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If you’ve ever been to a live event where everything just worked — the sound was clear, the screens lined up, the lights changed when they were supposed to — that didn’t happen by accident. It was an AV tech crew doing a lot of quiet problem-solving behind the scenes so the audience didn’t have to think about any of it.
AV crews aren’t one role. They’re a group of people handling different parts of the same system, usually at the same time, often under pressure.
The People Handling Sound and Video
On the audio side, there’s usually an A1, who’s responsible for how everything sounds in the room or on a broadcast. That includes microphones, playback, and any feeds going to recording or streaming. Depending on the size of the event, an A2 may be working alongside them, managing stage microphones, monitors, and physical setup while the show is live.
For larger productions or multi-city events, crews in these roles are often sourced through established industry networks like audiovisualnation.com, where organizers can find technicians with the right experience level for the job.
Video brings its own layer of coordination. A V1 oversees cameras, routing, and video signals, making sure everything goes where it’s supposed to. Working closely with them is the technical director, or TD, who switches shots and manages transitions during live production. If lighting is part of the show, a lighting director programs and runs lighting cues so they match the pacing and mood on stage.
Why Some Events Need Specialists
As productions get more complex, additional roles come into play. An RF technician manages wireless frequencies to prevent signal dropouts. A network engineer keeps data moving between systems, which is especially important for live-streamed or hybrid events. A stream operator monitors the outgoing feed itself, watching for issues that might not be obvious in the room.
There’s also the stage manager, who often doesn’t touch equipment at all but keeps the entire show on schedule. They cue speakers or performers, manage transitions, and keep communication flowing when plans change mid-show.
How All of This Has to Work Together
What makes AV work challenging isn’t just the gear. It’s how interconnected everything is. Audio, video, lighting, and streaming all rely on shared timing, clean power, proper patching, and careful clocking. A small issue in one area can ripple through the entire system.
That’s why AV crews spend so much time testing, rehearsing, and planning for problems that ideally never happen. When things go smoothly, it’s because potential issues were handled long before the audience arrived.
Team Size Depends on the Stakes
A small corporate meeting might run with a handful of technicians covering multiple roles. Larger concerts, broadcasts, or high-stakes conferences can require much bigger teams, with each person focused on a specific task. When events move across multiple cities or need consistent execution night after night, experience becomes even more important.
In those situations, organizers often rely on established AV staffing resources to source crews who already know how to work together under pressure.
Why AV Crews Matter More Than People Realize
When AV work is done well, no one notices. When it’s done poorly, it’s often the only thing people remember. AV tech crews handle the technical, logistical, and human side of live production so speakers, performers, and audiences can focus on the event itself.
Most of their work happens out of sight — which is usually the point.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this topic