What academy of production technology does

Academy of Production Technology (APT) is a privately held, founder-operated training company that delivers ETCP-recognized instruction to live event production professionals. Founded by Richard Cadena, an ETCP Certified Entertainment Electrician and ETCP Recognized Trainer with 38 years of industry experience, APT serves stage hands, technicians, electricians, designers, programmers, systems integrators, engineers, and consultants across concert tours, television, theatre, motion picture, and corporate event production. Training is mapped to ETCP Entertainment Electrician and Portable Power Distribution Technician certification exam content outlines and awards ETCP recertification credits upon completion. Named past clients of the founder's consulting practice include Cirque du Soleil, Carnival Cruise Lines, SeaWorld, Saturday Night Live, and the NBA, alongside training relationships with multiple IATSE locals (1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 16, 58, 205, 479).

APT's core product set spans three delivery formats priced at $99–$549: (1) self-paced online courses built around short (10–15 minute) videos with comprehension quizzes, including the 48-lesson Portable Power Distribution and Electrics course and the Entertainment Lighting Control Systems course covering DMX, RDM, sACN, Art-Net, and Ethernet; (2) one- to two-day instructor-led in-person classes at partner venues such as IATSE Local 728 (Burbank) and The Voxel (Baltimore); and (3) two multi-edition authored textbooks (Electricity for the Entertainment Electrician, 4th Edition; Automated Lighting, 3rd Edition) sold at $58.99–$71.99. Supporting free resources include an Unbalanced 3-Phase Power Calculator, electrics practice apps, evaluation quizzes, and a Substack newsletter (Stagehand 101).

The business operates on a one-time/perpetual-license pay-as-you-go model with no subscriptions, no institutional funding, and no parent company. Distribution is split between self-serve e-commerce via aptxl.com (global, individual buyers) and direct sales for in-person and private organizational training (regional, enterprise buyers). Marketing relies on industry publication columns (Lighting & Sound America, Lighting & Sound International, Protocol), speaking engagements at colleges and universities, organic social (Facebook, Twitter, Vimeo), and word-of-mouth within the IATSE community. Headcount is not disclosed; the founder is the primary instructor, and the company operates as a remote/home-based business out of the Austin, TX area.

Name

academy of production technology

Legal name

Academy of Production Technology

Website

https://aptxl.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Academy of Production Technology is a founder-operated training company that delivers ETCP-recognized courses, textbooks, and workshops on entertainment electrics, lighting control, and networking to live event production professionals and IATSE union members.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Training and Certification Services

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Construction, Engineering & Skilled Trades Licensure Prep (EDAAANAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Curriculum for Compliance & Safety Training (K-12/Higher-Ed Non-Corporate) (EDAFACAK)

Keywords

• Live event training
• ETCP certification courses
• Entertainment electrician training
• Portable power distribution
• Lighting control systems

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Online Course Sales: Self-paced online courses delivered via video format with quizzes. Includes 24-hour online access and up to one year to complete. Revenue from individual course purchases.
2. On-Site/Classroom Training: In-person instructor-led training classes at various locations (Burbank, Baltimore). Classes are priced per registration and provide ETCP recertification credits upon completion.
3. Safety Training Courses: Specialized online courses such as Lockout/Tagout covering safety procedures for electrical settings.
4. Book Sales: Sale of technical books authored by Richard Cadena including Electricity for the Entertainment Electrician (4th Edition) and Automated Lighting: The Art and Science of Moving and Color-Changing Lights (3rd Edition).
5. Speaking Engagements: Speaking at colleges, universities, and industry events as a subject matter expert in entertainment lighting and electrics.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Academy of Production Technology (APT) provides ETCP-recognized training for live event production professionals through online self-paced video courses, in-person instructor-led classes, and private organizational workshops. The curriculum covers entertainment electrics, portable power distribution, electrical safety, lighting control systems, and entertainment networking protocols. APT also publishes two industry-standard textbooks authored by founder Richard Cadena.

Product overview

Academy of Production Technology (APT) offers a portfolio of ETCP-recognized training products for live event production professionals. The core offering consists of online courses (Portable Power Distribution and Electrics, Entertainment Lighting Control Systems, Lighting Controls/Networking/Programming Workflow, Lockout/Tagout) and in-person instructor-led courses (Entertainment Networking, Power Distribution/Electrical Safety). APT also publishes two authoritative textbooks authored by Richard Cadena: Electricity for the Entertainment Electrician (4th Edition) and Automated Lighting: The Art and Science of Moving and Color-Changing Lights (3rd Edition). All training products are ETCP-recognized and prepare candidates for ETCP Entertainment Electrician and Portable Power Distribution Technician certification exams.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Portable Power Distribution and Electrics Online Course An ETCP-recognized self-paced online course consisting of 48 videos (10-15 minutes each) with quizzes, covering DC/AC electricity, Ohm's law, 3-phase power, harmonics, electrical safety, lockout/tagout, arc flash, GFCIs, and portable power distribution. Includes 24-hour access and up to one year to complete. Provides ETCP recertification credits upon completion. Designed for live event production professionals preparing for ETCP certification exams.
• Entertainment Lighting Control Systems Online Course An online course covering DMX, RDM, wireless DMX, Ethernet, sACN, and Art-Net protocols using 10-12 minute videos with comprehension quizzes. Content aligns with the ETCP Entertainment Electrician Certification Exam content outline. Designed for entertainment lighting technicians, programmers, and designers.
• Lockout/Tagout Online Course Specialized safety training course describing procedures for planning and executing lockout/tagout safety procedures and the personal protective equipment required for electrical operations. Designed for live event production professionals needing OSHA-aligned electrical safety knowledge.
• Lighting Controls, Networking & Programming Workflow Online Course Online course covering setup, testing, and troubleshooting of DMX, Ethernet, and Art-Net systems, RDM configuration and monitoring, and lighting console programming using grandMA2 OnPC with MA 3D visualizer. Designed for lighting programmers and technicians.
• Entertainment Networking In-Person Course A one-day intensive in-person course covering Ethernet fundamentals, IP addressing, managed switches, VLANs, multicast, QoS, fiber optics, network redundancy, sACN, Art-Net, and entertainment protocol troubleshooting. Provides 7 ETCP Renewal Credits upon completion. Held at IATSE Local 728 in Burbank, CA. Designed for live event professionals working with networked lighting systems.
• Power Distribution/Electrical Safety for Live Events In-Person Course (Burbank) A two-day in-person course covering basic electricity through advanced 3-phase power distribution, power calculations, harmonics, and electrical safety including PPE, codes/regulations, grounding/bonding, and GFCIs. Provides ETCP recertification credits. Aligned with ETCP Portable Power Distribution Technician and Entertainment Electrician exam topics. Held in Burbank, CA.
• Power Distribution/Electrical Safety for Live Events In-Person Course (Baltimore) A two-day in-person course covering the same ETCP-aligned curriculum as the Burbank offering, held at The Voxel in Baltimore, MD. Contingent on minimum 10 attendees. Aligned with ETCP Portable Power Distribution Technician and Entertainment Electrician exam topics.
• Electricity for the Entertainment Electrician, 4th Edition A comprehensive textbook covering basic electrical principles through advanced topics including 3-phase power, power calculations, harmonics, grounding/bonding, generators, and battery power, with emphasis on electrical safety for live event production. Authored by Richard Cadena and sold directly via the APT website.
• Automated Lighting: The Art and Science of Moving and Color-Changing Lights, 3rd Edition The definitive industry-standard text on automated lighting, covering LEDs, switch-mode power supplies, optics, networking, Ethernet-based protocols (Art-Net, sACN), wireless DMX, and stage/studio luminaire technology. Authored by Richard Cadena and sold directly via the APT website.

Quantifiable outcome

• ETCP recertification credits awarded upon course completion
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Synergetic Audio Concepts (SynAudCon): Provides specialized technical training for live event audio professionals — directly parallel to APT's model of expert-led, niche technical certification prep for live event practitioners. Founded by an industry authority (Pat Brown) with similar content-driven, multi-format delivery.

Broad incumbents

• ETC (Electronic Theatre Controls): Major lighting controls manufacturer that offers extensive free training on DMX, sACN, RDM, Eos-family consoles, and architectural lighting — overlapping significantly with APT's lighting control and networking curriculum, but as part of a broader product portfolio rather than pure training.

Emerging players

• MA Lighting: Manufacturer of grandMA consoles widely used in live events; offers structured training programs (including the grandMA3 certified training track) covering console programming, networking, and DMX distribution — directly competing for the same lighting programmer/electrician audience.
• Avolites: UK-based lighting console manufacturer (Titan, Ai) that runs paid training academies and certification programs aimed at live event lighting programmers and operators — overlapping with APT's DMX/networking/live event production niche.
• Chauvet Professional: Lighting fixture manufacturer offering free online training, webinars, and in-person workshops covering DMX, RDM, sACN, and product-specific programming — competing with APT for the same entertainment electrician/technician learning time.

Regional players

• IATSE Entertainment Industry Training Trust: Union-sponsored training program delivering safety, craft, and certification courses to IATSE members across the U.S. and Canada. Overlaps with APT's union clientele and ETCP-prep offerings but is funded by the union itself rather than tuition-based.

Others

• Backstage University / Backstage Workshops: Backstage magazine's education arm runs live event and production workshops covering stagecraft, lighting, and audio. Adjacent training content for working and aspiring entertainment professionals, though broader in scope than APT's specialist focus.
• Barbizon Lighting: Lighting systems integrator and equipment distributor that runs training events (Barbizon U, roadshow workshops) for lighting designers and technicians. Adjacent rather than direct: training is bundled with product sales rather than standalone.
• ESTA (Entertainment Services and Technology Association): Trade association that operates the ETCP certification program which APT training prepares candidates for, and publishes the Protocol magazine where Cadena writes. Ecosystem enabler rather than competitor, but shapes the standards APT's curriculum is aligned to.
• City Theatrical: Manufacturer of DMX/RDM/wireless DMX tools (including Multiverse) and related training content. Adjacent to APT's networking curriculum and serves the same entertainment electrician audience with complementary product-led education.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/APTXL
• YouTubevimeo.com/APTXL
• Facebookfacebook.com/APTXL

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about academy of production technology