VJ club, UK's 1st?

[BIOPTIX]

I feel like a very small fish in a large pond at the mo, but have been buzzing with a sickening excitement about the future of VJing since attending last years Avit effort at the Brighton Center, UK. The big question floating around seemed to be (to an uneducated eye) where do we go from here? and the biggest 'concern' was how VJ's can ever step out of the shadow of the DJ rather than just providing eye candy for the frenzied masses. Well I've been a thinkin', what if....someone, or a group of someones (Avit?) was to get the funding to set up a AV/VJ club, perhaps in Brighton (UK members). By day we could offer training workshops and demonstrations to those interested in setting up, aswell as offering internet cafe facilities for the man in the street. By night we'd have a permanent venue from which VJ's could operate. Huge projections, installations, Music video, short films and live gaming competitions included. Does anyone know of a place like it in Britain or in the big wide world? Sounds like fun to me. As I am penniless graduate there is nought I can do for the minute except ask any of you who are interested in the idea to contact me if you wanna hear more, I'm brimming but need to share the love.
I think I've attatched a poll asking: who rekons an AV/VJ club might be the next step in the Evolution of visual/club culture?

[sleepytom]

LMFAO

haha - in the words of norman cook "you're not from brighton"

brighton has a population of 300,000 people - there are already over 300 clubs in brighton (yes thats like one for every thousand people, including old age pensioners and children!)

there is no way such a venture is viable in brighton.

there are already a few different VJ centric clubs in the UK - media, stealth, etc etc

[PilotX]

I've not voted because my view sits between two of the answers..
basically it depends (a) on the local area, is the internet cafe and training workshops going to provide enough income to subsidise the nightclub? Is there enough demand for these things.
(b) Vjs on their own are never going to pull in a large number of people.. people go out to here music and socialise primarily. visuals can enhance the night but I don't think that visuals will be enough on it's own to pull in a large crowd.
(c) A/v acts do have the potential, and I think there is space for an A/V nightclub, with a/v acts supported by djs and vjs.. we did four of these in Brum before our venue got rebuilt under us, and although we lost money on every night people were enjoying it (numbers ranged from 140 - 350 ish).
BUT to really get people in, you need names that are recognised.. a small space would be the place to start it, too big and it will feel empty.

So, I think it has potential, but the a/v scene needs to grow so that more people then coldcut and hexstatic are recognised 'names' that will draw people into the club. But it is the a/v acts, not the vjs who I think are the key to getting enough people through the door to break even. Of course if you are taking on the bar as well then you won't need the same numbers..
just be prepared to loose money.

[BIOPTIX]

Respects to you sleepytom but I've lived in Brighton for the past four years and I think the amount of clubs in the area can only add to the popularity of something different emerging on the already vibrant entertainment scene. Plus the fact that Brighton is supposed to be the UK's VJ capital (according to Avit) I think it would be ideal.
I agree with PilotX's view that small is best, it definatly needs intimacy to begin with. Also that AV work should be the central draw alongside named DJ's and VJ's. As more people go to training workshops, the bigger the scene will grow! Competitions, AV battles and mini showcases. What about Live gaming competitions and special screenings of rare cutting edge music videos and short films/animations to draw in punters. They could be shown during the day in a bar/internet cafe/cinema environment, maybe serve food aswell. Tickets on door for Gigs by night (small member subsidies) and maybe sponsorships from Hardware/Software companies (prizes for competitions). Come on, you know it makes sense! :poke::nod: :assimilat

[PilotX]

the problem is, I don't know it makes sense.
in all honesty I wouldn't expect to break even on this kind of venture.. I Don't know brighton, but I know that Sleepytom does .. we hoped that zoetrope would work in a city the size of brum (2milliion or so) with a relative paucity of nightclubs.. none of the nights we did broke even.. thats why I said whether the cafe and training courses would need to subsidise the nightclub.
I'd listen to sleepy if I was you. I don't think the a/v scene is big enough yet in that there aren't enough known acts.. who are you going to book that pulls in a reasonable number of people (ie: enough to cover the costs)? cos if you are looking at a weekly night I think you will run out of acts quite quickly.. even a monthly night although people will appear.
Good luck to you if you decide to do it, but get funding in place first or you might find oyurself in a lot of debt.

[charlielangridge]

Trust mate, it's hard enough premoting nights in Brighton with big name DJs - a VJ is never gonna pull that many peeps. Esp when people can go out and see wikkid VJs in clubs every weekend anyway. ;)

[elbows]

Theres a lot of other things that go into running a club that I would not want to be involved with, thats what puts me off the idea.

I think there is potential out there at some time & place for AV club to make sense, but best to let the AV people focus on that side of things, and work with people who already know about all the other sides that go with being in the club/entertainment venue marketplace. Potentially very expensive learning process, requires a certain kind of personality, the right friends etc I would think.

Internet cafe even worse from a business perspective, too many people have home internet access in this country, and its one of those ideas that lots of people think will fly until they dig deeper.

I think there are probably other daytime media services which could be provided if you are looking for feasible ways to financially support the non-money-making aspects of the plan. Given the right equipment and location, and by starting small, it could work.

[BIOPTIX]

however, I will say, I am drunk, but still have belief! If no one else shares the vision i ill strive to complete what i still want to strive out of the world of science fiction!

[syzygy]

I think that, at this stage, an AV bar would have more of a chance of success than an AV club.

The trend in the 'night venue' sector at the moment is towards bar-style venues rather than dancing orientated venues. The reason for this is that people are simply not going out for big dancing nights in the way that they were even a few years ago.

More and more people are going to bars. Less and less people are going to clubs. Not a hard and fast rule, but certainly the general case.

Also, I believe that a venue that makes visuals one of its main selling points has more of a chance in a bar/lounge style environment than asa dancing club.

A bar that made a real feature out of visuals, with thoughtful, high quality screen installations and the right content shown on them would have the potential to become a fashionable place to hang out.

I'm not talking about some token plasmas behind the bar showing generic content and adverts. I'm talking screens inlaid into tables (or floors), projections on waterfalls, ceiling projections, floor to ceiling pillar screens - the works.

(It wouldn't really have to be so over the top - 'thoughful' is the key word. The main requirement would be that every seat and standing point would have a view of a screen so that everyone there would see the content)

A big advantage that an AV bar would have over other bars is the ability to restyle itself constantly by chnaging the style of the content. Ever noticed that 'cool' bars change their decor (and even name) on a regular basis in order to stay fresh?

An AV bar could even have an LED screen rather than a name sign, so it could change its name as often is it likes ;)

Dan.

[signal55]

Originally posted by sleepytom

there are already a few different VJ centric clubs in the UK - media, stealth, etc etc

Thanks tom:)

[questionmark]

Maybe it's an idea to start out as a monthly or two-monthly clubnight. This could give you the opportunity to gather some continuity in the audience whilst at the same time you learn about the possible financial problems and possibilities, without taking too much risk.

The fact that there are not many big names is the exact thing you want to change, right? If you can think of some good, well thought through concepts for every monthly night, people will eventually know what they are going to get. I think you'll need to focus on offering the public some kind of quality statement about veejay, so that it won't come to find out there's a usual dancenight with some extra projectors in strange places.
The way I see it, the 'problem' with veejay is that it has always served the dancenight as a whole. And in that it has always served the music. So if you want to put veejay in the spot light you very easily tend to slip into one of the following two concepts a) when seriously putting live mixing of visuals in the centre of attention, you will create a media art night or b) by showing the usual habitat of veejay it will 'disappear' behind the usual dancenight. The latter will make the public dance, the first will make people look. The latter will have an audience that is not concentrated enough, the first will have an audience that is too concentrated. You need to strike the right balance if you can. (yeah...but how? :confused: )

Having said this, i'd have to say that making a night successful / break even, also has to do with pure luck. You need some financial space to have some kind of cover when luck is not on your side. But as you know when you don't try, you'll never know. :)

[BIOPTIX]

:o
sorry about that last message. I can't even remember writing it!
obviously in a haze of drunken euphoria. Thanks for the comments and suggestions, This idea is still very much in an embrionic stage at the moment. Will take a few years before I actually put anything in motion. Definitly agree that bar rather than dancehall would be best, but dance floor should provided for those with extra itchy feet. I've never been to either media or stealth, what are they like, and where are they?

[spark]

its great to see you came to avit and have been motivated by it and the wider scene. many of us who started avit here in the uk a few years ago were not dissimilar to you - broke, isolated from a tangible vj scene, and brimming with enthusiasm.

i'm not going to piss on your ideas because, back when avit didn't even have a name i would not have believed the gig we pulled off in leeds - it would have been revolutionary enough just meeting some people off these boards in a pub!

what i will say, is that rather charging headlong into a venture of your own, why don't you try and gain some real world experience with people who are trying related things already? there is a thread about a monthly experimental vj space in london (search for 'stickman' in the events forum i think), there is a collective now in brighton that formed from avit i think, there are people who have been running nights who take vj/av stuff seriously for years such as addictive tv's audiovisual lounge, laptop jams, or the more progressive promoters/record labels.

and, i couldn't exactly not say it, could i - there's avit (gowaaan! get in touch) =]

toby

[BIOPTIX]

cheers spark, that's all good. I think it would be wicked for avit to take this project on, that was my original intention coz I blatently couldn't handle it myself. Also, Avit has a respectable status and good history of getting arts council funding maybe even the lottery could help out, and another funding scheme I've been checking out is nesta, offering financial support for innovative science, technology and arts based commercial enterprizes. Who do I need to get in touch with? it would be nice to meet up with anyone interested in the brighton area for a pint and a chat.

[spark]

a pint and a chat.

i think thats the key, its always good to meet others in the game =]

what i was suggesting is that you'll get much further by helping out with people on things that are already going than rushing to start something new without any experience.

toby

[nommo]

come and check out Innteraction in Gloucester... not the most likely place for a big club - never mind one that is into AV...

But - it is there.. with a bit of community spirit and passion, Nick (the Ents manager) and myself are working hard to make AV spectaculars a regular occurance.

We have booked ZenTV to do the first monthly (24th Sept), and hope to be booking other acts for next months Innteraction Birthday party...

I am currently sat waiting for DVJs to arrive (my V4s are here whoop!) and then can begin the next phase of AV install.

Funny... who would have thought it? Gloucester! (we are moving there at the end of the month)

If you are interested in participating in any further events (or being a resident VJ) - let me know eh?

Peaces
Nommo

[Anyone]

Originally posted by sleepytom
there are already a few different VJ centric clubs in the UK - media, stealth, etc etc

any links on those pls?
Ne1 :)

[soulvisuals]

Hi There,

I'm from Vancouver, but have been in Shanghai, China establishing visuals.

We have created 3 visual clubs in the last 2 years. They are operated as a Dance/Bar/special events space.

http://www.soulvisuals.com/soulvisualspg6_liveperformances.htm

www.clubv.com.cn

my website needs to be updated, but there are some photos.


Hope it adds some momentum.

Peace,

Raven

[signal55]

Guys i reckon Stealth is the first visual centric club in the uk (pls correct me if i'm wrong). I'm the resident artist there and we have live mixed genre specific visuals everynight we are open, we have had quite a few vjs and a/v events over the summer not much mind (quiet summer and all that) here are the peeps that did visual stuff over the summer

unjulation & 3ye
avdv
student stuff
no-signal (me)
franamation
radioactive man
whitey
freaq nasty

coming up we have james zabelia, sander klienenberg, student stuff, me but performing with inxec for Rennaisance, mylo+live visuals. I also have a stealth cam coming online very soon, plus live audio/visual streams broadcasting from the club for selected nights only, plus i'll be booking some vjs soon when someone gives me some more money:). Hopefully some remote vjaing sessions when i finished working on the mechanics for this. And finaly a monthly arts orientated night starting next week "Titinus" featuring av feedback artists ect....

everything we try to do at stealth always visual element to it wether direct or indirect

note to pomoters- employ a fine arts graduate :jump:

xxmossy

[nommo]

fine art graduates apply here ;-)

seriously - i went to art college - did the UKs first Innteractive Art degree (used to be fine art)... only I am now getting into the business side... (ie jobs for mates)

i don't hardly have time to be creative these days :(

one day...

[nommo]

hmm - speaking of jobs for mates..

we are STILL looking for residents (only thurs is taken so far - i have to do the rest whilst sending emails and faffing), and also ad-hoc performances for the monthly (especially AV integrated shows)...

stealth sounds great - will have to make it up to nottingham soon!

[BIOPTIX]

Yes mate! checkout that stuff from shanghi, I'm moving there! Stealth sounds wicked too, where have you boys been all my life? VJ forum's opening my eye's to beautiful things. What about Media, where is it, who runs it? Soulvisuals need to get over to england to work some of that magic, where are the investors? this country needs a kick up the arse, visual clubs are the way to go! :not worth

[akira_k]

So good that you guys already have the ball rolling, AV-prolific clubs!

it's so hard when you have to kickstart it on yer own. Let's see how we go from what we have done so far ;) The harder it is, the more exciting and interesting it is for me!

[unjulation]

undulation & 3ye
get me name wrong, GET ME NAME WRONG, dame you ......i'm sure its ok to get pissed about that.....sure somebody else got pissed about that.......dam you how do you expect anyone to serch for me name wen you spell it wrong, :grrr: next time i see you.........oh shit might see you saterday, doh!:lol:

[sleepytom]

now that's a new one unj getting all shirty about spelling!

dyslexia lures ko

;)

[3YE]

I call to order the inaugural meeting of..

VADJ

VJ's Against Dyslexia

[SuperFlySister]

Hi Bioptix,

I'm in Brighton and work with another VJ as metaLuna. Would be great to meet up and have a drink sometime, and we know a few of the other VJs here. We may even have a gig or two for you ;) Just PM me.

There was a spin-off group from AVIT, but after two gigs I'm not sure what is happening with them. I think it may be the lack of a suitable venue [+ time] that's holding things back.

Hayley

[USE]

well this is all very encouraging. it would be amazing if you could turn up to a club, plug your laptop into their vision mixer and away you go. alicats in brighton has its own projector and screen but thats it, and no where really for the vj to sit.

i think in a pretentious, posey, trying-so-hard-to-be-cool-it-hurts town like brighton, something like an A/V centric club would definitely gain an edge over the competition.