Description
Video technicians set up, prepare, check and maintain equipment in order to provide optimal projected image quality for a live performance. They cooperate with road crew to unload, set up and operate video equipment and instruments.
Other titles
The following job titles also refer to video technician:
audio visual specialist
audio visual technician
audio-video specialist
video conference technician
audio video specialist
image technician
audio-visual specialist
video/graphics technician
AV technician
audio-video technician
visuals technician
audio/visual technician
graphics/video technician
Minimum qualifications
A high school diploma is generally sufficient to work as a video technician. However, considering the competition to enter this role, an associate’s degree in audio visual technology or a related field, or better is recommended.
ISCO skill level
ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:
- the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
- the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
- the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.
Video technician is a Skill level 3 occupation.
Video technician career path
Similar occupations
These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to video technician.
dresser
scenery technician
followspot operator
intelligent lighting engineer
audio production technician
Long term prospects
These occupations require some skills and knowledge of video technician. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of video technician with a significant experience and/or extensive training.
mask maker
video designer
puppet designer
video artist
technical director
Essential skills and competences
These skills are necessary for the role of video technician.
- Work ergonomically: Apply ergonomy principles in the organisation of the workplace while manually handling equipment and materials.
- Understand artistic concepts: Interpret an artist’s explanation or demonstration of their artistic concepts, inceptions and processes and strive to share their vision.
- Run a projection: Operate projection equipment safely and efficiently to project images on a background in an artistic or cultural context.
- Set up cameras: Put cameras in place and prepare them for use.
- Use personal protection equipment: Make use of protection equipment according to training, instruction and manuals. Inspect the equipment and use it consistently.
- Pack electronic equipment: Safely pack sensitive electronic equipment for storage and transport.
- Adapt to artists’ creative demands: Work with artists, striving to understand the creative vision and adapting to it. Make full use of your talents and skills to reach the best possible result.
- Prepare personal work environment: Correct settings or positions for your working instruments and adjust them before starting operations.
- Maintain audiovisual equipment: Perform routine maintenance tasks on audiovisual equipment as well as minor repairs, such as replacing parts and calibrating the instruments, on equipment used in processing sound and images.
- Adjust projector: Adjust the controls of projection equipment to obtain a clear and well-positioned image.
- Manage personal professional development: Take responsibility for lifelong learning and continuous professional development. Engage in learning to support and update professional competence. Identify priority areas for professional development based on reflection about own practice and through contact with peers and stakeholders.
- Work safely with mobile electrical systems under supervision: Take the necessary precautions while providing temporary power distribution for performance and art facility purposes under supervision.
- Work with respect for own safety: Apply the safety rules according to training and instruction and based on a solid understanding of the prevention measures and risks to your own personal health and safety.
- Set up projection equipment: Install and connect equipment for projection in an artistic context.
- Keep up with trends: Monitor and follow new trends and developments in specific sectors.
- Set up equipment in a timely manner: Make sure to set up equipment according to deadlines and time schedules.
- Follow safety procedures when working at heights: Take necessary precautions and follow a set of measures that assess, prevent and tackle risks when working at a high distance from the ground. Prevent endangering people working under these structures and avoid falls from ladders, mobile scaffolding, fixed working bridges, single person lifts etc. since they may cause fatalities or major injuries.
Optional skills and competences
These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of video technician. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.
- Draw up artistic production: File and document a production in all its phases right after the performance period so that it can be reproduced and all relevant information remains accessible.
- Manage consumables stock: Manage and monitor consumables stock to ensure that the production demands and deadlines can be met at all times.
- Manage technical resources stock: Manage and monitor technical resources stock to ensure that production demands and deadlines can be met at all times.
- Safeguard artistic quality of performance: Observe the show, anticipate and react to possible technical problems, ensuring optimal artistic quality.
- Ensure safety of mobile electrical systems: Take the necessary precautions while providing temporary power distribution independently. Measure and power up an installation.
- Adapt artistic plan to location: Adjust plans to other locations with regards to the artistic concept.
- Advise client on technical possibilities: Recommend technical solutions, including systems, to the client within the framework of a project.
- Translate artistic concepts to technical designs: Cooperate with the artistic team in order to facilitate the transition from the creative vision and its artistic concepts to a technical design.
- Keep personal administration: File and organise personal administration documents comprehensively.
- Promote yourself: Market one’s own strengths in terms of skills and knowledge.
- Manage signoff of an installed system: Make sure an installed technical system is adequately transferred and signed off for.
- Develop professional network: Reach out to and meet up with people in a professional context. Find common ground and use your contacts for mutual benefit. Keep track of the people in your personal professional network and stay up to date on their activities.
- Consult with stakeholders on implementation of a production: Consult with different people and groups who hold a stake in the production. Be on the same page on the practical side of the production, and keep them up to date.
- Document your own practice: Documenting your own work practice for different purposes like assessment, time management, job application etc.
- Maintain system layout for a production: Establish a workable layout for the system you manage and maintain it for the duration of a production.
ISCO group and title
3521 – Broadcasting and audiovisual technicians
References
- Video technician – ESCO
- Featured image: Photo by Sam Moghadam Khamseh on Unsplash