Quarantine Day 70: Hosted a Facebook Watch Party

Since quarantine began 70 days ago in DTLA, it has sounded like Grand Theft Auto in the streets. Spending the last - whatever many months - inside has lead at least one positive development: live DJ streams. 

Current occupation: professional DJ live-streamer.

Memorial Day weekend usually means MOVEMENT in Detroit by Paxahau at the Beatport Stage. But this year it meant... hosting a Facebook Watch Party. 

5 things I learned from co-hosting my first Facebook Watch Party with Zel McCarthy:

1. Twitch won this DJ battle

Consistently more viewers on the Paxahau channel than Youtube or Facebook throughout the long weekend. IG Live helpful for discovery/fans knowing when you are playing but hard for a lot more. Mixcloud Live an option but slow adoption. Will Twitch win the war?

2. Privacy Settings

These matter if you are hosting. Check to make sure your content and your comments are visible to the widest possible audience.

3. Random run-ins on the virtual dance floor happen 

We had people connecting at our Watch Party that hadn't spoken in years. Legends of the DJ community just stopping by casually. This is magic when it happens, online and offline. Some I think ended up at our party by accident - is the Facebook video default to join live streams? 

4. Digital tours make sense

There are a lot of DJs playing a lot of different platforms right now. Different time zones. Math. Jubilee made it easier for people to follow her by posting her upcoming streams as a tour flyer. Know your audience on each channel and how to reach them. 

5. Copyright claims are STILL prohibitive to a consistent viewing experience on every channel

Everyone wants artists to get compensated fairly. Business models have to shift.

#movementathome