Audio-visual Technician
What is the work like?
Audio-visual (AV) technicians set up, operate and maintain multimedia equipment used for displays and presentations in settings like conference centres, galleries, schools and colleges. Technicians' work can vary from preparing equipment for a class lecture to organising the sound and lighting for a fashion show.
As an AV technician, you would work with a wide range of equipment including multimedia projectors, PA systems, video conferencing equipment, still and video cameras, image editing suites, lighting, control rigs and reprographic equipment.
Your day-to-day duties could include:
- setting up equipment in line with job instructions given by event organisers, exhibition designers or teaching staff
- operating equipment and controls during rehearsals, live shows, conferences and exhibitions
- providing support services, including on-the-spot fault finding and fixing
- carrying out scheduled maintenance checks, which may include portable appliance testing (PAT)
- writing up technical reports based on maintenance test results
- managing equipment booking and tracking systems
- training equipment users and writing training notes
- producing marketing publicity or teaching materials
- carrying out equipment audits as part of facilities development and upgrade plans, sourcing and recommending purchases, and negotiating prices with equipment suppliers.
Your job may be combined with IT support work, with responsibility for maintaining computers, scanners and printers.
What qualifications and experience will employers look for?
You do not need any specific qualifications to work as an audio-visual technician although most employers will prefer to see some experience and/or skills in this field.
You may be able to get into this job through an Apprenticeship scheme. The range of Apprenticeships available in your area will depend on the local jobs market and the types of skills employers need from their workers. For more information on Apprenticeships, visit www.apprenticeships.org.uk.
As an alternative, you could choose from numerous college courses, which cover many of the skills needed for AV work. Courses include:
- BTEC National Certificate/Diploma in Media Production
- BTEC National Certificate/Diploma in Art & Design
- City & Guilds Certificate in Audio Visual Industries Induction Level 2
- City & Guilds Diploma (7501) in Media Techniques Level 3.
You could also take stand-alone courses in photography, video or sound to get into this career.
A working knowledge of common office software would help give you an advantage, particularly presentation packages like PowerPoint. Some employers also prefer applicants with experience of using Apple Mac programs.
See the Skillset Careers website for details about careers in audio-visual production.
What further training and development can I do?
Once you are working, you would receive further training on specific pieces of equipment, health and safety and in-house administration procedures. Your employer may put you through the City & Guilds (2377) Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment, commonly known as portable appliance testing (PAT).
If you want to move into audio-visual production design, you may need to take a higher-level qualification, for example a HND or foundation degree in media. To search for colleges and universities offering foundation degrees, HNDs and degrees see the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).
Skillset offers information about a range of work-based NVQ awards if you are working as a technician in the audio-visual sector. The specific award you take would depend on your main responsibilities. For details about your options, check with Skillset Careers.
Where can I go for more information?
Tel: 08080 300 900 (England and Northern Ireland)Tel: 0808 100 8094 (Scotland)
Tel: 08000 121 815 (Wales)
21 Caledonian Road
London
N1 9GB
If you would like to discuss your career options with a learning adviser, call 0800 100 900 or use our online enquiry form
Alternatively, you can visit our website at: www.direct.gov.uk/careersadvice
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What salary and other benefits can I expect?
- Starting salaries for new audio-visual technicians are between £13,000 and £16,000 a year.
- Experienced technicians may earn between £17,000 and £22,000.
- AV technicians with some management responsibility can earn up to £25,000 a year.
Figures are intended as a guideline only.
What are the hours and working conditions?
You would normally work 35 to 40 hours a week, as an audio-visual technician. Conference and exhibition work will often include evenings and weekends, but some school or college jobs may be term-time only.
Most of your work would be indoors, and may involve some lifting and carrying of heavy equipment when setting up and taking down productions. You would spend some of your time travelling between jobs, for example when working between college sites or at different conference locations.
What skills and knowledge will I need?
- excellent technical skills and familiarity with the main AV equipment types
- good troubleshooting skills
- a creative approach to problem-solving
- good IT skills
- excellent organisational skills
- the ability to work well as part of a team and on your own initiative
- the ability to work under pressure and to deadlines
- a flexible approach and the ability to deal with varied tasks
- a willingness to continually update your equipment knowledge and skills
- an awareness of electrical safety issues
- good customer care skills to deal with clients, staff and students at all levels.
What opportunities are there?
You can find work in education, with schools, colleges and universities; the events sector for conference and exhibition organisers; and with specialist AV service providers.
Your prospects for promotion will vary. In smaller companies possibilities may be limited, but larger organisations may offer you a structured career path leading to jobs such as AV support department manager, facilities manager at a convention centre, or a sound or lighting director in a theatre or concert hall.
With additional training in broadcast engineering, you may find further opportunities in radio, film and television production.
You may find the following links useful for job vacancies and useful contacts: (links open in a new window)
FEjobs.com
Mandy.com
Jobs AV
The Knowledge (contacts directory)
Kays Production Guide (contacts directory)
We do not accept responsibility for the content of external sites.
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