VAN METSCHKE- Chief Cook and Bottle Washer
Like many techs, I cut my teeth on live production in high school. From running mic cables in my freshman year to working behind the sound console on choir tours in my senior year, I caught the tech bug early. Out of high school some friend’s band got a record contract and asked me to help them get their shows to sound better. I spent the next six years mixing, booking, road managing and bus repairing. I also got the chance to mix for many other bands and events.
Starting a family and winding down my touring days, I took a job with my friend Pete Tessitore at his fledgling installation and live production company, PT Pro Sound. Those six years were a unique blend AVL system design-installation for churches, schools, and municipalities as well as countless live events and everything in between. PT closed its doors after Pete’s untimely death.
In 1996 I was asked to become part of the tech staff at Saddleback Church by then tech director Ken Robertson. I continued with live events and install work outside of my duties at Saddleback as well. After five years of services, conferences, and events, Ken and I headed over to Mariners Church as they were ramping up to expand the main Irvine campus. After building a 3000 seat worship center, an amazing kids building and starting preparations for a chapel, student building, and full campus renovation, I was called to South Hills Church. South Hills was, at the time, two campuses and in the seven years I was on staff grew to seven campuses and multiple affiliate churches across the country. In 2013 I was asked to become the first full time technical director at Magnolia Church. Magnolia was embarking on a full remodel of their worship center building.
During my time at Mariners Church the church tech community was just in its infancy. Dabbling in podcasting and blogging I started to connect with people like Mike Sessler and with the premier of Twitter the church tech community really started to form. As a charter member of both the Church Tech Director’s Round Table (CTDRT) and the Church Technical Arts Network (CTAN), now known as Church Technical Leaders (CTLN), I was able to meet so many amazing church techs from around the country. Since then I’ve co-hosted the Church Tech Weekly Podcast with Mike and host the Church Tech Profiles Podcast. I’ve also been a contributor to SundayMag.tv and other publications.
In 2016 I joined the team at CCI Solutions, an AVL integrator based in the Pacific-North-West in the client solutions/ church relations role.
As of January 2021 I am the Church Relation guy at Vantage Pro AV. We use technology to improve connection and erase any barriers to reaching your audience through custom made audio, video, and lighting solutions (AVL). Vantage Pro is made up of some amazingly talented professionals that have worked in and for the church and the AVL industry for dozens of years. It is fun to work with not only my friends, but folks that are vastly smarter than I am.
Disclaimer: Even though Van is currently on staff at Vantage Pro AV, the views expressed herein are not necessarily those of the firm, though hopefully they will line up more often than not.
And another thing: This Podcast and any content on this site are for entertainment purposes only and you should always do your own research before taking the opinions giving here as gospel. While we have lots of experience in this field, it is opinion, based on our individual experiences. Your mileage may very.
Oh, and one more thing: Many of the guest and contributors to this website and on the podcasts may work for companies that could be endorsed or may advertise on this or partner sites. We do our best to sound the disclaimer bell when we share paid content, but do not assume that endorsements are unsolicited. Remember, your mama told you what happens when you “ass-u-me”.