FAQ | Hiring a Technical Director

Why Hire a TD, TP, or PM

A Technical Director owns the technical side of the show: systems, crew, schedule, and making sure everything works when the doors open. A Technical Producer sits between the creative and the technical, turning the client's goals into a plan the crew can build. A Project Manager keeps the whole thing on track: vendors, budgets, timelines, and logistics. On a lot of shows I do all three, or I fill whichever seat you're missing.
Your AV company is great at providing gear and technicians. What they don't always provide is someone whose only job is your show. I'm the person who reads the room, catches the problem before it becomes your problem, and speaks both the client's language and the crew's. A crew lead once called me a full time translator and firefighter, and that's a pretty accurate job description.
Earlier than you think. Most onsite problems are created weeks before load in, and the cheapest place to fix anything is on paper. Bringing me in during planning means better drawings, tighter bids, and fewer surprises on show day. That said, I've also been the call when a show is already in trouble.
Yes. Fifty people in a boardroom and 2,000 in a ballroom follow the same steps. A smaller event just has less room for mistakes, and usually fewer people watching for them.

It starts with a conversation about the event, the venue, and what success looks like for you. From there I build the plan: site survey, drawings, gear and crew needs, schedule, and budget. Then I run the technical side onsite from load in through load out.
Depending on the scope: 2D ground plans and venue drawings, simple 3D renders, gear lists, crew plans, production schedules, and run of show support. I'm Vectorworks certified at the Professional level, so the drawings are accurate and ready for the venue and your vendors.
I'm there before the crew and leave after the last case is loaded. During the show I might be calling cues, directing cameras, running video, or overseeing every department. If you don't notice me during the show, I'm doing my job.
Both. I work directly with corporate teams and planners, and I freelance for production companies who need a TD, producer, or operator on their shows. When I'm on your crew, I represent your company, not mine.
I take the technical stress off your plate so you can focus on your client and your program. I make pre-production smoother by asking the right questions early, so nothing gets missed. I make sure the venue has what it needs from us, and we have what we need from the venue, long before load in. By show day, the hard part is already handled.