What does a VJ do?

Whether it's the opening of the Olympic Games, the Eurovision Song Contest, or Taylor Swift's world tour: jaw-dropping animations and projections are now almost impossible to imagine major events without.

These visuals are created by a VJ: the visual sibling of the DJ. In a short space of time, a whole new creative hi-tech scene has emerged that's entirely centred on visual illusions and building a virtual stage set.

That could be a techno festival, an urban concert, an opera, a conference or a museum exhibition, and much more.

The Netherlands is at the forefront of this new media art form: collectives like Veemee, Vision Impossible, Eyesupply and KbK perform all over the world, often in the wake of big-name DJs like Hardwell and Nicky Romero.

Creating their own visuals

A veejay is only a true veejay if they can create their own visuals. With a camera, and above all with video software. With After Effects, with 3D programmes like Cinema 4D, and increasingly with powerful AI tools.

Preparing a show can sometimes take months — but the payoff is incredibly cool! During the show itself, timing is everything. The VJ makes sure the right visuals appear at exactly the right moment.

Tools of the trade

Crucial for, say, a fashion show or concert. During parties, the VJ has a whole arsenal of digital effects to create atmosphere and pace. For this they use professional hardware (powerful laptops or other media servers, capture cards, vision mixers, live cameras, MIDI controllers etc.) and mixing software like Resolume.

A good VJ works together with the DJ, musicians, dancers and lighting crew to give the audience one fantastic, unified experience.