After scouring the French dancefloors, DJ Bufalo had to endure 2 years of club closures due to the Covid19 pandemic. That’s when he decided to plunge into the metaverse to continue earning a living by thrilling electronic music fans. Today, he’s one of the rare artists to be able to tour thanks to Web3 and, above all, make a living from it. Meet a DJ who is anything but virtual
From DJ school to parties in the metaverse
The class valedictorian of the UCPA DJ School in Lyon in 2012, Bufalo began his career touring the length and breadth of France and taking up one resident DJ job after another in various clubs.
It wasn’t until 5 years later, in 2017, that he became interested in cryptocurrency, before diving into the world of NFTs (non-fungible tokens).
Before launching his first NFTs, Bufalo began by following the various projects, collections that were emerging at the time, in order to understand the interest of the thing for his DJ business.
He ended up releasing tracks as NFTs, selling 5 or 10 copies to his community on the OpenSea platform. But where his life changed was when he took his first steps into the Decentraland metaverse in 2021.
Where did you do your first DJ set in the metaverse?
“In December 2021, I contacted Radio FG in Paris and asked them to do what we called the Metaverse Tour. We organised a series of 6 dates in Decentraland, spread over just over 2 months. The idea was to imitate radio stations that follow artists over several dates, or when they tour the beaches in the summer, by sponsoring events in different spots. Each DJ set that took place in Decentraland was broadcast live on the radio and on video on Radio FG’s social networks. Since February 2022, and the end of this tour, I haven’t stopped playing in the metaverse. “
The Rocking Uniquehorns Presents: Bufalo – The Metaverse Tour, Powered by Radio FG | Live Performance starts in 5 minuteshttps://t.co/YqQZ1Um5MV pic.twitter.com/sSmWUIaiVV
– Decentraland Events (@DCL_Events) December 14, 2021
How did you realise the potential of the metaverse for your DJing?
“I realised it could be a turning point in my career when I started working for big brands. I’ve been involved in activating several big entities, like 20 Minutes, which made its debut in Decentraland last year and booked me to mix at the event. I’ve also performed in the metaverse for the browser Brave, the crisps brand Doritos, etc. “
Nowadays, you only perform in the metaverse?
Three quarters of my activity takes place in the metaverse. I’m lucky enough today to be one of the few artists who can tour thanks to Web3. Outside the metaverse, my other playground is conferences linked to the world of NFT and blockchain. These days, I do a lot less clubbing and festival nights, although I’d like to do more. But I’m really focused on an audience that’s into Web3, so I concentrate on that. “
Do you know any other pioneering DJs in the metaverse?
“Of course, I know quite a few, especially in Decentraland. There are a lot of names that come to mind that are making a lot of noise in this ecosystem. Three quarters of them come from the United States, but there are also a few European artists. I’m thinking in particular of a Greek friend of mine, a DJ called Steve Saiko. I also have an American friend called Stoney Eye, a guitarist who can play 7 different instruments. The metaverse is an incredible space for expression, with virtual places that focus solely on the artistic dimension, and give all artists the chance to express themselves. “
Can you tell me about the day-to-day life of a DJ working mainly in Web3? Is it different from that of a traditional DJ?
” Clearly! For a start, there are fewer trains and planes. But there’s still just as much work. I obviously do more digital and communication work. I spend a lot more time behind a computer, because I’m addressing an online community. To keep in touch with them, I have a Discord and a Twitter account that I update constantly.
Party in @decentraland on Tuesday, September 20th for Buckwild on The Vinyls w/ @bufalomusic (-100, 129)!
Join this live set with Bufalo for a Futuristic Western biweekly meta party with the @DGLiveEvents community!
04PM EST // 08PM UTChttps://t.co/e2HkfYxBx5 pic.twitter.com/8lSjestGmW
– Decentraland NOW (@DecentralandNOW) September 20, 2022
Is it easy for a DJ to make the transition from performing in the real world to performing in the metaverse? Or does it require a minimum of technical knowledge, budget, etc.?
“It requires a bit of a budget, inevitably, because you need a minimum of equipment to perform in the metaverse. But in the end, it’s still reasonable. To be able to mix, you need a high-performance laptop, which can be found for around 800 euros, as well as a sound card. That’s equipment that artists generally already own. Then, for the streaming part, you need software like OBS (Open Broadcaster Software), a camera and a microphone to interact with the live audience. And if you’re really looking for more comfort, you take a 2nd computer on which you can connect to the event with your avatar, because connecting to a metaverse like Decentraland requires a lot of resources.
Virtual party, physical party, same battle?
Partying in the metaverse is still a niche activity, practised by a few thousand pioneers. It has to be said that, at first glance, the experience seems very different from a night out in a club. Dancing alone in your living room, staring at a computer screen, chatting to pixelated avatars has little in common with the oozing, intoxicating, galvanising atmosphere of a trip to a dancefloor saturated with decibels, hypnotic visual effects and euphoric clubbers.
We can’t imagine that partying in the metaverse will one day replace club nights and festival trips. It offers a new way of partying, more inclusive, more accessible, more democratic in short. It’s also a way of experimenting with new sensations, bringing fans closer to their favourite DJs and uniting communities around artistic projects.
From his very first steps in Decentraland, Bufalo was immediately seduced by this new universe, this virgin territory open to him as an artist. He managed to build a real community around his universe, which blends electronic music with western influences.
Today, as a veteran DJ on the Web3 scene, he is at the forefront of developing the artistic potential of the metaverse and establishing it as a key venue in the nightlife world.
Can you really party in the metaverse?
“When I started exploring Decentraland, I came across a club called MetaZoo, which organises parties in a Greek temple. When I saw the energy released by this event, it made me want to go back. The energy feedback, the crowd reactions that a DJ can get in a club, all that exists in the metaverse too. It’s just the tool, the way of doing things that changes. If I play a sound that really gets people going, they’ll express their emotions through emojis, dance movements or gestures. And when you have several hundred avatars reacting at the same time because they’ve just had this sort of bang in the belly and they love what’s going on, it’s exactly the same feeling as the 500 people who reply to you or raise their hands in the air at a club. The satisfaction I get when I finish my set and stop streaming is comparable to that of a physical performance. “
Does it really grab you as much as a room that vibrates, that oozes, that makes noise?
” The feeling is a bit different though, because the return is more virtual. You’ll get lots of mentions on Twitter, for example, and people will post photos, videos and memories on your Discord. You’re going to get new followers on social networks. These are the kinds of things that will give you a similar feeling. After that, in terms of satisfaction as a DJ, a set in front of a camera broadcast in the metaverse doesn’t bring the same thing as getting up on stage in front of 2,000 people. Obviously, it’s not the same context, it’s not comparable. And yet there’s the same intensity of energy, the same kind of satisfaction, the same wow effect. “
Our VIPEHeroes love a good party, check this one on @hyperfy_io ⚡
Thanks to @DCLBabyDolls @Defector_Dan @tangpoko @DollhouseDCL for inviting us to collaborate in the WAGMI show. We had so much fun!
@bufalomusic & Divine Adornment pic.twitter.com/sEuDi4xpgY
– VIPE (@vipeio) June 15, 2023
And then from the audience’s point of view, it doesn’t cost much to come along to an evening on Decentraland to get a feel for the atmosphere. It’s less restrictive than going to a club, queuing up, possibly being turned away… Do you know how many clubs there are in Decentraland?
Today, I’d say there are between 15 and 20, maybe a bit more. But there are also a lot of one-off events, festivals, ephemeral clubs created for a given period. There are also clubs that combine partying with mechanisms borrowed from gaming. While the DJ sets the dancefloor alight, you have access to little games that allow you to win wearables, passes and virtual goodies. This could be a mega-rare NFT of the PoP (Proof of Presence) type, for example, which you can resell at a very high price because it belongs to a very famous artist. Even if there are other interesting metaverses, Decentraland remains the biggest platform today, with a lot of major events taking place there. “
At the end of 2022, you opened your own concert hall in Decentraland. What does it mean to you?
“It’s a saloon created on a piece of land made available by a friend to organise concerts, events… The advantage is that in terms of event formats, it allows me to offer much more diverse things. When you’re an artist, you play your music and that’s already very good. When you’ve got your own club in the metaverse, it opens up other perspectives, not as an artist, but as a builder. It fulfils my desire to attract new audiences, to offer something other than electronic music sets. One day I’ll have DJs mixing live in my saloon from Ibiza, former residents of Le Pacha for example, and another day I’ll be offering line dancing classes, with a teacher teaching country dance moves to the people present. It’s up to the audience to play along, but most of them dress up in sportswear and learn the basics of country dancing in the metaverse. Naturally, because we’re in the cowboy mood, we came up with an activity linked to my world. We weren’t going to offer breakdancing classes “
Enjoying a bellydancing lession by the lovely @isamazing_isa at the @bufalomusic saloon with the dcl fam! Jump in if you can and shimmy with us! ^_^ pic.twitter.com/esFjXy9iKU
– NFTBubblegum.eth (@nftbubblegum) June 17, 2023
Got any other events lined up in your saloon?
“Of course! I’m producing an event called Wild Wild Europa with a friend of mine called Ken Carter. He’s the president of the European Rodeo Federation, and he goes around to ranches all over the place to carry out different tasks, like looking after the cattle, preparing the rodeos, etc. We came up with a really fun format for the event. We’ve come up with a super fun format, with evenings where he can show off the good things about his job, such as how cowboys look after the animals, while partying to some great country music. It’s a moment that we freeze and make available to the public. And the public is free to take it or not. But at the moment, we rarely, if ever, sell out. There are always people who are receptive to what I have to offer.
We’ve talked a lot about the advantages of mixing and organising events in the metaverse. Do you see any disadvantages?
“Honestly, I don’t see many… Even though my life is very focused on it at the moment, it doesn’t prevent me from going out, having social activities, being totally at ease with all that. Ultimately, if I had to find one drawback, it would be more a general comment about the Web3. I think there are still too many people who don’t make the effort to create, to be authentic, and who rely on the work of others to try and shine. We’ve seen this in particular with all the NFT collections derived from successful collections. It’s a bit of a shame, but it’s linked to the speculative aspect of the ecosystem. Personally, I have no reason to complain, because I’m doing what I love in a format that’s brand new. I’m lucky enough to be one of the first to express myself in this way, to imagine new things that give people pleasure. For me, the negative aspects of Web3 weigh very little in the balance compared to all the positive things it brings. “
A dream came to life today, partners. Every cowboy of @decentraland got now a brand new home.
Ladies & Gents, Y’all are invited to the Bufalo Saloon Grand Opening, Oct 8th – 8 PM UTC.
+ Special emote release!Built by @michi_todd x @Clammyeth , made possible by @ArtReYou1 pic. twitter.com/8ShdTROigC
– Bufalo / bufalomusic.eth (@bufalomusic) October 4, 2022
NFT and remuneration of artists on the Web3
If the metaverse appears to be an Eldorado for all artists in search of innovation, curious to experiment with new means of creative expression and seeking to attract new audiences, the question of their remuneration inevitably arises. But here again, the pioneers of this nascent movement are not lacking in ingenuity when it comes to finding sources of income.
Bufalo began by selling musical NFTs through OpenSea, before launching wearables in collaboration with designers from Decentraland, and even emotes (animations for player avatars) such as country dancing. Recently, however, he has embarked on a more personal project, unveiling his own collection of NFTs, called BOTV Skull. These NFTs are the gateway to his ‘Futuristic Western’ universe.
He spoke to us about this project, as well as the issues surrounding remuneration for artists performing in the metaverse.
All concerts in the metaverse are free at the moment. How are the artists who perform there remunerated?
“It’s true that apart from a few private events that will close the space to those who don’t have the evening’s NFT in their wallet, all events are free to the public. On the other hand, there are brand activations that allow artists to earn money. One example is the event for the Doritos crisps brand, for which I was lucky enough to play last January. It’s a win-win situation, because it allows us to talk about the space created by the brand in Decentraland. And I get to perform in a show lasting an hour or two, with other artists, and get paid for it. But it’s still free for the public “
And when you play in a virtual club outside this type of event, you don’t get paid?
“It depends on the employer. In general, we follow a basic principle: if the event doesn’t generate any income, if it’s not the result of a company’s initiative, it’s generally not paid and we accept it. You can’t compare an event organised by a brand like Doritos with a party organised by Gérard on his Land to celebrate his cousin’s christening. The two are completely different and should be treated differently.
Do you see an evolution in terms of remuneration for artists performing in the metaverse?
” Clearly. The metaverse is becoming more professional, to the point where artists are starting to get paid more and more for their work. Personally, I’m lucky enough to almost always get paid. I’m in great demand, so I can concentrate solely on the big events, but that’s not the case for everyone. It depends on each artist’s career. I think it’s important at the beginning to show what you’re worth, to respect a realistic growth curve. It’s a bit like real life in fact. The first time I played in a club, I didn’t get paid, but I was just happy to be able to put my fingers on a turntable without getting kicked out by the bouncer. If you show yourself to be professional, people will end up respecting you and paying you. The metaverse is not that different from real life: it’s a system developed by humans, for humans. “
I’m sure it will. We already know that in a few months, a few years, there will be photographers who will be paid to capture the best moments of the evenings in the metaverse. There will also be light jockeys, people who will work with light as they do in physical clubs, and video jockeys who will take care of the visual effects. Eventually, I think all the players in the world of nightlife and music will be present on this new medium that is opening up to them. “
One of the new sources of revenue offered by Web3 is NFT. Can you talk about the collection you’ve just launched?
It’s called BOTV Skulls, in reference to “Buckwild On The Vinyl”, a sound that’s present in all my tracks and almost all my remixes. The collection includes 1,000 NFT buffalo skulls, which are variations of my logo created with the artist Pierre Porcherot. You have 7 different features: 6 visual features and 1 musical feature. For this, I composed 10 different Futuristic Western sounds ranging from house to dubstep, mid-tempo, etc., with a rarity system that depends on the complexity of the sounds. “
The result is so innovative that the NFT “BOTV Skulls” collection for @bufalomusic, DJ 1 in @decentraland, is now online (https://t.co/QtTvPdEtlC)! With a reward system based on the length of time the token has been held, which will be activated this evening. pic.twitter.com/QX0y0J7Wa3
– Anthony Gourraud (@AnthonyGourraud) March 30, 2023
What’s their use?
“To put it simply, this NFT will serve as an entry key to the entire Futuristic Western universe I’ve created, which has been up and running since the end of March 2023. Holding one or more Skull BOTVs will give you several advantages. The first, and most important, is the BUFA token. This is a crypto that has no financial value other than on our Bufalo Music platform. It’s a token that’s distributed every day and given to you according to the rarity of your BOTV Skull. Once you reach 200 units, you can claim them. The rarer your skull, the more BUFA tokens are distributed. And that’s not all. In addition to the two NFT music tracks with commercial rights that we give away every month, every two months we give away a wearable for Decentraland that can be claimed with these BUFA tokens, as well as a music tutorial, visual art collaborations, IRL and backstage access to my physical shows, and VIP access to the Bufalo Saloon on Decentraland. And anyone who accesses this VIP area during one of my events will earn double the rewards of anyone else who attends the show. “
Where are you in this project?
“I’m putting it all together slowly, taking my time to get it right. As far as the benefits offered to BOTV Skulls holders are concerned, we’re aiming for the end of 2023. At the same time, we’d like to provide our holders with a phygital experience mixing a Decentraland wearable with a real garment that can be customised”
Today is the release of our 5th Music NFT with commercial rights, “Two Shots”!
Song will go live at 7 PM UTC on https://t.co/EFd2o9Uzhn . 500 $BUFA
50 Copies
Artwork by @porcherot ☄️“Two Shots” is the song we created for the music tutorial, also available on the platform! pic.twitter.com/4TvMOR3Oyc
– Bufalo / bufalomusic.eth (@bufalomusic) June 15, 2023
Do you have anything to add to end this interview?
“Frankly no, apart from the fact that the mint is still running on my site for BOTV Skulls. NFTs cost 0.05 WETH and it’s on Polygon (MATIC), so there’s virtually no charge. What’s more, anyone who mints a BOTV Skull until it sells out gets 3 free Decentraland wearables straight into their wallet: a cowboy hat, a trenchcoat and a crystal Bufalo skull. There are 1,000 copies of each item ready to send, created especially for this purpose. “
