and definable value proposition for this training. More often than we would like to admit, prospective employees are left to their own devices to get this training, and then are not compensated appropriately for their efforts if they do get a job.

We have also failed to establish the value of such employees and their training and expertise in the minds of those who buy from us. While prospective clients, customers and users will


About the author
Frederick J. Ampel - TechDecisions, Chief Audio Adviser
Frederick J. Ampel is the president and principal of Technology Visions Analytics consulting in Overland Park, Kansas. His work in the pro A/V industry for over 40 years includes live sound reinforcement, broadcast audio production, audio systems design and installation, systems integration, hardware design and development, market assessment and analysis, small room acoustics and system integration. He was the founding editor of Sound & Video Contractor and has chaired standards committees for AES and InfoComm.


Comments
Posted by W Guest  on  08/13  at  02:15 PM
Another excellent article! AV suffers from the perception that "anyone" can do it, which is perhaps almost true. But to do it correctly, or even well? -- not so much. Training is the fastest way to bring knowledge and skills up to a desired level, yet it is in many cases virtually the last thing to be tried. Many in our industry are concerned about being "absorbed" into IT, despite the fact that AV is *not* IT, and involves a large number of skills and a broad education in a variety of things. AV's analog in the IT world might be the software field, which no sane person assumes could be learned totally through osmosis, and in which no business person would ever ignore the obvious benefits of verifiably trained personnel. Yes, there's hardware too, which takes extensive training as well. But if we do not "up our game", and show AV's depth and breadth as IT has in the business world, we will be ignored and marginalized, to the detriment of all involved. Thanks again for a real-world comparison of our field to the working world at large -- it provides a reasoned response to the question of "train or not" (which is too often thought of as, "send and spend").
Posted by Captain Analog  on  08/13  at  07:43 PM
Training? certification? Who's going to pay for this? More to the point, in an industry where using interns is the norm, who actually respects a degree? At least in the audio field, I've found that most "employers" would rather take on some smiling, half-baked trainee than to hire, and pay, a trained professional. Try asking $10/hour for the combined duties of truck driver, laborer, electronic tech, IT tech, child psychologist, and equipment operator and you won't get many calls. Try telling potential employers that you learned your trade in school, where one earns certification, and you won't get any calls, or respect.
Posted by Audioguy  on  08/16  at  05:45 PM
Dear Captain Analog, First, thank you for taking the time to read the blog and offer your thoughts. As I thought about your comments, I realized that I do not know of any integrator, contractor, rental provider, or in fact any of the business categories TechDecisions covers that routinely use interns. Perhaps you can explain what you meant by intern. If you meant apprentice then those are admittedly low wage “training” positions but they do produce qualified workers in the end. As far as I know, degreed professionals are respected, get jobs and earn decent money in the commercial audio industry. Perhaps in other segments such as recording or broadcast this might not be the case, but I was not referring to those areas in my blog. What I find in my experience is that your conclusions are the exception to the rule. Best Regards Frederick Ampel, Tech Decisions Chief Audio Advisor
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