INDUSTRY RELATIONS
‘I’m Not the AV Guy’
Acknowledging the Real Value of Home Technology Professional Companies
By Jamie Briesenmeiser
Our company recently hit a big milestone: 15
years in business, providing intelligent home
automation systems and award-winning service
after the sale. We’ve come a long way, baby! Not
only has our company changed over time, but
our industry has undergone monumental
expansion and change. There is, however, one
thing that hasn’t changed much: how we refer to
ourselves and the industry, in general, as the “AV
industry,” serviced by the “AV Guy.”
I take issue with this term, and it’s not because
34 Residential Tech Today | Jan/Feb 2020
I’m female. My concern is that “AV” confines us,
binding us to a particular slice of an
extraordinarily large (and diverse) home
technology pie. It undersells what a lot of home
technology professionals do because it centers
around technology that most people feel they
can live without or do themselves.
So, what do the other slices of the home
technology pie look like? What are these
professionals called? What are their strengths
and weaknesses?
In new construction, custom integrators work
with design/build professionals to create and
share drawings that guide electricians,
carpenters, and their own team.
I’ll start with “The AV Guy.” Typically, this
person comes with a lot of passion for audio/
visual systems: music and movies are this guy’s
jam. These folks can provide simple installation
services or provide equipment alongside
installation.
A good AV Guy will consider your needs and
recommend products that enhance your
experience. A bad AV Guy will try to “sell” you
equipment over and above what you need or
will miss the boat entirely and sell you sub-par