CEDIA v InfoComm

I have been attending CEDIA (the resi trade show) since 1994. I love the extreme high-end resi market, but it is time for me to expand and get back into a less comfortable zone. Put a little fresh perspective and growing back in to my work life. So I went to InfoComm 2017 in Orlando.

In the late 1990s I went to InfoComm a few times for the big projector 'Shoot-out' events, looking for the best machines to use in our premium home theater projects. This time was different. While I was there to walk the show floor and look for cool/applicable tech, my singular goal was to pass the foundation CTS exam. I did (yay), and now have started studying for the CTS-D designer specialist certification. Years ago I went through this process with CEDIA, and while I am very proud of the certifications I have achieved, they just don't mean that much to anyone. Resi clients have usually never even heard of CEDIA, let alone the certifications. Sure we can tell clients about it, but it usually just comes off as braggadocios instead of proof of capability. The CTS seems a little different. The large resi projects I am involved in are run by commercial construction companies, with commercial project management and contractors. They have heard of CTS; it is recognized by commercial architects and designers.

So now I am on a new path. I am enjoying learning about a fresh perspective on the same circuits, audio drivers and cabling I have dealt with for decades. Will InfoComm and CTS double my income or keep me from working on resi projects? No. It is simply a fresh flavor, a different seasoning, a new way to prepare one of my favorite meals...

.Sean