AV with JB

David is the CEO of LightWerks, a Pro AV Integrator out of LA.  Not so long ago he was also my boss.

But he’s also a fantastic human being who genuinely cares about his people, and THAT’S why I wanted to share him with you.

Contact David via:

If you're curious about the software I'm building for Pro AV Integrators, check out the video here: www.jeremybirch.com

The original video interview can be found on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/1GkcCSuvfRE

As an Engineer w/ AVI-SPL, Matt cares a great deal about designing projects to succeed.

Matt is an AV Design Engineer with AVI-SPL out of Cleveland, Ohio.  He’s been with them since 2011 as both a Project and now Design Engineer.

FREE RESOURCE - For this episode only, Matt is providing “AV with JB” listeners with his Engineering Checklist that he’s developed over the past 10 years.  It makes sure no design step falls through the cracks, despite the daily interruptions and delays that so often break up your train of thought.  You can find it in the blog post for this episode on my website.

TOPICS

Contact Matt via:

If you're curious about the software I'm building for Pro AV Integrators, check out the video here: www.jeremybirch.com

The original video interview can be found on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/5iX8n73xKWo

Nate designs AV systems for surgery rooms.  He also runs a podcast.

Nate leads a team that designs AV systems for surgical rooms, but since 2014 he’s also the host of his own podcast...AV Shop Talk.  He shares how his love for music (and a “by hand” drafting class in high school) led him into the Pro AV industry.  I also get his take on the mission of “AV Shop Talk”, and what 1 piece of advice he’d give to his younger self just starting out in AV.

FREE RESOURCE - For this episode only, Nate is providing “AV with JB” listeners with the list of AV gear he uses in his own podcast.  He sounded better than me, so I’d say it works.  ;-)  You can find it in the blog post for this episode on my website.

Contact Nate via:

If you're curious about the software I'm building for Pro AV Integrators, check out the video here: www.jeremybirch.com

The original video interview can be found on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/xMQnZiXOBJM

Jay is the founder of Interactive Solutions, a Pro AV Integrator in the Memphis area. Started in 1996, he built it into a $25 million company w/ over 50 employees in 7 cities.

But his entrepreneurial journey didn’t start out so rosey...from being fired as a top-producing employee to embezzlement in his 1st year of starting ISI.  Then in 2018 AVI-SPL approached him about selling his “baby”.  Jay and his leadership team eventually agreed, but he wasn’t prepared for the emotional rollercoaster he was stepping into.

Contact Jay via:

If you're curious about the software I'm building for Pro AV Integrators, check out the video here: www.jeremybirch.com

The original video interview can be found on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/Z3vNu26sPak

Alan Geer is the Owner and President of one of the most competent and professional AV Manufacturer Rep firms in our business.  As an AV Engineer in his backyard of SoCal for many years, Audio Geer is one of the few rep firms I’d actually trust for technical guidance.  Shure and QSC are (2) of their biggest brands, and I would routinely call Audio Geer for design (or even commissioning) help because I knew they had the best blend of technical chops and real-world experience.  Listen in on our conversation to get a peek into the personality and mindset behind such a great company.

01:19 - The road that led Alan to create his rep firm, Audio Geer

03:05 - Why a rep firm vs. integrator or distributor?

03:43 - What most people don’t know about rep firm contracts w/ their mfgs.

05:17 - Alan reveals what % of his business comes from just Shure and QSC together.

08:22 - What’s the difference between a mfg. rep, and Audio Geer in particular, vs. a distributor?

13:34 - Alan lists the brands that they rep.

14:26 - The Shure/QSC synergy I saw while visiting Zoom’s HQ in San Jose, CA

15:56 - Alan explains his motto of, “Show up early, and pay attention to details...all of them.”

19:29 - Alan gives (3) examples of how you can give “those extra few dB” of care and thought in your everyday life.

22:32 - As a conversational palette cleanser I make Alan uncomfortable by asking him about his Tesla, but he shares what he likes best about it that most people don’t know.

28:00 - Alan shares about the painful time he lost half  of his employees, and what he learned from it.

36:26 - The product accessories they see most often forgotten when integrators place orders.

39:21 - The hobby Alan’s picking up again now that his kids are off to college.

Contact Alan via

If you're curious about the software I'm building for Pro AV Integrators, check out the video here: www.jeremybirch.com

The original video interview can be found on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/RXiEmxW9FT0

If you’re a Pro AV Integrator still using the old 4:6:8 Rule for calculating screen sizes in your projects, this is for you.  After hearing me complain on LinkedIn about trying to make sense of AVIXA’s “new” (as of 2016) DISCAS Standard, Chuck Espinoza offered to answer all my questions over a Zoom call.  Since he’s a Sr. Trainer w/ AVIXA, I decided to hit “Record” and share this informal training with you.  This is Part 2 of the 2 part call that ensued.  Hope you find it useful.

00:22 - How to use the online DISCAS calculator for Basic Decision Making (BDM) applications (Word, Excel, Websites, etc.)

13:36 - Why font size ≠ %Element Height

21:55 - Draper’s “Distance Legibility Eye Chart” (read about it here or order one for free here)

22:22 - How you can use the “AV Buddy” app to show customers the legibility of different font sizes right on their own display

26:00 - Typical %Element Heights for PowerPoint vs. Word

28:55 - Using the Analytical Decision Making (ADM) part of the calculator for up close, pixel-on-pixel applications (medical, architecture, data analytics, etc.)

39:46 - Where 4K is necessary...and where it’s not

44:40 - Designing for 16:9 vs. 16:10

47:39 - Reviewing the math behind BDM, ADM, Vertical Viewing Factor (VF) and Closest Viewer (CV)

55:58 - How Chuck uses LEGOs to model predictive seating behavior in his classes

Get the DISCAS Calculator here: https://www.avixa.org/standards/discas-calculators/discas

Contact Chuck via

If you're curious about the software I'm building for Pro AV Integrators, check out the video here: www.jeremybirch.com

The original video interview can be found on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/_RWZqHc60mE

 If you’re a Pro AV Integrator still using the old 4:6:8 Rule for calculating screen sizes in your projects, this is for you.  After hearing me complain on LinkedIn about trying to make sense of AVIXA’s “new” (as of 2016) DISCAS Standard, Chuck Espinoza offered to answer all my questions over a Zoom call.  Since he’s a Sr. Trainer w/ AVIXA, I decided to hit “Record” and share this informal training with you.  This is Part 1 of the 2 part call that ensued.  Hope you find it useful.

01:15 - Why DISCAS?

03:23 - When did 4:6:8 start, where does it break down, and how did AVIXA reinvent it

06:24 - What does DISCAS address, and what is visual acuity? 

09:56 - Determining Closest and Furthest Viewer, and Element Height

18:48 - %Element Height defined

25:53 - Chuck stumps me!

33:37 - Chuck’s airplane story

38:52 - Analytical Decision Making 

Get the DISCAS Calculator here: https://www.avixa.org/standards/discas-calculators/discas

Contact Chuck via

If you're curious about the software I'm building for Pro AV Integrators, check out the video here: www.jeremybirch.com

The original video interview can be found on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/owfDHc6fJ00

 Brad Malone helps AV companies take a good, hard look at their processes so they can fix what’s broken.

[04:47] Brad explains the “Four P’s” business principles, including the losing battle most PMs have to deal with.

[07:01] Heroes & Martyrs

[11:51] How “special people” in a company can get in the way of growth

[13:39] Brad shares a huge disappointment early in his career...and how it forged his resolve to go from employee to business owner.

[20:00] Brad’s surprising adventurist hobby.

[21:16] How much does 5 minutes cost?

[25:24] The 3 compounding costs of quality (or lack thereof)

[28:42] Why integrators struggle w/ designing systems accurately and reliably.

[35:49] Why Engineers tend to develop ADD

[36:21] Which products get most overlooked during design, and what’s the cost in labor hours for your install crew to fix?

[39:13] The cost of forgotten parts that your installers CAN’T pick up at Home Depot/Fry’s.

[40:07] Done vs. “Done-Done”

[43:42] Need a better site survey form?  Brad offers one they’ve refined over many years working with AV Integrators.

Contact Brad via

Brad’s article: How Much Does 5 Minutes Cost?

If you're curious about the software I'm building for Pro AV Integrators, check out the video here: www.jeremybirch.com

The original video interview can be found on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/kHBaQHv0V6Q 

 Listen in as I interview the indomitable Mark Coxon (@AVPhenom on Twitter).  We talk about everything from:

a.) How AV investment within a company can be sold as an extension of their brand.

b.) How Mark overcame shyness and learned to deal with confrontation early in his career.

c.)  The “magic” but simple formula for resolving conflict with your customers.

d.) Why, “Just do the demo.” is a mantra that works.

e.) Mark’s tips for social media engagement w/ your customers...including how NOT to do it.

The original video interview can be found on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/kHBaQHv0V6Q

 Are you in Pro AV?  Have you been dying for more practical business, marketing, and mindset advice?  So have I.  Join me as I interview amazing people who have out-of-the-box thinking, practical solutions, and hard-won lessons that anyone in Pro AV can learn from.

In this episode I introduce myself, explain why I started this podcast, and do a lame impersonation of the Fresh Prince.  :-o

The original video version can be found on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/AiZqj23U1ug