Hiring a VJ for your event is not the same as booking a DJ. The questions are different, the red flags are different, and getting it wrong on show day is a very public failure.
What a VJ actually does
A VJ — video jockey — performs live visuals in real time, responding to the music, the room, and the energy of the crowd. It is not pressing play on a pre-rendered video file. It is a performance, and like any performance it requires skill, preparation, and equipment.
Questions to ask before you book
What software do you use? Resolume and TouchDesigner are the industry standards. Anyone using consumer tools for a professional event is a risk.
Do you have a backup rig? Hardware fails. A professional VJ brings a second output source — a laptop, a second machine, something. If they look blank when you ask this question, move on.
Can I see footage from a comparable show? A festival VJ and a corporate VJ are not the same person. Make sure the work matches the brief.
The red flags
Lowest quote. No contract. No pre-production meeting. Unwillingness to do a tech rehearsal. These are not minor concerns — they are indicators of how show day will go.
A good VJ will ask you as many questions as you ask them. They want to know the venue, the AV infrastructure, the music genre, the brand guidelines. If they’re not asking — they’re not preparing.