Why is it worth investing in staff technicians?
In the live event industry, the typical buzz heard after a successful show is normally focused on the latest widget or innovative technical setup, and we often forget the real driving force that makes it all happen – the technician. The people behind the scenes pushing the buttons, wiring the systems, and setting, striking and testing each piece of gear hold the keys to the success of the event. Whether the gear is the latest innovation on the market, or the show concept is an industry first, the ultimate success lies in the hands of the technician. Technicians are on the frontlines of the show, and it is vital to arm them with the tools and training they require to perform at the highest level.
There are basically two types of business models for how event staging companies choose to staff their events – through hiring freelancers for each event, or employing full time staff technicians. Many companies today are choosing to employ a very lean staff, and outsource the technical team to freelancers. At LMG, we employ a team of full time staff technicians, which is not the norm in the industry. While each model has its own merit based on the company’s overall strategy, all staging companies have the same basic goal in regards to staffing, which is to provide a solid, experienced technical team to support each event.
To accomplish this, whether a freelancer or staff employee, the technician must have training and expertise in order to operate successfully. By employing staff technicians, staging companies are in a better position to invest in training, and ensure their technical team is positioned to gain experience and succeed in the field. In return, the staging company receives committed, long term employees, utilizing that training while working exclusively on their shows year-round. On the other hand, the training of freelancers can be more of a challenge, as a freelancer takes that knowledge with them at the end of the show, and your competition can gain the benefit from your investment.
From our experience at LMG, we have found tremendous value and return on our investment in full time staff technicians. Simply put, we wouldn’t do it any other way. While LMG also utilizes freelancers, and believe me, they are invaluable to the success of our shows, we find having a core team of technicians as full time staffers has elevated our service to the next level. A staging company that employs staff technicians must commit to paying their technical team throughout the year, and providing them with the necessary tools, equipment, and training. But, in return, staff technicians are living the front lines of your shows, and gaining unmatched familiarity with your gear, clients, and processes, to provide a consistent level of technical excellence.
Staff technicians are a staging company’s eyes and ears on show site, and act as key communicators after the show has closed, offering keen insight and feedback on any issues, whether gear, staff, or client-related, that require attention. A staff technician, as an employee, has a vested interest in the success of the company, and direct knowledge of the company structure to get any issues that occur immediately resolved. As staff technicians work with the same gear week after week, they have a greater level of commitment in keeping the quality of the equipment to the highest standards. In addition, staff technicians are able to build long term relationships and a high degree of trust with clients, and are often requested for shows on a regular basis.
When employing a team of staff technicians, a staging company also has control over scheduling and creating the appropriate technical team assigned to each show. At LMG, we try our best to assign the proper mix of people to each show, and our technicians have the advantage of knowing and working with one another frequently, and are aware of each other’s strengths and weaknesses. In addition, the 100% of our staff technicians are discipline-specific in a chosen field, whether audio, video, LED, or lighting. This allows our staff technicians to be able to focus on developing their specific skill set and expertise in a particular discipline, in order to operate at the highest level. Lastly, staff technicians can also benefit from growth opportunities within a company. At LMG, the majority of our upper management team started their careers as technicians, and we have found there is no better training ground in the live event industry for our future leaders.
Technicians are the de facto leaders on show site, and offer leadership as well as technical skill. The technician that is operating the equipment on show site, whether a freelancer or staff technician, is ultimately a brand ambassador, and not only is the success of the show in their hands, but also the reputation of the staging company. By investing in staff technicians, a staging firm can provide a technical team with the tools and training they need to operate at the highest level. And when you provide technicians with the resources they need to operate at that level, the result is a team that feels supported, which builds loyalty and longevity, and gives the client a superior experience.
