Disrespectful people

[morrsken]

I did my fourth gig yesterday and it went really well :) Except for one thing: The bloody annoying people standing behind me and touching my stuff while I was playing. Some guys putting their fingers on my wacom tablet like they thought it was a touch screen (thank g** it was not). Total lack of respect. I wonder if this is because I'm a female or because I'm the VJ or both. They did not touch anyone else's things as far as I could see, not the male VJ's or musicians nor the female musicians. But I've heard some female DJ's talking about disrespectful people coming up and trying to tell them how to do their thing and turning their knobs maybe.. not yesterday though. And I've understood it's pretty common for VJ's to be disturbed in some way during their performance. What are your experiences?

[jonas m.]

What are your experiences?

"PLAY SOME AC/DC!!"

[many2]

Never happened to me - next time call the doorman or security, whatever, this should not be tolerated in any way.

[sleepytom]

fairly common in my experience - if people can get to you they will want to ask you a million questions and try and have a go at pushing some buttons and stuff.

the only real solution is to be out of reach - either on stage or in some kind of booth. It helps if you have a couple of people working together - you can take turns VJing and talking to the nutters!

if you get really pissed off with someone then by all means tell them to "fuck off" - this accompanied by a swift knee in the groin can get rid of pretty much anyone!

i find people on loads of mdma to be the worst for being really interested and unable to understand that your too busy to explain everything to them and that you don't want their help or advice, again telling them to go away politely generally doesn't work (but should be tried first), I've had weird experiences with people on mdma who i've finally shouted "Fuck Off!" at - they have become even more keen to talk and to "understand" why i was so upset ("hey man, what's the matter, i think you need to chill out" etc etc) At this point there is little option other than to get security or someone to get rid of them.

[Liquidmetro]

I've had my midi controller unplugged, laptop closed(stopping output), kaoss pad samples lost. This is only when I have not been present (auto pilot whilst I wee). Now I only leave my rig if someone i trust is able to watch it for me. I don't mind explaining how I am doing something and have met some real nice people in the process. There are always gonna be people who are wasted/disrespectful. Send someone to get the door staff. I would stay out of it personally and let the promoter/club staff handle it. Sorry to hear you had such a bad experience with eejits. An electrified cattle prod may be worth building into your rig! :crazy:

[vjpixylight]

I've been quite lucky(giging in the US anyhow) with the vast majority of peeps being quite respectful of my gear and not disturbing any of it.(I've even left it going to go outside for a smoke and not having any peeps while i'm away doing anything with the setup/gear).
I've even had my setup in the middle of the dance floor at one gig, steped out for 5-10 min, and come back to no problems..(maybe just lucky)
In the UK, (on the other hand) I've expirienced a number of problems like the ones that have been described). I'm not sure if this is because peeps in the UK tend to drink much more alcohol at parties than their american counterparts or what.

[sleepytom]

it's cos American clubs are rubbish! - they throw you out for being drunk, don't let you in without a passport and are full of people that spent far too long practising dancing in front of mirrors.. :)

in england we have proper munters who are so out of it that can talk to you for an hour or more about an activity they know nothing about whilst offering useful tips (such as "hey man you could turn the bass up") - often the most effective way to get rid of the mdma munter is to make friends with them and then send them off on an important mission ("yeah that's great mate, here i don't suppose you could go and get me a menthol cigarette could you - i'm sure some here would have one and i really need one to be able to carry on making the bass louder")

so yeah we drink more and we take a lot more drugs (an with e's costing about 38p these days who can blame us!)

[vjpixylight]

lol, yea there are still plenty kiddies rolling here even at 35 bucks a pill.(They just don't take as many:))
I am just saying that alcohol is probably the biggest contributor to these disrespectful peeps that knock over gear, spit in your hear to be heard over the music, and want to generally fuck you up while performing...

[john01]

I've had similar problems, the best way to deal with it is to be in a booth, if there is room the lights booth is usually good.

[vdmoKstaTi]

morrsken, in a new venues its always good idea to get to know security on the night. do it!! if you get some arseholes annoying you, just raise your hand and they will be removed. Also doesnt hurt for security to keep an eye out on your equpment if nature calls. Thats so when you get back to it, things still work and no midi has been unplugged, etc. That would have to be most annoying thing in the world. Imgine a driver who gets in to the car to race doesnt have his steering wheel functioning. Same deal.

hehe.. though i had few cases when some security were interested in what I was doing also... pretty funny...

When I play I never have enought time to explain. The best you can get out of me is "You can watch what I do, but I wont be explaining anything at this point. Ask me after the show"

[Aalto]

When I play I never have enought time to explain. The best you can get out of me is "You can watch what I do, but I wont be explaining anything at this point. Ask me after the show"

Same here. This is also what I say, and in general I say it once and it's enough.
(Don't know if people take less drugs in France than in UK tho ;) )
Sad to say, but I'm affraid the fact you're a woman *could* let people think they can do things they wouldn't do with a male vj (I mean, unplugging the MIDI controllers :kiss: )

Too bad to hear this is the case in Sweden... I always found people really respectful in the parties I've been at in Sweden, but maybe things have changed, or I was lucky...

It would be interesting to have some feedback on this question from other female VJs...

[gregg normal]

Someone tried to balance a pint on top of my imac once!

[john01]

Someone tried to balance a pint on top of my imac once!

Someone spilt a pint on a friend of mine's Mac once. This is why you should be set up where the customer's can't reach you.


But I've heard some female DJ's talking about disrespectful people coming up and trying to tell them how to do their thing and turning their knobs maybe..

Well, boys like playing with their knobs, I guess some boys like playing with other people's knobs too.

[asterix]

After having gear snitched (camera's to dvds) I no longer tolerate anyone I don't know in the VJ zone. Baricading is the first step to securing your area, but alas ultimately easily compromised.

Its really up to you too ask them what they are doing there and to move on. I usually ask them if they're djing next - then politely tell them that you don't like people being in the area because alot of stuff being stolen or damaged.

[stulloyd]

I had a hoody made for the Waterfront in norwich where I used to perform regularly with my back to the crowd barrier which said "Im mixing" on the back, but "Fuck off" on the hood. So I would put up the hod when bothered.

I have had all the usual, "can you play this tune, can you turn up the bass, can I have a go? questions over the years and as Tom said use yr noddle, send them on a mission, this IS great fun if they are whacked, or just be more munted than them and talk rubbish at them. Sometimes though I have had to kick or punch people, especially when they try to put their drink on your kit, but I have always made sure I know the top dog in security, When you think it may be a problem, it will be a problem.

Saying all this though I did have a big problem at the UEA once with a member of security who was more munted than any of the punters and thought it was the end of the night and was trying to kick the DJ and me out half way through the set!

I also remember someone who would not piss off asking to "have a go" I happened to have a spare keyboard that was not plugged into anything, so I gave that to him to "play" with for 20 minute (he went away happy)


stu

[lowRes]

appart from the huge amount of times i had to calmly ask people to not put their drink close to my gear i already had the promoters themselves coming to the booth during a performance (a-v) and starting explaining to some of his friends what my performance was about, what gear i was using and how it worked! (even though he was so dumb not to understand anything about it...).
he still calls himself a promoter and an artist too! LOL!

seriously, next time call the bouncer. and if it happens like me and the asshole is the promoter.. start packing your stuff. it's not worth it.

//editd//

sorry for the rant..

[Donnie Darko]

get a sticker and put it on the front of yer entrancer...

" TOUCH MY GEAR AND ILL SNAP YOUR HAND OFF "

might help

[many2]

bring a digital camera
take a snap of the offender
put the picture on the screens
add an appropriate subtitle

[Larky]

The problem when starting out is that most small venues have nowhere safe to go, so you end up near to the crowd. This can be awkward. I now always check the venue first, and specify exactly where I want to be and what I want to have in place to stop people getting to me. I also make it clear that if any gear gets wrecked, the promoter buys a new one.

I'm currently working on building all of my gear into big, lockable flight cases, so if I have to do an auto pilot, I lock it up and go for a piddle me fiddle. I get back, unlock and keep going. Much safer.

[6071842]

Someone tried to balance a pint on top of my imac once!

thats why clubs should only sell bottles :) its works :) or cans :biggrin:

[DayVeeJay]

bring a digital camera
take a snap of the offender
put the picture on the screens
add an appropriate subtitle

I think I might just do that :biggrin:

I do get the usual people coming up and staring, trying to figure out what I'm doing and I almost always get song requests (even though theres a huge stage/dj booth in front of the dance floor).

My area is part of the lighting booth and what used to be the DJ booth. The lighting guy guards the entrance where there is a four foot high gate. Behind me there is a four foot high railing along with a spiral staircase.

I cant tell you the number of times Ive had drinks spilled on my gear and my head (martinis can work beter than hair spray) from that staircase. I basically had to threaten the club before they did anything about it. They placed a bouncer at the top of the stairs for a few weeks and it hasnt happened since. Very strange.

I get more people messing with my stuff when I'm DJing then when I'm VJing

[Architects of Tomorrow]

I did my fourth gig yesterday and it went really well :) Except for one thing: The bloody annoying people standing behind me and touching my stuff while I was playing. Some guys putting their fingers on my wacom tablet like they thought it was a touch screen (thank g** it was not). Total lack of respect. I wonder if this is because I'm a female or because I'm the VJ or both. They did not touch anyone else's things as far as I could see, not the male VJ's or musicians nor the female musicians. But I've heard some female DJ's talking about disrespectful people coming up and trying to tell them how to do their thing and turning their knobs maybe.. not yesterday though. And I've understood it's pretty common for VJ's to be disturbed in some way during their performance. What are your experiences?


Enclose yourself in a Vandergraph generator. - That should resolve all issues.:)

[complexvisuals]

Enclose yourself in a Vandergraph generator. - That should resolve all issues.:)

A Faraday Cage (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faraday_cage) u mean?

[Architects of Tomorrow]

A Faraday Cage (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faraday_cage) u mean?

Yes that is what I meant. :)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tesla1000/148653427/