How long have you been with Switch?

I have been with the Switch since February of 2000 – just shy of 15 years.

Current clients/projects?

I bounce around to a fair number of Switch clients. Upcoming projects are a trade show for Webster University at the ASIS show in Atlanta. After that will be Stifel at the America’s Center Convention Complex in St. Louis and then a showcase down in Nashville.

How did you first get involved in this industry?

I first started in the industry back in junior high, when I worked as a kid-wrangler and lighting tech for the musical A Christmas Carol at the local YMCA. From there, I worked on shows in various capacities throughout high school. I did a summer stock in Allentown, Pa. before my junior year of high school. That experience helped me learn a fair amount about the industry, and it allowed me to help teach others what I had learned during my senior year.

After high school, I attended the Conservatory of Theater Arts at Webster University to earn a BFA in Technical Direction. While at Webster, I met Mark Wilson, my drafting teacher. Mark taught me a lot about the industry, but more importantly he introduced me to a company called Busch Creative Services (now Switch). He brought me on to help with the tech drawings for Anheuser-Busch and Primerica’s conventions while I was working for the Black Repertory theatre after graduation. I would help at Busch Creative before and after my regular hours for the Black Rep to help out on anything I could. I was hired full-time in December of that year and worked as the draftsmen for the AB Convention on the Expo side. From there I have worked on many different projects throughout the years.

What about your personal background (education, hobbies, interests) helps to inspire/enhance your professional life?

I don’t know where I got it from, but I’m a little OCD. My OCD helps me work things over in my head, which helps when getting ready for an install or a show. I will run the process over and over in my head to find the flaws and find ways to fix them. This combines the joy of solving puzzles with the curse of having blueprints of buildings and shows stuck in your head.

Is there any project in particular you would consider a “breakthrough?”

One of my favorite things to work on over the years has been the Anheuser-Busch Conventions, especially the 2004 one in Orlando. It was the largest one we did, featuring a 300,000 square-foot venue with wall-to-wall carpet (and tons of copper running under the carpet). Overhead were 2.5 miles of truss and lighting. I always have fun talking about the massive size of the conventions I’ve worked on.

What are the current challenges you’re facing in the industry today?

I find that communication is always a challenge that we all face. In our fast paced world, we often forget to take time to sit down and make sure people understand the task in front of them. The old saying, “measure twice and cut once,” is not always in effect, and that creates waste in both time and materials. It’s hard, but sometimes you just need to slow down and take a second to fully prepare before acting.

To reach Keith, drop him a line at KeithE@theswitch.us