Meet the Crew: Understanding AV Crew Roles

Meet the Crew: Understanding AV Crew Roles in Live Production

Behind every successful corporate event is a highly coordinated team of audio-visual (AV) professionals working across technical, creative, and operational disciplines. From executive leadership meetings and product launches to large-scale conferences and hybrid events, flawless execution depends on clearly defined roles, deep technical expertise, and disciplined collaboration.

This comprehensive guide outlines all essential AV crew positions for corporate events, explaining what each role does and why it matters. For event planners, corporate marketers, and creative agencies, understanding these roles leads to better planning, clearer communication, and more predictable outcomes. It also demonstrates how experienced production partners like GlobeStream Media structure crews to reduce risk and elevate production quality.

Executive Production & Technical Leadership

Executive Producer / Senior Producer

The Executive Producer provides strategic oversight from concept through execution. This role aligns the event’s technical and creative approach with business objectives, brand standards, budget parameters, and stakeholder expectations. In corporate environments, the Executive Producer often serves as a trusted advisor, helping stakeholders balance ambition with feasibility and return on investment.

Engineer in Charge (EIC)

The Engineer in Charge (EIC) is the senior technical authority responsible for the overall integrity, reliability, and performance of all AV systems. While individual department leads manage their respective disciplines, the EIC ensures that audio, video, lighting, intercom, RF, networking, and power systems are designed and deployed as a unified, resilient ecosystem.

For high-stakes corporate events—such as executive keynotes, investor meetings, and live broadcasts—the EIC plays a critical role in redundancy planning, risk mitigation, and technical decision-making.

Technical Director (TD)

The Technical Director is responsible for live show execution from a technical perspective. This includes managing rehearsals, overseeing signal flow, coordinating technical departments, and ensuring that all systems perform correctly during the event. The TD works closely with the EIC and production leadership to maintain timing, accuracy, and consistency.

Show Caller

The Show Caller is responsible for calling the show in real time, executing the run of show by verbally cueing lighting, audio, video, graphics, and stage actions over intercom. In corporate events with tightly scripted agendas, executive walk-ups, and timed media moments, the Show Caller ensures precise coordination across all departments.

While the Technical Director focuses on system performance, the Show Caller focuses on timing and execution, acting as the central conductor that keeps the live event moving exactly as planned.

Project Management & On-Site Operations

Project Manager

The Project Manager oversees pre-production planning, schedules, budgets, documentation, and stakeholder communication. This role ensures that technical requirements and deliverables are clearly defined well before show day, minimizing surprises and inefficiencies.

Production Manager

The Production Manager is responsible for on-site execution. This role manages crew labor, load-in and load-out sequencing, departmental coordination, and real-time logistics. In corporate environments with tight access windows and complex setups, the Production Manager keeps the production running safely and on schedule.

Production Coordinator

Supporting both project and production management, the Production Coordinator manages crew schedules, credentials, trucking coordination, and on-site logistics. This role ensures that information flows smoothly and operational details do not disrupt execution.

Audio Roles

Lead Audio Engineer (A1)

The A1 designs and operates the audio system, including microphones, playback, mixing, and system tuning. In corporate events, speech intelligibility and consistency are critical, and the A1 ensures clear, reliable sound for both in-room and broadcast audiences.

Audio Technician (A2)

The A2 supports the A1 by managing wireless microphones, stage patching, battery changes, and troubleshooting during the show. This role is essential during fast-paced corporate agendas with frequent speaker transitions.

Wireless Frequency Coordinator

The Wireless Frequency Coordinator manages all RF-based systems, including wireless microphones, intercom beltpacks, IFB, and in-ear monitors. Responsibilities include spectrum analysis, frequency coordination, interference mitigation, and FCC compliance—particularly important in RF-dense convention centers and urban venues.

Intercom Coordinator

The Intercom Coordinator designs, deploys, and manages communication systems connecting production leadership, operators, stage management, and technical teams. Clear intercom communication is essential for cueing, coordination, and rapid response during live events.

Video, Broadcast & Content Roles

Video Director

The Video Director determines how the event is visually presented to in-room and remote audiences. This role directs camera shots, coordinates with graphics and playback, and ensures executive messaging is delivered with clarity and professionalism.

Video Engineer (V1)

The Video Engineer manages signal routing, scaling, resolution management, and display systems such as LED walls and projection. This role ensures that content is delivered accurately and reliably across all destinations.

Camera Operators

Camera Operators capture live video for IMAG, recordings, and live streams. Skilled camera work enhances engagement and supports broadcast-quality corporate productions.

Playback / Media Operator

The Playback Operator manages presentation slides, videos, and motion assets. Precision is critical, as corporate content often includes executive messaging, financial data, and tightly scripted cues.

Graphics Operator

The Graphics Operator controls live graphic elements such as lower thirds, name keys, branded motion graphics, and data visualizations. This role ensures accuracy, timing, and brand consistency throughout the event.

Lighting Roles

Lighting Designer

The Lighting Designer creates the visual environment of the event, balancing brand aesthetics with functional lighting for presenters and cameras. Corporate lighting must support both audience experience and broadcast requirements.

Lighting Director / Lighting Console Operator

This role programs and operates the lighting console, executing cues during rehearsals and live shows. Consistency and timing are critical when lighting changes are tied to speaker walk-ups or content transitions.

Staging & Infrastructure

Stage Manager

The Stage Manager oversees backstage operations, cues presenters, manages stage flow, and coordinates with the Show Caller and production leadership. In corporate events involving executives and VIPs, this role ensures professionalism, confidence, and precise timing.

Carpenter

The Carpenter builds and modifies scenic elements, custom staging, platforms, steps, ramps, and scenic facades. In corporate events, carpenters are essential for safely executing custom stage designs, branded environments, and non-standard layouts while maintaining compliance with venue and safety requirements.

Rigger

Riggers are responsible for safely suspending lighting, audio, and video equipment from venue structures. Certified riggers ensure compliance with venue policies and safety standards, particularly in ballrooms, arenas, and convention centers.

Electrician

The Electrician manages electrical distribution, grounding, load balancing, and redundancy for all AV systems. Reliable power is foundational to corporate event success, especially for mission-critical presentations and live broadcasts.

Stagehands

Stagehands provide skilled labor for loading, unloading, assembling, cabling, and striking equipment. Professional stagehands are essential for maintaining safety, efficiency, and schedule integrity during complex productions.

Streaming & Hybrid Event Roles

Streaming / Broadcast Engineer

This role manages encoders, streaming platforms, signal paths, redundancy, and quality control for virtual and hybrid events. Reliability and uptime are critical for shareholder meetings, global town halls, and external-facing corporate broadcasts.

Virtual Event Producer

The Virtual Event Producer integrates live AV production with digital platforms, managing remote presenters, audience engagement tools, and platform workflows. As hybrid events become standard, this role ensures a seamless experience for remote attendees.

Texas-Specific AV Crew Considerations

Corporate events in Texas present unique production challenges and opportunities. Large venues across Austin, Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio often require detailed coordination with venue technical teams, strict rigging approvals, and advanced power planning. Texas events also frequently involve large-scale spaces, outdoor components, and weather-related contingencies that impact audio, lighting, and staging design. Partnering with an AV provider that understands local venues, labor practices, and regional logistics is critical to executing events reliably across the state.

Final Perspective

Corporate event success is driven by people as much as technology. Each AV crew role exists to reduce risk, improve execution quality, and support clear communication between stakeholders.

At GlobeStream Media, these positions are intentionally structured, scaled, and integrated based on the event’s technical demands—ensuring that every corporate production benefits from experienced leadership, disciplined execution, and collaborative problem-solving.