I am trying to get into this feild... what training or certifications could you recomend to me.... I live in the new york area so i would need something close to new york... also i am currently attending class at the Chubb Institute for computer networking...

Thanks for the help
Mike

Cedia.

www.cedia.org

Hi all!

I was referred to this forum from AVS for info about this same subject. I'm interested in switching careers and would like more information about becoming a professional home theater installer. Its obvious from your replies that CEDIA certification is important, but IMHO it seems similar to paper MCSE's: all knowledge, no experience. I would like to know the stuff that can't be learned from books or taught in a class.

A suggestion from another forum says I should look into the mobile audio field. According to the poster, they tend to have more problem solving skills and a willingness to work in uncomfortable environments as well as a decent knowledge of electronics and acoustic theory.

I've worked in the computer industry as an IT support person and did car audio as a serious hobby during my college days. I feel my problem solving skills are decent enough to tackle home theater situations and I'm willing to learn everything else. I figured custom home theater installations would be the next logical step for me.

So, I know to get CEDIA training. Where do I get the rest? Anyone know any home theater shops/dealers in the Los Angeles area that are willing to accept an apprenticeship of some sorts?

Thanks in advance!

Most custom installation shops would be eager to get an IT support person onto their teams. In the high end, networks are a huge part of the install and much of the midrange touchscreen market is moving in this direction as well. You'll be able to learn acoustics, calibration and many other skills on the job and through local manufacturer training once you are employed.

If you would check the CEDIA locator on the CEDIA website, you will find some excellent firms listed there. Give them a call and go visit. Our industry needs people like you!

Best Regards,

-Eric

Eric Johnson
www.hometheaterpro.com

Phone 1-800-247-7001

Eric:

Thanks for the boost of confidence! I went ahead and did a search for installers in my area. I visited their websites and sent me resume in to the companies that might need computer integration services. I figure I can exchange IT experience for Home Theater work experience.

I was looking over the CEDIA training page and noticed the different certs you can attain. Is this the right route you're supposed to take:

1. Installer I
2. Installer II
3. Designer I
4. Designer II

... or is the Designer path seperate from the Installer path. Can you be a Designer without first having to become an Installer?

Thanks!

Nope, its a path that is designed to be taken in a certain order.

I am in the same boat as you, IT >> to >> AMX installer/programmer/designer....Just finished training....for the ACE program.

I just disected an AMX Design Express project and the code that is generated by it. Very similiar to application programming I have done for the last 10 year.

The only thing that bugs me about CEDIA tests is that they dont really give you practice tests or what the test is really on. They just recommend you go read the National Elec Code or similiar.

The best advice I have so far...being a couple steps in front of you....is to go to CEDIA show....not to be missed. You will need to go under someone's cedia membership, unless you join yourself. WELL WORTH the money and travel expense. Everyone in the business is there. The top teachers in the classes offered tere will really jump start your career move. The courses and expo will keep you busy for the entire show. I went last year, took most of the classes....and plan on going back again ( and even retaking some courses....just because... unless you are an expert in the particular area....its hard to absorb everthing that is presented to you ).

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Thanks for the info. So, I should find a company with CEDIA membership, attend the expo, and take some classes. What classes do you recommend taking? Did you read any of the recommended reading materials?

TC1unit,

An installer wires, installs and programs systems, plus troubleshoots and fixes designs gone wrong. It is a highly demanding technical career. If you are talented and work hard, with experience you will become capable of commanding big bucks for supervising large teams, training newbies and troubleshooting complex systems.

A designer interviews potential clients, creates a system design that is both suitable to the client and profitable, and convinces the client to buy the system. The most experienced designers have terrific technical knowledge, don't often create installation snafus and handhold the client throughout the job, creating lots of personal referrals and customer good will. As a designers technical and sales skills grow, the number and/or the size of the jobs they close grows as well. The most experienced easily earn 6 figures.

They are really separate career paths, one does not lead to another.

The CEDIA certifications are just a portion of what you need to know to install systems. Most of your training will come from manufacturers, rather than certification. The CEDIA expo offers a wealth of networking opportunities, over one hundred short seminars on a variety of industry related subjects and is the only place one can see the entire scope of products available for custom installation.

As a new employee, you will be unlikely to receive a paid trip to CEDIA, however, you might decide to fly out on your own, just to attend a for a weekend.

It will be a whirlwind of information, and exciting, but if you don't make it this year, for sure your employer will step up in a year or two.

Best Regards,

-Eric

Eric Johnson
www.hometheaterpro.com

Phone 1-800-247-7001

Eric:

Thanks again for the insightful information. It seems a Designer is another name for a HT sales person. If not, what are the major differences? Do you start out as a sales person and work your way into a Designer position?

If your looking to get into the Installation side of things, and want to learn how to get dirty, while making the install invisible, I suggest starting with an alarm company for about 6-months or so.

They tend to take on new guy's without much experiance and can teach you how to get a wire from A to B with out it being seen.

I wouldn't suggest going for one of the huge national chains, but a smaller, but well established local company. (Most of the larger one's are going to mostly wireless... ie won't help much.)

After you can do that, most any custom installer will be happy to take you on as a trainee or something. The practical experience really pays off IMHO.

tc1unit,

Since a custom installation job almost always incorporates more than 60% of the dollars in whole house systems, home theater is just one part of the designers job. Yes, they are salespeople, but without the technical knowledge of how things "integrate" their systems would be horrifyingly difficult to install (yes, there are plenty of bad system designers and bad installers everywhere).

Designers sometimes start out as retail salespeople, sometimes as installers with a knack for sales. Many designers come from other sales pursuits. A few of the most successful that I personally know happen to be that rare breed; the Sales Engineer, a person with an engineering background who has fallen into technical sales for many years and looks around for a new opportunity.

When I started in the business, I was a retail salesperson forced into assisting on installs in the beginning, largely because the installers of the time (early 1980's) were largely ignorant of the audio video gear so I would perform most of the final hook up plus I would assist in the rough in wiring simply to learn.

Unless you have a raft of sales experience you haven't mentioned, I would concentrate on the installer/programmer route. With your experience, working for an alarm contractor would be a total waste of abilities, all Custom companies have a severe shortage of programmers. Any craftsman type can quickly learn how to wire a house, install speakers and connect systems; however programming requires a much rarer set of attributes and commands more money as well. I must say that I continue to learn tricks and skills from ex-alarm installers in terms of invisible wiring, particularly retrofits, that I have never seen in the Custom Audio Video world. So, you might learn skills you would never get elsewhere if you did take the advice to work in an alarm company.

With a few years experience, you could be a project manager with the ability and the power to veto any sytem designers proposal before a customer sees it (many custom installation companies have a "project manager" who oversees all installers and who works with salespeople to make sure that their system designs will work in the real world). This is one of the most challenging and rewarding careers I can imagine, with the prospect of a really respectable income for someone who works hard, studies the gear and has the imagination and "head for programming" that is so rare in this business.

Best Regards,

-Eric

Eric Johnson
www.hometheaterpro.com

Phone 1-800-247-7001

Eric,

Point well taken.... Alarm companies are a complete waste of time for the technically minded (programmer types) I was refering to the real-world experiance that I gained while working for one. I have found it in-valuable.....(It also made it a lot easier for me to get an install job where I currently work.)

B.S.

Thanks Eric,

Its good to hear from the experienced, that I am on the correct track. After this inital question was posted, as an highly experienced programmer, I tackled CEDIA last year as a jump into the industry.

I had little installer experience, other than reading AV interiors for years, wiring some office buildings for computer networks and creating some complex car stereo systems, I really went blind into the industry.

BUT..... as a programmer and a career as a user interface designer to high end software systems....... going over every crestron and AMX piece of hardware....I sort of gyrated towards the AMX route. I think the modero was the tie breaker. As a whole AMX people just were more interested in working with my business scenario. Crestron general attitude was more "We can direct you to one of our dealers". Not negative....just not conductive to an aspiring new business.

WHAT....really put this whole industry together for me was a month of programmer training at AMX. After programming a projector system, a home theater system, with all aspects covered did I really understand how all the vendors fit together. The programming classes tied together everyting I learned at CEDIA classes and expo into the overall picture. The programming knowledge sort of became the glue.

Mike.

Thanks for all the replies. There's a wealth of information in this thread for aspiring custom a/v professionals, which is greatly appreciated.

A bit more on my background: I graduated from college with a BS (literally, heh) degree in Business Administration with a specialization in Management Information Systems. I've been a computer geek for most of my life, but I didn't necessarily want to make a career out of it, so I took business. To pay for my schooling, I started a small company to sell custom application computer systems (DAWs for my musician buddies), selling/installing car audio and home theater equipment, and integrating the different technologies (building HTPCs that were installed into cars). Before that I did retail sales for Best Buy and Sound Advice for several years. I also did tech support for Compaq, Gateway, and Dell. Working those other jobs really helped me out when I started my little business to fund my college education. After graduating from college I did hardware/network support for a fairly large software development firm where, IMHO, I honed my troubleshooting skills. I remained there until the suits decided to shut down my division. I have since moved to an area saturated with out-of-work IT professionals. I recently decided to make a career change and get out of the computer industry. I figure I can afford the risk while I'm still young and do something I'd be more happy with.

Today I got offered an apprenticeship with a small custom home a/v company. The folks I'd be working with seem like good people and the work environment is very family-like. The pay is meager but I figure the experience I'd get from working with them would be invaluable. I'll start out supporting their computer needs in exchange for home theater installation experience. It looks like I'll also be learning to program Crestron systems! I start next week, if I accept the position, and will be tagging along with one of their Crestron programmers on one of his jobs.

I'll keep you updated with details on my situation.

Thanks again!