Pros
Working with technicians with similar interests and backgrounds. Good low level management if you're lucky.
Cons
HR talks about everything they are doing for their technicians and the "benefits" they provide without ever considering raising pay. The business as a whole shows a disdain and complete lack of appreciation for the technicians that make everything happen. (And the way the HR meetings go shows this more than anything - they're desperate to tell you how good you have it with them). If you are skilled they will give you more work but will not adequately compensate you for your contribution to the business. The technical work is like a revolving door; they are constantly hiring new people because they have a hard time keeping the skilled workers. Skilled technicians with significantly more responsibilities and accountability are payed barely more than the sleepy eyed new technicians that can hardly run cable properly. Meanwhile sales is salaried and who knows what the heck is going on at corporate. Bottom line - Encore is to AV Technicians what Apple Bees is to Culinary Specialists: a pit stop on the road to something better run by a load of corporate vampires who tout how much they do for their workers by comparing their pay to other businesses. In this economy the baseline is not "what other businesses are doing" - it's cost of living. And when someone is only willing to pay you what people get payed to put potatoes in a fryer and mop the floor while you are responsible for the audio/video/lighting for a LIVE 5 digit $$,$$$ event with hundreds of people attending it shows you how much they really think about their employees and their skills. Last thing - live events are like this: the schedule can be living hell mixed with intermittent deadness so don't expect any semblance of a weekly life routine if you work as a technician.