live production summit

Live Production Summit 2026

Let’s start with why I was even at the Live Production Summit (LPS) in the first place. Pixelhue, a long-time partner of AV Educate, invited me to speak at this year’s event. I’ll be honest, I’ve had my eye on LPS for a few years. I was curious about what it really was, beyond the posts and highlights.

And the best place to start is with the people.

Joaquin Martinez & Omar Colom @ LPS

I’m going to start with Joaquin Martinez, because on a purely human level, it was just good to see a friend.

Joaquin is a rare mix of creative passion and technical genius. He’s always pushing the boundaries of technology and ideas, but not in a hand-wavy way. He solves for the why and the how in real time, and watching those gears turn is half the fun. His mind is built for video. As an official trainer for Disguise, Pixera, Watchout, and Resolume, the possibilities are basically endless. You bring the idea, he maps it out, then tells you which box actually makes sense for your vision.

“And yes, he understands that dreams come with budgets. He can solve for that, too”

As for what we got into at LPS, it involved some genuinely delicious food and time spent with the Pixera team, who were not only great people to hang with, but also some of the best folks you could hope to share a meal with. Unforced, curious, and grounded in real-world experience, these types of conversations are where much of LPS's value quietly lives.

If you’re looking to learn from Joaquin, he won’t steer you wrong. His good nature and openness will give you more insight than you think you need and usually precisely what you didn’t know you were missing. Definitely check him out at Evolve Academy.

Laura Frank and Omar Colom

My most important mention, without question, is Laura Frank.

If you know me at all or if you’re getting to know me, you know I love books. Not always the act of reading them, but the discipline of it. I force myself to read constantly because that’s how understanding compounds over time. Laura Frank is hands-down one of my favorite authors in the AV space, and I recommend her work to anyone in this industry who wants to understand high-res video. Her books aren’t just theory; they’re field translators. Even if the concepts don’t fully click on the first pass, they will start to make sense once you’re standing behind the system and know what to look for.

Books:

Real-Time Video Content for Virtual Production & Live Entertainment: A Learning Roadmap for an Evolving Practice 1st Edition

Screens Producing and Media Operations: Advanced Practice for Media Server and Video Content Preparation 2nd Edition

Laura Frank Books Highly Recommended by AVE

There’s something uniquely powerful about meeting the author of a book that shapes how you think and having them know who you are, too. That moment hits hard. I’m fully aware I’m “that person”: I collect signed books from people I know personally, people whose numbers are in my phone, whose work is signed, framed, and living in my home. That’s how much I value learning and the people who take the time to pour their knowledge into these books.

If you’re curious, you can check out a curated collection of books covering Audio, Video, Lighting, and even business titles that the AV Educate team genuinely recommends inside the AV Library. It’s not about reading more. It’s about understanding better.

“Books are one of the lowest-cost, lowest-pressure, highest-return ways to absorb real knowledge”

Nikki Sanz and Omar Colom

Nikki Sanz, This was the first time I got to meet Nikki in person, and hopefully not the last. Her energy is immediate, focused, intentional, and clearly rooted in building something that matters. She’s the kind of founder who moves with purpose, and I’ve learned that when you’re around people like that, you don’t slow them down you respect the momentum.

So this time, I took the photo (yes, a little bragging rights), appreciated the moment, and saved the deeper conversation for the future, because that’s the part I’m genuinely interested in.

If you’re not familiar with Nikki’s work, take the time to look at what she’s building with GIGGS. It’s thoughtful, human centered, and clearly designed to solve real problems in how people connect to work. That kind of intention stands out in our industry and it’s a conversation worth continuing.

Allen Wu and Omar Colom

Let’s talk about the speaking engagement and yes, that photo.

This event sits at a unique intersection: Rock & Roll industry energy mixed with corporate AV sensibility. Picture black-on-black jeans, band tees, punk jewelry, long hair, the uniform of people who build shows for the love of the game but with attitude. Now, if you know Allen at all, you know his public presence is the opposite end of the spectrum: sharp, international, polished. And I love a good suit.

“So I challenged Allen to see who could wear it better”

This year, Allen Wu won. Fair and square. His suit was layered, flowed with color, and every detail felt intentional. Meanwhile, I clearly can’t shake the Miami out of my wardrobe and could use a better tailor. I’ll concede this round, but next year, with a few new Versace pieces in rotation, I’ll be ready.

Now, the talk itself, honestly, was great.

I had peers in the room. I had people laughing, which I’ll take as a good sign they’ll remember something. If you’ve never seen me speak or taken one of my classes, that’s always the goal: educate and entertain. Learning should be fun. It should be a little edgy- just like our industry. That’s my philosophy as an educator. Learn new things, enjoy the process, and meet good people along the way. That combination still fills me with genuine joy.

That’s the takeaway I’m bringing with me.

Chris Musgrave and Omar Colom

Chris Musgrave, thank you for putting together an event where people can genuinely connect, where manufacturers and businesses actually have the time to talk, where the next generation can learn and engage, and where AV veterans can pass down hard-earned knowledge. You created a space where someone like me can share a stage with the industry’s best, and that’s not something I take lightly.

I appreciate you reaching out and giving me the challenge and the opportunity to be part of it.

Why LPS Worked:

I’ll close with this: Live Production Summit (LPS) is special for its scale and its intention. It’s small, but it draws heavy hitters. More importantly, it gives you time. Real time. The kind you don’t usually get at larger events where everyone’s rushing, selling, or networking for the sake of networking. Here, you could actually sit down and talk.I had conversations I know wouldn’t have happened elsewhere. I got to nerd out on tech with the Pixera team. I caught up with my friend Joaquin Martinez on life. I spoke with Laura Frank about her books and future ideas. I met Nikki Sanz in person. When we’re all so busy, a real handshake, eye contact, and meaningful introduction hold a lot of weight, not just text messages and emails. That matters. Looking back, I probably should have leaned in even more. The opportunities were there if you spoke up. Next year, I might even bring a booth, not to sell, but to sit down and talk. To connect people to education, resources, and work.

“Education is part of the solution, but work is the other half. Bridging those two worlds more intentionallY is something I need to do better”