What is your Aim?

[rhythmicimaging]

Whats your aim overall as a VJ/Visual artist?

and ultimately what do you aim to achieve during a performance?

Do you try to grab the attention away from the DJ at least once or twice, or try to leave them baffled or mess with their head the way you can with visuals?

And is it possible some VJ's are guilty for producing stuff that is more for themselves than the viewer, i know i'm guilty of that, i often put stuff together that i think looks good but is necessarily self gratifying.

[syzygy]

hmmm. this is a tough question to answer because my opinion on it tends to change.

In some ways, I see the stuff we are doing as purely aimed at enhancing the experience of people in the clubs we work in. If their night is enhanced by low key visuals that don't steal the limelight from the music then fair enough. On the other hand, if their night would be better if our visuals grabbed their attention (e.g. if the DJ is boring ;) ) then so be it.

On the other hand, it would be really good to do more than just enhance the music. At some point I would definitely like to do some work that has a real message to it - something that could actually change the way that people think about something.

SyZyGy

[PilotX]

On the other hand, a comment we got last month was very gratifying - someone at the night told me they should forget the DJ and just have us :) :)

Also, I've always been fond of the idea of incorporating art into nightclubs, and this is a potential way of doing it. I don't want to sound poncey tho' - so long as people are enjoying what we are doing, and we are happy with it, I feel like I've achieved my aim for the night.

[LEVLHED]

I usually try to catch someone pointing at the screen and talking into someone's ear at least once....this usually means having to go for the cheesey stuff. Its the only way to know for sure anyone is paying attention. If they look once, they'll look twice.

In fact, here's a sobering experiement for you to try. Put something up that has (for what ever reason) a good deal of shock value, then attentively scan the room and look for how long it takes someone to notice.


(don't let the results bring you down, use it to set you free)

[XeroDark]

I try to always send or give a message. Of couse i want everyone to have a great time but i want them to come out from the club or show and just be like wow or amazed. I am a Christian and i do alot of Christian media and mostly vj in Christain rave clubs or events but even though they are Christian clubs or events 3/4 or 1/2 of the people that show up are not. But all the Djs and staff and people holding the even are and its pretty much a ministry to reach people about the gospel so alot of my loops, videos and stuff i play or make are for reaching out to people and trying to get a message across. So back to the question my aim would be to people in the rave/ club/party scene about the message of god but not in a boring/ corny way but a way they think its cool fun and entertaining.

Peace I'm out!
Dustin

[KillingFrenzy]

That's funny, because when I play Christian material, it actually achieves the shock effect LEVLHED was talking about.

You might think I'm kidding, but I played a good chunk of "Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat" with Donny Osmond last Saturday, and had people doing the pointing and talking thing.
Then I transitioned into "The Apple" to see how many people would catch on.

[rhythmicimaging]

Crowd Interaction is also another thing that we (rhythmic Imaging) have tried too achieve. But this steps on to the thin line of whether its cheesey or not.

One example was a loop my partner in crime created of the word 'scream' appearing over the top of the famous scene out of psycho were Janet Leigh is screaming in the shower. I thought it was cheesy and didn't want to play it, but as it is a partnership theres some give and take (plus i know some of my stuff may be a bit chronic).

Anyway it worked and it had the cyberkids screaming at the DJ and my mate was pleased (very pleased, he didn't shut up about it for days)

[Stickman]

Well, I've just joined VJcentral, and before making another posting asking for help ("where the F do I start" type thing :) ), I thought I could give a different perspective on this...

Currently I operate standard lights (whirlies, blinders, lasers & the like) at clubnights, what is my aim then, to make the experience for the audience better, more absorbing, more uplifting if you like.

So I work in tandem with DJ, he might be dictatting the tunes, but he in turn is dictated to by the overall direction of the clubnight (and the time of his set).

It's great when the DJ leans over to my desk and says "f**king awesome", but it's better when the partygoers (of which I know lot's) say "f**king awesome".

that' what I aim for, but it's an overall experience, sound light and mood.

Jamie.

[unjulation]

masages are good but be carefull

i personaly see masages to be a usefull tool but you have to be very carefull in there use wether it be a political or spititual, we have to be aware that some images/ideas are going to run counter to what someone belives in and when you are talking about fundermental indervidual belife systems what right do's anyone have to say "i know the truth"

[PilotX]

Originally posted by unjulation
masages are good but be carefull

i personaly see masages to be a usefull tool but you have to be very carefull in there use wether it be a political or spititual, we have to be aware that some images/ideas are going to run counter to what someone belives in and when you are talking about fundermental indervidual belife systems what right do's anyone have to say "i know the truth"

Too right. I've been active in political campaigning for a number of years, and know that ppl will listen to you if they do not feel they are being preached to.
There is a part of my heart that wants all of my visuals to put across a political message, but know that this needs to be curtailed, or ppl will be turned off by the visuals - and I love the performance aspect of it too much to take the risk, unless a promoter wants it.

[eXhale]

yeah i've been avoiding "messages" for the same reason as unjulation mentionned above. i'm sure there must be a way to pass messages which are positive/constructive for everyone but i haven't found it yet. i guess it takes time.

[XeroDark]

See i dont think its that hard as long is positive and you send the message in a way thats intresting and cool. Everyone will enjoy it even if they dont want to hear or see the message. They will dig it in everyway posible.

Peace I'm out!

[krezrock]

the only message is:

this is the space we create. this is creative space. feel it? good welcome home. have a seat at the table and give us your love. got it?

[rhythmicimaging]

I have no religion, but

Using religious imagery is always going to be touchy.

some imagery of religions is used because it is more shocking or 'Cooler' than for example christian imagery.

If i was ever to use imagery of a religion it would be there to make people think,or if it just looked good on screen

[eXhale]

personally i think we should respect everyone's beliefs, and that includes the belief of christianity as well as the one of paganism. religion/spirituality is all about what we make of it anyway and so generalizations and prejudices aren't needed... xerodark said he was playing at christian raves, so he's not offending people with other beliefs. however i wonder what "christian imagery" looks like? and "pagan imagery"?? care to give an example?

anyway, that's a touchy subject so let's try not to get carried away.

[wellREDman]

i dont want to fuel the religious debate but i just had to post on this , as someone who has read quite extensively the teachings of most major religious groups it made me laugh that ***** could encapsulate my feelings about christianity in one pithy sentence where i would have used a paragraph.

Originally posted by *****


Ive no problem with jesus, but his fan club piss me off
G

getting it back on topic and vj related, i was just wondering how xerodark would approach playing at a non christian event?
would you inform the organisers beforehand about the possibly contentious content youd planned to use ?
would you expect a guest vj at one of your events to warn u if they planned to play anarchistic or erotic imagery?
this raises many questions about context, my position is firmly in the the "Tailoring the content to the event" camp, but i'm sure there are many vjs's who's tack is "this is my material, this is what i play"
i wonder what the percentage is?

one love

[Rovastar]

Religion. Hmmmh.

Another dodgy subject to play. It could turn nasty.:)

http://www.milkdrop.co.uk/images/smile/snipersmilie.gif http://www.milkdrop.co.uk/images/smile/arrr.gif http://www.milkdrop.co.uk/images/smile/explode.gif http://www.milkdrop.co.uk/images/smile/arrr.gif http://www.milkdrop.co.uk/images/smile/shoot.gif

http://www.milkdrop.co.uk/images/smile/hidesbehindsofa.gif

I see no problem though is 'spreading postive messages'

Subject matter (I got that confused with 'content' when I first came here!! ) helps a lot if it is relevant. And if you are doing a gig and you have time to plan then you can/should work in conjustion with the promoter.

For a one off gig without any knowledge at all would you play anything that could be misinteruppted as offence. Would it encourage/discourage you.

Get the 'Wow that is a trippy and fucked up!' and I am happy. :) My future aim get more 'Wow that is even tripper and morefucked up!. :)

[XeroDark]

Like exhale said i mosly do christian raves and have also and still do non christian raves. Usualy i ask the person in charge if they mind me playing some christian material just about all of them say they dont mind and most of them actualy think its pretty cool. Of course i dont play as much as i usualy do. Guest vjs ? what are those ? I am the only vj in my area and as far as i know the only christian vj in the u.s. I have never worked with anyone else than myself. As far as what ***** said ( i dont have a problem with jesus but his fan club pisses me off) I do not try to convert and push everyone on christianity i respect other people's religions. In fact i come from a antheist background my hole family doesnt believe in god and for 18 years i was the same way and know how ***** feels. I still dont like when people are all over you trying to convert you into there beliefs even if its christian. Just about everyone i have ever talked to has came to me not the other way around. As for sample footage i will be shareing my loops and footage as soon as i move this week or next and i get my broadband back up. But an example of it would be an animation of jesus dieing on the cross. Any other questions or comments ? lol

Peace I'm out

[karmavideo]

thank god that jesus turned water into wine! Us alcoholics should always raise a toast to jesus because of that fact!

I never forget at the bar to say (glass raised) "Thank god for jesus!"

:-)

personally, I think religion in a "genuis idea"

My aim, with visuals, is definitley no to spread the good word of the lord, but more to help bind the people dancing or listening to the music together by trying to bind the enviroment around the with the music being played.


Aim at nothing, and that's what you'll hit.

[stevefromNewcastle]

I have to agree with XeroDark not ever christain, tries to convert everone, not ever christain, thinks "turn or burn". In my case, I am a christain and have been happily working away at club nights etc not shouting about it, talking about what I believe, if I am asked.

I started by doing a lot of christain events, but now I do a huge variety of stuff. Footage wise at the moment I am really enjoying a catholic sacred heart set I am working on.

[LEVLHED]

I've just decided my aim is to be seriously taken as a joke.

[apu]

hmmmm let me think. i have always considered that visuals have or should have some form of theme because i consider what we do, art.

i mean anyone could put up random loops or pictures of whatever and say they are a vj but will it work with the theme of the gig and what the promters want to acheive. All gigs have a name and a theme so the visuals should really try to enhance that.

let me go back a bit there. i guess there is gigs and there are regular nights though. regular nights may not have theme as such but they still normally have name and an idea behind them and you can work with that to find a thread for your visuals.

i can only speak from my very limited experience(1 gig) but i am definatly a theme vj. not nessecarily a message as such but definatly try to tie it all together somehow. that also because all of our gigs we do and are planning to do have a definate theme and angle behind them and the visuals are there to reinforce that theme.

after my first gig i had people say that they got and enjoyed the idea and theme behind the visuals and thats all i ask for at the moment.

my second gig which is coming up soon doesn't seem to have theme as such yet or a name, so i am going for a more abstract set rather than a highprofile theme, but its still going to have a theme behind it although it will be harder to pinpoint for the average punter.

my aim though is to enhance the DJ, the music, the crowd, the whole night. make it a bigger experience so people go wow that was cool or different or never seen that before.

my goal os to raise the level of production overall not only via visuals but the whole feel of the night and by treating people as much as possible within budget so they go away very very satisfied.

the VJ side is only one part of making that happen but it is my part :D

[wellREDman]

Originally posted by apu
i mean anyone could put up random loops or pictures of whatever and say they are a vj :D

unfortunately that seems to be a side effect of the success of resolume and other similar clip players, there seems to be a lot more random clip playing happening, which i think is sad..
a good example of just how bad this has got...

recently we were booked to play the surfers against sewage Ball, a high profile fancy dress event event, the theme of which this year was enchanted forest, we were undercut by a pair of lappie boys, frustrating in itself, but i went along anyway cos we got a pair of passes and what really broke my heart was the fact that there were several thousand ppl in woodland fancy dress , and the decor ppl had done a marvellous job turning a marquee into a woodland wonderland, and then there were these bottomfeeders going clip, clip clip with random bollocks all night, jetfighters, roman gladiators etc. there was nothing all night that had anything to do with n enchanted forest, the nearest they came to anything remotely relevant was some snowboarders, which is kinda close to surfing if u really squint.
not only that, but the bands/dj's playing were wildly different in style, from the dub of dreadzone to the hard rock of 100 reasons to the funky djing of bently rythm ace, yet these guys didnt vary there mixing styles or content at all
it really upset me cos if wed have done it we'd have put a lot of time and effort into utilisng the forest theme, and made sure it underpinned everything we did, whilst also varying the look according to the different bands that were on..

anyway that was a bit of a rant ,but if the guys that did it are on the forums i hope your ashemed of yourself...

[MoRpH]

Yeah I have to agree, its a real pity when "VJs" come in and don't even bother themeing ANY of there material when the promoters, etc... go to all the trouble of establishing a strong theme. On an average themed night I normally use about a 50/50 mix of the specially created theme content and my other material, how ever even with the other material I try to stay close to the theme and vibe of the night. Also quite often in the process of creating/sourceing theme material I will hit upon ideas of even loops that make their way into my prefered mix material.

[vjTranceKoder]

XeroDark
I am...as far as i know the only christian vj in the u.s.

I am a proud believer in the exclusive Deity of Christ Eternal, no doubt.


As far as my aim in VJing I'll quote one of my previous posts:
"Perception of ultimate reality is what drives every artist not to mention every thought/action of every human who has ever lived. It is this perception that shows through any facade.

As for me, the ideal state of mind and being derive from the visions I've had of the metaphysical and the beliefs that have formed out of these experiences. I strive to recreate and maintain that state through my chosen artistic medium. Without this aspect, I believe the art I create is bound to the earth and the limits thereof. "

So basically it is natural for me to "project" (pun intended) my own convictions in an attempt to come into and maintain a certain state of being, which I naturally want all those I love to share in with me.
As long as this -->:grouphug:<-- happens, I'll consider my part in it to be completely successful.

Q: XeroDark
What is a Christian rave? One organized by Christians?
I'm curious, do you try to keep drugs out of your scene?
How would I know it was a Christian rave without having been notified previous to entry?

One last thing. I believe that our actions will always speak louder than our beliefs (visuals), so live what you believe and the message will be absorbed. :love:

After all, art is a reflection of self.:love2:

[k8eepants]

totally agree with y'all on keeping in style with the event.when others have gone to trouble and effort its rude not to join in, and looks pants to boot! you're part of a set up and it looks a mess if u dont take into account all the other decor. plus it can look simply amazing when everything is cohesive.
..my aim as a vj? well, on the spiritual tip, a little story.......i was vj ing at a warehouse party, showing footage the production manager had shot in thailand and india of buddhas and stipas, etc...... up to the tower come two very young lads, unable to speak for the first five minutes, just kept pointing to screens and to their eyes... making strange gestures with their hands...it was very cute, very sweet moment.. they'd obviously just had their minds opened by what they'd seen and had to make contact with us....it was such a joy to see, and talking to them when they'd got use of their lips back was cool too, .......really and truly a mind opening like that.ok they were tripping too, but thats why you've got to take responsibility for what you put out there in peoples heads.... they are vulnerable through drug use ( and age generally)and unaware(mostly) of what's being beamed into their brains. i love that responsibility and am arrogant enough to think i have enough sensitivity not to cause damage in young heads.....those two people totally reminded me why i love doing this job, and what i do it for.
i'm not a christian nor do i belong to another religion, but you've got to respect everyone's differences and lookout for potentially offensive stuff i think....who wants to pay to get into an event to dance only to be slapped in the face by the visuals on the dancefloor?

[Retardia]

Personnally I would be offended and highly unamussed by religous clips.

Religion tells people what to think and so opresses their freedom of choice.

I realize that Jesus was a real person as was budda but unlike budda christianity has manufactured Jesus into their own personal mascot. So If i was to see Jesus on the screen at a party I would feel like yhe VJ is trying to sell me on the idea of Christianity. With figures like budda I would appreciate it. Hes a highly intellectual dude. and happens to be visually stunning. But his image could offend other people so i wouldent screen him myself. In short I dont think religion has any place in nightclubs. Acheiving this > :grouphug: has nothing to do with religion, but rather personnal intellectual levels and the ability to love.

BUT all of this /\ /\

has nothing to do with art, and essetially we are all artists, so we should drop the subject due to the possibility to offend people.

I have yet to gig but Im intreuged by what you are saying about themeing up at shows. I wish to do the same but I want to do it while at the same time keeping my stlye. What kind of things do you guys do to theame up. download clips off the theame or create your own, how much time do you usually have to prepare for a theamed show?

[holly]

An example of a theme was this past weekend when we were told the night before the gig there was going to be a "camoflauge" theme. Before we get into a debate about which is more offensive: Jesus v jungle, let's just cut to the point. With only one day (really a half day) it wasn't possible to shoot any new footage, but it was simple enough to find a large camo pattern online as a reference texture, modify it for visuals, run it through a couple of software processes and record the results to a blank DVD. Voila, we had a camo-texture disc for the whole night which could be used straight as background, or as a luma-texture for any silhouette dancers. I also added some old footage of a gogo dancer in a green bikini wearing dogtags which worked like a charm. No panick, promoters impressed and happy with "all" the camo footage....