So it was finally announced today in Sunday morning service that I am leaving my fulltime position at DFA and going to work for Hiscall.  I am as excited for the new opportunity as I am sad to be leaving, a strange mix of emotions. 

A few months ago I began to feel that I needed to get a little more training and certification under my belt, as I have 15 years experience running A-V and 8 years running IT equipment . . . but absolutely nothing on paper as far as classes or certification go.  To that end, I began looking for a new job where I could get some training.  That’s where Hiscall comes in.

Hiscall specializes in telecommunication and data networks but has recently expanded into security and A-V for businesses, churches and schools . . . which is where I come in.  I recently was offered the opportunity to interview at Hiscall to be a part of the fairly new A-V department.  Right now the A-V department is specializing in A-V systems integration in conference rooms and classrooms and the like (press one button and all the A-V tech comes on and is plug-and-play ready, automatically sensing what is plugged in and switching inputs accordingly . . . and not just A-V stuff either, see www.crestron.com) and digital signage (basically super-duper power point on high def screens in several locations throughout a company run by a central server.  Info in lobbies of banks, outside the door of a conference room telling when meetings are today, etc.  See www.trms.com) as well as a few other things.  But we are going to expand into new areas as soon as we can, meaning as soon as we all learn how to install them ! 

To that end, I’ll be getting not only a lot of certification in codes and practices . . . but training on how to install and program all kinds of cool A-V stuff !  Tomorrow, Monday the 21st of June, will be my last day at DFA.  I will start at Hiscall on Tuesday the 22nd. Yah, no rest . . . no vacation . . . just hitting the ground running.  There are several reasons for the fast transition . . . but basically the timing worked out that I either needed to start Tuesday or wait a couple of weeks and then start.  And while the prospect of a few weeks of vacation sounded very good . . . the budget is tight enough that financially that would leave me with no emergency fund.  So . . . it’s hit the ground running and rest later !

After 15 years running A-V at DFA, after 10 years heading up the A-V department, after 8 years of being a full time employee of DFA and taking on not only the A-V, but the Media creation and IT roles . . . it’s difficult leaving.  I was training my replacement last week, Chip Johnson (a super awesome guy who is, quite honestly, going to be better at my job then I ever was), and it started to sink in that I was leaving. Then I was cleaning out my office and it finally hit me . . . it’s not my office any more.  After 15 years, it was like handing over a child to someone else’s care.  Very strange.

But I am excited about the future !  I’m not sure how much I’ll be able to tweet or write about at first, as some of what we’re doing isn’t officially announced yet . . . but as I get certified and trained on the new products, I’ll finally be able to write about them on the blog as an expert . . . or at least as someone who has professional training on the products ! 

So, here’s to the future !

Now I must continue reading up on Tight Rope Media Systems Carousel digital signage system.

There was a time in my life, my Junior and Senior years in High School (and also in my early College years) that . . . I was just free. 

Do you remember that feeling of being unburdened by life ? 

Like you could take on anything ? 

That childlike excitement for the future . . . before adulthood came in and made things bleak and oppressed with responsibility ?

When your sense of freedom was almost overwhelming as you began to choose your destiny in life.

I, being a lighting and sound nerd even in High School, did the lighting and sound for all the plays that the School did.  It wasn’t just me, most of my friends were in the Drama Club and stayed after school for months at a time getting ready for whatever the next play was. 

I remember that me and Michael West, who would later be my college roommate, were just becoming good friends as we both worked on the lights for this play.  Most of the lights were above, or just in front of, the stage.  But about 1/3 of them were above the concrete ceiling plates in the auditorium (above the audience seating).  Our High School didn’t have a catwalk to get to the lights . . . we had an aluminum scaffolding. 

When it was time to adjust these lights, much to the chagrin to the Theatre teacher Mr. Sullivan, we would play music while we worked.  We would play what we called ‘Climbing Music’ . . . which was usually the soundtrack to Star Trek Generations.  We would start the CD on an intense track, playing it loudly over the sound system, set the new CD player to repeat that one track, and then roll the scaffolding all the way to the edge of the stage (near the audience).

We would then lock the wheels . . . get extra ladder rungs . . . build it up all the way to the ceiling (two stories up) and then add one more rung on the side facing the audience . . . this is where the ceiling plates over the audience began . . . where the lights were.  This was the only way to get above the ceiling over the audience seating in the auditorium.  But even though the tallest scaffolding rung was five feet or so above the ceiling plates, meaning when you climbed all the way up, your feet were level with where you needed to step off to . . . there was a gap of about three feet between the scaffolding and the ceiling plate.

This meant that you had to first reach across and grab one of the support cables holding the concrete ceiling slabs up while also holding onto the scaffolding.  Then, all at once, you had to let go of the scaffolding and shift your weight and step over the gap to the ceiling . . . all the while this intense music playing.  There was a moment, with one foot on the ceiling plate and one on the scaffolding, where you were spanning the gap with your body two stories in the air.  So you had to shift your weight fast, once you started to step off the ceiling plate you couldn’t stop moving forward or you’d fall . . . you had to make the step to the ceiling.  I’m not explaining it very well, but you get the idea.  That feeling of knowing that if you stopped, you’d fall two stories to concrete and plastic seating, I remember very clearly. 

I hated it . . . and I loved it. 

This is also why Michael and I were the only ones who set those lights . . . we were the only ones who would do it !

Looking back I don’t know how we got away with it . . . it was so dangerous . . . but those were different times I guess.  Anyways, the music only ramped up the intense feeling as I leaned out over the gap and stepped to the ceiling.

It was exhilarating and terrifying at the same time . . . but it needed to be done.  Well, that’s the way we thought in High School.  Someone has to set these lights !

I remember that feeling of stepping from the scaffolding to the ceiling plate, that moment of pure danger where . . . if you fell . . . you’d either die or wish you had. 

That’s where I am now in my life.  I have that excitement for the future, just pure childlike excitement and awe that came with High School.  And I have that feeling, that I’m moving from the scaffolding to the ceiling, knowing that I’ve started the move and I cant stop . . . or I’ll fall.  I’ve shifted my weight and,  from now until Monday afternoon, I’m in mid air. 

I hear the Climbing Music playing in the back of my head . . . and I’m exhilarated and terrified at the same time.  It’s been a long time since I’ve felt like this . . . and I love it.