futurhood av – Lunar Acoustics

Tonight @ )2 Academy Sheffield we are performing visually in Room 3. This is the ‘dirty ravers delight’ room supporting Boom Ting and Kenny Ken at this major event. The service we offer any event, though, is not just a case of either DJ or VJ performance. For those of you who subscribe to futurhood av on youtube, facebook and elsewhere you will notice that our efforts go beyond just those simple things. You will have noticed the video flyers created, the bits of design work, you will also notice that we create a filmed retrospective of any event. We take footage of the event as we are performing so that everyone there or those who wished they had attended can get a flavour of what was going on.
All of this adds to the service we can offer any event. So, if you are a promoter of an event, a venue or similar get in touch and we can help.

The VJ and the mix

There is a huge difference between the VJ and the DJ. Where a DJ has a number of factors which limit on the one hand but help to channel content within a mix – key, bpm, genre, and so on. The VJ is less limited – but this can be as much of a curse as a help. Can we say in any real way that there is a correlation, a direct link between particular visual content and the music it is accompanying? There are only a few links. There are certain historical and cultural links between the two. Certain musical genres ahve close links with other social elements of experience – hip hop and grafitti, urban genres with hoodies, particular world music genres with views of the originating areas, the associated dances and other such, psychedelic patterns and colours with a whole variety of music from acid techno to some forms of rock. For the VJ creating, acquiring and then mixing such to add an accompaniment is quite a journey. I would say it is often more creative an activity than that of the DJ. So be nice to them, they work hard!

http://www.futurhoodav.co.uk

check out lunar acoustics on facebook and also the futurhood av fanpage, on youtube and more

From Monday night to Wednesday morning

 

following on from my previous post, here is the e-book download I promised

 

Burlesque – strut, flourish, tease from des bate

 

watch this space for more and some pinterest, flickr and youtube uploads

Monday nights have changed!

Monday night, 9pm and an old acquaintance calls round. From there a discussion takes place. ‘Voodoo Vixen’ is now a burlesque artist and needs some help. After a few minutes of discussion, a few details gathered, ideas are formed…
The marketing of any artist share the same basic principles of business marketing. Having a background and a present within performance and music the first step is taken – re-editing performance music to fit and suit the performance routines. Two cd’s later other tunes are mentioned and so I go about the downloads of new music for other routines. In the past we had mentioned showreels. Any performance artist can benefit from having a suitable showreel or three. It was mentioned that these could be uploaded to youtube and variously made ‘open’, or only available via a specific viewing address. I also stated that these could be made into dvd’s for distribution to possible venues or agents.
From this footage stills could be extracted and suitably treated perhaps using a programme such as photoshop and from there provide content for a portfolio. Such a portfolio could be made into an e-book, itself either sent as an attachment via e-mail or uploaded to slideshare and so a free download link given.
To connect all of these a number of other steps could be taken:
– a website showcasing the performer
– a facebook fanpage
– blog articles detailing all of this as a case study, giving other contact details
– pinterest boards or flickr sets created giving an online portfolio, in this case they could also include a showcase for the tattoo artist who would create a tattooed logo for the artist.
Thus, with a few simple steps the basics could be pursued – branding, marketing, social media channels, online presence. The performer acquires an image and so a brand given depth through a sharable portfolio in a number of formats, digital, online and beyond. Social media channels allowing engagement with fans, bookers, venues, agents and more. An online presence also allows further points of contact. Add to this the use of other online resources and channels – twitter – performers and industry specific forum sites and media channels, suddenly you have the bases of a marketing campaign.
Looks like I am working in burlesque now … Monday nights have changed!