BSc (Hons) Live Event Technology
If you want an exciting career in the entertainment industry as a skilled technician this is for you. You could engineer and manage audio, lighting, or broadcast systems to bring events to life.
Christian Lowes
Job title:IT & Smart Building Systems Associate
Employer:WSP in the UK
What's your favourite Solent memory?
My favourite course-based memory is using the hemi-anechoic chamber to investigate analogue turntable distortion from large sound systems. This included me maxing a speaker stack to around 100db, and using a laser vibrometer to measure the vibration of the turntable. My favourite social-based memories are the stream of parties throughout the first and second years; you end up meeting so many great people.
Tell us a little about your career story so far
Well, after university I joined the luxury home automation market. This includes aspects of residential audio visual systems, as well as advanced home automation. I started as a system designer at a small London-based firm, where I developed my design knowledge and skills by being thrown in at the deep end. Once I’d learnt as much as I could I moved onto Fusion Automation Ltd, one of the UK’s leading firms within the luxury home automation market, once again as a system designer, until my skills were moved to another role within the company as technology and design consultant.
What is luxury home automation and AV?
It’s the design and installation of technology systems within private or commercial buildings that require everything to be centralised, easily controllable, hidden and have that 'wow factor'.
This course is for you if you have a love for everything sound - from being an avid music listener, to a musician who wants to get behind the glass, or if you're very interested in the technology used within the field of audio engineering.
Tell us about what you're doing now and what it involves
I’m currently working on a range of private residential homes and commercial schemes. My typical working day is broken up into consultancy jobs and installation jobs. I will start by answering any emails relating to both consultancy and installation, attend some design team meeting either on-site or remotely. I may then head back to the office to complete design documentation. These are either in the form of drawings, schematics or RIBA stage technical specifications, for tender purposes.
What’s your career highlight so far?
Being involved in a £100 million private property that featured on a television programme about the rich and famous. I’d watched it years before and marvelled at the sheer size and grandeur. To end up working as the lead technology consultant on the exact property that I saw on that specific TV programme was incredible.
What tips would you give to someone wanting a career in your industry?
If you’re looking to enter the industry, I would look up CEDIA, which is the largest industry body within AV and home automation. They have a range of free white papers and guides of how to design, install and understand the best practices. Some of their content is free, some you do have to pay for, but if you’re keen to enter the industry, this early knowledge will provide valuable in future interviews.
Start making your own waves
BA (Hons) Media Production
Are you riding the wave of the new generation of content creation? Learn to bring your stories to life through ever-changing media platforms and create your own professional future.
BA (Hons) Television Production
Get the experience to produce and direct the next big primetime TV hit on our ScreenSkills accredited degree. Our graduates have gone on to work on at Strictly, The Repair Shop, Sky News and more.
