Type of VJs

[vjrei]

A VJ today is like calling yourself an "Engineer", I say: I engineer in what? There are 3000 kinds of engineers.

For example, if I'm called just to punch some butons and the client give me the material and where I have to puch each clip, I can not charge as a"visual artist". Of course I can improve a bit and sugest some other stuff in the performance.

Is like a musician, you can play a guitar very well and you can write songs too. But you can be hire in a studio to play just a script and because your technique is very clean. You are not hired as a composer and you should not be consider as one because that is not the service you were asked for.

That is a good way to treat the client because around here I have found poeple that hired me that comes with the most twisted visions of what a VJ can do.

I was just performing with this Celtic band, and the guy who hired me told me that some other people told him that a VJ would not do what he was looking for because VJ do not do that. He just had some visual material and he wanted some one to puch it during his performance. I said I do it, what is the problem?

I feel that some people feel more importnat when they are more problematic. We just have to settle some parameters to start with, some people may take it and some others not.

It is good the analogy about the lightbulb.

I would say:

1 to change it and 3,709 to define the word lightbulb besides choosing if the one who is gonna do it is right wing, left wing, uglie, pretty, black or white.

[vjrei]

Originally posted by fluchtpunkt
(...already posted this in the dropped thread...)

other 'functions' of a vj:

- (vj) tool developer: software or hardware. That can be part of the Developer.

- performance artist: closer to a musician playing an instrument than a dj: Yes, it can be under VJ or as a Performer (a new category)

- mad scientist: exploring new and 'unobvious' ways of working with (audio)visual media. That fals in to Visual Artist.

- cultural/political agitator: reflecting social (...) realities through their art. Visual Artist too.

- 'PR' agent: if the dj is responsible for a parties 'soul' then the vj is responsible for its 'face' (...ehhm somewhat like 'corporate identity'). Visual Producer maybe. The original name I had was General Producer but at last time I turned in to Visual Producer. I did the same with Mixer, it was originally VJ and I'm gonna keep it as a VJ by popular demand.

Of course we can have subcategories. I had some but I didn't want to rush. I do not want to put words in to peoples mouth, specially around here

[asterix]

What about taking it a step further even...

could a VJ be put in a 'genre' lets say like Metallica is classed as heavy metal, or Roni Size is drum and base...

Are there any noticable characteristics of a vj and thier technique/content that would do that?

I.e. I produce alot of synthesised trippy psycadellic content for out door parties which generally requires little or no mixing. (more a visual artist style concept)

Clubby type gigs I'd live mix using alot of scratching techniques to simulate the music... but no real set characteristic on content (mostly ripped) (more a vj style concept).

Or do we really need to go there at all??

[julez]

yeah id say u could put vjs in genres the same way u put musicians in them.

u can get industrial glitchy visuals with lots of cued samples to accompany aphex twin or u could have organic smooth visuals on a chillout dvd or something. Its the same as music i suppose

[Portal]

Without a doubt, VJing styles do exist.

I would classify myself as a "surreal realist", as differentiated from "computer synthesist" (a heavy user of CGI), or "abstract psychedelic".

I prefer realistic footage of live action films and/or animation, which I subtly modulate, layer, and tweak out as music sets continue to build. This adds a sense of wierdness to intuitively comprehensible scenes. I don't use a lot of flashy "strobing" or colour inversion effects until after a huge track build, and prefer smooth video mixing to chaotic image/clip collaging.

I guess genres do exist in the visual world, but it is up to us to define them, as they are not quite the same as those of the audio domain.

Best,
Marcus {VJ Portal}

[vjrei]

You are talking about a VJ+Visual Artist. The thing is to make the people easy to get it, even between us.

The content can be anything, you can be politically oriented just like U2, but that is the content.

Of course the VJ is the most complex BUT not every one does it that way. As I said it, I have people that will show their art but will not be in sync with the music. No scratches or things like that.

You may know the DVD of Underworld with the visuals of Tomato Art, that would be consider Visual Art VJing. It is actually pre recorded, so I do not think is gonna even fall in to a VJ performance. It would be a Content Developer.

[ristuuk]

so U2 do visuals.
Doesnt someone do visuals for U2?
Tomato do visual art when pre recorded but when play live....

Humm...

The light surgeons , first time I saw them they used 16mm...last time they were using video and 35mm slide...
I dont understand the need to complicate things...
He's a vj because he uses a laptop.
He's a roadie vj because he uses a laptop and owns some equipment
He's a visual artist because he pre records some stuff.
on and on
If I do a gig and use a projector to put logos at the entrance then i am corporate av.
another one in the chill out room using prerecorded loops then I am a visual artist,
and more in the main space playing live, then I am a vj...depending whether I use a laptop ,video etc.
The camera makes me a cameraman.
using optikinetics with oil wheels makes me a lampy (or a hippy)
Kodaks make me an art student
16mm make you the dj-no you cant play records on those big spinning round things dear punters

I really did think we were all in the same boat. it doesn't matter what you use as long as you use it and embrace new technology

I may buy a drink at the bar tonight whilst im working (sorting out what i am)
That will make me a punter vj.

[holly]

Ristuuk, I think the original purpose was not to gaze at your own navel and contemplate your existance. You are carrying this too far. The purpose was to define price structures for clients, not to put labels on yourself. Since Rei states that a band thought a "VJ" would not do a certain job because some other VJ told them that's not what a VJ does, he is trying to go ahead and say "These are the services I offer, and this is what you can expect to pay".

Even you admit the is a difference between putting corporate logos at the entrance and performing a VJ set for a crowd of sweaty dancing ravers. Can you not see that you might charge a different amount of money for these two very different jobs? Rei is defining specific jobs for outsiders so he can draw up a rate chart. He is not trying to divide the scene by excluding everyone who doesn't neatly fit in a box. Jeez, this is NOT the same old arguement, can't you open your mind and see this might have a purpose when you are sending someone an invoice? Not all VJs are going to offer the same services. Some VJs are allergic to corporations and would never create a corporate logo animation for an event. Most simply want to perform their own stuff, hence the band thinking they could not hire a "VJ" to run their existing content.

We've already established long ago that "VJ" is a blanket term that covers everyone here because why would some lighting designer be on a VJ forum. This is for clients, not other VJs.

[signal55]

From my stand point of being a fine art student, being a vj is about being an artist and getting pretty fine grades for it, also being able to bring a mainstream fun media into conceptual art practice to blow out the cobwebs of mindf**k art, which to be honest is just a bit past it now,

love mossy

[solly]

I think in my case I try to go with the mood of the crowd just like a dj, and put graphics or animation or live footage during a whole nite to make it interesting for the people.
Solly