Coaching, Leading, Educating, and Mentoring with Clem Harrod
Clem Harrod’s story is one of personal growth, professional excellence, and a deep passion for fostering community in the Live Event Production Industry. Clem’s business, CLEMCO.AV, stands for Coaching, Leading, Educating, and Mentoring. His philosophy, encapsulated in his mantra “See it… Believe it… Achieve it…” and his hashtag #Projection101, emphasizes the power of small, intentional adjustments over time to achieve long-term goals. Similar to adjustments made to projectors, Clem applies his Projection101 process to real life where subtle adjustments can have long lasting impact.
As one of the few Black leaders in his field, Clem recognizes the importance of representation. Through mentorship and volunteering, he inspires others to follow in his footsteps, proving that success in the AV world is achievable regardless of one’s background.
Often referred to as “The Professor of Projection”, Clem’s most recent step in his instructional journey was centered around the City of Tampa’s Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Parade Foundation Gala. This event is special to Clem because of the alignment he feels with Dr. King and his drive to manifest his Dream into a reality. By leveraging the gala to produce his 2nd Annual “Living the Dream” Audio-Visual Leadership Academy, in conjunction with his Video Projection 101 On-Site Practicum, Clem taught high school students about the audio-visual industry through a real-life application.
A Collaboration with Nationwide Video
From executing a complex multi-screen blend to using cutting-edge technology to do so, Clem’s most recent project, with projectors acquired from Nationwide Video, was stunning. For the MLK Gala in Tampa, FL, Clem and his team created a breathtaking 138×19-foot, five-screen blended image on a brick wall that showcased beautiful images of Tampa while also putting a spotlight on some of the Bay Area’s struggling residents. All of this was set to the soulful sounds of Alex Harris as he performed the title track from Gregory Porter’s Grammy Award winning album Take Me to the Alley.
Day 1
The first day of the “Living the Dream” Audio-Visual Leadership Academy and the Video Projection 101 Workshop was an exciting mix of learning, teaching, and collaboration. Clem’s company, CLEMCO.AV, had the privilege of hosting seven high school students eager to explore the world of audio-visual technology. Alongside them were seasoned professionals: multiple technicians from Tampa, a technician from Houston, another from New York, one from Cincinnati, and a video projectionist from Orlando.
On the way to the warehouse for the day of preparation and fundamental education, Clem had a great conversation with the New York tech whom he picked up from his hotel. Clem said that having that conversation, and feeling grounded in what he does, really contributed to the day’s success. Once on-site, the focus shifted to setting up the show and teaching every step of the way.
The class began with Clem sharing a document with the students outlining the event’s expectations. This checklist provided a roadmap for the two-day learning process, emphasizing practical awareness over classroom instruction. By previewing what was coming, Clem allowed the students to dive deeper into the live event workflow without spending excessive time in the classroom. Instead, they were able to devote their time to practical, hands-on education.
The Importance of Power Metering
A key lesson for day one revolved around metering power—an essential yet often intimidating aspect of AV setups. Clem emphasized that it was great to have a healthy respect for power without fearing it and explained critical processes such as:
- Metering ground and neutral.
- Being sure to use an abundance of caution as opposed to rushing into any power decisions. He even made the comparison to the “measure twice, cut once” philosophy to ensure safety and accuracy.
Precision in Projection
Projection alignment was another significant focus on day one. Clem demonstrated how to measure the start and stop points for a 138’ screen to achieve symmetry, parallel lines, and proper overlap. Despite the warehouse they were staging this in having initial obstacles like beams and pillars, the team managed to bring the vision to life on the gray brick wall, filling the aspect ratio perfectly.
Hands-On Learning
To enhance understanding, network, power, and signal cables were meticulously labeled. Specific cable lengths were sourced to fit the show’s requirements. The students had the opportunity to observe and assist, gaining insight into cable management and live event setups. They also got to experience some hands-on education with the projectors themselves.
The Role of Community and Collaboration
Clem was very grateful to have support from key partners for this two-day event. Nationwide Video happily donated (5) Panasonic PT-RQ25KU Projectors to the project because of Clem’s longstanding relationship with the gear rental provider. Clem also received support from Molecular Media who donated equipment, including cables, feeder, a power distro, truss towers, computers, and their recently acquired Pixelhue Q8.
In addition to the equipment donations, the Academy also received a financial gift from The Watch Dog Technical Group that allowed each student to walk away with a FREE copy of Clem’s books Career Projection 101 and Video Projection 101.
These collaborations highlighted the importance of fostering genuine, community relationships in the industry and shone a light on three great partners who helped bring this event and educational experience to life.
Wrapping Up
The day concluded with a full strike of the setup, finishing by 6 PM. Clem stressed the importance of rest, ensuring everyone left at a reasonable hour to recharge for Day 2.
Day 2: Bringing the Vision to Life
The second day began with a 1:30 PM call time with a 2 PM truck delivery. The day’s first lesson focused on financial literacy, an often-overlooked element of the AV industry. Each student received an example of an Invoice Receipt, breaking down labor and expenses while introducing CLEMCO.HR’s recommended financial allocations. This is something Clem finds very important to educate young business professionals on. As Independent Contractors, it’s important for them to learn about financial literacy as early as possible. Here’s Clem’s recommended breakdown for 1099 Contractors:
- 60% for general bills and spending.
- 25% for taxes.
- 10% as a cushion for slow periods in this industry.
- 5% for retirement.
This “60/40 Split”—60% for today’s needs and 40% for future planning—aims to help technicians manage their income effectively in a fluctuating industry.
Setting Up at the Venue
By 6:15 PM, everything was loaded and aligned at the venue. The client and attendees were amazed by the seamless execution and stunning visuals. For many, it was a deeply emotional and intimate experience, displaying the power that live events has to move people. One attendee even approached Clem the following day at another event to express their admiration, saying, “You deserve your flowers for what you accomplished at the Gala.” Clem’s response was simple yet profound: “To God be the glory.”
Clem’s Holistic Approach
While it’s always important to provide the best event possible for the client, Clem makes sure to bring a positive holistic attitude to everything he does. When most people make work their life, it can be overwhelming. Clem, however, has such a healthy approach to it. He makes the work fit into his life by giving every part purpose and meaning.
It’s abundantly clear that Clem’s life mission is to make a positive impact on this industry and, in turn, the world.
With each lesson he learns, Clem processes it for himself, then he reverse-engineers the lesson, and turns it into an opportunity to Coach, Lead, Educate, and Mentor someone else.
It truly becomes a full-circle moment.
See it . Believe it . Achieve it .
#Projection101
Nationwide Video is grateful to provide projection for events like this where future professionals are learning about the AV industry. When young adults get the opportunity to learn about the industry, we believe that the whole industry benefits from it.
To learn more about our projection inventory or talk to our team about all the things Nationwide Video does, give our team a shout at 800.935.2323 or info@subrent.com