What would you do?

[TheBoyCalledWonder]

I've got this problem...

my problem... I've been asked to VJ at a party (about 2000-3000 ppl; 2 to 3 areas). I just don't know if I should do it. I'm thinking I'll make a complete fool out of myself...

- I've never done anything live.
- I have been working on some animations and have been editing a bit. (don't know if I've got enough loops to fill a whole night or a couple of hours)
- I know what a MX50 looks like, but never even touched one...

Now.. what would you do, if you were me? Should I "just do it" *swoosh* and see what happens? Or is it advisable to wait a while till I'm sure I'm up to it?

[Amukidi]

A third option would be to ask for help from any VJs you may know, if you don't know any, then I'd advise you to leave it - thats a big job for a total newbie. You give very few details - are there others VJing? Is there a load of kit waiting for you to hook up to? If others are working, by all means take your kit and have a stab at it, but if not, you will be waaayyyy out of your depth.

[TheBoyCalledWonder]

I don't know that either.. Will ask though...

Someone of the organisation asked me a couple of days ago if I wanted to do it...

[complexvisuals]

Try and organise the logistics of it, hire some VJs to do the job for you, and take a little cut for yourself.

a) you've broken into the market
b) you can watch and learn
c) you make cash.

Cian

[robotfunk]

I learnt using an MX50 on my very first gig, scary at first but you can learn fast when you have to. I'd be more worried whether i had enough material to keep an interesting set.
If you think thats not the case, it might be better to ask for a shorter slot, or to share it with some other VJ's.
This would also be an excellent learning opportunity.

[Fury]

I'm from the Netherlands aswell... just send me a message and we can chat about it...

If i'm not booked I'm sure we can work something out :)

[Rovastar]

I would advise you to have try and hook up with another VJ before hand.

Chat have a beer, check there set out maybe get 'backsatge' at one of there gigs and see whats what. or if they have a studio check this out.

DOn't worry about the MX50 thing I know some/many VJ's that hardly touch their mixer it is only really for a backup plan.

MAybe save on teh headaches and get someone else to do the rigging/hiring kit etc.

Yeah but be a mini promoter and book more VJ's for teh event make sure you check there sets first though otherwise you could ahve egg on your face if they play 'unsuitable' content.

Mkae sure you get a fair price for the gig and be professional. If you sound liek a newbie you will be paid like a newbie

[mondo]

hook up with another one or two vjs is best

rovastar is right

it helps with someone to turn to when you are tiring

mx50 is easy - just make 100% sure you have the 'effect'; button ON on the top right hand side!

then just experiment

above all - go for it and enjoy!! dont hold back - if you believe you can do it - do it as well as you can.

have fun and tell us what happened

[Morninglight]

My advice:

do the gig, but do it with some other experienced Vj's...


Just like Fury said, PM me if you want some advice and/or team-up :)

[littlecatalyst]

awwww! isn;t this just the sweetst thread! look at that! everyones giving such nice avice... andyou may already have some vjs to help out and be mentors and maybe tag team with your animations... everything but one little detail, Rova, as a (mostly) analog vj i kinda don't think of the mx50 as "only really as a backup plan" especially if Wonderboy is not sure if he has enough of his animations... the same animations can look different for much longer with the mx50 and some other source matrial..

[mondo]

das da truth

i had a gig where ALL inputs failed leaving me with static

i vjed white noise through the mx50 for an hour using all sorts of effects etc till we got back up vcr's

thank god for pixelation i tell you!

no one noticed - asain dub foundation whose gig it was thought it was wicked!!

just goes to show!!

[vjrei]

My first VJing was in a 3000 people party, it turned out very well, no problems. The key factor was that I practice 2 weeks before, I had my MX Pro mixer with me, one computer and one VCR for backup. Of course the projectors where set by another company, I just put the artistica part of it.

In my opinion, if you have to set up everything yourself, do not go for it, hire some one at list to connect all the screen leaving you with only with one cable that you are going to connect to your mixer or computer.

Remember, if you do a wrong job as a VJ people are gonna say "VJs are not worth it" and you may ruin future VJs jobs.

Get in touch with some one with the skill and get togather with the promoter, it doesn't matter if you do not charge all what you want this time, the important thing is that you need the experience.

[Rovastar]

littlecatalyst,

Sorry I didn't mean it like that. I just know some VJ's that do not use the mixer much.

The effects on the MX50 are like 10 years old and do look dated if you really want to use them then fine but it is not the be all and end all. BUt if you need more material then I suppose it could be wortha good.

WonderBoy will be able to work out how the crossfader works and you will be fine.:);)

[Rovastar]

OH and try not to be nervious I beleive that Kriels first gig he balgged was in front of 250,000 people so this could be seen as small fry. :);)

[Lara]

Nooooo . . . that's balls of steel. I drank a whole bottle of gin before my first gig ;) it was a creative lubricant (or somethin). Been a downhill slope ever since!

[unjulation]

ha, ha.....i think you got a few years left before it gets to steep :)

but on the subject if you have no performance experiance then you might feel more secure with some outhers with you, but i'd basicly say "go for it", and if it goes wrong and you can deal with it then you will be able to deal with most things, initiantion by fire.............but hay

[Kriel]

Originally posted by Rovastar
OH and try not to be nervious I beleive that Kriels first gig he balgged was in front of 250,000 people :);)

True. Leeds Love Parade. But I couldn't have done it without the help of a VJ for whom I have enormous respect -- Rob Flint. He was a real star for helping me out.

Take the gig...

[TheBoyCalledWonder]

Well.. Thanks for the advise..

You guys are just too kind!!

Fury & Morninglight.. I'll PM you guys as soon as I've got more details...

Thanks guys...


Anybody going to the Now&Wow next weekend? 20th en 21st?

[Fury]

Originally posted by TheBoyCalledWonder
Fury & Morninglight.. I'll PM you guys as soon as I've got more details...

Anybody going to the Now&Wow next weekend? 20th en 21st?

Cool :)

Wish I could go.... but I have to work both nights, in Speakers and Calypso... I can finally test my V-4 during a real gig :) (I expect to receive it somewhere next week)

[silk]

Originally posted by TheBoyCalledWonder



Anybody going to the Now&Wow next weekend? 20th en 21st?

N&W sucks bigtime