For 17 years, I’ve been working in AV, yet I haven’t explained how it all began and what I’ve done along the way. This post is my “origin story” with a couple of “stories from the road” thrown in.

Where It Started

Where did it all begin? Well, I guess it started a lifetime ago when I was a youth running the sound desk and/or projector in a small Anglican church. That experience sparked a passion in tech, that led me down the path to a career. Working with my uncle on a large Australian folk festival (simple camera operator), work experience with a large live events company, and a business magazine recording studio all encouraged my passion. Struggling with school (later diagnosed with ADHD), I decided to pursue a school-based apprenticeship as I didn’t think I would get through VCE. This decision ultimately meant a change in schools, and through other family connections, I landed a job at a small company providing sound systems and projectors to churches.

While studying for a Certificate IV in Live Theatre & Events Technical, the two days a week I wasn’t at high school or TAFE, I was the young trainee pulling multicores, VGA, and Cat5 cables under buildings and through ceilings.

One time under a church, I felt a bit claustrophobic (out of character for me). I emerged, took a break, and then forced myself back under there. Another time, a minister jokingly asked if I’d seen any scorpions after I finished pulling cables…

The Beginning of a Career

As my apprenticeship ended, I sought a new opportunity. I found a company, though larger than my beginnings, small enough to still be interviewed by the owner. This is when I discovered the world of corporate AV. My desire to learn propelled me forward. I learned how small and large construction sites worked and about control systems (still dominated by AMX at that stage). Then, I discovered rack building – a perfect fit for me. Less messy and slower-paced, it also offered the chance to learn how the parts worked together and about other aspects of the business, like sales, design, and programming. When the storeman moved on, I was asked to take over. This is where I started building connections with colleagues inside and outside the company – some of whom I can still call on today.

Around this time, the service manager recognized my potential and helped me move to a department where I enjoyed technical troubleshooting and the friendship of close colleagues (in the slow periods playing a game of “office cricket” using a cardboard tube as a bat). Some of these people I still rely on for help and support now and am forever thankful. I also grew my professional network through relationship building with both suppliers and customers (some even transitioning roles with me at times). During my six years at that company, I wore many hats, the last three as service coordinator. While the “boring” admin side of reports, quotes, invoices, and scheduling took over the technical aspects, I felt a need to look for new opportunities.

Finding Passion in Tech

That’s when I found a fulfilling role as a backfill for the on-site technicians, performing general road technician duties. Now part of a larger team, I had amazing people to learn from. Within eight months, I was offered my own on-site position. This is where I truly excelled. I humbly received praise from end users when I helped them, and worked with new client-introduced tech. This is where my interest in programming was sparked (in the then-growing Crestron). Starting small, I updated touch panel files to include client brand imagery when they updated their brand. The IT team even offered a glimpse into their world as well.

Struggles and Finding My Stride

Then came some personal struggles that led me to take a short break from the industry. Over the next two years, I spent seven months in a nursery potting plants, packing large orders, and weeding plants, followed by a short stint back in installation and the odd service call, and a final period of personal development.

However, I was determined to get back to the industry I enjoyed. That’s when I landed a role at a place where I felt truly welcomed. Here, I found great people who imparted knowledge and supported my professional development, leading me to achieve my programming certifications. I started building modules and even got the opportunity to dabble in basic system design when suggesting solutions to customer issues. As COVID-19 hit, I further developed my skills in HTML programming as the industry began adopting the technology for touch panels.

Over the past five years, I’ve held about nine roles (most either on the road or on a client site), again driven by customer feedback pushing me towards the next opportunity. Being entrusted to start a new department was an honor I took on, but I soon realized I wasn’t wired for managing people and departments. While there’s important work to be done there, the admin side wasn’t for me. I’m a tech person at heart, and that’s where I want to be – troubleshooting and learning about tech. After handing the department of three people to the person who has built a large team and still runs it, I went back on the road.

Before being asked to take over another on-site role, I again showed my worth, being sought after by several team managers and even a couple of clients to work on their contracts.

What Now?

So, what now? Well, despite some more life struggles and choices, I’m again looking for a new opportunity to prove that I’m more than my mistakes. I bring a wealth of experience in various AV roles, a passion for technical problem-solving, and a commitment to learning new technologies.

Maybe you or someone you know could benefit from my unique skills. If so, reach out to me on LinkedIn to chat!

Cheers,

Ellery Hulme (they/he)

Rag doll representation of Ellery Hulme sits on an Audio Visual Rack holding a Crestron RMC4

Rag doll representation of Ellery Hulme plugges in the cat 6a of a Kramer Pico Tools HDMI reciver

Where It Started and What Now…