I've always been installing home theater components into family and friends places, along with a few setups at my own residence. But I have no formal training or ever worked in the field. I have two openings available at two of the nicest hifi companys in St Louis (one is in the heart of the wealthiest township in the midwest!) And I'd like to hear from others how I should go about aquiring these jobs? The one that I really want will have a installer position opening soon due to their guy moving back to Ireland, and the owner knows I've been doing this for a long while (its the place where I bought his Huge home theater display from right off the floor the day I went in to see if he was hiring about 8 yrs ago)

Since then I've been doing cat5 installs for networking, Coax for cable, projectors, plazmas, and all sorts of audio. I know quite a bit about finishing work from my home construction days. And room treatment for sound from my studio days. But what are my chances of getting this gig without any schooling? Thanks for any and all help. Wish me luck I realllly need this job! L8

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Many states (including GA) offer/require low voltage certifications before someone can be "turned loose" on an installation. You might try googling "low voltage license MO" or some such.
Other than that, It seems that your skill is one that is learned by doing, as opposed to having a piece of paper that says you know how.
Word-of-mouth from previous clients, and maybe pictures of previous installs will probably be the best credentials.

I think that if you want to improve your chances big time, be able to talk Dolby and THX backwards, know your way around multi-room audio, get familiar with blueprints and of course, know his product line. It is a big step from installing an exotic home theater system in existing construction to working with blueprints to wire a whole house for both audio and video. I'd just ask the guy if he has a position for an installer's assistant, where you can learn on the fly.
I worked for a small company in Reno that did big business in home audio/video installation and the catalogs of distribution components for just the audio was intimidating, much less trying to figure out where to put what during the different phases of construction. Mix in video and you better know what you are doing. Way to much to try to learn as a lead man. Even though some companies like Sony now tout easy distribution or networking, many of these high end shops don't mess with that consumer stuff. Even then, a buyer may like the Sony ES stuff, but prefer a Pioneer Elite screen or some Levinson amps. It can get twisted quickly.

One screw up could end up eating the labor profit or worse. With 20 years of experience selling audio at the point I worked for Wild West in Reno, I would without hesitation, refer even the sales to the home install guys so that it would get done right the first time. Much better to get a little consideration for the referral than piss off the $50,000 customer. (and that was before the days of LCD's pasted into every room's walls.)
Ask for a job that is within your capacity and share your experience. If he has something for your level of experience, you will get more. If he doesn't, I bet he will share where you can learn more.

Good luck.

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Wudman
Home of the one and only Fiero Photo-Rama
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