If you’ve ever staffed a show and crossed your fingers hoping the crew “shows up solid,” you’re not alone.
In live events, a great AV technician can save your show — and a weak one can quietly sabotage it before doors even open. The problem is that vetting AV techs isn’t always straightforward, especially when you’re staffing across markets, timelines are tight, and you’re working off limited information.
So let’s break it down.
“AV Tech” is one of those terms that means different things depending on who you ask.
Across the industry, you’ll hear it applied in:
At ShowPhaze, we keep it simple by splitting the broad role into clear departments and skill levels. We look at Audio / Video / Lighting as distinct disciplines, each with defined tiers:
Typically responsible for physical show labor such as:
Stagehands are essential — but they’re not technicians.
An entry-level role focused on:
Assists are there to learn and contribute — not lead.
A more experienced crew member who can work independently and usually has:
Utilities are often the backbone of the crew.
A technician can:
This is where you start to see true reliability, and always worth having a few of these on your travel team. Versatility is imperative come crunch time.
Engineers are the top tier. They:
At ShowPhaze, engineers must also be:
Here’s the truth: the best vetting method is also the least available.
See them in action.
That’s the gold standard.
But realistically? You can’t be at every event, watching every technician at all times. Access and availability are always limited.
Use trusted eyes and ears — reliable leads, peers, or department heads who can verify performance.
However, there’s a catch…
Not everyone in this industry tells the truth.
Some techs will protect their own position, cover for a friend, or recommend someone simply because they like working (or taking breaks) with them.
Vet your sources as carefully as you vet your techs.
Also, you won’t always like the people you work with — and that’s ok.
What matters is that techs are selected on merit, not vibes.
This is where most coordinators live.
Sometimes you don’t have a trusted referral. Sometimes you’ve never seen them work. Sometimes you’re building a crew in a market you don’t know.
And here’s the hard part:
The outcome depends heavily on who’s doing the vetting.
If the person staffing doesn’t understand the technical side, they often default to what I call:
Which is basically:
That can work — but it can also fail badly if you don’t know what to listen for.
In AV, overselling happens constantly.
Not because people are inherently bad — but because opportunity is currency.
When someone is asked:
“Can you handle this A1 position?”
Sometimes they’re really saying yes to:
Not necessarily the actual skill requirement.
The live events industry rewards hands-on experience, so it makes sense that people want the shot.
Learning on the job can work out with the right support network… otherwise, the show could be in jeopardy.
The best coordinators aren’t just looking for skill — they’re looking for risk.
Here are the most common red flags:
They gloss over details, talk around your questions, or answer vaguely.
Instead of giving a direct answer, they give a “yes yes yes” response.
If they’re trying to strong-arm you into booking them, that’s not confidence — that’s insecurity.
Trust that instinct. If it doesn’t feel right, exit the conversation politely and give yourself time to think.
Offer them a lower-skilled position.
If they snap it up immediately, that tells you everything you need to know.
A real pro knows their worth — and rarely compromises their level unless there’s a strategic reason.
Ideally, vetting is easy:
But if you don’t have either of those, here’s what to look for:
Real professionals don’t get defensive. They communicate clearly.
Ask questions that expose real experience:
Pro operators come prepared. Always.
Not for clout — for evidence:
Yes, gut feeling matters — when paired with smart questions and pattern recognition.
Use tech tools to streamline communication — but don’t over-rely on automation.
Blind booking is a recipe for disaster.
Instead:
At ShowPhaze, this is what we do every day — so when someone gets sick or misses a flight, we already have a solution in our back pocket.
Because in live events…
Life happens. And the show must go on....
If you want consistent excellence, you need consistent culture.
Take care of your crew:
Also: don’t tolerate disrespect or abusive behavior — from anyone.
Professionalism is non-negotiable.
And as the AV industry evolves, we have to ensure underrepresented groups continue to find:
Lastly, avoid getting caught in the race to the bottom.
Nobody wins it.
Clients expect excellence — so don’t fall into mediocrity by prioritizing the bottom line over the people doing the work.
Vetting is:
You can’t always see every tech in action — but you can build:
The goal isn’t just to find skilled people.
It’s to build consistent, dependable crews who elevate the entire production.
In many cases, having the right person in place is more important than meeting your margins. Repeat business is more important than the perception of losing out on some dollars here and there.
Don’t let a bad AV tech — someone who can’t troubleshoot gear or stay calm under pressure — be the reason your client’s head gets turned by a competitor.
