In 1983 Eric Torgerson set up E.T. Services on the Hawaiian Island of Kauai to offer technical support to companies, resort hotels and individuals who were planning events which would include lighting, sound & video. Prior to coming to Kauai, E.T. had been involved with fine-arts photography taking a Bachelor of Arts degree form Northern Illinois University in 1975. Real-world experience included attending as many concerts as possible. Photos of some of the more memorable ones are available for viewing. Actual employment experience included work with the Illinois State Toll Authority repairing electro-mechanical coin-counters, vehicle sensors, lift-gates and the like. Heeding the call for tech support and looking for some creative fulfillment E.T. moved from Chicagoland to Bloomington, Indiana in order to help Bruce Rodgers and Gary Levenberg launch the Soliel Laser Spectacle. Soliel was one of the first, mobile, laser-scanning light shows. Initial concerts were with the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra playing a repertoire of "space music" such as The Star Wars Themes, Holst's Planets and selections from 2001 A Space Odyssey. The climax of the show was William Shatner reading excerpts from Arthur C. Clark's "Childhood's End" accompanied by smoke, fire(works) and lasers as well as the orchestra.

Coming of age at the dawn of the space-age inspired E.T.'s interest in electronics, rocketry, and pyro in general. So when the opportunity knocked to work formally in the pyrotechnics media E.T. jumped in with Luna Tech Inc. of Huntsville, Alabama. Founder, Tom DeWillie was a pioneer in the electronically controlled use of safe pyrotechnics on stage. Acts who availed themselves to Luna Tech's pyro and stage effects included Ted Nugent, The Commodores, Heart, P. Funk and many others. Luna Tech Inc. also provided more standard stage lighting services and put E.T. on the road with the Johnny Cash Show. While working on the Johnny Cash Show E.T. was privileged to learn from and occasionally assist sound techs, Paul Wheeler and Mark Hunt, of Carlo Sound in Nashville, Tennessee.

After much travel across the U.S. and around the world E.T. returned to Kauai in 1979 for rest and relaxation. That not being his nature he took a job teaching photography and doing maintenance work at Hale O'pio a residence program for troubled youth. After additional training workshops he was promoted to the position of youth-counselor and worked for a few years attempting to set good examples for the clients and offer positive input to the program. During his tenure at Hale O'pio E.T. met music teacher, Michael Sena, who owned the only concert-sized sound system on the island at that time. This beneficial relationship allowed E.T. to hone his sound technician skills while Michael taught and played music and refined his original songs. Kauai's local community-theater productions were becoming more sophisticated at this time tapping the skills of Michael, E.T. and many other inspirational people. To this day dramatic productions in the schools and community are a large and satisfying part of E.T. Services work.