RS: Where do you see the video thing going in the US market?
Steve Cova: I think its going to grow, especially as more clubs
expand and add video to their entertainment systems.
DJ Lucci: We are producers and VJs so we can customize video content
for venues and clubs anyway they want. They tell us about events they
have coming up and we can incorporate it with the videos.
Steve Cova: It's promotion and virtual advertising. People respond
more to videos than flyers because they are more immersed in it.
DJ Lucci: We went to Vegas recently and they were doing a lot of
video ads. For example, let's just say you had a place with a video
DJ and all of a sudden they'll have a screen that comes up and they'll
say 'Thursday night so-and-so DJ, Friday night so-and-so DJ or venue,
Saturday, etc." It's like they beat you in the head with it and it's a
lot more effective than just handing someone a flier. It's a better
method and a lot less waste, because obviously people weren't throwing
the fliers on the floor.
Steve Cova: It's a powerful concept that's also very fun. As video
DJs, it brings a whole visual feel back to DJing as it's not just
records. It'll change the way music is right now.
RS: Just like video killed the radio star in the 80s, is the VJ
going to kill the DJ?
DJ Lucci: It brings a little bit more of the talent back into it
because it's not like you're just doing a computer and mixing two
songs off the computer. It's a lot more involved, as you've got to
watch everything – levels, videos, and the video effects. There's a
lot going on right there and it's not like you're just taking two
songs and mixing it together anymore. It's a lot of stuff all in one.
Steve Cova: As the Video Mash Up Kings, we're trying to incorporate
more and more exclusive things – mixes and videos into our set up. I
would say we have about fifteen to twenty percent all-original
material and we'd like to get it so it's at least fifty percent. When
we do venues, it will be our niche.
RS: So like the big name DJs who play a lot of their own
exclusive tracks, when you VJ out you're going to play your own
exclusive video mixes.
Steve Cova: Exactly – like the Sasha or Paul Van Dyk of VJs.
RS: Where do you see things going in the next five years?
DJ Lucci: I think most places are going to be doing all video. Once
they see how video can be used, its going to be even bigger.
RS: That makes sense. Do you think the VJing will also end up
on like the internet or commercial TV somehow with some sort of
licensed stream?
Steve Cova: It all depends on who takes it and where they're going
to take it. We don't want to pigeonhole ourselves to any one thing in
particular, as we love the VJing but we look at it as a big movement.
That movement will translate into more people loving the concept and
demanding it in clubs and eventually online and on tv. If other VJs
do what we do or start to envision what they're supposed to do and go
forward, that will keep the movement the way it's going and it'll go
good. Then again, if push play DJs start getting into it, the people
in the clubs that hire them won't get the same experience and video
won't be as much fun.
RS: You just used the term 'push play DJ', what do you mean by that?
Steve Cova: Meaning no creativity, no programming. It's one thing
to play one record after another and mix but it's another thing to
have good programming. It's all about programming.
DJ Lucci: Yes, to show up, being able to do it live, as opposed to
showing up with everything on pre-made discs - that defeats the
purpose of doing it live.
RS: Do you have a website where people can check out your clips?
Steve Cova: There is www.videomashupkings.com ,which has all our
exclusive mixes. We also use YouTube and Myspace to communicate
with people.
DJ Lucci: They can send friend request to us at
www.myspace.com/videomashupkings
Steve Cova: That one's great because people can add it to their
personal pages. YouTube seems to be on a more of the worldwide
level. Myspace is as well, but on YouTube.com/videomashupkings we get
people from France, Germany and everywhere.
DJ Lucci: The goal is start playing all over the country and the
world – mixing video for new crowds everywhere.
