VJ Miss Plunkett – my story!

From Degree to Dance Floor

When I was deep in my art degree, I was producing so many layered up photographic images (using a slide projector), my tutors often asked (with polite academic concern), “But what will you do with all these?” Little did they know that five years later I’d be standing in a technical booth in Barcelona, at the Sonar ’96 festival, daring to try out a new VJ switcher which was barely more advanced than a hallway switch. That was the moment it clicked – this was what all those images were for. Three screens, the Liberator crew, a bunch of VHS tapes and an unsuspecting audience later… my VJ journey officially began.

Back to the Booth (With Better Tech)

VJ Miss Plunkett

Fast forward to now – after a pandemic, a city move and chasing grown-up money – I’m back behind the visuals desk. I’ve not VJ’ed since 2019, and honestly? It feels amazing to be back in the driving seat. The glow of my lovely new projector (wifi-enabled, so no more rigging 20m cables in dusty ceilings), paired with trusty Modul8 software, makes for a deliciously compact combo.

And yes, I do have all the kit – which is how I bagged my brilliant VJ husband, #crs1138 (ref: George Lucas first film). He hired me, but I like to think it was for my dazzling character… and maybe a bit for the gear.

RIP Hard Drive, Long Live the Loop

VJ archive

Tragedy struck recently – my hard drive with all my HD clips shuffled off this mortal coil. It’s not the first time I’ve lost video material, I’ve got the experience to know that I have everything I need in my head to make a show from scratch. So I’ve been deep in my video archive, burning the midnight oil to create new seamless loops. Luckily, I never stopped filming. I’ve built up a rich library of content – from all walks of life. I even directed two fabulous women performers in costume (including one pink punk look I made myself). With 30 years under my VJ belt, I know what hits the mark: scale, movement, contrast and a touch of surreal beauty.

Folders of Glory

VJ clip folders

My loop folders read like an indie band’s debut album track list: Animals, Clouds, Fire, Flowers, Graphics, Humans, Kaleidoscopes, Nature, Vehicles and Water. I make everything myself from scratch, so every clip is woven from my personal experience – from banging dance floors to wild mountain festivals. My eye for what works on a five-metre screen is finely tuned; I can spot what would make a good VJ clip from a mile off.

90’s London to 00’s Spain

Back in the ‘90s, I was lighting up London’s clubs with my visuals – a regular fixture on the scene and proud Saturday night resident at Fabric in 2000. By 2002, I’d relocated to Spain, equipment in tow, beaming visuals from Granada to the Costa del Sol. I even co-ran a festival space, hosting free mobile dance parties in an 11-metre geodesic dome, with a 4k sound system, me on visuals and we funded it via a fiercely organised bar, naturally.

From Crash to Craft

The 2008 crash brought that party to a halt. Club work vanished like a puff of dry ice but I pivoted. I took my VJ skills into video production for websites, enjoying the switch from live chaos to studio finesse. Since then, I’ve kept VJing alive at a gentler pace – art events, intimate festivals, even weddings and birthdays. Visuals are my language, no matter the audience.

Full Circle

And now? I’m back. Not just back but buzzing with new ideas, sharper tools and a hunger to mix to the wonderfully alluring music of the dance floor. VJing isn’t just what I do – it’s part of me. Come find me at a gig soon and let’s light the room up and dance in front of some original loops.