The physical presence of the author in the performance space redefines the audience's experience of audiovisual work as live

A key distinction between live cinema and recorded audiovisual presentation is the presence of the author in the space. This presence creates immediacy and directness — the audience can read body language, perceive gesture-to-result relationships (even if mediated through technology), and develop a feedback loop of energy with the performer. However, this knowledge is acquired: there is no inherent visual link between a laptop gesture and a screen result, unlike a violinist bowing. Performers must decide how to use their physical presence — from completely hidden (letting work speak for itself) to fully visible. Hiding eliminates the energy loop with the audience; over-emphasizing body language (musician showmanship) is distracting. The appropriate choice depends on the type and content of the performance.

Examples

A glslViewer live coder projecting their terminal while typing code: audience sees the gesture (typing) and the result (shader change). A VJ hidden behind a rack: only the screen content is present, which foregrounds the audiovisual work itself. Jeff Mills performing with a 909: the visible gesture of button-pressing on a specific machine makes the performance readable.

Assessment

Describe two different performer placement choices for a live AV set and explain what each communicates to the audience. Give a scenario where each choice would be the better option.