What is your background and how did you get into the industry?
I got into the AV industry by interviewing with a prestigious Audio Video Rep Firm located in Metro, NY because they liked my work ethic. I was taught by some of the best in the industry. I molded what I learned and where I came from into what I am today: a 20+ year veteran in the residential, commercial AV marketplace who has traveled and sold products all over the world.
What are your thoughts on this year’s ISE – the way things were handled in difficult circumstances? Any thoughts on the show in general?
We are all sad at MuxLab about what was forced to happen in the AV industry re trade shows and networking in general. It’s been a tough year for so many reasons and we greatly miss the ISE show. While the show organisers did the best they could in this difficult situation, we aren’t surprised by the way things worked out for this summer. As a Canadian company, we’re still behind on vaccinations and have travel restrictions in place which made being a part of ISE this summer very difficult. When we heard about the switch to four regional shows we still weren’t confident they would go on considering the current global situation. One thing is for sure, we’re excited for ISE 2022.
What sectors are going to struggle post-pandemic, in your opinion, and do you have any thoughts about how tech can help push things forward?
Residential and commercial sectors in big cities are going to suffer on the short term. Living close to Manhattan, when no one is crossing the street at rush hour you know we have a problem. It will be another year to a year and half before we see the ‘normal’ we remember. The easier we make communicating virtually and getting that to a price point that is affordable, all the better off we will be.
The reason I say this is because now more than ever when I walk down the street I see people holding their phones in front of them talking on video chat to friends, family, coworkers, and business associates. I even saw a kid the other day walking and video chatting and he walked right through a puddle. Education will continue to have a virtual piece as will many businesses who don’t go back to full capacity for some time. We’re expecting to see live streaming and digital signage as booming solutions moving forward.
What are some of the challenges the professional AV industry faced in the wake of the pandemic?
The main challenge was no one was moving. Everyone was working or schooling from home. No traffic to restaurants, live events, sports events, and the list goes on. Life as we know it was on pause, including the professional AV industry.
What technologies have prevailed in 2020/2021, which have suffered, and why?
Streaming solutions have prevailed, and if you are an app developer or owner (like Uber Eats, Instacart, Door Dash, and Grubhub) you had a great year professionally. No one wanted to leave their homes and after all of that eating you needed a Peloton because the gym was closed! People were afraid of the unknown. Amazon, Walmart.com, Fed Ex, UPS, USPS saw record months, and record growth.
Those who suffered were anyone who owned a business that could not adapt to the immediate change. Commercial real estate, empty offices, and empty schools meant there was a reduced need for Pro AV unless it was on a laptop, wireless router, or tablet.
How do you expect your business to be affected by the current global situation?
Our business needs not to be affected. If my parents taught me anything it is to improvise, adapt, and overcome. That’s why I am here and that’s why we’re confident in MuxLab’s success moving forward.
What new trends in the AV industry do you think we will see moving forward even once the pandemic is over?
The world definitely needs more bandwidth. Someone is going to have to talk to the world leaders and open up the frequencies so we can push more data. Streaming is going to grow by leaps and bounds and become more lifelike but not for this generation. You can expect it from our kids when they become of age and enter the business world.
