Audio Visual Technician Program
How do we employ the best technicians in the business? Our staff participate in our proprietary Audio Visual Technician Program.
Elsewhere, we’ve talked about our multi-phase interview and hiring process and strict requirements for business etiquette and professionalism. We’ve also talked about how our average employee tenure is 8 years, which is unheard of at most audio visual production companies. Here, I’ll share details about our formal Audio Visual Technician Program, which is key to our ability to hire and retain the best audio visual technicians in the industry.
TST’s Audio Visual Technician Program promotes technical AV knowledge, operating proficiency of AV equipment, and a clear understanding of company procedures and industry best practices. Employees enter the program on their first day of full-time employment. They then continually build on this foundation of learning throughout their careers at TST.
Audio Visual Technician Program Overview
Our Audio Visual Technician Program includes a combination of AV tech online and classroom courses, both in house and through InfoComm/AVIXA. The program also includes quick check evaluations, technical proficiency tests, on-call and triage bonuses, and premium pay. Each level of our Audio Visual Technician Program contains a course and a test that the AV tech must complete in order to be eligible to advance to the next level.
Quick Check Evaluations
Quick check evaluations are quality assurance checks of important job functions and knowledge that are essential for advancement. An audio visual technician must complete quick checks successfully to advance through each stage of the program.
Online Courses
TST pays employees for time spent completing all online courses. These courses must be completed in order for an audio visual technician to advance in the program and prior to their annual review.
If the AV tech fails or doesn’t complete a course, that employee may be able to make up the course once during that year. If the AV tech fails or doesn’t complete the course during that year, that employee is not eligible for promotion to the next level and must repeat the current training level in the following year.
Classroom Courses
Each audio visual technician is assigned to classroom training based on availability and business conditions. TST arranges for and purchases these classroom courses, including industry-leading AVIXA/CTS training. TST also provides a hotel, travel, and per diem allowance. TST also pays the employee for time spent attending the course, including actual travel time to and from the course location.
If the audio visual technician fails or doesn’t complete a course, that employee may be able to make up the course once during that year. If the AV tech fails or doesn’t complete the course during that year, that employee is not eligible for promotion and must repeat the current training level in the following year.
Technical Proficiency Tests
An audio visual technician who successfully installs, operates, and tests designated equipment and demonstrates technical and operational proficiency is eligible for premium pay when he or she performs the following job functions: Audio Mixer Operator, LCD Video Wall Operator, LED Video Wall Operator, and Account Coordinator.
On-Call Bonus
On-call status is from Friday at close of business until the following Friday at normally scheduled business opening. On-call status pays a bonus for a qualifying employee who is available for the 7-day on-call period to physically respond to service calls outside normal business hours within one hour, as well as carry an on-call phone and be available to answer at any time. To qualify to receive an on-call bonus, an audio visual technician must have completed all training and testing requirements.
Triage Bonus
Triage pays a bonus to a qualifying employee who is available to physically respond to service calls outside normal business hours within one hour and be exclusively available for an extended period to a client. To qualify to receive triage bonus, an audio visual technician must have completed all training and testing requirements.
Premium Pay
Premium pay is added to an employee’s straight time rate when he or she successfully passes the associated technical proficiency test. Premium pay begins when the employee starts the job and includes travel time to and from the jobsite.
Our Audio Visual Technician Program Benefits Our Clients
At TST, our mission-critical incentives include a combination of audio visual technician online and classroom courses, quick check evaluations, technical proficiency tests, on-call and triage bonuses, and premium pay.
TST’s Audio Visual Technician Program allows ambitious, talented AV techs to advance at TST and within the AV industry. Our goal is to help our people build experience, especially when they have a passion for the work and for supporting our valued clients. Our clients and our people – and TST – all benefit as a result.
Why Total Show Technology?
TST is the total show production solution for anyone who hosts, plans, manages, or produces events, meetings, and trade shows. We own the Pacific Southwest market and travel with our clients all across the country. Our clients have relied on us to deliver audio, video, lighting, equipment rental, and show production for conventions, corporate meetings and events, and trade shows since 1996.
Whether you’re looking for audio visual support or advanced event technologies that enable you to deliver your message effectively, we help your shows go off without a hitch and always make you look good. In an industry where almost anything can go wrong, we make sure everything goes right.
Let’s have a conversation! Call us at 702-897-8508, email us at sales@totalshowtech.com, or visit www.totalshowtech.com/contact.
