The concept of a VJ or ‘Video Jockey’ was popularized by the Music Television Network or the MTV in the 1980s. As opposed to a DJ or a Disc Jockey who plays and manipulates his collection of music to suit the moods of the audience, a VJ on the other hand is an announcer or a presenter who introduces videos on commercial music television stations; a VJ has to perform a job suited more to the theme of the show rather than a customized set of audience. While a DJ can at times afford to be a behind – the – scene person and go unnoticed, a VJ is a person who is right in front of you, hosting the show and hence, cannot escape the attention of the viewers. Besides, a DJ has to handle only music, whereas VJing can be done on a television channel, at a concert, nightclub, music festivals or at any other performance including a combination of music, actors and dancers. Hence, you actually don’t need to be a DJ to be a VJ.
In this age of globalization, where the world can view any show, any channel, any time and the entertainment industry getting more and more visual and tech savvy, there is a lot in store for an aspiring VJ – creativity, fun, glamour, recognition and at the same time a host of challenges to deal with.
Let us take a look at some of the traits that this profession requires or brings with it :
Visual entertainment :
VJing is all about being visual – on television screen, on the stage or in the online world. There is a live person who hosts the show for you and takes you through a journey during the entire show. Hence, grooming and personality development become essential ingredients for an aspiring VJ. Unlike a DJ, who does his talking through his music, a VJ has to appeal to 3 human senses – sight, hear and feel. A VJ, thus, has to be good looking and well groomed, has to have a good command over language and appropriate diction and has his or her style and script has to sound interesting to the audience. Therefore, while a VJ may not have the requisite knowledge to choose the right music for the right occasion like a DJ, he or she has to have the other qualities required for the job.
Don’t need to go through all the technical DJ training :
While a VJ performs the role of a link between different acts at an event, he or she does not have to personally deal with music mixing or selecting a particular or the right track to be played. Hence, a VJ does not necessarily require the technical knowledge or has to undergo the technical training that a DJ has to go through.
Sky is the limit when it comes to creative output :
VJing is like taking your audience on a journey. Hence, creativity is one of the most essential components of VJing. Creativity can take different forms – the script, the style, the diction, the presentation, the looks, the combination of light, sound and special effects, the props, the costume and various other things. One needs to keep inventing and reinventing new concepts and old ideas. With creativity, indeed, sky is the limit, as the audiences constantly look for something new, something exciting. The more creative you get, the more your popularity chart rises.
Tech savvy job :
Technology has come to stay with us and become a part of our existence in whatever we do; especially so, in the music and entertainment industry. While a VJ may not know how to create a particular effect, he or she definitely needs to be aware of what is to be created in order to get the desired result. For this, there are two key things required – (i) The VJ has to be tech savvy, i.e., should be comfortable working and exploring different technology platforms with the technical experts with some basic knowledge, and (ii) A VJ should constantly update himself or herself with emerging technology to be able to experiment and create the possible different effects to make the show interesting and unique.
Upcoming trend set :
While there are many who come and go as a VJ, the one who has a unique style and is able to hold the attention of his or her audience through creativity every time he or she takes the stage becomes the trendsetter. This is more often than not visible in the ratings of a show. The more popular the VJ, the higher is the rating of the show.
Glamour and fun :
Finally, coming to that part of the profession that most professionals in the music and entertainment industry yearn for. Yes, you got it right – glamour and fun. These are the two key factors that attract most people to be a part of this industry. With the music and entertainment industry growing exponentially and especially with the power of the virtual (online) world today, glamour, fame, recognition are fast to come. With the availability of a number of avenues to showcase your talent, it is easier today than ever to become of a part of this glittering world.
VJing as a profession has grown over time and is here to stay. With the increasing number of talent shows, award nites, concerts, Internet connectivity and 24×7 television music and entertainment channels, there will always be a need for fresh and good talent in this field. Besides, with the number of avenues to showcase one’s talent only increasing everyday, with it has also increased the competition. Therefore, creativity and confidence are two most essential qualities that one must possess in order to become a part of this industry.
While VJing is an expanded form of DJing, both are very different in their very nature. Thus, the skillsets required for both are also very distinct. And hence, one does not need to be a DJ to become a VJ!
Gone are the days when people lived a single career life. With the current changing scenario, people have had to pursue a career that brings in the money despite having to compromise on their passion or hobby.
Not any more! You can now live and practice your passion along with your mainstream career that gets you the money.
Yes, you could be a CA during the day and a DJ at night, or, a Banker during the day and an Event Manager during the night… Sounds exciting, doesn’t it? Is it really practical? It is indeed!
Today when we talk about the concept of ‘Work-Life Balance,’ in addition to a regulated lifestyle, pursuing an ardent career can be a great source of de-stress. Since it is something that you are so feverish about, it brings out the real you which tends to fade away with the hectic schedules. It helps you take off the mask rejuvenating you completely.
What’s more – these second career options can be your partner for life because in general, these careers do not come with a validity period. If you are good at it, you can profess them for your lifetime. For instance, while you can be a DJ at 25, you can make people sway to your music even when you are 40 or above if you are really fanatical about it.
Besides, there is a dual advantage. While these second career options add to your regular income, they actually help you experiment with an alternative career option, something that you love doing apart from your mainstream career. You can then probably take a call on your stressful job much earlier than you would have done otherwise.
Alternative careers could be just anything – from painting to pottery, blogs to sports, astrology to being a handwriting analyst or DJing to managing events. While the options are endless, we take a look at some of the second career options that are gaining popularity with today’s generation.
Photography: Love looking through the lens and capturing special moments? If camera is your best friend, then Photography is definitely your passion. Look out for a course that can train you up whether you want to pursue it as a professional photographer or as a keen hobbyist. You will need to learn from the Foundations of Photography, through a variety of specialized courses and workshops in different photographic fields that should be intensely practical, with extensive hands-on experience, feedback and critical appraisal throughout the entire course.
DJing: Love grooving to the DJ music at a friend’s party or after a stressful day of work? Why not create your own mix? All this is possible if you learn the art of beat matching with hands-on training on some of the best equipments, getting acquainted with the current trends in Digital technology and learning how to manage music in a sequential and organized manner. If you love playing with music tracks and make people dance to your tunes, then DJing is a career option for you. Djing as it is often known as is a niche field catering mostly to a global or regional audience with a varied taste in music.
Sound Engineering: Sound Engineering forms the basis of the audio and music industry and the demands for trained professionals in this stream is only rising. Take up a course that has a curriculum that encompasses analog and digital recording, live show music production, and audio post-production for films, television, radio, animation, gaming and more and you are sure to make a name for yourself in the music and entertainment industry. Sound Engineering is one of the most dynamic sectors today. There is much more to sound engineering than just sitting in a recording studio 24×7 and mixing sounds. Once you are a sound engineer, you can explore numerous possibilities right from carrying out research and development in new technologies to shaping algorithms for audio signal processing, and creating audible sound for video game console manufacturers. It is said that Sound Engineering is one profession wherein despite tireless nights in the recording studio, you would still want to keep going.
Electronic Music Production: If you are looking to join the league of successful music producers, it is no longer a distant dream. All you need to do is learn right from the basics of audio – understanding the fundamentals of audio including frequency, amplitude, wavelength, wave theory and everything in audio physics to music theory and composition to recording arts with mixing techniques, multi track recording, and how to record different instruments.
Musical Instruments: A career in Music Instruments is very creative and challenging. Music is everywhere and it is always incomplete without the instruments. Musical instruments are more than just pure mechanical objects; they are a source of inspiration! Learning a musical instrument can often take you to a new dimension altogether! Musical instruments are at the core of any music composition whether that is classical or contemporary music. Every film has its own musical score; every orchestra has a range of musicians playing a variety of instruments and then there are concerts.
Once you have identified the option and made your choice, the next important thing is to select the right institute to pursue the course. Now this can be a difficult one because since this is your second career option, you might not be at liberty to take up a regular, full-time course. Besides, most of these will be practical oriented, so might not have the correspondence option. Secondly, you will also not want to compromise on the course content. To add to it, the institute will have to be in the same city as well. Now getting a perfect combination of all these factors put together can really be a challenge. Hence, you will need to take baby steps in selecting the best possible source for coaching in the limitations that you may be surrounded with.
Whatever said and done, ‘Additional Careers’ in the present time can be really exciting and satisfying. Pursuing a second career might demand a little extra time and effort, however every bit of it is worthwhile. So, go ahead and make a choice and the effort you put in now will reap fruits for your lifetime.
Just like a child who finds it a lot easier learning the basics of a new language the musical way, converting tough lessons into small musical paragraphs helps students to learn and memorize difficult content. For example, students are known to learn and remember the periodic table of elements through ‘Music’. Besides, we tend to remember the lyrics of songs very easily unlike many other verses, again thanks to the element of ‘Music’. Thus, ‘Music’ definitely plays a very important role in improving memory and helping people across age groups to remember some of the most difficult of things the easier way.
Music is known to have a strong impact on the adrenal gland. When you workout, you give your 100% to achieve the desired results. However, when you combine your efforts with ‘Music’ that you like to hear, it acts on your adrenal gland and further boosts your capacity, thereby, not only increasing your capacity but also helps you enhance your performance during your workouts sessions gradually. Besides, for those who belong to the reluctant clan, ‘Music’ sets the mood for them to workout.
Further, ‘Music’ directly affects the mind. It has a strong connection with a person’s psychology. It can also be used to trigger emotions and actions in a person. The fact that the sound effects we hear in movies, games, shows, etc. can make a person laugh or cry or induce other emotions in the person is enough to prove this connection. If used appropriately, it can be used as a strong tool to make a person strong mentally. It can help change the outlook of a person completely towards things in life. Some of the benefits that ‘Music’ has on the psychology of the person include:
On special days like Independence Day or the Republic Day, when we hear patriotic songs, doesn’t our heart also get filled with similar emotions? Don’t we all undergo this experience everytime we hear such songs or watch such movies? Similarly, when we hear romantic songs, don’t we experience similar emotions within ourselves too? We all do. Why? It’s the ‘Music Magic’. Yes, ‘Music’ is a great mood changer. There are many such examples in our day – to – day lives when we all need a mood change and we resort to ‘Music’ for that.
It’s Janmashtami today, the birth of Lord Krishna, one of the most popular and adored God, for his special, creative and mischievous ways of life. Born at midnight, his birth has special significance as it personifies breaking of all obstacles in life and moving towards a new beginning. Indeed! A true source of inspiration and a sign of generosity, he has demonstrated new modes of life, new thinking through his own behavior and personal experiences. He is a role model for many even today, not particularly because of his preachings or sermons but the way he lead the path and imbibed them into his way of life, thus, walking the talk, explaining the true meaning of life and showing new paths to conquer difficulties at every stage of life, through peace, understanding and where needed through diplomacy as well. He is worshipped not merely as a God but more as a friend, a sakha.
Janmashtami, the birth of Lord Krishna has special significance when it comes to music. Krishna mesmerized the entire world with the enchanting music he played with his Bansuri creating an aura of divinity. The Bansuri as it is believed was an integral part of Lord Krishna. This is one thing that stayed with him perpetually. None remained untouched with its magic. Be it birds, animals, men, women or children all followed him at the sound of his Bansuri. Even the trees, their leaves and flowers would wake up fresh on hearing the sound of his Bansuri. It is said that the entire world danced to the tunes of the music he played with his Bansuri. His music created positivity around lifting dull spirits and infused life into them. It had a virtual positive hypnotic effect on one and all. He used it for various purposes including taking people away from dangers, helping lost people find the correct paths, among others.
Music indeed touches the lives of every individual and adds positivity to it. We have many such examples around us in various forms. Be it a spa or a coffee shop, we always hear a light music being played. Ever wondered why? What’s the connection between music and a spa or a coffee shop. Well, it is the soothing effect of the music. Yes, while you visit a spa or go to a coffee shop for relaxation, music further calms your mind and helps you relax better. Even for cranky babies who find it difficult to sleep, it is the lullaby, a kind of music hummed, that helps him / her to fall off to sleep in no time. At a party or gathering, it is the music that gets strangers together on the same dance floor tapping their feet. For the elderly, it plays the role of a companion. Further, not just for humans, the same goes for animals too. Research has proved that if soothing folk music is played while milking Cows, their productivity increases naturally.
Besides, music has many more benefits that have been scientifically proven. These include improving memory – we tend to remember songs and musical recitations easily as they are catchy. This technique has been used to help patients who suffer from memory loss or weak retention power. Besides, it helps one to improve their workout sessions. It enables the release of the required endorphins in the brain, thus, increasing your stamina. These are only some of the advantages that music adds to our lives. Music, therefore, in other words acts as a silent medicine in our lives.
With a single element, Music, having a major positive impact on everyone’s life, it’s time we encourage the younger generation to learn this art in some form or the other. Be it creating music, adding special effects to it, playing it using a musical instrument or sophisticated softwares and hardwares, the idea is to promote the culture of MUSIC.
Yes, music can be a great healer, a mood changer, a spirit lifter and much beyond. It has the power to fill the atmosphere with positivity and optimism and this, has been demonstrated in every aspect of Lord Krishna’s life. So, on this Janmashtami let’s celebrate the birth of Lord Krishna with a difference. In addition to the midnight feasts, the traditional jhula for the Nandlala, let’s make it a more musical celebration. Let’s play music to all those around us who need to be filled with positivity and optimism in their lives. Let’s spread the message of love through music and bring smiles on millions of faces around us.
Another feather in the cap of PATSAV…
