TEDxMidAtlantic 2011 - Reggie Watts - What Does it Mean When Technology Fails?

[@quesocat42069]

Whoever edited this video together and worked on the audio, brilliant job. You made a great video out of what some others may have considered unusable. Your work did not go unnoticed.

[@Shezmen88]

I love how the timer left showing in the monitor is at zero, because he's so awesome he can go on forever ;D

[@xman2008]

As an audiovisual technician, this was painful to watch. Reggie is an absolute class act though. 💖

[@willt6551]

Definitely

[@thatpaulschofield]

Live laughter running through a noise gate is indistinguishable from canned laughter.

[@ChrisPearson1337]

The mic vs audience sound made them sound like a laugh track.

[@terrellcarey6178]

Nobody sings a song about nothing better than Reggie Watts.

[@joebazooks]

Reggie Watts is THE man. He always almost never fails to make me laugh. And he must be a great musician, too.

[@KwanzaaJuice]

I love how his accent gets progressively more English and then when it gets to maximum Englishosity he goes Super Ghetto. Brilliant.

[@firstlast-wg2on]

***** ...

[@thorestey]

Kyle Grounds If you are looking for super ghetto, I can only recommend "ratchet video weekly" on here somewhere

[@Manhole87]

I love the way he changes character and delivers it with such perfection u doubt if the previous or the new one is real. Or maybe both aren't. I'm still not sure what his real accent is

[@KwanzaaJuice]

Justin McMullen The real one is the regular ol' American accent.

[@MichaelMancha]

I love how he shows his comedic genius then his real musical genius. BRILLIANT!

[@hasp880912]

The problem with Reggie is that once you've listened to him, everything else seems kinda "Meh.".

[@thisisnotmyname]

I think that's just you.

[@hasp880912]

The world is full of different tastes, you never know...

[@daxissinikal]

I for one, could not agree with you more.

[@yabdelm]

I don't think that's just him. It's definitely sort of true. You understand the formula behind every song now. Every now and then you get differences in bass/melody which are more appreciated, but you basically figure out what the formula is.

[@hasp880912]

Yes, but when was music's effect based on a formula only :) It's the improvisation and raw talent he has to do it, combined with humor and a type of lecture/concert feel to all his performances that grabs me most.

[@heymichaelvsaucehere9944]

By far the best mic stand tutorial out there.

[@EbonyQueen05]

The beat @ 10:00 literally exploded my mind

[@11889music]

So glad I discovered this guy on TEDxMidAtlantic! I love this man's work!! So much!!

[@dianemacdonald9194]

Love this guy! Sounds like he's talking nonsense, yet so much truth said and sung in a delightful, crazy, different way!😜🙃👍

[@noahsamsen]

it's a great night... for anything that can happen

[@gpoop23]

Reggie Watts' music just makes me feel like nothing else. There's just something so pure and emotional about it.

[@henrymattei4886]

As a musician, literally the adjusting the mic stand on stage is like a skill- I am glad he is bringing awareness to the extra labor that musicians have been giving for years!

[@CrazyMetalZombie]

This was like watching a sitcom...

[@denniskuhn743]

One of my fav people on the planet .. he is amazing at scatting .. but his word/description/nonsense is the most amazing thing I have ever witnessed... He is a genius... If I could hang out with any celebrity still alive it would totes b the master of the universe Mr Reggie Watts

[@davesnothereman699]

Oh my Reggie when you turn the captions on when you sing it just reinforces the whole concept..

[@robzs8388]

this is one of his best clips, I think. The music is so fucking on point

[@ltrizzle12]

He seriously needs to live forever bro.

[@maybefull]

You may be right! However, after having worked in the live audio business for a while I can confirm that: 1. Shit does, indeed, happen at times. 2. Inexperienced people can land amazing gigs and fuck them up.

[@MarkArandjus]

"You ever notice how some people are like 'I really love music' and other people are like 'yeah'?" I have, actually :P

[@mattasticmattattack8546]

Anyone else notice how he never performs the same songs twice? Genius in the moment

[@chrismunz8127]

Because everything is impovised.

[@spanzotab]

I like how he just starts singing Through the Wire at the end.

[@nibblynobbler7064]

It's a great night.. for anything that can happen.

[@EmperorRax]

When he randomly starts singing through the wire lmao

[@terminalbungus9566]

Addressing some comments below, yes it is quite strange that the post-production engineer decided to completely remove the audience sounds while Reggie was talking. It is good practice to have an ambient mic in the room to, in this case, not only make Reggie's voice sound more natural for the setting but also to, as expressed below, make the interactions between him and the audience seem more natural. And considering that it does seem that they had such an ambient mic set up, it is kind of puzzling that they chose to make the audience seem like a laugh track. Intentional? Still, a great video and performance.

[@bodegastheband964]

mentions D.C and starts singing about D.C punk bands. respect level reached a new level

[@ogamibirdflu5152]

Fugazi is no a punk band rite

[@Jurisabc]

Reggie Watts and Eddie Izzard. If they would meet on stage it would make no sense but everyone would understand and fall in love with it.

[@nibblynobbler7064]

A true troll evokes emotion.

[@compassionawareness]

Guy is brilliant.

[@avedic]

Gah...I love Reggie. Wish the audience had been miced better. Once they fixed Reggie's mic, it sounded like the audience was on a laugh track...like they did hard cuts.

[@Jettmingin]

Who keeps letting this guy on the TED stages?? XD love you Reggie!

[@collectivelight]

I never knew a thorough explanation of adjusting a mic stand could be so interesting.

[@infinity345]

I think the mixing out of the audience was a little aggressive. They could've left it on at low volume so that it doesn't sound so odd when they do mix the audience response in.

[@devinhopkins9652]

11:42 Fugazi Fugazi Fugazi Minor Threat Minor Threat Fugazi Minor Threat.

[@NKskates]

it's just switching between different audio tracks. one recorded from a distance and one directly from his mic.

[@TrevorKingKwong]

The separate audios of the audience and Reggie's mic really throws off the whole live feeling of the performance. Just a suggestion! Perhaps find a way to have both of them together next time.

[@HeyMacLife]

Attended this TED conf and he was weird, funky and it was hilarious!

[@holdmybeer]

I saw him in a beardy man video, didn't know he was this talented. Great speaker, funny, and one hell of a beast on the mic!

[@TheBoxingnun]

FYI, he was born in Montana (Great Falls if you're curious)

[@Asymm3trix]

Reggie you absolute legend!! Love the Fugazi/ Minor Threat breakdown at the end :)

[@geluix69]

A mad genius..

[@likebeingkilled]

all he plays are real songs, just because his lyrics are not interpreted as "serious" by the masses, does not mean that a song is less than a song because of its content.

[@unit15]

that guy has the best sweaters!

[@kenny.m.olsen95]

Definitely does

[@ossy666]

"I been, you know, 'cause. A lotta people like, you know, like, they, ya know like, music and stuff knomma'sayin'. But like some people, they don't like as much as other people. You know how people, you ever notice how some people, like, I really, like, love music. And a-a-a other people, like, yeah." Reggie

[@HeroicHero1]

Reggie listens to Fugazi and Minor Threat. I think I fell in love.

[@spoticai]

This guy is insanely talented but I have to wonder if he just went crazy one day and bought a loop machine to show the world what it's like inside his head. Really awesome music though.

[@doortower3622]

hearing reggie cover through the wire was the best thing to happen to me all day...

[@joebazooks]

YES, thanks so much for the references. I never knew that he was actually a musician. I gotta check that out.

[@MrCheese737]

omg, i love him so much

[@oliverwilliamsimpson]

the noise at 8:30 really makes me laugh :P

[@b1music]

the bad audio mix fading in and out is quite unprofessional, ted...

[@cynide03]

Pure pioneering genius.

[@DurfMcAllister]

It sounds to me (and I admittedly don't know too much about this) like whoever did the editing here was working with at least 2 feeds. One from the soundboard that was just picking up Reggie CLEAN and some other mics in the house, possibly on the cameras or something. What puzzles me is why the editor chose to fade to the house audio just for crowd laughter. I'd think it would be a lot cleaner and more effective to just splice the two audio feeds together.

[@twostarhotel]

its the chorus from "Through The Wire" by Kanye

[@brantub]

Damn, his English accent is perfect!

[@TrapSquad]

haha its so funny when he changes into the black guy voice he says a lot a people like everytime every show lol

[@SoerenLorenson]

13:07 ♪ ♫ "You are not alone I am here to stay..." ♫ ♪ ♫

[@IconArcade]

Reggie Watts' clock is not running. He can be up there as long as he pleases. BOSS

[@Way2Spirited]

Damn, tough crowd. At least it was put up on KZbin where his fans can appreciate him and others can discover him :)

[@Way2Spirited]

In my opinion this crowd was rather unresponsive compared to most other Reggie Watts performances and I had no problem hearing them before or after his hand held mic was finally plugged in - go to 3:43 and listen for yourself. He also mentioned the D.C. bands Fugazi and Minor Threat and not a peep was made. No ickiness or unkindness intended :) I just felt kinda bad for Reggie. Peace

[@tanglewood616]

***** Or it's just pre-recorded the laughter edited in. Video's do it all the time.. just not very well in this one. That's what happens when technology fails

[@eliotmccann2589]

+Olivier Jaquet That happens a lot on these TED clips.

[@Get2thecart]

Way2Spirited late to this I know. However because of the technical issues they were having they didn't have a seperate mic for the audience like they do in the updated talks. Otherwise you'd be hearing them cheering like they were at the beginning.

[@PokeWizKev826]

same with me, was it beardy and friends? haha reggie has some real talent beyond just musical ability. Beardyman and reggie watts are my favorite

[@JoeLaFigue]

At the end of the dubstep song I felt like I was part of Marty's 1955 audience in the first Back to the Future, when he suddenly goes into a Van Halen impro.

[@1212strife]

you're silly \yobero , this guy is now my fourth favorite human on earth

[@brainbroderick4075]

check out "reggie watts-pop tech!" performance. it is the best one i have seen. i just watch it over and over again. it is really really good..

[@levijmiller]

Wow Fugazi and Minor Threat in a Reggie Watts song, this makes my world go round.

[@id104335409]

I wish he started doing some complete shows - you know with real songs and monologue material that isn't nonsense. :) but I guess you can't make Reggie do tricks by command like every other entertainer. He got his thing :)

[@gpoop23]

2:06 - 2:45 Amen.

[@myk80824]

one of the few videos i specifically search for. I call this the "fugazi song"

[@bs2790]

Not sure if it's the one you mean, but at 13mins he sings Through the Fire

[@Mooseplatoon]

I've seen many "ignorants" commenting on Reggie's performances. People who don't know what others know are very common, especially on the internet.

[@thymolboyrocks]

Reggie is really musically talented, being funny as hail is just a bonus

[@Ludifant]

You can really hear in this speech how he is related to Alan Watts.

[@eaglekiller23]

he doesnt have an accent, reggie watts is more of a concept than a person...hence he is not american (born in Germany in fact) and can phase in and out of multiple personalities...he is simply, brilliant.

[@jakofozz]

This audio is rubbish.

[@tengnbiiga]

If you listen and watch for 30 seconds you'll realize that it's a technical cockup and the technician is on stage fixing it.The quality audio system is back online at 2:50

[@jakofozz]

Samuel Martin So i guess if I listen and watch for 2:50. Which I will do now. Thanks.

[@stephencarmickle]

Jack Dyason It's almost like the title has a purpose now.

[@tengnbiiga]

Nice one Stephen Carmickle​ and it just dawned on me that the audio glitch might actually have been staged. They did a nice subtle job of it if that's the case!

[@stephencarmickle]

Samuel Martin It wasn't staged. There was a technical error and Reggie improvised. His whole act, every time, is almost all improvisation.

[@Ludifant]

"Fringing Smog" refers to the Tooney Loons cartoon of 1955 "One Froggy Evening". Technology didn´t work in that cartoon either.

[@TarvoMetspalu]

They just killed the audience audio and turned it up in a couple of places.

[@unclejunglebass]

extremely talented musician.

[@jaygdad]

Reggie is my spirit horse!!!!

[@chvideo12]

the sound between Reggie and the ppl in the room was not mixed good

[@akiranozawa-temchenko2087]

i love ya reggie! tryna grab yo attention cuz. im ukrainian japanese been hurtin, but your comedy always makes me laugh!!!!

[@ufsta]

Does anyone know what the song is he is playing on the piano?

[@marcuschavez9588]

God I wish I could start a Trip Hop/Chillwave band with Reggie, and have him do his Funk/Soul/R&B singing over some dark heavy beats. :'(

[@HenryDavidFloyd]

Check out his old band Maktub.

[@clown134]

i wish i could find some clean reggie watts vocal samples or something to work with

[@Dune137]

Soooo multi-dimensionally talented. And I swear sometimes he sounds like Prince. LOL

[@deeyoung50]

The symbolism.....the audience were 'engaged 'at maximum level whilst the microphone was not being used. Speech in Natural Form vibrates on physical and spiritual level. Technology effects on a physical level , stimulating nerve endings...yet the devices to project voice and music waves are received by the listener are an artificial form. Are we really engaging when we hear anymore. Again... natural sound vibrates triggers an emotional response to the receiver. Technology could very well be dulling , muting ,disconnecting the way we interact with the world and people around us. These are my personal opinions and I mean no harm. My only wish is that others observe.

[@elefectomariarosa]

does this have a laughter track?

[@amstrad140]

Ce mec est un génie absolu. great job.

[@Ytbehandling11]

Does that last song he sang exist or is it a improv?

[@alexniederhauser8562]

"A great night, when anything can happen

[@tmalonso]

the world would be a better place if it were given free access to Reggie just unloading his mind like this via some type of satellite radio or smartphone app or somethin...not to mention i would never have to buy another cd for the rest of my life :)

[@controlFunctionmedia]

Righteous!

[@briankenyon1543]

Is there a Nobel prize for harmonic chaos!!!?

[@bs2790]

Nah he's signing Through the Fire which Kanye sampled for Through the Wire

[@antisbest]

that was one of the coolest things i've ever seen. i am now convinced this man is God

[@Kigalion]

anyway to find just his music to listen to?

[@Hellasta]

yes

[@Rowlandi11]

9:56 nuff said

[@neilraycesar]

11:55 stop that master bating right over the sink"

[@Way2Spirited]

LOL good catch!