To become an audio visual consultant, you must follow a set of steps in a specific order. The first step is to get the necessary technical training in order to set up and operate audio and visual equipment. This can be accomplished through formal education at a trade or vocational school or a community college, or through on-the-job training as an assistant, apprentice, or intern for an audio and visual systems company. Another step is to get hands-on experience with sound boards, visual effects mixers, switch panels, and post-production workflows. You can work as an audio visual consultant for hire once you have the necessary training and experience.
There are many places where you can get the formal education you need to work as an audio visual consultant. You can enroll in an audio and visual equipment trade school, film and television post-production training, sound or visual engineering training, or a broad survey of courses covering all aspects of audio visual technology. In an area of audio visual technology, the program you choose may award a certificate, an associate’s degree, or even a bachelor’s degree. Many community colleges also offer sound and visual effects processing certificate or associate’s degree programs. Before beginning the last two years of the bachelor’s degree program, you must complete approximately 60 credit hours of lower division general education courses.
An apprenticeship or internship with a company that handles some aspect of audio or visual technological production is another way to get the training you need to become an audio visual consultant. For example, you could work as an apprentice at a company that processes visual effects for films that have already been shot but require special effects and enhancements for clarity and durability. You can also work as an intern for a sound engineer who mixes audio for a variety of projects, such as audio clips, music tracks, commercials, or TV and movie dialogue. Working as an intern or apprentice for as long as you need to learn every aspect of the process, every nuance of technology, and other aspects of the audio visual field is recommended.
You can market yourself as an audio visual consultant once you’ve completed your training and gained the necessary experience. While in school and during your apprenticeship or internship, you will most likely develop an important network of contacts and associates in the audio visual field. Use your network to generate leads, and concentrate on clients who require consultation in the areas in which you are an expert.