Just to clarify, Wholeshim Maximal is fairly responsive to the music --
he's (lately) using one or two source videotapes, plus a pattern generator
(which I think he uses for chromakeying, among other things), plus a camera
pointed at the screen (for feedback), all routed through a switcher with
some effects built in. The end result is mixed live, and is probably
closer to your idea of video as instrument than I'm making it sound.
Actually, I think most kinds of lighting/visuals can be played in
response to/along with/in reaction to the music, but it does take an
actual hand on the controls (or some amazingly precognitive sequencing).
I've played on the light rig of a local club (six Intellibeams, six
ganged white pars, two rows of tweakable chaser lights, and two revolving
siren-type lights), and was able to work with the music fairly effectively
(at least I thought so). We've also done parties with even less (as in
three strobes and four lamps with colored light bulbs, all controlled
via one of those Radio Shack wireless "Household Commander" thingers)
that came off surprisingly well.
Active lighting is fun. I wish more parties did more with it.
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