VJ School

[vjrei]

Ok guys (and gals)

I was offered to opend a VJ school or "introduction to VJing" at a place where a friend of mine gives DJ lessons.

Now, what would you expect to receive or to give as a pensum?

I believe I can give 4 clases or two hours each once a week or so. I have no clue yet until know how much I have to give.

Thanx

rei

[vdmoKstaTi]

I think its important to figure out at what level the class is at on artistic and technical level before you can really approach the lesson structure.

0. Figure out on what level the kids are.

1. Introduce them to content creation through various styles.
(encourage kids to bring digital camera, some of the art they have done, diffrent toys for frame by frame animation, overview on animation, video editing, video formats and codecs)

1.a Introduction on installation practises (dont laugh, some people struggle through it) :)

2. Software for creation introduction. all the way to Exporting.


3. Software for Performance, touch up on freeframes, midi controllers (important!).

4. Setting up your kit and getting images exported on the screen.
Since most kids wont have a lot of money to start off with, keep it budget and give them things that they can download for free.

gimp, virtual dib, open tzt, processing, vj jockey, blender3d, etc.

5. Cables and means of connecting things at different venues.

etc etc..

show them v4.. and if they get bored at any time, give them a kit to play with which has instant response... sometimes such encouragement can cause people to get more committed when they see it in front of them.

[asterix]

not much - certainly not your corporate rates mate :)
vdmoks correct.
I ran a vj workshop and was paid by the council only $40 per hour, + setup time.

[many2]

Don't forget the basics :

what is a bit ?
what is a pixel ?
what is a vector ?
what is resolution ?
what is color resolution ?
what is a video signal ?
what is in a computer ?
etc.

[bryandod]

what is in a computer ?

Definitely knowledge a future VJ needs. :D

[vjair]

Definitely knowledge a future VJ needs. :D

that was a section on a music tech course i did a few years ago.... very handy to know for anyone working with them regularly. gives you a better understanding of the stresses and strains its going through as well as how it opperates.

[vjrei]

Thanx

I am training the "kids" in a generic fashion. I believe I have to start from the outside. Firts of all staging: Show them the different ways images can be applied on stage. This would be:

1. Single signal: one or many screens with the same image
2. Multi signal: different sources of video to different screens.
3. Multi projection: Comopiste signals on differnt screens
4. Video mapping: how to treat video onto surfaces
5. Interactive images: example of software dedicated video rectors like Processing.

That first part is only theory, showing them examples. Bceaus then we will jump into the technology used to create all that.

1. Video distribuitors
2. Matrix switchers
3. The V4
4. The Triple Head 2 Go
5. Cables
6. Computers

Then the third step: Software

1. Motion Dive 3
2. Arkaos
3. Modul8

4 step: Content creation: Here I will go over the different ways to create content based on your software and your intial stage set up. Going over the clients needs is gonna be important.

5. VJing
1.techniques and accesories: Midi interfaces and all those toys.
2. VJing in ana emergency situation.
3. Understanding color, rithm and music
4. Colaborating with lighting

6. Business of VJing: this is gonna be big.

I have to see a bunch of stuff here, it is gonna be for 4 to 6 people at the most I believe once a week.

What I want to do is to create a comunity of VJs and then aproach the actual clients and explain them what we do because they do not have any clue and VJs are disapearing.

Well, I believe any VJ school can start anywere after this pensun.

have to go my powerbook is running out of bateries

[vjrei]

not much - certainly not your corporate rates mate :)
vdmoks correct.
I ran a vj workshop and was paid by the council only $40 per hour, + setup time.

That is a load of money here pero hour. Venezuela is an strange place with strange values, you can see this snob lady with an expensive sport utility vehicle doing a line to buy milk.

I am not interested about rates right now but the overal impact that a VJ school can do in my city. There are not a single school that teaches anything related with production in Venezuela, only this DJ school of my friend.

[sleepytom]

what level are your students at? how old are they?

i thin k you have everything the wrong way round.

start off by making some content - don't worry about anything complex to do with hardware setups - make some nice content and talk about how the content relates to the audience.

when you have learnt how to make some basic 4:3 content then talk about how to play it back and manipulate it in VJ software

return to content production after this - talk about prepping content for VJ software - how to make things ready for live compositing.

then talk about more complex hardware setups - multiple outputs / multiscreen spanning etc etc

return to content production - talk about super widescreen content - learn how to make multiscreen content for synchronized displays.

then look at DMX media servers - talk about integrating lighting and video / also talk about AV performance and integrating audio playback abelton live and AV shows.

------------------
all of that is assuming this is a high level (Alevel / degree course which will run over a year or more) if it is not then cut back on the complex stauff and concentrate on how to make some nice content and manipulate it live on a single screen.

[Scratchpole]

I assume Asterix means Au$40 that is not very much at all.
An agency handling school/youth workshops for me pay £30 an hour.
Similar to my standard Club VJ fees..
How much does a local teacher earn/ how much for an agency/supply teacher? I guess very little over there.

Remember you may be creating more competition for yourself in the long term as well as invigorating your local scene.

Your plan looks more like a degree course than an introductory workshop to me.

Would the students be coming from the DJ school?
Maybe A/V would be more appropriate, creating visuals for a track or mix they already have.
I believe it is important to generate an holistic product particularly with the under 16 age group, they are not gonna be VJing in clubs right away, but they can go home with a DVD of a short mix.

Try at least to use some free software, if they get the bug they can keep playing right away (if they have access to a computer).

Starting from the outside seems odd..
Show them your favorite examples, keep it varied.
Let them trigger a clip, jam, have fun, it still amazes me every time I press a key and a clip appears. Even real youngsters can enjoy image and rhythm.

Best of luck, I'm gonna go and hassle my local Music/DJ schools, it would be great to offer sessions as a regular course rather than one off specials.

I do wonder what happened with 2bitTV and their local college collaboration?

[vjrei]

On monday I am going to meet with they guy who owns the DJ school and go over competition and all that, I told him that but he is now the number one DJ in Venezuela even he is not my first choice but production companies are hiring him all the time and we are gonna go over those things... the business side.

So far what we have now in the VJ movement is anarchy, some cheap VJs that are getting hired because they are cheapper but not talented at all and that is hurting VJing so bad.

My plan is after starting the school go directly to sponsors and production companies to instruc them regarding VJing, they need that information so they can have the right criteria.

Going back to competition... one thing is what I teach and something else is what they learn. Many VJs are involved, I am comited. Many VJs does it to apear on a flyer, I would like to create an industry.

My first group are gonna be the DJs from the colective giving the DJ courses right now. They are gonna be the test ones, and well. Let me meet first and go over. At least they have the location, is in a mall where many clubs are and is a very good place.

I believe the target students would be between 24 and 30 yeasr old. No kids.

[vdmoKstaTi]

I believe the target students would be between 24 and 30 yeasr old. No kids.


Hey Rei, If I were you I would concentrate on two things for your classes.

1. Production techniques / production sotware basics, formats, codex's, etc.

2. Performance software and hardware, midi, etc.

Those are main ones.. I wouldnt go on with all the matrix switchers, etc. This will confuse the hell out those people, they will have to take steps 1, 2 and 3 and 4 and 5 before they get to step 12...

give them time..
there is a lot to grasp before you get to that point.
Name your workshop

VJing : Its all about Content .. and take it from there.

[SteveG]

Most important vjrei...once you've taught all the students and there isn't any more interest dont complain when they all work cheaper than you from a laptop ;)

[vjrei]

I am aware of the content, that would be later. There are certain things I can not give because depends on each personality.

And regarding rates... the main goal is to teach why you actually can not go and offer your work for pennies, that is something I am gonna go over with the partners.

The next quick step is going to give "VJ orientation" to sponsors and production companies.

In Venezuela there is not a single place where you can learn anything regarding production. The people producing events hardly have a degree in advertising. I have been asked to have degree in "traditional animation" to do visuals in a rave party for example, I mean, in Venezuela there is not a single reason to draw traditional animation and we never produced a single cartoon ever. So, people ask for the most useless things just to make themselve to look "smart".

The other day I had a meeting with a producer who owns a huge company, he asked me if I could have a multi screen animation in 8 screens. He shoed me the diagram and he had placed 8 screens around an arena. The problem is that the arena belongs to a huge concert hall we have the size of the Madison Square Garden, taht would be impossible and he wanted to do that with 5K lumesn projectors. Just the doors to entre the arena would take 3 screens wide. So, no sense of proportion at all.

So there are certain things to go over, keep comenting because I need your feedback.

[sleepytom]

so you actually care nothing for the education of your students? your simply doing this to further your own aims.

Please don't run this course then.

--------------
A good course in digital media production would be far more useful than a course in VJing anyway. So far what we have now in the VJ movement is anarchy, some cheap VJs that are getting hired because they are cheapper but not talented at all and that is hurting VJing so bad. these people are not bad because they don't have some piece of kit or knowledge of matrix switchers - they are bad because they are not making good content. Teach them how to make good content and their VJing will dramatically improve - teach them how to use a matrix switch and they'll start doing bad multiscreen shows with their poor content!
so it is all about the content.

[vjrei]

Content is the last stage because is the longest and depends on the individual. There are VJs around with good content but they have no clue about the rest, a VJ need to have control of everything. My partner creates the best footage and he is not getting as many shows because there is this idiot who is an electrila engineer who charge penies because he just want to apear on the flyers and pick up girls without mention he is steeling gear from the clubs.

This is not europe, this is not the US, this is Venezuela, an entire different culture and such twisted values, Chavez is the best example.

VJing is about the message, the content is part of the message but there are stages that need to be clarified in order to get that message going.

My intention is to have a bunch of VJs graduated, then go to the production companies and teach them what those VJs can do, go to the sponsors and tell them how those VJs can support their image because there are too many people around here messing around in a territory that is not theirs. Otherwise there is not room for a VJ to express himself.

I just got a propousal where they wanted to plce 17 proyectors on a wall... there are not 17 proyectors in Venezuela with the same color and lumenicense, is not technically and stetically viable. I asked for a meeting to go over that propousal and they answered "you can not meet because that is not professional because we would have to meet with the other 2 people we sent the request".

1. The other two people just have no clue of what you want to acomplish.
2. The other two people doesn't exist because I am the only one doing the mayor events in the city and the two other that fallow me:
a. You have not contacted them because I know.
b. One of them just move to Colombia and the other one is moving to Australia becuase thy have no business here in the city.

And I have stories like this to wriote a book, 4 per week. The poeple booking talents around here are so ignorant. Hvae you seen the movie Idiocracy? that is how venezuelans are in production now days after Chavez arrived. I have been 9 years and that was enough to destroy an entire culture.

I was talking with a friend who was my music teacher back in 1995 when I was studying audio engineer (he worked with Vangelis early 80's), he is 51 and he is so agree with me.

Imagine that the govermnet implemented a law to make 80% of the music transmited in radio venezuelan made... there are not venezuelan bands for that, probably 3 of them. There is no talent, teh talent have been exploted by production companies.

So, if you can do something or not is not the issue, the issue is how to make it happen and I am going towards that and is based on my experience because in 6 years I have been the only surviving VJ around and content is the least I care about, is a bunch of factors to make it happen. Still I am the one that charge more and get the best events.

[vdmoKstaTi]

Most important vjrei...once you've taught all the students and there isn't any more interest dont complain when they all work cheaper than you from a laptop ;)

I was thinking that too Steve :)


Rei,

I agree with you on one thing,- VJs should have a good working knowledge of technical set up, though i believe you are running VJ school first and foremost, and not Technical Set Up School. Concentrate on Production and Performance techniques only, without those,- those guys will be useless. Totally! Sleepytom and I pressing the same buttons on these issues, I hope you will notice.

i do hope you have good intentions at heart for what you going to do, but I sense some underlying self promotional agenda which to me is a little off putting as far as the whole thing goes. Just a feeling that I get from where I'm looking at.

As far as giving them advice and overview from your experience, this is a good thing to do,- they will find it invaluable. Most of us dont live in Venezuela and have never been, so we cannot be experts on inner workings of your cultural structure and system in place. But one thing we all know, if you set to prepare
Vjs for the World stage, - they have to have creative spark in them, love for music and visualisation of it and ever evolving self growing process which develops them into better and better artists.

If I ran my own workshops or classes(and eventually I will) I would not scare anyone with high prices for equipment, but would rather nurture production approach with whatever means possible for every individual and tools available at hand. The rest can be added later with advice or management.

this is all i have to say.

[vjrei]

I was reviewing what I wrote at first when I explained the program. I have here on my personal notes the part regarding content creation.

The issue with content is not that big here in my city, we have loads of multimedia and graphic desing schools, every kid has a Sony Z1 camera. What they do not have is the direction. I can and have to go over regarding content creation towards visuals and shows. I have a lot of video material to show them.

I have actually to saparate different kinds of music and how to handle visuals when is House, Hip Hop, Trance, Rock for example.

One of the topics would be how to distribute the content during the night, I call that Vertically, and along the screens. What sort of visuals are better for chill out, for main floor, for branding, and so on.

About grabbing a camera and using After Effects... I may do that if I needed but I am not going to teach some one to use After Effects or Final Cut, there are other schools that do that well.

I am going to teach first the guys who owns the actual school and then I can clear up the program in the process. I have no clue about the timing each lesson is going to take, some of them would be theory and other ones practice.

Then... I have to go after the productions companies to teach them how to hire a VJ. Otherwise we are doomed.

4 yeasr ago we had a better VJ scene in Caracas than today, many of the first VJs moved to Spain and work in post production, VJing was a hobbie they did great and I was the remaing one. The only difference was that I brought VJing to teh clubs and created an scene. I was the first VJ in typing DJs names on the screen and having a camera to show the DJ face.

Back then you needed a post production house to do visuals, I was the fist one with two powerbooks G3 500 Pismo. I was charging good money but some people started to download the softwares from the web, started taking gigs but nothing great, still took the job of the ones who were doing the real thing.

Then producers started to nociced and started to getting cheapper and the projects started to felt down. Sponsored didn't want to spendt in visuals because all they saw was overrated crap.

Even most of the sponsors knew me and knew my work, production companies offered them a cheaper solution at the end what the production company wants is to rent all their equipment.

Now, that happened a year and so ago and now there is a new generation of producers that are even cheaper than the ones before. The frustration is terrible becasue there is not comunication, at least the producers before knew something and you could tell they were cutting corners but this ones have no clue and worst yet... they assume they know!

So the "VJ school" is thought around that as well. Lets see, I have been colling my future partner today and he is not answering, probably the VJ school won't see light outside this forums if he does not show up. :S

[vdmoKstaTi]

VJ rei,

One other advice, perhaps you could set up forums for scene in Venezuela specifically, so you could discuss all the major issues there?

Whenever you maintain such community websites, you tend to collect a bit of history, hands on tips and resources for people in the scene and it becomes an invaluable resource for many, at the same time keeping the hand on the pulse of the scene itself.

If you add your own scene specifics to the mix, it sure will help those that are already involved or looking to be involved in what you already doing. besides, you can direct your classroom to participate in classes and communicate online while opening up promotional page for others that will wan to join same classes in the future.

Just a thought. Your local scene seems to be pretty specific, so if I was you, I'd set something like this up. Will be worth your while and great as a log of all the activities and events.

[asterix]

Rei - some advice:
don't string them through the technical stuff straight up.

I ran my workshop in one day. Gave them a 30 minute presentation on what vjing is and some rough guides on mixing / making content.

They then went out in groups of three with dv cam and had one hour to film whatever they liked for content.

They then had 2 hrs to download the content onto a computer, make some rough edits and start importing into arkaos.

I was blown away by the quality of clips they made in that short time. Arkaos made it intuitive to enough to mix, and they mixed to the music of their choice. After two hours on that they each got a recorded version of their mix, and did a pretty darned good job too.

[yogyog]

People learn best when they're doing stuff.

Also be flexible.

On the first lesson everyone should have a go mixing video

On the last lesson everyone should do a 20 min slot: 100% original material.

Between times: help people with technical problems, be critical of the footage and mixes they create, and get them to help and be critical of each other.

That'd be the John Holt/Art School Studio approach.

It becomes a bit of a problem if you have to write aims and objectives for each lesson...


On another note, you're often seem to be talking to people who want the impossible - do you go "well, that's impossible, but we could do this"? It could help.

[sleepytom]

for this to be any use at all you need to know who your students are, and where their skills and interests are focused. If they are already competent after effects users then their is little point in teaching basic AE - you can tech them how to prepare content for live use (ie using levels and contrast effects to make the footage stand out, preparing footage for lumakeying etc etc) If they have never seen any video software then you should probably start will really basic stuff - how to trim a clip in imovie etc etc.

Tailor the education to the students or it will be a waste of everyones time.

[Liquidmetro]

People learn best when they're doing stuff.

I disagree, this may be how you and I learn best, but not all.

Learning styles: http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=learning+styles&meta=

I found out more about this recently after doing a part-time course on delivering learning.

[yogyog]

Yep, I'm on that course. I do think a course on VJing should be mostly practical, and I wanted to free up the suggestions of how a course could be ran. Plus this approach can accommodate several different approaches to VJing.