One of the biggest issues with our industry is the lack of cohesion regarding using a common title for trade identification and marketing. Low-Voltage Systems or Electrician would be the contractor classifications in California, but neither of those convey our job description to a home owner. If I received a call asking for Low-Voltage Installer what they're really asking for is a pre-wire bid lower than what their general quoted them.
Home Technology Integrator, Home Technology Contractor are both great titles that summarize a residential CI.
If you work residential and commercial I'd use the title of Electronic Systems Integrator or Electronic Systems Contractor.
I found saying " I make it so you can control your house with an iPad. " is the easiest . Wait 10 seconds and answer" I do install Sonos " . Then wait 10 more seconds and answer no crestron is not crap and it serves a very important role in many homes even thou your brother toms crestron system from 2002 doesn't work as good as Sonos.
Ha ha ha and a guy who used to not drink, but fell, no swan-dived off the wagon!!!
How many times at a bar or party do people say: "Oh yeah? I have this new Samsung TV, wanna come over this week end and help me set it up? I 'll give ya a beer".
I love it when some ass asks me if I do side work. I explain to they that I own the company, there is no side work.
Or when you tell someone your rate and they say, I need to do what you do. The guys that work for me just don't get it, they come to work, work, go home. After they go home, I get the priveledge to work some more.
On December 3, 2013 at 21:34, Dave in Balto said...
I love it when some ass asks me if I do side work. I explain to they that I own the company, there is no side work.
Or when you tell someone your rate and they say, I need to do what you do. The guys that work for me just don't get it, they come to work, work, go home. After they go home, I get the priveledge to work some more.
I've been a tech. I'm a business owner now. While there are some perks, the stress level is so considerably higher that's it's often a wonder if it's worth it. I hear from my own gf how she never has any free time. She tells me this while she is sitting watching tv while I am ordering product, emailing 5 different customers, invoicing, writing proposals... She just says can't you out that damn computer down? If only....
a poor man, a battered man, a beaten man. A man who claims to love this stuff, but then go homes and dry heaves at the thought of working on this stuff at home. A CI is someone who spends a week making a closet look perfect, but his own rack at home looks like someones intestines exploded.
"In the plumber's house, the pipes don't work."
A CI is a 30-40 year old man that feels like a 60-70 year old man, and usually has the gray hair to match. A CI is the, "hey the tv guy, or the speaker guy, or GULP, the cable guy is here". That is what a CI is.
The best one I've heard was "tunes guys" from a British client.
I don't agree with your general assessment. I'd be miserable if I did, and I hope you figure out soon what you want to do when you grow up, and you then dare to grow up and do it. I think I'm a CI, but I'm 65 and I just got a kick out of solving how to run CCTV feeds and TV feeds above a ceiling where there was about an 8" gap between the ceiling joists and the roof joists. Each feed was about ten feet from a ceiling access hole and each equipment location could only have a 1 1/2" hole in the ceiling.
And sometimes I feel like I'm 65, but most of the time my reference is how I felt when I was thirty or forty plus or minus the slight limitations and extra care I take today.
A good answer is easier with a clear question giving the make and model of everything. "The biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place." -- G. “Bernie” Shaw
Oh Ernie, Ernie, Ernie. I hope that one day I may grow up and be all that I can be. For now I will just keep doing what I do. I do wish to help you though, so please consider investing in the worthwhile and much needed investment.
On December 3, 2013 at 21:34, Dave in Balto said...
Or when you tell someone your rate and they say, I need to do what you do.
I hate when people think that billing rate = profit. The only thing worse is when they accuse you of overcharging them because your billing rate is more then their take home per hour.
[Link: remotecentral.com] You responded in this thread as though a serious answer indicates a lack of sense of humor. Lack of being able to be serious indicates lack of sense, not lack of sense of humor!
Here's a guy who shows zero sense of humor, but what a marvelous thing Post 2 is! Note that he probably has a great sense of humor, too: [Link: remotecentral.com]
A good answer is easier with a clear question giving the make and model of everything. "The biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place." -- G. “Bernie” Shaw
Sorry to break it to ya Ernie, but most of us do not give a damn about you correcting the OP or the follow up ACTUAL answers to the question. While you most likely are a very intelligent human, your witty banter is useless and generally irritating. I can only assume that with the lengthy responses you have for most people that only tear apart their question rather than answering or giving incite you have nothing better to do than troll the forums. You probably know the answer to the question but because a decimal point or model number was left out you would rather spend your time correcting the person rather than helping.
Now go ahead and search my previous posts and provide why I am wrong or do what ever it is you do. I know this will not stop you from being a dick, but now i have put it out there for everyone to read and silently, under their breath, agree.
Don't read my answer. Someone else will go into great detail as to why I am wrong rather than answer the original question...
A good answer is easier with a clear question giving the make and model of everything. "The biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place." -- G. “Bernie” Shaw
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