On the Road! Meeting with Carl Paradis, Chief Installer at Creos

One of Creos' prides is the quality of the installations we represent, and their reliability at each event. The experience of our chief installers on the road and the quality of assembly and disassembly are closely linked to the success of the presentation. Over time, their expertise allows them to be proactive in problem-solving and even to make suggestions for improvements to the installations. Today, we introduce one of the senior members of our team of chief installers.

Carl, tell us about your journey before joining Creos as a chief installer? What attracted you to this role?

I initially received training in sound recording at the Recording Institute of Canada, then worked for about ten years as a technician on several Montreal productions. I then shifted towards event production, first as a site manager at the Quartier des Spectacles, then with Conterm, a supplier of modified containers for event productions. When my first child was born in 2017, I wanted to go back to freelancing. It was precisely that same year that a former colleague and friend of mine invited me to lend a hand at Creos, which was looking for a technician for the maintenance of their installations. I was drawn to the idea of working with this brand-new type of product, interactive installations. I also dreamed of being able to travel for work. It was the perfect opportunity to give it a try! I completed my first mission as a chief installer in November 2017, in Detroit.

How does this background serve you for this work?

My previous experiences as a technician, as well as my time in the workshop at Creos and Init, have allowed me to understand well how artworks are designed and how they function. If there's an assembly challenge or unexpected issues on-site, I'm already well-equipped. Having already tested and understood the components, I may have already encountered similar problems, which allows me to quickly find solutions. I also have my forklift driver's license, which can be quite handy in the workshop and the field.

Precisely, what is your role as a chief installer?

When a client rents a Creos installation and I'm assigned to the project, I'm responsible for setting up the installation according to the layout plan agreed upon with the client. I manage the local technical teams who assist me during the setups. I ensure that everything is functional and in perfect condition for the public opening. The same process is followed for disassembly!

I work closely with the technical director and the project manager, who specify all the details beforehand with the client. I am regularly trained to stay up-to-date for each installation, and there is also a lot of mutual assistance and knowledge sharing among the chief installer team. This is also a key to our success over the years.

What does a typical setup day look like?

We travel and always arrive on-site the day before setup. This allows us to meet the client in the evening and visit the site with them to validate all technical elements and be ready for the next day. I also need to contact the truck driver who will deliver the installation to confirm the unloading details. On setup day, I like to arrive about thirty minutes early to better familiarize myself with the site and welcome the local team. I present the installation to them through photos and videos, which helps their understanding and serves as a motivating factor. When the truck arrives, we start working! We unload and then begin assembly, which is usually done in a day, although the type of installation, the site, and the weather conditions can influence our work. We also need to adapt to the schedules and habits of the local workers. In the evening, when possible, I like to take the opportunity to try local restaurants and have joyful encounters, chatting with people. The second setup day is dedicated to finishing work, final checks, and finalizing programming if necessary. I also provide a briefing to a member of the client's team on the use of the installation, its opening and closing, access to equipment, etc. I also confirm the location of the signage with them. Then I take photos for Creos' technical and communications teams. Finally, I ensure that all Creos equipment and material are collected so that the presentation site is impeccable. Creos cares about the environment, at least we try during setup and teardown to generate as little waste as possible. Rubber bands and tape have been replaced with Velcro, packing tape with reusable covers, etc.

And, when logistics allow, I attend the official opening of the event. I've received a few interview requests, but I leave that to the professionals and creators :) Afterward, I produce a setup report to the technical director and project manager at Creos.

So you are the face of the company on-site. How do you establish a connection with the client?

Customer service is indeed very important. Before I depart, the project manager at Creos provides me with information by sharing the context and specificities of the site, the client, the event, etc. This helps me a lot in my preparation.

Once on-site, the client is sometimes stressed; it's normal, they have to deliver an event, block streets, and meet deadlines. My approach is to remain calm and relaxed while adapting to the client's personality and needs. I like to confirm as many details as possible, ensure that everything is in order for setup, and that we agree on schedules, the layout plan, power sources, in short, I show the client that I'm taking charge of the project that I'm "taking care of everything". It relieves them and instills confidence.

What challenges do you encounter in your work?

Often people think that the challenge of our work is the diversity of installations that we must master and install. There are indeed many installations, and good technical knowledge is required. But after 7 years, I know most of them quite well. For me, the real challenge is the variety of sites and the diversity of teams we have to work with. Each setup is different.

For the variety of dissemination locations, the production team at Creos ensures that they validate as many points as possible during their preparatory meetings and technical calls with the client. By the time I arrive, almost everything has been anticipated, and I mainly handle unforeseen events or special requests. For example, in Tennessee, we had to dismantle at dawn due to their opening hours. At 8 a.m. when the site opened, the installation was dismantled, and the truck had left the site. It also happened that the planned storage site didn't work. I worked with our client to evaluate options, and we eventually found a solution that met our respective safety criteria!

In Calgary, in winter, it was -30°C (-22°F) during the setup of an all-metal structure installation. It certainly slowed down the process; we had to give the teams more breaks. In Niagara Falls, we had a setup in the mud. These various weather conditions or particular circumstances require flexibility and significant schedule management adaptation.

For managing local teams, my trick is to quickly identify each player's strengths to distribute tasks well and optimize work. My goal is always to accomplish setup or teardown safely, and productively, while maintaining the quality guaranteed by Creos. The teams can be really different. I've had teams of qualified technicians, volunteers, movers, workers in social reintegration, and even once three women who stopped their office jobs to lend a hand. Every time, it went well. We adapt, and that's part of the game!?

You seem to enjoy being in "problem-solving" mode? Do you get bored when everything goes well? :)

Haha... perhaps. Some setups are very quick, just a few hours, and you think it's almost been too easy! But it's never negative (and it gives me time to discover restaurants ;)). It simply means that everyone has done their job well! But it's always fun to have little challenges to tackle ;)

So, how do you prepare? And what tools are provided to you by the Creos team?

The key tool that I can't do without is the summary of the technical call made between Creos' production team and the client's team, with the project manager's report. It's the tool that confirms all the details agreed upon between the parties, the team I'll be working with, the schedules, the specifics, etc. It's my solid link with the reality of the field and the client.

In addition to the training received for each installation, about a week before the setup, I also receive an installation setup guide, the layout plan meticulously prepared by the technical director, and photos of the site to guide me. I also like to use Google Street View on my own to explore and master the site as much as possible. We're really well equipped and we work in very good conditions.

What stimulates you the most as a chief installer? And what strengths enable you to do this job well?

I love being and working in places and cities where I never thought I'd go. I love this aspect of discovery that this job offers me, and the fact that I get to work outdoors. Also, I'm a social bug. I enjoy meeting people, and these different assignments allow me to meet a lot of new and different people, and to listen to their stories. That's what makes each project so enjoyable. And I think that being a good communicator allows me to quickly establish a trusting relationship with each client and the local teams. Also, the diversity of my professional background helps me adapt easily and always be in problem-solving mode.

I must also say that good working conditions and the excellent preparation done upstream by my colleagues play an important role in my pleasure of doing this job. I'm never left to myself; I feel supported.

When you return home after a project, what inspires you?

My family! It's my first and foremost priority in my life! My partner and I have two lively boys (aged 7 and 4). We spend a lot of time outdoors, and cycling. Otherwise, when I'm not on the road testing different restaurants, I enjoy cooking and smoking meat :)

Looking forward to crossing paths with you at my next destination!