Collision Course

In the last month, I’ve had the opportunity to listen and learn a lot about the modern workplace and the principles behind its design. The philosophy goes well beyond the phrase “open” and really capitalizes on the idea of activity based working and creating spaces that allow for independent work, team collaboration, large team meetings, […]

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Selling AV — Episode 94: Maintaining Value as an Industry

Many times we have our clients compare the cost of our services to those provided by other trades like electricians.  It’s tempting to match pricing to gain a client relationship, but in this week’s Selling AV, I talk about why this may be a very bad idea. Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: Android […]

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Selling AV — Episode 93: It’s Not Them, It’s You

Sometimes, even after creating alignment and demonstrating value, a sale can get stuck.  This week I talk about two ways to move things forward that may just mean checking your ego at the door. Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: Android | RSS

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Don’t Come to My Class at InfoComm 2019

Right now, a part of each of my day has been dedicated to developing my class for InfoComm 2019.  I am giving a talk on “Using AV Technology to Trigger Customers’ Biological Responses” or as I refer to it, “Triggered!” Any time that you are giving a presentation, it’s extremely important to consider the audience […]

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Selling AV — Episode 92: Dropping Breadcrumbs

Sometimes the answer to a better sale may not be in trying to force a close, but in walking away and leaving a trail. Find out how in my latest Selling AV. Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: Android | RSS

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Mad Systems’ New Software Is In Your Face

Last month I wrote a blog about Mad Systems new Quicksilver AV distribution system and I ended that piece with a teaser about their new facial recognition software. If we know anything about content, we know that the context of that content is extremely important. Delivering content is one thing, but delivering customized content to […]

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Why I Joined Tangram Interiors

When I first joined the ranks of Milestone one of my coworkers told me that “Every integrator wants to work for a manufacturer when they grow up.” It was funny, and at the time I identified with that statement on some level.  Working for a manufacturer offered a few advantages for sure.  From a sales perspective, […]

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Technologists in Bars Talking AV – Episode 3: Good Word Brewing with Jarrett Jones of Baker Audio Visual

What do you do when you’re in Atlanta? You hang out at Good Word Brewing & Public House with Jarrett Jones, Director of Commercial Engineering at Baker Audio Visual. We talk about bourbon and pick-up trucks as well as how we inspire and train the next generation of AV professionals. (There may be an Easter […]

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Selling AV — Episode 91: Fighting Consumerization

The latest question from the AV Industry Professionals Group asks how we tackle the challenge of the consumerization of our industry. Here is a great way to start that conversation. Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: Android | RSS

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AV Gets a Facelift… and Facial Recognition- Part 1

I had the pleasure of visiting my friends at Mad Systems last week.  It is a company I know quite a bit about, (in large part because I worked there for 4 years), and I was invited to come and take a look at what they’ve been up to lately. They have a history of designing […]

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Technologists In Bars Talking AV – Episode 2: Left Coast Brewing with Steffan Crowley

Have a drink with me and my guest Steffan Crowley at Left Coast Brewing. We’ll learn a little about how to take the CCNA as well as Steffan’s Meme Theory (and we might just sneak some AV in there too.) Check out Left Coast Brewing at https://www.leftcoastbrewing.com Find Steffan’s company Rosendin here: https://www.rosendin.com

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Selling AV — Episode 90: Know Your Enemy

I received quite a few suggestions from other AV Pros for this year’s episodes of Selling AV. This week I talk about knowing your enemy because it just might not be who you think it is. Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: Android | RSS

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Technologists In Bars Talking AV – Episode 1: GameCraft Brewing with Joe Way

Welcome to Technologist In Bars Talking AV! Come hang out with me and my guest Joe Way at GameCraft Brewing. We’ll have a drink, eat some spicy chicken, play Jenga… and if there’s still time left, maybe we’ll talk about Joe’s role in AV as well as his new book Producing Worship. Check out GameCraft […]

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Selling AV — Episode 89: Working with Consultants

The first Selling AV topic of 2019 comes to us from an integrator in Australia. How do integrators better work with consultants to deliver value? Tune in to find out! Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: Android | RSS

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Three AV Companies to Watch in 2019

I have tried to avoid writing one of these blogs. I resisted the temptation to wrap up my top moments of 2018. I stayed clear of making tech predictions for 2019. I even managed not to comment on others’ top moment lists and predictions. All in all, I was doing pretty well… until yesterday. Yesterday I […]

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Selling AV — Episode 88: New Year, New Format

I want to make Selling AV a collaborative effort in 2019, so here’s how I propose we do that with a new format in the New Year. Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: Android | RSS

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Selling AV — Episode 87: Start 2019 with…

2018 is all but gone and it’s time to focus on success in the New Year. The best thing to do this week is to focus on how to do that. Learn how in this episode of Selling AV. Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: Android | RSS

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New Year, New Format

For 2019 I thought I’d flip the script on my Selling AV podcast by introducing a new format. In 2019, I’ll be crowdsourcing your AV sales questions and asking what your biggest challenges are. Then I’ll take those questions and answer them Selling AV style via audio in under five minutes. Once the podcast is […]

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Is the AV Industry Getting Soft? Part 2: Hiring in 2019

Last month I asked if the AV Industry was getting soft.  I hope that it is… because it should be. In a time when technology is advancing at an alarming rate and becoming more and more advanced, it may seem counterintuitive to tell companies that they should hire less technically minded people, but that is […]

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AVPhenom launches Electronic Gift Giving Service

December 24th, 2018 Orange County, CA Just in time for Christmas, AV innovator and inventor, Mark Coxon, AKA @AVPhenom, has introduced a disruptive new electronic gift-giving service. “I saw two trends converging in the marketplace”, says Phenom.  “First, young people are consuming a large amount of YouTube content and Twitch content. Secondly, there has been an […]

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Selling AV — Episode 86: Always Be C……

Old school sales knowledge says to Always Be Closing. In today’s world that just doesn’t work. In this week’s Selling AV, I update the methodology to help you better serve your clients. Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: Android | RSS

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My Most Popular Tweet of the Year (And What It Says About Our Industry)

For those of you that aren’t on Twitter or don’t follow me there, I am pretty active on that platform as @avphenom.  Most of my tweets deal with AV in some capacity, whether I’m participating in an online chat session, playing an industry hashtag game, or sharing a blog, podcast, or perhaps general business intel that […]

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Selling AV — Episode 85: Finding the Fire

Even in an industry as exciting as AV, it can be hard to be excited about the product or service you represent day-in and day-out. In this week’s Selling AV, I talk about a couple ways to rekindle that passion. Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: Android | RSS

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Is the AV Industry Getting Soft?

Technology is an ever-changing environment, and the world of AV technology is no different. Change allows technology industries to thrive, given that the people working in the industry see it for the opportunity it represents and embrace their new futures to pursue it. Many times embracing change means that it’s time to retool our businesses and part […]

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Selling AV — Episode 84: 4th Quarter Advice

It’s the end of the year and you’re trying to hit that next level in your sales number. There’s only one sure way to fail. Find out what that is in this episode of selling AV. Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: Android | RSS

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Selling Soft Serv(ices) — Hurdle Three: Liabilities

Back in the spring, I launched a series of blogs on The Hard Truth about Selling Soft Service(ices) focusing on why AV has had a hard time turning the corner to managed services, software, video over IP and AV as a Service (AVaaS). I wrote about the first two hurdles in separate posts dealing with […]

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Selling AV — Episode 83: Overcoming the Obsolescence Objection

This week’s Selling AV was inspired by a question I saw on Twitter. How do you overcome the objection that a client doesn’t want to invest in technology that will become obsolete in a few years? Take 4 minutes to hear my thoughts. Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: Android | RSS

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The Death of the AV Generalist- Part Two

About a week ago, I wrote about the death of what I referred to as the “Generalist” AV firm.  In case you missed it, you can read it here. As you may imagine, I received a lot of commentary on this blog through the comments, through Linked In, and through Twitter.  Based on those comments, I […]

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The Death of the AV Generalist

If you’ve read my posts before, you’ll notice that I have rarely predicted the death of any particular technology or business model. Sure, I have my ideas on where the industry is heading or which technologies may ultimately win out in the end, but I never go so far as to say this is the […]

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Selling AV — Episode 82: Learn Someone Else’s Job

Most of my sales advice is aimed at helping you develop skills for your own job. This week, I am encouraging you to learn someone else’s job instead. Find out why by listening to this week’s Selling AV. Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: Android | RSS

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Selling AV — Episode 81: Developing Coaches

Large organizations are often difficult to navigate, and if you’re selling AV, you want all the advantages that you can get. This week, I talk a little about developing coaches to help you close more deals. Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: Android | RSS

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The Art of Hacking AV Systems

There are quite a few conferences that focus on AV equipment. On the consumer side, there is CES, on the broadcast side there is NAB, then for residential AV there is CEDIA Expo and for commercial AV, we have InfoComm. The latest conference to focus on AV equipment, however, happened Friday, August 10th. The conference? DEFCON. […]

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