AVNation TV

Tag: #AVintheAM

  • All About AV and Austin: UCX USA 2023

    All About AV and Austin: UCX USA 2023

    Looking at the newest US. Tech Conference 2023

    When it comes to getting back together, AV conferences in 2023 seem to have put an exclamation point on the notion of In Real Life. CES, ISE, NAB, Enterprise Connect, and InfoComm have all shown the UC and IT world that we’re OK heading back out into the world. UCX USA is a new one on the docket for the States, but I am excited to head there this September.

    Yee Haw, Austin Tech

    UCX USA takes place in Austin, Texas September 13 through 14. I’ve watched UCX in the UK a bit jealously over the past five years. That show has gathered the greatest UC technology in London as well as a who’s who of AV and IT. Now, that same group is bringing their tech conference chops to the US. This is where the “ungrateful colonists” meme pops into my head.

    But, hey, what’s good for the motherland, is good for us. Maybe even better. Here we have HETMA. That right there is a reason to be excited. You get to hang with a post-AARP Joe Way and the group that has brought Tech Managers to the forefront of the AV industry. Mr. AV in the AM himself, Christ Neto, will be in attendance. You can’t talk UC and AV without David Danto. Sharath Abraham, and his sneakers, will be walking the halls. Alexis La Broi will bring her expertise and smarts to the stages of UCX USA. I could list everyone here, but that’d be boring. Go here if you want to get a list of all the speakers.

    Register here for UCX USA

    AV and Meeting Equity

    The panel I’m moderating is called “Equipping Your Workplace” and we’ve got some heavy hitters on this panel. Frank Padikkala, Kevin Hyatt, Pam Taggart, Michael Duda, and Noreen Esson will give you their own unique perspectives. This panel comes down to creating meeting spaces and working places that your teams want to create and collaborate. We’ll look at what it really means to have “meeting equity”, work from anywhere solutions, and where AV technologies can take the workplace in the next 12 months. Not sure you’ll get that at any other tech conferences in 2023.

    UCX USA will also have a show floor. You can connect with Biamp, Extron, Shure, Q-SYS, CTI (full disclosure, that’s my employer), and more. Think of this like any other audio-visual trade show in 2023 without the integrators walking the halls. If they are there, they want to talk with you. Speaking as an integrator (CTI) we do indeed want to talk with you.

    This is the first time UCX USA is showing in the US. My hope is that we Americans make the trek to Austin and show those Brits how it’s done. If you don’t have the time, or budget, to head to the show, no worries. AVNation will provide content and analysis after the show. But, for real, if you have the budget and the time, come hang with some seriously awesome AV professionals at UCX USA. Plus, we may get Chris Neto to eat pineapple on a pizza.

  • What 500 Episodes Mean to Me

    What 500 Episodes Mean to Me

    Leaning into your legacy

    A number is just a number. Most of the time. Whether it’s age, weight, or IQ. Even episode numbers haven’t ever really impacted me. We hit 100 at year 2; 200 at 4, and so on. This year AVWeek celebrated episode 500, which means 10 years of me saying “This is AVWeek”. Ten years of some of the greatest and brightest audiovisual professionals sitting down and giving the industry their wisdom and insights.

    I won’t go into the backstory of how AVNation came to be. Short version, I had a life change and said why not. If you’d like the full story, catch me at InfoComm some time. I’ve been blessed to connect with and interview over 300 different guests. Each one brought a unique perspective and insight.

    Hosting AVWeek has been one of the greatest joys of my life. This podcast married my love of broadcasting with an incredible industry I fell in to. It’s allowed me to travel beyond the borders of the US, learn from AV pros in Nigeria, India, Brazil, and China. The world has been brought into the little AVNation studio in St. Louis. And from there, the world has been able to watch me grow and evolve.

    Sunday AV Chat with #AVintheAM

    Then on #AVintheAM, Chris Neto asks what will your legacy be. Hmm. My legacy? That seems pretty simple to me. I was a part of the group that started AVNation and AVWeek. I’ve been the host for nearly all 500 episodes. So, my legacy is this vehicle that allows others to speak into the AV community. But that isn’t quite right.

    An overarching belief that I’ve evolved into is the idea that we are not the same people from year to year. At least we shouldn’t be. I’ve changed physically, spiritually, and mentally the last ten years. So have you. I’ve learned and grown. Some of that growth has been at the expense of others, I’m afraid. By that I mean, I’ve made mistakes, hurt others, and tried to learn from that.

    While the vast majority of these offenses have been unintentional, some haven’t. I can only attribute that to immaturity and ignorance. While at the time I most likely saw myself as in the right, I wasn’t and my actions uncalled for. See, we’re all humans. We make mistakes. Even other people. I know that’s hard to believe. That person who cut you off may be rushing to see a dying loved one. Or they’re just a jerk. The thing is you don’t really know which. If we’re able to allow for the best in others, maybe they will see the best in our actions. Doing so would go a long way in lowering the overall rancor in our world, and our industry at times.

    I’m just this guy

    Maybe this is my legacy. Being wrong and being open about being wrong. In my 20’s and into my 30’s I thought I knew everything, or at least quite a bit. My personality was tied to how much and what I knew. It was a keystone. The older, and more experience, I got the more I realized how wrong that was. People ask me for a bio or to introduce myself. Most of the time my first response now is “I’m just this guy, you know.” Now, this has two purposes. One, it’s an inside joke pointing to Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. The other point is to recognize that I’m just a human. A fallible human who has more to learn and is willing to do so.

    Episode 500 has come and gone. It’s taken me a few months to really process this and put into words the milestone of ten years. From presidents and CEO’s to some of the best techs in the audiovisual business, you have given me one of the greatest joys. If I could stand in a booth at InfoComm and thank each of the thousands of you who listen on a weekly basis I would.  As we at AVNation continue on with episode 500 and something at this point, take a look at what your legacy is now, or will be. No, there’s no way to go back but you can absolutely begin today and build a story to be proud. Thank you for your time.

  • AVUC Crossover Event

    AVUC Crossover Event

    On August 18 join AVNation for the AV/UC Pandemic Endgame. This epic crossover webinar will be live streamed from 10 am until noon EDT. AVNation will be joined by AV Jam, Let’s Do Video, Poly, Starin, #AVintheAM, and the IMCCA as we do a mass crossover webinar. From 10 am until noon EDT, you’ll hear from  UC industry experts. No registration necessary. You can watch the stream here. We’ll also be giving away a pair of Poly Voyager 8200 UC noise canceling headset.

    From 10 am until 11, Poly’s Neil Fluester discusses what the future of UC will look like. Fluester will be joined by Darrius Jones from Poly, Janelle Raney of Zoom, and Noel Kennedy from Involve. From 11 until 11:30, our own Tim Albright moderates a group of UC analysts. Stephanie Atkinson, Maribel Lopez, and Ira Weinstein break down the pros and cons of work from home, what they think the future of the industry is headed.

    At 11:30 ET, Chris Neto will attempt to moderate a battle royal of UC opinions. David Maldow, David Danto, Jason Ward, and Kev Talbot join along with Neil Fluester, Noel Kennedy, and Tim Albright. This will be thirty minutes of debate, cross-examination, and a fair amount of snarky comments. It brings together UC and AV experts from both sides of the Atlantic for a look at how this pandemic is impacting not only the industry but the industry workforce as well.

    The AV/UC Pandemic Endgame happens 10 to noon EDT August 18. There is no need to register for the webinar itself. You can live stream it below through the YouTube link. Throughout the entire event you can chat along with the group. You’re also able to register for the Poly headphones that will be given away at the end. You must be in the chat at the time we call your name to win. See you on August 18.