Videos/DVDs

[Emotion]

Hi there all.

Ok, so I'm a promoter, a new promoter. my night starts in september in manchester.

I have read articles about promoters looking for VJ's and putting money the Dj's way and not too much the VJ. Well I have a tight budget yea yea, but its the truth.

I was wondering if you guys would be able to advise me on where I could maybe get some visual DVD's for a video projector just to add a bit of atmosphere to my event. If there are any VJ's out there in the Manchester UK area that would maybe be willing to help do live visuals that would be good. We may have some cash to spare to say thanks. Thats a maybe though. Any help from you all will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks for taking the time to read this post.

[vjpixylight]

I have an idea...

Why don't you try to find a good mixed DJ CD, to go with that DVD??
(since you don't have much money to spare, you might end up saving a bundle..)
Thanks for your post..:lol:

[Emotion]

very funny i like your style!

But thats not really very helpful :p

[oxygen]

well you seem very desperate about this.(sending private messages)
is it really that heard to find pple in your area that want to help you?
if you start a club, you'd better do some effort for it. i think.
i never really give away my visuals for clubs to play without special reason or not knowing what its actually about.
and not having enough money for visuals is not a good enough 'special' reason for me......

[vjpixylight]

Originally posted by Emotion
very funny i like your style!

But thats not really very helpful :p

okay i'll try and be more helpful..

so you want a DVD to play while a DJ mixes tracks, Right?

but what if the DJ has a breakdown in the tempo, but the DVD is just jamming along at a frantic pace, or visa versa? won't that seem odd?
are you starting to get my point...

you would do better to get winamp, DNA dancer, oozic, g-force, or any number of other sound reactive visual programs that can follow the all important live mix of the DJ..

hope this is more helpful, but I wouldn't expect much more help about this situation on a VJ forum...(for obvious reasons)

maybe you should pose this question to the DJCentral.com forum...you might get a more helpful response..:zzz:

[Emotion]

It is hard yes. When you are starting from scratch and all you really have is the love of music under your belt and ideas. Thats the drive I have. We all have to start somewhere and if we look like fools on the way then so be it, if you dont ask you don't get and if you make mistakes u learn.

[vjpixylight]

It might be better for you to start with very limited visuals, that being winamp, then as the club grows, and you make more money, start hiring proper VJ's, which over there in the UK, are a dime a dozen..
..but please don't expect them to work for free or next to nothing, while paying for high priced DJ talent, as you'll get a lousy reputation in the VJ world,(and we do all know each other) which will end up giving you the so-called "bottomfeeders" for VJ's in the end, and therefore, not give you what you want..

[agsystems]

poor ol emotion!

give the guy a break, he's only asking!

I bet there's some art school students with a bunch of cool visulas looking for a break in manchester, why not put up a poster at the uni's art/media department?

it could really help a up-coming vj type to make his mark, whats wrong with that?

I realise there's some resistance against new people, ad working for free amongst the more established vj's, but it's ultimatley counter productive .

there's alota tallent out there 'emotion' just go look for it, and dont just bung on a dvd or some wack software....

thats what i recon

[Emotion]

thnx for your help, i appreciate it so much, i geniunely mean that.

[syzygy]

I'm with agsystems here... at least promotors are thinking about having visuals at their nights. Not all nights can afford to pay for visuals (hell, not all can afford to pay for anything)

Some promotors we did some no-money work for a year or so ago have recently moved up in the world (100 capacity venue to 1800 capacity venue) Guess who they came to for the visuals?

Sometimes getting involved with a night while it's small can be a good thing, even if there is no money in it. Being in from the start makes you part of the crew, with all the benefits that that brings (i.e. no looking over your shoulder for competition, no worries about being paid once money is involved, a friendly attitude...)

Emotion- why not post a few more details about your night (music policy, theme, venue that sort of thing) and see whether anyone fancies getting involved.

Definitely try to get live visuals rather than a DVD if you can - live visuals make such a difference.

From you posts, you sound like a decent person so I hope someone decides to take the opportunity.

Dan.

[Emotion]

Thanx Dan.

We really would love to do 'Live' Visuals and have great interaction with our crowd. We want them to feel that we have made the effort for them. Our main thing is this is a new venture for us and we are very much so on a learning curve.

Our music policy is Trance, the theme is escapism, the venue will have about 400 people we will be once a month and have been given three dates, sept/oct/nov.

So if anybody is willing or interested please let me know, for sure you'll feel part of the team and be a very welcomed member.

[Rovastar]

Hi Emotion thanks for posting.

I want to hear more about the promoters viewpoints about visuals.

You must also understand the VJ's viewpoint here.

You want visuals but will/do not pay. Ummh. I do not know of any VJ's that have not done there far share of free/cheap stuff.

When a Vj brings down 10K of equipment and performs or maybe I should say works for 8 hours. For what.

Remember there are promoters that could try and get a 'free' VJ every month for teh next 6 months -year.

I have replied to a simlair post before froma promoter posting here and did teh free gig. Well to be fair he paid 50 quid for the 2 of us - but that didn't cover to cab fare. and nothing every again. TO be fair the gig wasn't my cup of tea and too small scale and would have properly refused but never connected again.

I would like to know why you feel visuals are inportant for your event. Could your event survive happily without visuals.?

If you think visuals willl enhance the night (you probably do) why not consider charging another quid on the door. And this can do to the VJ.

If you wanted say a fire-eater at your event and you posted on fire-eaters forums would you repect them to do a freebe.

Not bitching at you just a reflection that there is 2 sides to every story. And you heard vjpixylight's verison first...and now mine. :)

There are programs that you can download that will 'move to teh music' for free but please check that you are allowed to use them at your event. Public performance often requires a license (GForce I know does and many more do. Just to make that clear as pixy impleted that you could use them legally you cannot use most without permission) .....there is only so much we can give away free.:)

But we are nice ppl really and it is cool for you to use my automated stuff if you wish (see website)

Now onto Sysygy,

"Some promotors we did some no-money work for a year or so ago have recently moved up in the world (100 capacity venue to 1800 capacity venue) Guess who they came to for the visuals? "

;) If you were in my position you would see the situation in a different light as with that theory I would be rolling in money now - rather than crashing on a mate sofa. ;)

[Emotion]

Well, we are not in this for money ourselves to be honest. This is our first attempt at promoting and we want to put on the best show possible. Visuals certainly enhance the show and as I have been a clubber for many years I have always enjoyed the experince and enhancement/feel they bring to a club.

I am simply trying to base our night around what myself as a clubber loves/likes. I want to pass this onto my clubbers. As I have said I am doing this more than anything for the love of the music scene. We will probably be lucky to break even tbh. But that's the way it goes. I'd say we would be quite happy to pay expenses or whatever, but in the market we are in we need to keep our costs down and pass these costs onto the payers. As our target base is majority of students, then we don't feel it is also fare to be expecting them to pay high door prices. saying that, this by no means whatsoever degenerates our feelings towards VJ's. VJ's are extremley talented people, that is a fact. They create magic. As this is our first time and it will be our opening night we want to make a great impression, we want to look as professional and want people to walk away saying WOW. But we can't go putting our necks on the block from the word go and we do have to be cautious in our approach. We need to get through our first night, see how it goes then progress from there. Who's to say if it will be a hit or a miss?? We certainly dont want it to be a miss. But if it is a hit, then of course we will really open up, and we are great guys. We are not people who will walk all over our staff/helpers etc. We are not fat cats who want to save pennies at every opportunity. With that said we can't splash the cash as we dont have that big funds.

Anyways thanks so much for replying, you are helping us learn.

[vjpixylight]

oh, oh...
here we go again!
legal, not legal,
freebe or for hire..
pixy's view vs. rova's view..

When are we going to present a consistant way of doing business?

I mentioned sound reactive visuals merely as an alternative to not paying a VJ with 10 grand worth of gear that would be risking it for free..when a club/promoter makes money, I feel they should share the wealth...that would be by paying everyone that is involved..

For some reason Dan always wants to be on the opposite side of where I am, and it makes me wonder...Dan are you a Tuarus??:p

[Rovastar]

Pix I was just making the situation clear.

I know automatic swirilies are used by the community (I do not see how some of them can possibly consider using them legal with a licence, etc) and generally do not say anything about there use but when explaining to a promoter I want to be clear.

[Rovastar]

Emotion

I understand the financial constraints as to what you do. Many here have done promotion themselves it is not easy. But when people here are trying to VJ'ing full time we need to eat too.

We do it for the love too. We do free party's often. We share knowledge, give stuff away for free, etc, etc all for the love. :)

Good luck with your event and I hope it is a success.

[syzygy]

Originally posted by vjpixylight

For some reason Dan always wants to be on the opposite side of where I am, and it makes me wonder...Dan are you a Tuarus??:p

No, I'm a scorpio ;) I've been told that the zodiac description is actually a pretty good fit for me...

Determined and forceful
Emotional and intuitive
Powerful and passionate
Exciting and magnetic

but unfortunately also

Jealous and resentful
Compulsive and obsessive
Secretive and obstinate

I'm sure my mates would tell you that I usually choose a different side to just about anyone :) I guess I like to make sure that all views are represented ;) Or maye I just like to argue..

Dan.

[vjpixylight]

Originally posted by syzygy


No, I'm a scorpio ;) I've been told that the zodiac description is actually a pretty good fit for me...

Determined and forceful
Emotional and intuitive
Powerful and passionate
Exciting and magnetic

but unfortunately also

Jealous and resentful
Compulsive and obsessive
Secretive and obstinate

I'm sure my mates would tell you that I usually choose a different side to just about anyone :) I guess I like to make sure that all views are represented ;) Or maye I just like to argue..

Dan.

Ah then that explains it!:)
We are one in the same personality...Both Scorpio's, and everything you said about scorp's is true..
I would just add that we are truely devil's advocates..:p

[syzygy]

Originally posted by Rovastar

;) If you were in my position you would see the situation in a different light as with that theory I would be rolling in money now - rather than crashing on a mate sofa. ;)

Well, I guess you do have to be careful about how you choose the gigs that you do for free. No point getting involved in something that is obviously not going anywhere. On the other hand, if you spot a night that clearly has good ideas behind it, then why stay out of it just because there isn't a budget initially?

Fortune favours the brave ;)

About the ?10,000 of equipment thing... I did my first gig with equipment that cost me ?700 (second hand mx-1, two VCRs, two TVs and my home computer- total value, I would guess, around ?2000)

Without doing that first gig, I wouldn't have got any of the others that led to Syzygy being born and me escaping the corporate matrix.

I don't think Emotion is expected to get an established pro crew for little or no money. Everyone needs a first gig though.

As I mentioned earlier, just about every DJ, Musician, Comedian, MC, Magician or other type of performer has to do some cheap or free gigs to build up their confidence, reputation and skills. Why should VJs expect to get paid pro rates right from the off?

That discussion should probably take place in another thread though...

Dan.

[Emotion]

Yes to be honest we are not looking for no big time VJ. We however are willing to give the chance to anybody whos keen and willing to have a crack at it...we would hope that as our night gets bigger so too does there success.

Thanks all for posting..and if there is anyone who can help, please let us know...we'll do all we can to help u help us.

[paradoxewan]

lol at least he is being honest and not trying to make promises about loads of money and fame!

drop me a pm mate, im sure i have some old footage that i can throw together onto a tape for you.

I totaly agree its not the same as a vj, but as your night grows get some descent vj's in as they will add more to your night, and open revenue options for branding ect.