Questions about job opportunities

[KW1816]

I've been reading Rod's thread about the Cedia courses with some interest, and I've got the brochure in front of me :grin: :grin:

Basically I work in IT infastructure and I'm fed up with the whole IT world - this is also the first job I've had which is more or less desk bound, and although I've been doing it for about 6 years, the sitting down all day still bugs me.

I've got a real interest and enthusiasm about Home Cinema and especially Home Automation, we've just moved into our new home and I've just about finished cabling it with a full complement of CAT 5e, COAX and speaker cable for the Russound whole house audio :grin:

I've also got a strong technical background, from installing Jukeboxes and background music systems in Pubs, to running the entire technical operation of a Shipboard Casino (including installations). Pop over here (http://www.carnival.com/CMS/Static_Templates/Virtual_Tours_Fascination.aspx) and click on 'Casino Royale - take a tour ' to see one of mine - 4 months in a Finnish shipyard working on that one, and I still hate the carpet :devil:

Anyway, this is starting to sound like a job application which wasn't my aim, (but if anyones interested, my CV is waiting :grin: ) what I was really interested in is an idea of how many employment opportunities there are for someone with a complimentary skill set, but no direct experience of custom installs ?

Would completing the Cedia Installer courses really make a difference in employability - or is direct experience a must ?

Really interested in any responses/suggestions as I would love to make a go of it as an installer.

Ta
Kevin.

[Family Guy]

Never make your hobby your job. I worked (part time) for someone on these forums and totally lost interest in Home Cinema - so much so, that my front left and right speakers were round the wrong way for 3 MONTHS and i didn't notice or care...

Get into the HC scene by all means if it's not your hobby. IMHO, there's nothing worse than installing all day in someone's house that you know have only put the HC in to increase the value of their property and then going home to try and sort problems in your own gear... :smashin:

[table manners]

i no this post is old but to anyone who reads this and wants to be a home cinema installer.i say go for it and follow ur dream.when i was at school i was the lighting/sound tech from when i started,went on to teach the A level when i was in year nine.to get be buy i was working for electricians as a labourer and in between that i helped my dads upholstery company.went on to wrk for a sony centre.was made redundent when the sister company went under(internet was to blame) .then left to wrk for sevenoaks sav as a installer.my time with sevenoaks was one of the best jobs ive had (was made redundant coz i dnt drive) but i wish i cud get back to installing coz when you got a passion for ur work,it feels that much betta.i still love all things a/v evan tho ive had bab luck ova the years with loseing my jobs.(tip dnt spend all ur money on av stuff when you dnt drive) anyway im back wrking at sony now and enjoying it loads.i will get back into installing coz ov my love of doing it and any install i do,i do as if its my own no matter why the customer wants it.any proper A/V enthusiast wud be the same.
nuf said

[table manners]

oh by the way im only 20 years of age.