Volume 5, Issue 10 – October 31, 2016
AV Insider
AV Power Up!
Coffee With Millenial-Z
Good AV
The Floating Point
Tech Chaos
Selling AV
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October 24, 2016
Episode 90: Terra Speakers: Made in America/Maine; Custom AF
James Banfield, President of Terra Speakers, and Alex Steed, President of Knack-Factory (Marketing forTERA), speak with me about so many new ideas, products, and everything custom at Terra Speakers. Terra has always been a custom audio solution company, but this year at CEDIA, it was very obvious they are a major player, and a force to be reckoned with in the custom market. Their speakers have always sound amazing, and their outdoor series of products are able withstand the most harshest environments, but now they do it in the most stylish/customizable ways, it’s brilliant to say the least.
We cover everything from custom grilles to hydro dipping cabinets to match any surface, and it’s so realistic, it’s beautiful. Everyone loves audio, but not everyone wants to see it, and now these products can blend in to whatever surface their being mounted to.
We also talk about made in America/made in Maine, and what that means to them, me, consumers. There’s also a few nods to future products that fit our industry needs, that you can only hear on this episode of AV Insider.
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October 13, 2016
Episode 89: Experience the First Voice Activeated Home Automation System for High-End Homes
Alex Capecelatro, Co-Founder & CEO of Josh AI, speaks with me about his new voice control automation company, Josh AI. We discover his background with technology , startups, and the need for Josh’s existence today.
Alex also tells us that Josh AI was designed for the high-end residential market, and is currently direct to dealer/integrator, with plans on releasing their “micro” version of JOSH at some point, as opposed to the current pro version.
Voice control is no easy task, but that doesn’t mean that JOSH doesn’t achieve complex commands smoothly and successfully, because I’ve seen it happen myself.
Learn more on this episode of AV Insider.
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October 21, 2016
Episode 77: Spending Quality Time with Some Amazing Women in Tech
This week, two of the AV industry’s most well-known and respected women appear on AV Power Up with host Corey Moss and the Crew:
Cory Schaeffer, Director Systems Solutions at QSC, and Jan Sandri, President at FSR, Inc.
Both of them are representative of what every person, and not just women, should want to aspire to be in the AV industry (and tech in general) – not only in terms of roles in technology, but as role models as well. What they have meant for women in AV, along with other women who have shown great achievements, speaks volumes for the industry.
On this episode you have the chance to also hear Taylor Meyer, a Mechanical Engineering student at Iowa State University (who appeared with us once before) tell us all about her world of robotics.
Sandy Ciarlo also has a great part in this as she introduced a Recode article “How to Solve for the Lack of Women in Technology” which became an outstanding conversation for all of us.
Deron Pinchback gives us a replacement segment (as Justin took the night off) “Welcome to the Machine” where he talks about CERN. We’ll be hearing this segment again from Deron in the future.
We talked about #WhyImInTech in the second half – one you do have to hear as well.
Great talk, some good laughs, all AV Power Up.
So sit back, plug in and enjoy this one.
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October 14, 2016
Episode 76 — We Go Big with UC&C Tech and Charitable Efforts
Join the Crew: Corey Moss, Katye McGregor Bennett, Sandy Ciarlo and Megan Powers as they welcome their guests:
Amy Barzdukas – Vice President, Global Solutions Marketing at Polycom
John Greene, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Advanced AV
On this episode (Megan’s 2nd!) we have two great people on with us, one who is a VP that talks and tweets day, night and during major events, and the other is Amy Barzdukas. This was Amy’s first show as a guest with John (as others at Polycom have appeared on the show with him as well) and we believe she went to work the next day telling everyone about the experience. We mean the AV Power Up experience, not the John Greene experience (or maybe?).
We begin this one with Sandy Ciarlo’s new segment “Quick Hits” where she reports on several industry news stories – in fact one of these requires some pipes, and maybe earplugs. And we remained politically correct on this show — yes really.
In the first half of the show John and the Crew talk with Amy about Polycom news and announcements from Microsoft Ignite involving Skype for Business (formerly known as Project Rigel) and Office 365 integrated solutions, along with other products on the market.
In the first ever “Guest Power Up” John Greene rants (red sweater?), and then raves (the internets) – let’s just say you’ve never heard a Power Up quite like this before. If you’re wondering, the job is still very much Justin’s.
In the second half, we all talk about the large (enormous) 4K interactive collaboration display battle between the Microsoft Surface Hub and InFocus Mondopad Ultra. What was the discussion outcome? Is this really a battle? Vote now!
Stay till the end as we close the show discussing some great charitable causes – Megan talks about a cancer walk she will be participating in during the weekend, John talks about certain efforts Advanced AV has been involved with, and Amy talks about the outstanding efforts Polycom has undertaken with Operation Smile. Here is the website.
So sit back, plug in, remain Polly Calm (Don’t Be a Vidiot!) and… Power Up!
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October 7, 2016
Episode 75: Get Ready for a Ride on the Brink of Convergence
Join the Crew: Corey Moss, Justin Watts, Deron Pinchback, Sandy Ciarlo and Megan Powers as they welcome their guests:
Mike Shinn (@axpmike) – Vice President of Customer Relations at IMS Technology Services and co-host MHO show
Chris Neto (@chris_neto) – Audiovisual Consultant at AV Helpdesk, Inc. and co-host MHO show
Along with our guests, we welcome our new Crew member Megan Powers (we’ve got the Powers)!
Eddie Morgan, Head of Marketing and Communication at DisplayNote joins us as yet another guest from another country, this time to do “The Product Spot” and tell us all about DisplayNote Montage. A great collaboration product, and we believe that Ed thinks that he was up early for his upcoming morning meeting for a very good reason.
Who hosts this show? That’s right – not him! You’ll see who takes over the show and just what happens to it at that point. Then comes the Power Up, a great but yet another misguided segment on the show. We think you’re getting it.
Chris Neto hijacks the second half of the show as we all get humble opinion-wise with a great theme. In fact, you can play along at home – make sure you send your humble suggestions to Chris on any of his social media outlets. We also have a little education on this one (imagine?) – and Star Wars. Just listen in and find out.
The tight production value we normally have on this show is nearly dragged to the ground by this group, so if it appears that this show rolls off the rails at high speed as it goes – you’re not imagining it. Think Chris Neto and Mike Shinn riding on an Amtrak train to Philly together (enough said).
On this show we believe we’ve also solved convergence. Or divergence. Or inversion. Forget it.
So sit back, plug in, buckle up and get ready to… Power Up!
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October 6, 2016
Episode 2: Mentorship in the AV Industry
In this week’s episode of Coffee with Millennial-Z, catch Mike Shinn with NSCA’s Ignite program and Cristina Zalucky with a Fortune 500 tech company talk about best ways of spreading the word about an industry that cannot market itself. Mike Shinn also gives details about the Ignite program’s successful launch: from students’ feedback and involvement to integrators’ and manufacturers’ participation. Is the AV industry going through an identity crises? We compare experiences from different sides of the spectrum of the tech industry. Cristina also gives us her story about breaking into the tech industry as a Millennial and her thoughts about the huge lack of exposure then in high schools towards the tech industry, and now the growing paths into breaking in.
High school students- listen up to the many various outlets that can help you sprout in a career choice you’re already innately good at! Outlets now that are bringing awareness of the tech industry include NSCA’s Ignite program, after school activities (Hack-a-thons, Hour of Code programs), conferences, coding and robotics contests, career days, mentorship, shadowing, and many other hands on work.
CwMZ’s Pro tip from Mike Shinn: “Get involved and stay involved!”
Catch these nice folks online.
Mike Shinn Twitter: @axpmike
NSCA’s Ignite program Twitter: @nsca_ignite and http://www.nsca.org
Cristina Zalucky Email: Cristina.Zalucky@gmail.com
Victoria Barela Twitter: @barelAVictoria_
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October 17, 2016
Episode 10: Making AV Good for the Brain
BHas anyone else ever found it ironic that an industry built to enable communication hasn’t always been the best at communicating its own story? Well this month we get a few tips on how to rectify that issue from a longtime consultant to the AV industry, Elizabeth Eames, owner of Contemporary Communications Consulting. Listen closely as Elizabeth drops about eight to 10 nuggest of inspiration and knowledge on communications strategy for the AV industry. Get out your notebooks and be prepared to tell your story.
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September 22, 2016
Episode 7: Our Favorite Baldwin
It’s episode seven of the Floating Point and co-host Chris Tatton (@Chris_Tatton) has gone MIA. Maybe even AWOL. We’re not sure. Billy Silar (@SillyBilar) joins host Hope Roth (@beerandpie) to follow up on his past year spent learning how to be a Crestron programmer.
Billy jumped in with both feet and it sounds like he’s thriving. Learn what helped him, what he’s learned, and where he’s going from here. Hope is duly impressed, and offers up what little advice she has. Pro-tip: if you find yourself doing something all the time, you should probably write a module for it. Also, shout-out to Ms. Clapham for making me do all of those logic puzzles back in 4th grade.
For our fun question, we talk about “other duties as necessary.” Spoiler alert: there is a hot pink elf costume involved.
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October 31, 2016
Episode 17: Drones Are Still Here
Christina Engh (@missenghwyoming) and Bradford Benn (@bradfordbenn) join host Christa Bender (@AVChrista) in this extra-long podcast to talk drones, unmanned aircrafts, CTS, mentorship, books, and photography. They discuss the new Small UAS Rule (Part 107) that went into effect August 2016. They also discuss what no-fly zones mean in relation to drones and unmanned aircrafts.
Christa admits that Bradford is the most popular guest on Tech Chaos as he has appeared the most (sorry Marika!). Christa reinvigorates the #AVBookClub and askes Chrissie and Bradford what they have been reading recently.
All of these topics and more can be heard on this episode of Tech Chaos.
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October 27, 2016
Episode 40: Fire Yourself
Not every customer is for you, (although they may think that they are). Find out when it may be time to fire yourself to avoid a bad fit.
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October 19, 2016
Episode 39: Be Specific
In the AV world, referrals are like gold. This week on Selling AV, we discuss why asking for referrals to everyone will actually yield referrals to no one.
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October 4, 2016
Episode 38: Elevator Pitches Are Not Dead
If you have heard some of the gurus of storytelling out there declare the elevator pitch dead, I am here to respectfully disagree. Listen to this Selling AV to find out how to effectively use an elevator pitch in the storytelling economy.
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For all you REGULAR listeners of rAVe Radio out there, hopefully you enjoyed another opinion-packed issue!
For those of you NEW to rAVe, you just read how we are – we are 100 percent opinionated. We not only report the news and new product stories of the ProAV and HomeAV industries, but we stuff the articles full of our opinions. That may include (but is not limited to) whether or not the product is even worth looking at, challenging the manufacturers on their specifications, calling a marketing-spec bluff and suggesting ways integrators market their products better. But, one thing is for sure, we are NOT a trade publication that gets paid for running editorial or product stories. Traditional trade publications get paid to run product stories – that’s why you see what you see in most of the pubs out there. We are different: we run what we want to run and NO ONE is going to pay us to write or say anything good (or bad).
To send me feedback, don’t reply to this newsletter. Instead, write directly to me at gary@ravepubs.com or for editorial ideas, Editor-in-Chief Sara Abrons at sara@ravepubs.com.
A little about me: I graduated from Journalism School at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (where I am adjunct faculty). I’ve been in the AV industry since 1987 where I started with Extron and eventually moved to AMX. So, I guess I am an industry veteran (although I don’t think I am that old). I have been an opinionated columnist for a number of industry publications and in the late 1990s I started the widely read KNews eNewsletter (the first in the AV market) and also created the model for and was co-founder of AV Avenue, which is now known as InfoComm IQ. rAVe [Publications] has been around since 2003, when we launched our original newsletter, rAVe ProAV Edition.
Everything we publish is Opt-in – we spam NO ONE! rAVe ProAV Edition is our flagship ePublication with what we believe is a reach of virtually everyone in the ProAV market. rAVe HomeAV Edition, co-published with CEDIA and launched in June 2004, is, by far, the largest ePub in the HomeAV market. We added rAVe Rental [and Staging] in December 2007, rAVe ED [Education] in May 2008 and then rAVe DS [Digital Signage] in June 2009. We added rAVe GHGav [Green, Healthcare & Government AV] in August 2010 and rAVe HOW [House of Worship] in August 2012. rAVe Radio, our podcasts, were launched in 2012. You can subscribe to any of those publication or see ALL our archives by going to: https://www.ravepubs.com
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rAVe contains the opinions of the author only and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of other persons or companies or its sponsors.
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