Tag Archives: vjstreet

Feature Friday: DVJ Marcos Cabrera

Meet DVJ Marcos Cabrera, he is an Ecuadorian native and video mixing demon.  VJing is wildly popular in Latin American culture, so we caught up with one of our very own to get to know him.

 

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Where do you work?

I work all over Ecuador!

 

How long have you been DJing?

I Started DJing on 2006 on a radio station.

 

What made you make the switch to VJing?

I switched to VJing because i was hired on a tv program about latin music videos.

 

What is your favorite piece of equipment?

Pioneer DDJ SX

pioneer-ddj-sx-top_960x540.v2

What advice would you give aspiring VJs?

The quality of your video edits helps so much at selling your image as a vj and also make your work easier.

 

Who would you pick to start a team LeBron or Durant?

I don’t know anything about basketball, I’m South American and soccer my favorite sport.

Well at least he didn’t pick LeBron

 

Why didn’t we think of this?

For years DJ’s have taken the back seat to face of the performance. In hip hop videos and shows its the MC that gets the bulk of the attention when its the DJ that produces the beat and lays the track. At the club alcohol and attractive members of the opposite sex can consume all of the attention but more recently EDM music has birthed a sort of DJ revolution making them the prime ticket. With music videos moving to an online form and channels like MTV and BET showing less and less videos the art of the music is becoming more prominent. So the natural progression would be that these DJ’s that VJ would be the talent on what would be an all video mix online station.

Well the future is now, VJstream.tv has brought that to us. It houses live mixes and the most popular mixes to date. The site itself is in its beta stage, so sign up and try it out. Promoting an online channel like this can only be positive.

http://www.vjstream.tv

VJStream.tv   Upcoming Events   VJStream   Live video streaming for DJs   VJs        VJStream.tv   Replays   VJStream   Live video streaming for DJs   VJs

 

 

5 ways to make your DJ business more effective

Money Graph

 

5 ways to make your DJ business more effective

 

1.       Get an 800 number

It is cheap and easy to make your business available to everyone.  It definitely gives off a professional look to the business. Some companies even have corresponding apps that make managing the number easy. Here are some companies that are priced pretty well.

http://www.ringcentral.com

http://www.evoice.com

http://www.tollfreeforwarding.com

2.       Blogging

Blogging can be easier than you think. At this point if you are not using every social media outlet than you are behind. Post your soundcloud mixes and tag the artists on the songs. Blogging can consist of upcoming events (EDC, LIB etc..). Just put information that people will read and update during the weekdays.

http://electricdaisycarnival.com/

http://lightninginabottle.org/

http://sxsw.com/

3.       Send cards that grade performance

Some working DJ’s use this technique now, ask your customer what they thought of your performance.  If you are working weddings or events as well as the club scene this is a must. It will improve your overall skill and make it easy to ask for referrals after a good grade.

http://thethrivingsmallbusiness.com/free-customer-comment-card-template/

4.       Make everything professional

Get a legitimate logo if you don’t already have one. You can have a logo designed for a good price by a professional crew. Once you have a logo, marketing yourself at events becomes a little easier. A nice clean business card can go a long way and put your face on as may promos as possible. It’s a new age and seeing your face can make some customers feel a little better. DJing is more popular now than ever and the possibility to work different types of events is real. Aggressive marketing and branding will help get your foot in the door.

http://99designs.com/logo-design

https://ww.deluxe.com/small-business/brand-identity/logo-design

http://www.logodesign.com

5.Think outside the box

That cliché has been used again and again, but it has merit. As stated above DJing is becoming more flexible and many different types of events are hiring DJ’s to give them a soundtrack. If you haven’t heard of DJ2nd nature then takes the time and do some research. He is still regarded as one of the best DVJ’s in the business and has taken his game to a new level. He has made his craft respectable and charges premium pricing for his work. He is as prevalent in the corporate world as well as the DJ world by setting the tone for many corporate workshops and events.

http://2ndnature.tv/

http://vimeo.com/24100440

 

 

 

Infinity and Beyond

Infinity and beyond

When the buttons on phones become a nuisance, they were replaced with smart phones.  Laptops replaced the immovable desktop computer, and then were replaced by tablets. Technology is making our lives easier but that isn’t always necessarily a good thing. The conversion from books to e-readers was not an easy one, most avid reader’s like the feel of a book in their hand.  DJ’s are no different, there have been some futuristic advancements in the equipment that are not welcomed with open arms.

Music went digital then 12 inch record became obsolete and a novelty collection item. Following technological trends it would you lead you to believe that touch screen applications would be next. The Emulator is futuristic and looks like something out of a daft punk video and for all intents and purposes an amazing product. Deadmau5 has developed touch screen software that looks very similar. The idea aggressive and plausible but not popular.

Emulator

DeadMau5 software

DeadMau5 software

 

Then there is this thing it looks like to tool used to open the star gate. At first glance there is nothing on this machine that looks musical at all. It actually looks like an overzealous sifi fan was recreating something from their favorite movie.  In reality it makes beautiful music and presents itself the same way. Seeing this in a night club would be mind blowing to patrons and present them with a amazing show.

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There are a lot of variables to consider for DJ’s to make a switch to tools like these. Cost, training and portability all seem like natural objections to equipment like this. At the very least these technological advances are just a sign of what the future holds.

(props to the first person that chooses the moniker DJ Chief Anderton)

Tom-cruies

Projectors vs. Flat screens

Projectors vs. Flat screens

 

“A DJ is only as good as it tools”, if that isn’t a quote it should be. Equipment is crucial for any final product. A high performance car needs low profile tires and premium parts, a superior pizza will be made with superior sauce, cheese and dough. A good DJ should look at their equipment choices as a way of improving their business. The quality of the final is all the truly matters and premium equipment is a crucial price.

A working VJ has a caveat to their performance that standard DJ’s don’t, video.  Like other DJ’s they have to purchase the best equipment to make their mixes and perform shows, but VJ’s have to take into consideration the video aspect when setting up. There are two types of equipment used to accomplish this projector and flat screen monitors/Tv. Naturally there are low end and high end versions of both of these, the more important question is which one is better.

The advantages with high definition flat screens are obvious, we deal with them as consumer when buying one for the house. They can be slim and light weight offering superior color quality and picture clarity.  Smart TV will connect to the internet and sync to a laptop if necessary, in many instances most of these venue will already have these installed. Traveling with these flat screens can be troublesome, setting them up at each venue and the frailty of the screens themselves can make it difficult. Using TV’s provided technology and far superior picture quality make a flat screen TV a great fit.

whim-nightclub-pittsburgh-dance-floor

At first glance projectors do not seem to measure up to the flat screens. They offer no technological advantages and have inferior picture quality. Most venues will not provide projectors, so owning them is basically mandatory.  With all that said they are the equipment of choice for most VJ’s. Projectors are light weight and great for traveling. They expand larger than most flat screens and can be placed in strategic sight lines. DJ’s at the core are artist, and each time they spin it is a performance. VJ’s incorporate a visual experience into the performance to take it to that next level. Projectors do not offer the same quality of picture and that is an advantage for a working VJ. These performances are predominantly done inside clubs and bars. The grainy video projected  un-centered and out of frame on a wall can give that experience a different feel. Although the mixing of videos is impressive and worth watching, the DJ’s job is to make people dance and they can’t do that if they are mesmerized by what is on a TV screen.

SE-Slideshow

First and foremost the art of mixing needs to be mastered, then the equipment is chosen.  Once that is accomplished the equipment needs to be purchased.  The quality of the equipment needs to be taken into consideration but the fact that this is a form of art with the intention of people dancing needs to always be the main focus.

Feature Friday: DVDJ Dread

Feature Friday: DVDJ Dread

We were able to catch up with one of our resident VJ’s and ask him a few questions. He makes some of our most downloaded mixes. He has been VJ’ing from the start. He is a self professed videoholic, he is DVDj Dread!

Where are you from and where do you work?
New York. I have worked in New York City and all other parts of New York, South Carolina and Florida.

How long have you been DJing?
Funny you ask, I just recently celebrated 10 years in the business.

Congrats! When did you decide to become a VJ?
In 2007 I saw DJ 2ndnature doing it at a convention and I knew I wanted to do it.

So you started at the beginning?
Yes,  in fact I just found this picture of my first set up, and yes I used all four.

Dread set up

What piece of equipment can you not live without?
My Rane ttm557, I know there are bigger and better things out there that I can get, but If it works why fix it? I had an opportunity to meet DJ Jazzy Jeff who is one of my favourites and he used an older set up saying that this worked for him, why mess with it. If it makes sense to Jazzy Jeff it makes sense to me, besides having an ear for the music goes a long way.
dj.rane.com/products/ttm-57sl-performance-mixer

Do you have advice for aspiring VJs?
The eyes don’t lie, you have to make sure that your video is as good as your mix. Think of it like putting a new stereo in your car. When you are driving down the block people will hear your music playing and then see the car, if the car isn’t on point than nobody will care about the system.

So what do you do in your free time?
I am a movie buff, I have time off I’m watching movies with my wife. I’ll watch just about anything I love the experience.

LeBron or Durant?
Ohhh man, I want to say Durant but I gotta go with LeBron that’s my homie. LeBron came into the league as kid like Kobe and KG and just owned it.

DVDj dread

dvdjdread.com
DVDJ Dread on Facebook
DVDj Dread on vimeo
I listened to his trap mix while I wrote this: The remixx kidd

3 Reasons To Check Our Video Pool

If you’re looking for the latest DJ remix videos of your favorite songs, you’ve come to the right place. VJStreet is here to bring you the latest music videos, fresh every day. We are the go-to place for you to find a video pool of all your favorite music videos in one place. We have the largest collection of quality videos for all genres of DJ, from clubs to events to weddings. There are DJ Remix videos for everyone and every occasion. If you’re looking for a certain special song for your special day, then it’s likely that we have it for you.

Quality of Video Pool

All of our previews are available for you to browse through, should you like to sample our collection for future purposes. Previews of our music videos are only 1/4th of the quality of the real video so that you can expect the highest quality of the video when you hire us for your event.

Keeping Track of Your Video Pool

We make it easy for you to ensure an easy-to-track list of your favorite songs, through our download legend. You can add songs, music videos or even DJ remix videos to your wish list or remove the ones you no longer want. Our legend key makes it easy for you to find exactly the remixed version of the song you want, whether you want the instrumental version or the dirty version of a song. Since you can also see detailed track info, you know exactly who the DJ remixing artist is, when it was remixed, and any other info you’d like to know.

Top Music Videos

There’s also a scrolling ticker for you to see which remixes are the most popular. This can help you decide on which songs or music videos should be added to your wish list or played at your next special event.

 

6 Things To Consider To Be a Good VJ

To become a successful VJ there are some steps that you need to take.

1/ Video Clip Collection

First off you need to create your own video clip collection. It is important that you source videos which have creative commons licenses or those that are free from any copyright. Most professional VJ’s will use video pool music where you can get the latest music videos and video remixes.

2/ Find Your Vocation

What type of music are you going to concentrate on? Put together a collection of videos and show them to suitable clubs and venues. Video pool music isn’t limited to recent videos or the top 40 so if your niche is 90’s or old school for example you can still get your video remixes and videos from a good video pool music source.

3/ Software

It’s entirely up to you whether you decide to opt to use one piece of software to manage both audio and video or go with two separate software items. Obviously one piece of software is going to be the cheapest option but if you have more elaborate needs, you will need to look into dedicated VJ software options.

4/ VJ Equipment

The minimum that you should start out with is a laptop with a minimum data storage of 2GB Random-access memory (RAM). You will also need your own projector, VGM cables to connect your laptop to the projector a well as a VGA adapter and your software.

5/ Equipment check

May sound stupid, but before leaving for a gig always check that you have everything that you need. It’s all too easy for leave that all important adapter or clip at home.

6/ Marketing

Get ready to promote your services as a VJ. Have some business cards printed and always carry them with you so you can hand them out at any time. Use social media to get your word across.

video pool

5 Keys to Use Video Remixes Efficiently

If you want to be a VJ, you need to understand how to use video remixes efficiently. To use them to their full potential will make you more successful. These are some of the best ways to make the most out of what you create.

1. Have a clip library that fits your style

Your own video pool music should fit your style. You need to make sure that you are sending a piece of yourself to be viewed and enjoyed, which means finding the right clips. There are plenty of videos out there, so that should not be too hard, but you do have to make sure that everything is good quality and will fit your style along with what you have planned as a VJ.

2. Grow that library

A good library is not a complete library. In fact, no one has a complete library, regardless of what they tell you.

Without an expanding library of clips, you are going to end up repeating yourself with your video remixes. This can bring down the satisfaction of those who watch the videos and follow your work, and it can make it harder for you to stand out.

3. Use capable software and equipment

The software and equipment are how you are going to succeed. If they are not good, you are not going to be good. Make sure that you find some that are capable and reliable, and that you can make all your own. There are some options out there that a lot of professionals have found useful, but there are enough options that you can find your own. Make sure that you look into the features, price, size, specs, and information in general to figure out which of the software and equipment available will work best for what you have planned.

4. Be creative and unique

You hear this all of the time, but it will always be true. You need to make sure that you are creative and unique if you plan to succeed. Video pool music relies on people using their imagination and skills rather than creating the same stuff over and over again. Try to take a step away from what everyone else is doing and use the videos in a way that you feel is different.

5 – Personalize the videos to the setting / business

Having the videos be personalized to the setting and / or the business is a great way to make the most out of them. You are going to be able to appeal to your clients and the people at the event, which can make it easier to be successful. It does not take a lot to do this, either. You can personalize videos simply by adding in logos or making them fit the feel and appearance of the area. There are plenty of ways to make video remixes feel special for each place.