POSITIVE suggestions

[Stickman]

This thread is for POSITIVE SUGGESTIONS about AVIT.

Whilst it's fresh in our minds, let's try to get the benefit of experience and 20/20 hindsight :)

eg.
If you thought the visuals were rubbish,
please write "Better quality visuals",

...prefreably with some details about how to improve things.

Everything can be improved, but we need POSITIVE IDEAS to make it happen.

[bigloose]

I think what we could change to make it better.

-maybe to project the visuals next (or close from the vj) I liked when 2 adjacent screen were projecting the same image, it looks more clean (but maybe some people don't like it...)

-maybe it would be good to use real screen (but the 360? was a great idea...) or find a way to make the sheet "more flat" it would look much more professional (but I agree it was pretty hard with the fire exits problem)

-I would maybe had several lights on the people who are dancing (but it depend if we want an "only projection light" event)

-We should do an after avit meeting the next day to talk about it and have everybody's ideas "live"


I'll post other thing when I'll think about it...

b!gl00z3

(these comments doesn't mean it was bad it's just something that we can even do better next time...)

[Stickman]

Promotion
Let's organise the flyers / promotional earlier. I attend lot's of events and hand out flyers to people I know etc, we can spread the word more if we get things together earlier.

Objectives
There seem to be different opinions about the objectives of AVIT (after the event). What where peoples objectives and how much did it meet them? lets get them on the table now before we forget.

Who's on now?
It would have helped me, and I think the promotion of the VJ's playing, if there had been a timetable of who when on the club night.

maybe rolling LED displays underneath each screen saying who's on now?

Genre's.
It seems to me that their are different types of VJ's, in content and overall style. Maybe we should seperate out the different types for the public and promoter community?

After all some of us are the audio equivalents of composer, muscian, live artist and Dj's. when you add that to the variety of content used (both subject matter and format), it's no wonder that the world see's us with confused eyes!

Arenas
Lets try to get a venue with several distinct areas or arenas to stop the evening shows getting mixed together, it's too much to take in after 60 minutes. This would also allow for different musical styles in each arena.

better Software demos
difficult to see what was happening (i stood with the public and I saw hardly anything despite moving around loads trying to get a better view).

all for now, more later.

Stickman.

[holly]

I would like to suggest that at least one person be hired or volunteer as press relations for VJ.CENTRAL.COM at the next AVIT. She might have some of the following goals:

(1) Get press releases and info from each vendor about what new products they will be showing. Follow up by speaking to some of the vendors and watching a few demonstrations.

(2) Contact the speakers for each seminar and try to get information on what topics will be discussed.

(3) Attend a few of the seminars, and relay what *was* discussed and the general vibe of the participants.

(4) Make a few rounds before the afterparty showcase to talk to some of the participating vjs and relay details like:
(a) What equipment some VJs are using, what is their set-up
(b) who are the participating VJs and how far did they travel
(c) what kind of useful connections were made

(4) Attend the afterparty showcase and relay what was shown and the general vibe of the partiers. It might be best if she was free to move around and experience the show from the audiences' point of view, as opposed to VJing herself as well.

(5) Make a few rounds after the party (during strike) and follow up with some of the VJs about how things went and what they learned/experienced at the party.

(6) Try to condense this information into several timely posts or articles on VJCENTRAL.COM. Maybe if an internet connection is available she could even post from the show?

[LEVLHED]

yes, obviously the setup of the lappys/etc for the demos wasn't ideal...they should have been higher up at least so they could be seen from further back...

[elbows]

Seperate the stuff thats of interest to VJ's from the stuff of interest to the public and promoters etc. Have workshops for VJ's behind closed doors.

Include gaps in the timetable to cover for things taking longer than expected.

Have more people involved in organising stuff that dont actually do anything else in the event (eg if you are doing a workshop, dont try to organise the workshops at the same time lol hello me)

Try to have more control over the club side of the event maybe, a bit more musical variety would give people more chance to show off different styles.

[robotfunk]

I'd have to agree on the software demos being rather less than ideal. Each having a 2 min slot with people having to follow what you're saying and demonstrating on a beamer fed by a camera, I don't think developers get a proper chance to give the audience a proper view of their soft or hardware. Something similar to the vjs.net event in ocean where each had their own stand where you could at least show it properly to a few people would be much better for the next time.

I think something similar can be said for everyone doing a lecture or presentation. It may be better do plan a few less if that leaves more time for speakers to get beyond the surface of things.

Maybe cooperate with another event that is in the realm of digital arts but not per se a VJ event to get more critical mass and attention from non VJ's.

Live stream so other people can watch it.

A proper UK train system so that people don't miss their flights back home (the last one too)

[PilotX]

I missed alot of the workshop stuff, but it certainly needed more space so that the software guys could give proper demos of what could be done. I'm not sure how much public interest these would provide, but I am not sure about the closed door idea. The more the public know about how things get done the better as far as I'm concerned.

As for the night, the placement of the scaffs/projectors could use some thought. Given the venue (and I think there could not have been a much better place in the UK) I don't think too much can be done, unless we could get in there and test the rig set up before the night, but that would depend on being able to get in there on a different day, and have everyone come down for the day with all their kit. The only suggestion that I've heard came from Rod, as to whether the scaffs could be placed behind the stairs so as the projectors are more central to the venue.
The only other way would be to have a massive scaff from the bottom floor rising up. as to health and safety issues, I don't know what would need to be done.

Holly, you are right that a dedicated press officer would have been a good idea, and for the record, I will volunteer to do this next time. As far as I know, VJ magazine are doing a piece on the night, but as to other press (including newspapers) I have no idea.

If a change of venue is suggested to surmount the technical difficulties, then I would suggest finding a venue where a marquee can be rigged. Although this will cost, it will provide a venue which can have visuals on every surface - complete submersion in an av environment.

Tom
(SyZyGy Visuals)

[eXhale]

Originally posted by PilotX
Holly, you are right that a dedicated press officer would have been a good idea, and for the record, I will volunteer to do this next time. As far as I know, VJ magazine are doing a piece on the night, but as to other press (including newspapers) I have no idea.Jamie of 2BitTV was taking care of press relation on AVIT1 and he did a very good job.

[PilotX]

Originally posted by eXhale
Jamie of 2BitTV was taking care of press relation on AVIT1 and he did a very good job.

Sorry - didn't realise Jamie was on it. From Holly's posts I thought no-one had been dedicated to it.

[Rovastar]

Originally posted by PilotX
As far as I know, VJ magazine are doing a piece on the night, but as to other press (including newspapers) I have no idea.



The event was a success and VJing is now mainstream. We now have the same recognition as DJ's we now have VJ magazine.:););):D

[vjpixylight]

Originally posted by holly
I would like to suggest that at least one person be hired or volunteer as press relations for VJ.CENTRAL.COM at the next AVIT. She might have some of the following goals:

(1) Get press releases and info from each vendor about what new products they will be showing. Follow up by speaking to some of the vendors and watching a few demonstrations.

(2) Contact the speakers for each seminar and try to get information on what topics will be discussed.

(3) Attend a few of the seminars, and relay what *was* discussed and the general vibe of the participants.

(4) Make a few rounds before the afterparty showcase to talk to some of the participating vjs and relay details like:
(a) What equipment some VJs are using, what is their set-up
(b) who are the participating VJs and how far did they travel
(c) what kind of useful connections were made

(4) Attend the afterparty showcase and relay what was shown and the general vibe of the partiers. It might be best if she was free to move around and experience the show from the audiences' point of view, as opposed to VJing herself as well.

(5) Make a few rounds after the party (during strike) and follow up with some of the VJs about how things went and what they learned/experienced at the party.

(6) Try to condense this information into several timely posts or articles on VJCENTRAL.COM. Maybe if an internet connection is available she could even post from the show?


holly,
how would you like doing this for the Avit North America? Nixmix has her hands full with getting all the proposals out for sponsership and all that jazz, but we could really use a good media rep to get the ball rolling with Mags and general plublicity...
Also since you are in the big apple, you might know some publisists or the like that have contacts...
We will have a domain for AVit by Feb. 9hopefully) and so there is no big rush right at this moment, but we do need to get the werd out soon..

[many2]

I support the idea to have software and hardware demonstrations done behind closed doors for VJs and press people only.

About the show itself, I think it would be better to have each VJ participating in a 15-30 minutes set shown on all the screens at the same time rather than 30 VJs on 30 different screens at the same time. I did enjoy the AVIT UK setup, and it was great to be able to see all those different styles at the same time, but I still think it would look more professional to have the same image on all the screens.

It's a matter of personal choice, but I really enjoy to play in Tag team or in Versus mode with other VJs. It would be great to give the opportunity to those willing to play this way to be able to do it.

About the objectives of the event here is what I think is important :

1. Keep the DIY attitude

2. Be able to meet with other VJs (it looks crappy but a badge with our name on it would be a great opportunity to spot people we know from the forum !)

3. Think and discuss together about the technics and the future of our art.

4. Spread the word about VJing all across the continent !

Many-2

[vjnixmix]

Hi...
If you are interested at all in doing a bit of PR work Bishop will be in NYC From Feb 1-6 (I think) let me know if you might want to meet him to discuss.
Thanks.

Niky
VJ NixMix
Simplistiks Visuals
niky@simplistiks.net

[holly]

If you are interested at all in doing a bit of PR work...

You Guys! PM me for this kind of stuff. I almost missed it because I don't read every thread....

I have a theater show scheduled for the last week of May, possibly first week of June. I think AVIT/NA is June 7? I may not be able to attend the actual event, but I'm certainly up for writing a press release that can be mailed to every TV station/newspaper/magazine's entertainment, club, and technology editor, plus keeping a list of all media that has been or needs to be contacted. I'm not sure what has been finalized: is the venue and date set? That's all that is necessary for an early PR. A second and third PR can come later, closer to the event, that lists participants and sponsors. I can post a press release online so everyone can just copy/paste into an email or a letter.

Are you communicating by personal email or just posting through vjf? Sorry, I'll need some catching up on the details of the event.

[Rovastar]

I wish I was more drunk other wise I would realy said what I thought about theiving.......oh sorry......