St Patrick’s Day and the art of Storytelling

As many of you know, ShowPhaze is Irish-owned and operated. Oisín is an old Irish name from ancient folklore. Now I know everyone wants to hear about pots of gold and leprechauns but I’m here to talk about the broader topic of storytelling in today's terms.

Mythology was about passing on knowledge and activating the imagination. Today, in an age of technology, some of the most consistent storytelling happens during keynotes. Sure, it’s a little more flashy than the fireside settings in remote cottages around the Irish countryside, but the context and medium are largely the same. 

Seanchaí (shan-a-KEE) are traditional Irish storytellers who served as custodians of folklore, history, and culture, passing down tales orally through generations. They played a vital role in preserving Irish heritage, often entertaining audiences with stories of myths, legends, and local history. - wikipedia. They weren’t necessarily just entertainers; they were well respected and influential. Kings would treat them accordingly in order to maintain popularity with the masses.

These days, keynote speakers are often paid tens of thousands of dollars. Top motivational speakers and some of the most decorated experts in their fields, including doctors, scientists and engineers deliver valuable presentations all over the world, backed by AV. Being part of a show crew or a breakout op can often be a backstage pass to something that’s been with us from the very beginning. Storytelling.

A little like The Book of Kells, keynote presentations are the modern-day calligraphy, hieroglyphics, and ancient script. The lights, moving graphics and audio systems provide the right ambiance, similar to that of a crackling open fire, with a pot of water whistling to the boil - hissing out like the high-impact walk on music, flexing the subwoofers.

Storytelling never went away and I’d argue some of its purest form is being expressed during the events we service in hotel ballrooms and convention centers dotted all over the world. Next time you think Paddy’s Day is all about finding the end of the rainbow, think a little deeper. Oh and for the love of culture, please don’t ever call it “Patty’s Day”

How to Vet an AV Tech

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.

First: What Is an AV Tech?

“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:

AV Skill Levels We Use at ShowPhaze

Stagehand

Typically responsible for physical show labor such as:

Stagehands are essential — but they’re not technicians.

Assist/GAV (General AV)

An entry-level role focused on:

Assists are there to learn and contribute — not lead.

Utility

A more experienced crew member who can work independently and usually has:

Utilities are often the backbone of the crew.

Technician

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.

Engineer

Engineers are the top tier. They:

At ShowPhaze, engineers must also be:

The Evolution of Vetting

Here’s the truth: the best vetting method is also the least available.

The Best Way to Vet a Tech

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.

The Second Best Way

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.

The Third Best Way: Vetting With Limited Information

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:

“Vibe Vetting”

Which is basically:

That can work — but it can also fail badly if you don’t know what to listen for.

Overselling Is Common (And It’s Not Always Malicious)

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.

How to Spot Red Flags

The best coordinators aren’t just looking for skill — they’re looking for risk.

Here are the most common red flags:

🚩 They avoid technical questions

They gloss over details, talk around your questions, or answer vaguely.

🚩 They tell you what you want to hear

Instead of giving a direct answer, they give a “yes yes yes” response.

🚩 They dominate the conversation

If they’re trying to strong-arm you into booking them, that’s not confidence — that’s insecurity.

🚩 Something feels “off”

Trust that instinct. If it doesn’t feel right, exit the conversation politely and give yourself time to think.

Pro Tip:

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.

Green Flags: What “Solid” Looks Like

Ideally, vetting is easy:

  1. You’ve witnessed them do a flawless job in the past
  2. They’re recommended by someone you trust

But if you don’t have either of those, here’s what to look for:

They’re articulate and easy to talk to

Real professionals don’t get defensive. They communicate clearly.

They demonstrate real equipment knowledge

Ask questions that expose real experience:

Pro operators come prepared. Always.

Their online presence checks out

Not for clout — for evidence:

You get “The Warm and Fuzzies”

Yes, gut feeling matters — when paired with smart questions and pattern recognition.

Tools, Trust, and Technology

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....

Crew Culture and Respect Matters More Than People Think

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.

Key Takeaways

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.

Nola

Reliable Event Crews in New Orleans: Debunking the “Problem City” Myth

Without fail, every time we do a show in New Orleans, someone from the production company tells us that New Orleans has always been such a “problem city” for labor.. And that our crew is the best they’ve worked with.

Our response is always the same. The only problem you’ve had in the past is that you’ve chosen the wrong vendor. Most crewing companies see the techs as laborers rather than technicians. This is why we prefer the term 'crew' over 'labor'.

Why New Orleans Remains a Top Convention Destinations

We all know that Nola has a rich culture, unmatched music scene, and, of course, world-class bars and restaurants. New Orleans will always be a magnet for conventions and corporate events, as well as talented technicians. The key is working with the right partners to ensure your event runs smoothly.

That’s where ShowPhaze comes in.

Event Staffing You Can Count On

Whether it’s audio, video, or lighting technicians, skilled breakout ops, or general session crews, ShowPhaze provides reliable, experienced personnel across North America — including strong local rosters in New Orleans.

We also specialize in trade-show carpenters and booth-build labor, ensuring every aspect of your production runs smoothly.

Don’t let the wrong labor partner compromise the attendees' event experience.
 Choose ShowPhaze — where great techs, fast financials, and competitive rates come standard.

The Facts: New Orleans Is Built for Big Events

New Orleans is one of the most active event destinations in the U.S., and for good reason. The Ernest N. Morial Convention Center (ENMCC) ranks among the top six largest convention centers in the country, with:

A 1 kilometer-long footprint from end to end — meaning you’ll definitely want comfortable shoes on show site!

Top U.S. Convention Centers by Exhibit Space

Rank Convention Center & Location Exhibit Space
1 McCormick Place – Chicago, IL ~ 2.6 million sq ft
2 Las Vegas Convention Center – Las Vegas, NV ~ 2.5 million sq ft
3 Orange County Convention Center – Orlando, FL ~ 2.1 million sq ft
4 Georgia World Congress Center – Atlanta, GA ~ 1.5 million sq ft
5 Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center – Dallas, TX ~ 1.0 million sq ft
6 Ernest N. Morial Convention Center – New Orleans, LA ~ 1.1 million sq ft (3 million total)
7 Jacob K. Javits Convention Center – New York, NY ~ 850,000 sq ft (3.3 million total)

 

Vetting Technicians

Vetting technicians has always been a cornerstone of reliable show execution, yet it’s one of the hardest skills to standardize. In the early days of ShowPhaze, the only true measure was seeing a tech perform live — a method still unmatched for accuracy but limited by time and access. Today, referrals and interviews fill the gaps, but both come with bias and uncertainty. This piece explores the realities of vetting in a fast-paced industry, where the right hire can save a show — and the wrong one can derail it.

 

The conversation around vetting technicians has been coming up a lot lately so I wanted to talk a bit about that topic.

When I first started ShowPhaze the vetting was done by physically seeing the techs do the work in person. This is and always will be the best way to judge someone's competency in a particular role. For instance, an A1 who you witnessed have a flawless show is a safe bet to hire on another event. 

While this method is the best it’s very limited to your time and accessibility to be on show site. The next best option is to have trusted eyes and ears who can observe individuals in these roles for you. This method presents a degree of separation and, therefore, is less reliable depending on the reliability of your source. If your source is another technician who also works the same role, oftentimes they’re not going to recommend the guy who’s better than them because they don’t want to move down the pecking order. However, they might give you a name of someone who’s ok but isn’t likely to threaten their position on future shows. So, be careful about who’s giving you the information and do as much due diligence on them as you should the tech!

Ok so we’ve covered physically witnessing someone's capabilities and having eyes and ears in the drape seams, so what’s next. How do you vet a technician that you have minimal information on?

First off, who’s asking the questions? If the person doing the vetting doesn’t know the first thing about role they are booking, their success is going to be hit or miss. Failing the indepth knowledge of the role, the coordinator is left trying to read the vibe. Some are better at that than others. Unfortunately, many techs oversell themselves. Why? Because when you’re asking if they can do the complex A1 role, what they’re saying yes to is the paycheck and maybe an opportunity to hopefully learn on the job. While you can’t blame someone for trying to put food on the table, or the fact the industry is sort of geared in a way that the best way to learn is via experience, there’s evidently a problem here that could make or break a show.

What are some of the things a stagehand will say to try and get the A1 role? “Yeah man, I’ve been rockin that console for years.” or “I’m an A1/L1/V1” or they might go off on a tangent to fill the air, hoping that if they say enough words or worse, strong-arm the coordinator into giving them the role, they will be successful.

The Importance of Having a Good Team

In live production, great outcomes rarely hinge on gear alone — they depend on the people behind it. For many companies, the focus stays on budgets and logistics, but lasting client relationships are built through consistent performance from trusted crews. At ShowPhaze, we treat team selection with the same precision that production companies apply to equipment choice. Every technician is vetted not just for skill but for reliability, attitude, and collaboration. Backed by our custom-built app and transparent processes, we ensure clients experience faster turnarounds, smoother shows, and crews who take pride in delivering excellence — every time the lights go up.

 

Why ShowPhaze Stands Out

For many production companies, the main focus is the bottom line (aka the cost). While pricing is always important, client retention should be the top priority. To put this into context, end clients often shop around — collecting quotes, comparing production options, and conducting multiple site visits. Production companies, in turn, meticulously select each piece of gear to ensure the show’s success.

When it comes to selecting the right crew, the production company handpicks their travel guys but oftentimes takes a gamble on the labor company tasked with providing the locals

At ShowPhaze, we take a different approach. We invest significant time in vetting and selecting top-tier technicians who are team players and willing to go the extra mile. Just as production companies hand-pick their equipment, we hand-pick our crews. That’s what every quality crewing partner should do.

The real question isn’t how we vet our teams — that’s a detailed conversation for another day — but rather what we specialize in and how that focus benefits our clients.

As the industry becomes more specialized, companies like Gigrent have proven that excellence comes from focusing on a single strength. ShowPhaze applies that same philosophy to AV staffing.

What Makes ShowPhaze Exceptional