Should VJs stand while performing?

[holly]

Recent topic I brought up at EyeWash: Should VJs stand while performing?

At "real" gigs I usually stand and have my gear on a little keyboard X stand which is a good height for me. I prefer to stand because I feel more active and can dance a little and I don't feel so slumped over a rig. Sometimes of course I'm with a band and they put me up in the lightbooth where usually there is no ceiling height to stand, then of course I sit....

At EyeWash and at most of the local art-vj gigs it is more common to sit at a big folding table piled high with gear like you are at the office. I'm beginning to think this is not so good for the "energy" and the percieved "performance" of the VJ..., but when I brought it up one day "I think we're going to make all VJs stand up while they perform," I got dead-horrified looks like I was totally crazy. Har har har.

It's not like they have to stand for hours (like I do when I'm doing a gig), EyeWash art sets are about 45 minutes to an hour. Is this so crazy? is it more common to sit or to stand?

[lowRes]

don?t know but i can?t vj sat down...
i need to be in my feet jumping and hoping feeling the groove!!
for me it doesn?t matter for how long, if i'm really enjoying can be all night!!!

i think the only time i sat down was doing video for a boring house music dj.. tsum tsat tsum tsat.. *(
that time i almost felt asleep and i was using arkaos! wich makes me being really active punching keys!

[Lucidhouse]

I sit all day creating content.

Standing during a gig is a welcome blessing. Definately better for me during performances, dance around, more aware and quicker.

I think sitting during live performances sucks!

[disassembler]

Because I like to work the mixer mostly. I have to stand. Just can't twist knobs and reef on the fader bar with such speeds or accuracy while sitting. I like getting involved physically while playing. That's why I like mixers and midi sh@t. I want to feel when I play.

[monsho]

agreed with standing while Vjing - this is a performance, we want to be seen as performers, stand up, have a bit of stage presence.

It does feel a lot more of a performance standing up, we always try to make ourselves seen as well, not hidden away.

....my legs do go dead after about 4 hours mind!

[Amukidi]

Rather depends on who you're working with doesn't it? You'd look a right muppet jigging up and down VJing for Roger Eno playing Erik Satie on a grand piano.....

[holly]

Well, yes. And "jigging up and down" during the silent parts between the rock songs or during the ambient breaks would be equally as silly..., but that doesn't mean you can't stand on two feet and wobble slightly or just barely shift your weight from time to time.



I'm not sure which is worse: looking like a muppet on two legs or looking like a sloth hunchbacked ass-potatoe flat on your butt. I'd go with the muppet.

[trotskythecat]

I'd consider myself the 'bouncing muppet' kind of VJ.

Hehe - sometimes I'm bouncing harder than the DJs...guess I'm a dancin' fool

[xiayu]

i like to shake my booty while i play and i can't very well do that sitting down!

[sleepytom]

like all things it depends on the cuicumstances.

siting is not inherently bad - go and watch a band and some of them sit, some stand

i'm tall and if i have a low table then i will hert my back by standing - sitting down is much more comfortable - if there is a high table then standing is good - i have a quite high stool that i use sometimes that is a good comprimise between seated and standing