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Sound Reinforcement - Forums for Live Sound Professionals - Your Displayed Name Must Be Your Real Full Name To Post In The Live Sound Forums => Pro AV Forum => Topic started by: Kellen Tyburski on May 03, 2011, 08:41:04 AM

Title: Bad ass AV
Post by: Kellen Tyburski on May 03, 2011, 08:41:04 AM
In your humble opinions... Who are the most bad ass AV companies? Which companies/teams have you guys seen put out the best product?

Do you find these are teams proprietary to certain companies/broadcast groups/venues?

Basically, if one were to seek out the "holy grail" of AV experience - where would he look?


 
Title: Re: Bad ass AV
Post by: Brad Weber on May 03, 2011, 05:27:41 PM
In your humble opinions... Who are the most bad ass AV companies? Which companies/teams have you guys seen put out the best product?

Do you find these are teams proprietary to certain companies/broadcast groups/venues?

Basically, if one were to seek out the "holy grail" of AV experience - where would he look?
What do you mean by "AV companies", "product" and "AV experience"?  Event staging and production, broadcast, post production, gaming, contracting, consulting, manufacturer, retailer, independent rep and many others are all AV companies, all have different products and all provide different "AV experiences" so I'm not sure what you are asking.
Title: Re: Bad ass AV
Post by: Kellen Tyburski on May 04, 2011, 12:54:37 AM
What do you mean by "AV companies", "product" and "AV experience"?  Event staging and production, broadcast, post production, gaming, contracting, consulting, manufacturer, retailer, independent rep and many others are all AV companies, all have different products and all provide different "AV experiences" so I'm not sure what you are asking.

Good point.
I am interested in finding the top players in the corporate AV world - setup, operation, production/operation of events. Especially the hotels, convention centers, etc.

I'm also interested in broadcasting. When I'm watching the president speak on television I wonder... Who is responsible for something as important as the Audio Visual setup/operation/broadcast for the Whitehouse?


And by "av experience" i mean... top of the line planning of events, quality of gear, knowledge of gear, execution of operations, efficiency of operation... you know.. people who really know what the #$%^ they are doin :)


 



 
Title: Re: Bad ass AV
Post by: Mac Kerr on May 04, 2011, 10:06:01 AM
Good point.
I am interested in finding the top players in the corporate AV world - setup, operation, production/operation of events. Especially the hotels, convention centers, etc.

I'm also interested in broadcasting. When I'm watching the president speak on television I wonder... Who is responsible for something as important as the Audio Visual setup/operation/broadcast for the Whitehouse?


And by "av experience" i mean... top of the line planning of events, quality of gear, knowledge of gear, execution of operations, efficiency of operation... you know.. people who really know what the #$%^ they are doin :)

This is almost exclusively done by freelancers working for a quality production company. There is a fairly wide pool of freelancers who work for different production companies, and each production company likely has several "teams" they use regularly. Part of those teams are equipment vendors like LMG and Media Solutions on the video side, PRG and Christie Lights on the lighting side, PRG, Positive Feedback, LMG, and others on the sound side to name just a few.

The production companies include Jack Morton Worldwide on the large side, and many others who are smaller.

Mac
Title: Re: Bad ass AV
Post by: Tony Ferrello on May 06, 2011, 09:42:23 PM
As far as the Presidential AV is concerned. The White House has a group know as WHCA (white house communications agency) they direct the production and broadcast of all events potus related. They do this through a small group of top quality vendors, who which are asked directly to bid for each event. I represent one of these vendors; forty two inc. Every word spoken by potus is a major project in which we refer to as a no fail mission!
Title: Re: Bad ass AV
Post by: Kellen Tyburski on May 07, 2011, 12:05:58 AM
Thanks for the info guys.

Jaferrello - thanks, this is very cool info! I imagined that every production involving someone so important is a huge deal. And the techs you got working on those jobs are top notch.

It's almost my 5th year in Hotel Audio Visual. I eventually made my way into management in the NY area. Being exposed to some of the negative results of a strong union attitude has made me appreciate (and seek out) some of the more passionate and talented crews... People that take pride in what they do.

Mac - I have heard of some of these companies, but unfortunately havn't gotten the chance to see much work done by them! A couple of real nice jobs I have seen are by Bentley Meeker @ The Plaza, and American Audio Visual Center @ the Marriott Marquis..

Title: Re: Bad ass AV
Post by: Tim McCulloch on May 13, 2011, 05:03:40 PM
Thanks for the info guys.

Jaferrello - thanks, this is very cool info! I imagined that every production involving someone so important is a huge deal. And the techs you got working on those jobs are top notch.

It's almost my 5th year in Hotel Audio Visual. I eventually made my way into management in the NY area. Being exposed to some of the negative results of a strong union attitude has made me appreciate (and seek out) some of the more passionate and talented crews... People that take pride in what they do.

Mac - I have heard of some of these companies, but unfortunately havn't gotten the chance to see much work done by them! A couple of real nice jobs I have seen are by Bentley Meeker @ The Plaza, and American Audio Visual Center @ the Marriott Marquis..

If you note, Mac Kerr is a member of Local 353 and is one of the "go to" guys in Big Time Corporate AV.  Most of those involved at this level are, or were, members of the IATSE.

If you have a problem with union protection of workers, I suggest you find another line of work or plan on relocating to Wisconsin or Indiana.

Tim McCulloch
Secretary-Treasurer
IATSE Local 190
Title: Re: Bad ass AV
Post by: Kellen Tyburski on May 13, 2011, 06:53:21 PM
If you note, Mac Kerr is a member of Local 353 and is one of the "go to" guys in Big Time Corporate AV.  Most of those involved at this level are, or were, members of the IATSE.

If you have a problem with union protection of workers, I suggest you find another line of work or plan on relocating to Wisconsin or Indiana.

Tim McCulloch
Secretary-Treasurer
IATSE Local 190

Actually, I have nothing against union protection of workers. I'm very much for it. I was merely pointing out that in my personal experience so far, there are some negative traits I have seen from employees, that IMO are a result of this protection.

Please don't mis-understand..  Wasn't my intent to imply that just because an employee is in a union, that they must not take pride in what they do...
Title: Re: Bad ass AV
Post by: Tony Ferrello on May 13, 2011, 08:50:47 PM
Actually, I have nothing against union protection of workers. I'm very much for it. I was merely pointing out that in my personal experience so far, there are some negative traits I have seen from employees, that IMO are a result of this protection.

Please don't mis-understand..  Wasn't my intent to imply that just because an employee is in a union, that they must not take pride in what they do...

There are negative traits in all groups workers. I don't believe the union has much to do with it. IATSE is a valuable resource for AV companies. Most of our employees are IA members and the ones with the worst attitudes tend to be non IA. I also don't believe the modern IATSE protects any jobs, sometime quite the opposite in fact. Most IA locals do a great job of making workers available which is the most important. Our company has paid out over a million dollars in payrol to many local unions over the past four or so years mostly with positive results. The only real trouble I've ever had with IA is with local 8 and that is completely with it's management, the hands are great. Its rather sad that they will loose 100k plus this year because of one jack ass international vice president-- well I digress... All I am saying is don't insult all members over the attitude of some workers at some venue!
Title: Re: Bad ass AV
Post by: Kellen Tyburski on May 13, 2011, 11:07:14 PM
Most of our employees are IA members and the ones with the worst attitudes tend to be non IA.
Out of curiosity, why do you think this is?

I also don't believe the modern IATSE protects any jobs, sometime quite the opposite in fact.
Please explain...

All I am saying is don't insult all members over the attitude of some workers at some venue!
Good point.
Title: Re: Bad ass AV
Post by: Tony Ferrello on May 14, 2011, 02:03:51 AM
Out of curiosity, why do you think this is?
 Please explain...
 Good point.

1. I think, in our situation, it's because the members are a little older and set up in life a bit more and also the non mebers are always looking to prove them selves to us in some way.... Again I don't think it has much to do with IA at all, but rather maturity.

2. This is mainly because, in my opinion, wile making them selves  avaiable which is paramount to their purpose; often a lot of red tape involved which turns off a lot of employers. Also in a venue with an internal IA contract, vendors and producers tend to get nickeled and dimmed a bit, which again turns off those same potential employers for their hire in what I call nuteral venues.

3. Thanks ... I try:)