installing as career?

[Miles]

in my search for something i'll actually enjoy doing for a living i realized that being an audio installer may just be right up my alley. i've been debating going to an installer school, doing a couple intensive courses on fabrication/fiberglass/other such nonsense, getting my MECP certification, etc. and open my own shop a few years down the road. my question to the few in here who might know... what kind of career oppurtunities are out there? what's the pay usually like for those just starting out in the field?

[adero]

well, there are basically two paths, open a shop, or work for an audio manufacturer. Both would be fun as hell.

[TBSpyder]

It's not all it's cracked up to be. It's a shit load of work, alot of aggrovation, and responsibility...pay is nothing special. I know several people who have tried opening their own shops, all of which failed because of the amount of work, lack of income, and massive amount of competition....every customer wants something for nothing. Getting into the field without any professional experience is very difficult, you're basically limited to Circuit City or Best Buy unless you have connections somewhere else. I definetly don't plan on doing it as a life long career.

[93ex]

I could never do it. Sales sometimes makes up shit that install cant do, and sometimes install will take too long and sales will get pissed.

If I was gonna do it, I would install, never open a new shop, since everyone "knows" you and wants hookups and blah blah... venture capital and quotas and fuck that

[racingtheburg]

Golden words I say to my self..... :: You have to do something that has never been done or has been done and improve it and stay on top of it!!!! ::Like post above said everybody wants something for nothing your best bet is maybe being a manufacture that noone had any idea of making some sort of speaker or enclosure ect.... Or make an exsisting product better or more out there like the mainstream companies.

[kpr10is]

I cant speak for opening a shop but starting pay at Circuit is 9.25, which is a lot better than Best Buy, plus Circuit management is better, and even though we are dropping Alpine, we are getting Kicker later this year.

Its not bad, the only bad thing is dealing with people cuz everyone does want a deal or whatever. But its not really too aggravating, throwing in radios, sat radios, and speakers isnt too bad, no aggravating time consuming fabrication

[Miles]

Originally posted by kpr10is
I cant speak for opening a shop but starting pay at Circuit is 9.25, which is a lot better than Best Buy, plus Circuit management is better, and even though we are dropping Alpine, we are getting Kicker later this year.

Its not bad, the only bad thing is dealing with people cuz everyone does want a deal or whatever. But its not really too aggravating, throwing in radios, sat radios, and speakers isnt too bad, no aggravating time consuming fabrication 9.25 sounds pretty fucking good for splicing wires... and there's a circuit city literally a 30 second walk from my house :lol:

[93ex]

CC would be where its at for a basic job.. but if I couldnt flex my creative muscle id be bored

[kpr10is]

yeah...gotta start somewhere though. I need a whole lot more glass practice and shit before I can go to a custom shop or sound advice or wherever...and and there are 6 CCs in the orlando area so yeah you shouldnt have a problem miles. And whether it is boring or not all depends on the people you work with, the Clearwater store was fun as hell, Gainesville doesnt come close but its still not bad.

[Subsonic]

All that going to a school like Ritop or Installers Institute does is betters your chances of getting hired. It will help you out with the basics of custom work if you've never worked in the field.... lots of tips and tricks...But they're pricey for what they are.... I am a Ritop graduate(most people tell me thats nice)... hasnt really helped me as much as MECP

M.E.C.P. will get you more money at the start at like BB/CC... and both are a good place to get the basics... it is alot cheaper than going to school... plus the test isnt that hard...

Custom stereo shops hire green guys round 8 to 10hr with schooling and no experience... alot won't hire w/o aleast 5+yrs

Dealerships are always looking for alarm installers... if you're good you can make 10 to 15hr... I just left a 15hr job at a dealership to go back to doin custom work... so there are jobs out there

But Just like TBSPYDER said,

It's not all it's cracked up to be. It's a shit load of work, alot of aggrovation, and responsibility...
I definetly don't plan on doing it as a life long career.

[kpr10is]

MECP will get u more at BB, but no more at CC, and CC used to pay for their installers to take the test but not anymore. All companies get cheaper by the day.

[TBSpyder]

Originally posted by Miles
9.25 sounds pretty fucking good for splicing wires... and there's a circuit city literally a 30 second walk from my house :lol:

Well installing may be the career for you then. I personally would like to be making atleast $50k++ a year in the near future....and I don't see that possible in this field.

[Miles]

Originally posted by TBSpyder
Well installing may be the career for you then. I personally would like to be making atleast $50k++ a year in the near future....and I don't see that possible in this field. well, i'm 19... no degree... so i'll take what i can get for the moment. i don't expect it to be a life long thing, just something to get me going, save up some money, etc.

[kpr10is]

Originally posted by TBSpyder
Well installing may be the career for you then. I personally would like to be making atleast $50k++ a year in the near future....and I don't see that possible in this field.
Near future....what field do you plan on getting in to if you dont mind me asking

[TBSpyder]

Originally posted by kpr10is
Near future....what field do you plan on getting in to if you dont mind me asking

Health & Fitness

[Subsonic]

Originally posted by TBSpyder
Well installing may be the career for you then. I personally would like to be making atleast $50k++ a year in the near future....and I don't see that possible in this field.

It all depends on where you work.... I mean you wont get it at first and you got to build a job up to that... but you can get there.