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Friday, January 27, 2012

BACK TO NORMAL (WELL NORMAL AS CAN BE)

After being out of town for almost a week, I got back last night and I am finally back to normal....though not to knock Indiana....but coming from the Chicago suburbs, I was used to salt trucks being out in front of the storm coming through....On 65 headed south through Indiana...they do not do that. I realized that I am getting too old to think that 70mph on pure ice is fun. So it took me two days to get home, as I spent the night in Indiana. BUT with that and my complaining on Facebook, I learned it really is a small small world. One of the venue owners here in Second Life lived there...and that much of our high school days we were closer than we ever thought.

After I caught up on some notecards, I headed out to hear some great music and my first stop was Ragged Edge, Katspurs' venue is one of those that you feel right at home in, and she always makes me feel so welcome. I listened to a performer I had not heard before Marshallw. Very impressive. Tonight in honor of Kat, Marshallw leaned toward more country...I have a feeling this is a very versatile performer.

After spending some time listening to Marshallw and catching up with my good friend Katspurs, I moved on to My Wish Venue....Lo, I love your dance floor!!! I have been here a few times to meet with Lo and set up the Rodanthe fundraiser, but this is the first time I ever attended an event here. Hazie Moonwall WOW. Such different styles and genres of music....Hazie I loved listening to you.

On to Sweet Whispers, what a beautiful and large venue; listening to Davadean Madrigal. Then on to a new venue for me--Portland...a newer venue and looking around it is really nice. Marble, the owner, was sooo welcoming and made me feel comfortable from the time I arrived. I listened to Katrose Serendipity. I have not had a chance to hear her in a while, then stayed for Music Oxygen....I could listen to him for hours...he has that kind of voice.

I have to add that I love the enthusiasm and the impatience for kiosks, for SL Music Races For a Cure. I know this is going to be an awesome team. Many of you have brought tears already and the kickoff ceremony, where I turn into a blubbering idiot is still over a month away....so many of you I have known for a long time and you are sharing parts of yourself with me.....it is truly touching and overwhelming. Together we will make a difference and I will consider it an honor to have worked with you.

Saturday, January 21, 2012

THE SECOND LIFE MUSIC COMMUNITY NEVER FAILS TO AMAZE ME

Last campaign, I was in a position to attend so many events for Relay For Life....no matter which event I attended, though every event was held in support of Relay For Life, each a unique event in its own way... there was a common thread between all of them,,,the music community. Performers gave of their time, their talents, their hard earned lindens. Performers groups attended and dug deep within their wallets to support Relay For Life. Managers, hosts, and venues...organized and donated. If many of you have been having following my blog for a while, you know how deeply touched I was by the open hearts of the music community. Now if you know me well, you know that got the wheels in this peabrain to spinning. We are always talking about increasing exposure of Second Life Music, and to do so in a positive way.

The subject was bounced around between a few people...and viola....an idea was born. We have put together a team....hopefully encompassing the many different avenues of the Second Life music community. Performers, venues, managers, fans, and promoters. Yesterday was the first time I publicly asked if people would be interested in joining. I only asked through the Live Music Venue Group, my own venue groups, and subscribo, and then my friends list. OMG as usual, the response from the Second Life Music Community overwhelmed me. I did not leave my computer last night until I was literally crosseyed. The requests for more information, the automatic joining of the team, the real life experiences I heard....the unconditional, "whatever I can do to help" attitude. All this from a community that I already love so much....You tend to leave me speechless (giggles and that is a difficult task) The team is growing by leaps and bounds. Already comparable in size to more established teams. So I will submit to you, my readers, the same note card that I put out inworld yesterday.

"We are putting together a team for 2012 Relay For Life in Second Life. The team is made up of all the different avenues of the music community; performers, managers, venue owners, fans, music group owners. This is a wonderful way for the entire music community to achieve a few things--camaraderie, exposure to the music community, and most importantly, the ability to make a difference in the battle against cancer. A devastating disease that has affected everyone in some way, shape, or form. Your participation in this team would be greatly appreciated. The team’s name is SL Music Races for a Cure. Please send me an im if you would be interested in joining forces with us to truly make a difference, of if you would like more information.

Thank you so very much, Still Braveheart"



As with anything else, the more people that participate the better of a job that we as a team can do for Relay For Life"

I have not been bouncing around that much in the past week or so, but will be updating a blog soon with those venues I have been to and the performers I have had the opportunity to hear. Yesterday, I peeked in the Secondraters site as well.....wow I am such a slacker....His list of performers has also grown....I need to get busy with my goal of hearing every performer in Second Life. As well as keep a promise to compare the many profiles I have to the newer site SecondLive.net, to give him any profiles that I may have and he is missing.

But for now I am listening to the awesome stream taking place at the Florida Jam!!! and wishing I was there

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

2012 BEGINS IN SECOND LIFE

I am soooo proud of myself. I have spent the first week of the new year cleaning and organizing. Smiles my inventory is smaller than it has been in over 2 years. Now that I am organized, I am ready to move forward with this years projects. Consisting of taking care of something in rl that will possibly effect a lot, but now I am ready for it. Ready to get a full line up going again in my own venue, ready to co-captain a team of the musical community for RFL, ready to truly work on filling the new Second Life Music Venue Directory Website, and ready to keep up better with this blog.

I have a confession to make on organizing though, it is absolutely amazing how many notecards one can accumulate. WOW....giggles anyone need an artist's bio....I have a ton of them.

I started this new day by doing something a bit different. If you ever have free time and you don't do this already, I would suggest trying it. I went to search and hit the destination guide. WOW I saw some amazing builds. There is one that I just have to mention as it made me think of the old AM Radio build of the gas station and the details that were done so extremely well...taking me back to my own childhood of growing up with a mechanic as a grandfather. If you get a chance, check out the Houmas House, This is a plantation built with the collaborative efforts of some of the very best in Second Life, and based on the real life plantation. The details are some of the most accurate I have seen when it comes to duplicating real life in Second Life.

I avoided the hunts that were listed, and once finished went on to live music events. Sitting here and writing while visiting the venue Starriders and listening to JayP Burnstein doing an entire set of Elvis songs with the most amazing voice. True it is Elvis's birthday, but I could also listen to this man's voice for hours. Sille has done a great job with this venue it is both comfortable feeling and fun.

The hard part is pulling myself away to go on to another. Well crashing made that easier. Logged in and headed to Lost Lovers Dancing Club to listen to Gwen Marshdevil. One thing I will never do is to put down track singers.....I believe in my heart that their voice is their instrument. Listening to Gwen reaffirms that, she has truly mastered her instrument....such a beautiful voice. Newer to performing, it is just a matter of time before her following swells to overflowing.

On to a new venue for me....Limburg Live Venue. This venue has a huge dance floor. Waiting for the performer to begin,Lance Windlow, someone I have not listened to a long time. I got a chance to chat for a minute with one of the owners Eromara, she is so nice and welcoming. I am looking all around realizing this is a venue that is truly built to accomodate huge groups, it is pretty awesome. In talking to Eromara she was telling me that her partner also has a light show that he adds with the performances....i am anxiously waiting to see it. This is something that will truly set this venue out and be awesome at the same time. My recommendation---put your viewer on midnight. I have to admit that so many of us have lights on our stages (for me the stages are seasonal so not always) but I have yet to see a venue use them so well. This is awesome. I have to hand it to Lance, I just listened to one of the most sincere requests to tip the venue, thank you Lance for that recognition.

I got busy in rl after that and called it a day. Started today by popping into different venues to drop off and speak with the owners about the website directory. I love doing this, it really makes me realize how big and wonderful this community is. After crashing a few times, courtesy of Second Life, I managed to head over to Guthries and listen to Lefty Unplugged. Guthries has always been a favorite venue of mine. A great place to listen to some awesome performers and at the same time enjoy my morning coffee as the day gets going. My first time here a close friend had tp'd me in to hear one of the most awesome performers and my very good friend Russell Eponym. I have been stuck on this venue ever since. As always, Guthries did not let me down today.....such a relaxed atmosphere and a wonderful performer in Lefty.

Ok I confess, I allowed rl to distract me from Second Life and just getting back to it today. Starting out at a morning favorite, Guthries where I listened to Camme Carver for the first time. She is someone to see when you check notices, she brought both talent and an extremely likeable personality. I will be watching for her more often. On to another favorite, Kickin, and another first for me Christion
Dinzeo....once again...the WOW factor.

Another thing that really brought me back to what being new was like. One of the newbies at Kickin complimented me on my gown....as we talked it came out that she was brand new to Second Life, did not know how to find things, and had no lindens. I did tell her that she needed to learn more about sl, explore find her passions in sl and pursue those....but to help her get started I gave her the skin I started with, the hair i started with, a tent to try clothes in, a lm to a sandbox so she could rezz, as well as some clothes that were not freebies but were transferrable. It made me remember over three years ago when someone did the exact same to me. Sometimes it takes a reminder to remember "Pay it Forward"