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Sunday, April 27, 2014

A PEACEFUL SUNDAY IN SECOND LIFE LIVE MUSIC

After a couple of full days....and emotional ones, my youngest child graduated college yesterday.  Sooo proud but remembering the day I brought her home for the first time and wondering how the heck time flew by sooo fast.

Home now and relaxing....What a perfect way to spend way to spend a lazy Sunday morning....coffee and Russell Eponym at Guthries.  Entering events for today's line up, just relaxing....Russell has that wonderful peaceful effect.

Today I need to get to work on putting together a special event for around mid May...no fundraiser no anything like that  chuckles until I find an organization worth supporting in sl I will not be doing any fundraisers.  I am still working with Stand Up 2 Cancer trying to get things worked out and set up correctly.  I also have to admit, that due to another Facebook thread, today I looked much closer at Feed A Smile.  Pretty impressive and it seems that 100% of the donations go to Kenya where they are truly making a difference.

Now if there are any performers that may be interested in one very special hush hush event please contact me....and yes it is paid for not volunteer, also dj's.  I am hoping that once promotional material is ready, I see so many of you there.  It should prove to be just a lot of fun, something we all deserve.

Lately I have been following a thread on FaceBook started by a friend of mine wondering about notices, spamming etc.  I will admit I entered into the thread thinking one thing and saw quite few viewpoints.  I believe (not to say that this necessarily the right way, but it is just my opinion.)  Many of us hit all different groups and pages as well as other virtual means to promote our events....Here is my take on it.  I will continue to promote in as many places as possible....even going back to slprofiles and moolto.  I will use the Venue's Face Book page, still's page, all the different pages on FB and Face Book Events.  I will also continue to use my artizan mailbox (I got tired of paying Subscribo for having so many members and switched to Artizan it allows me to send out 3000 people at once and only cost me 650L.   as well as inworld groups and Second Life Events.  I have a theory about that, actually dating back to working in an advertising agency for 15 years.

There used to be a saying that went something like this  A man woke up knowing he was closing his business that day.  got up from sleeping on a advertised mattress, ate an advertised brand of cereal for breakfast, showered and shaved with well advertised products, put on a suit from an advertised clothing store, got in his advertised make and model car, to drive to his office and close his unadvertised business.  Now that is not exactly how it went, but you should get the general idea.  It is no different with promoting someone someone or something, yes soo much of it is the same people.....that is no different than rl....many of us could do jingles in our heads of things advertised and we have heard them sooo very much.  But when one new person listens to that performer or tries that product, you have expanded the exposure.

I also have to add....just sayin....that I miss so many of the performers that have left sl.


Wednesday, April 16, 2014

SEEMS LIKE SOMETHING IS BROKEN IN THE SECOND LIFE LIVE MUSIC COMMUNITY

I have seen a lot on Facebook lately, even unfriended people because of it.  It seems like something is broken in the live music community. In so many ways it seems that the very community that I loved so very much over the years is turning on itself.

I* have seen performers publicly discuss their views on some of the venues, not only voicing opinions but doing it in language that I personally find disgusting.  Performers have always turned on each other between acoustic and track,  That is nothing new.  Hosts and managers turning on venue owners.  Venue owners turning on each other.  Venue owners turning on performers.

So lets seriously take a look at this because ultimately we are all in this together.

1.  Performers should appreciate any venue that offers them a place to perform, I mean seriously, if you are all here solely for the love of music as you claim....does the amount of lindens really matter?

2.  If a venue is a paying venue and is willing you to perform, you should appreciate that venue even more, sincerely promoting it while you are performing.  I have often heard the excuse that I forget.   Hmmmm here is someone willing to pay you to perform, is it right to tell them you you forgot them.  Why not take an extra 10 minutes out of your day and check out the venue so you know what you are talking about when you are on their stage.

3.  Performers should not be saturating the market so much that attendance at their shows is falling.  Think about that one for a second.  If you are performing so much, whether it be for paid or tips only, why should anyone make the effort to see you at one show when you have 3 others that you are also in.  and you do this all the time?  It is actually very true.  I know of one performer personally that realized this.  One of the oldest in Second Life.  We were talking about attendance and he told me he realized this, cut back a lot on his performances and noticed a huge jump in attendance.  People that liked him, truly had to make an effort to go see him.

4.  Venue owners and performers need to build a rapport....with more than just a manager.  I have noticed the most sincere performers when it comes to promoting a venue are the ones that I have formed a bond with of some sort.  I do not like working with a manager alone without the rapport between myself and performer already in place.  Mind you I am not knocking the managers, they do an extremely wonderful job of promoting their performers.  So if you are a performer that your manager has booked for you, take the time and reach our to the venue owner.  I know that myself, I just cancelled a booking because I did not have that rapport so rather than commit to spending those lindens every week, I cancelled it completely.  It was not the manager's fault in any way shape or form.  She had done a fantastic job of promoting him to me. I had said yes.....but then never heard another word from the performer themselves.

I did do this with two other performers and both of them reached out and we chatted, renewing a bond.  One of them has already started in their booking and I was so happy to have her.  I did not care about the amount of lindens ....she did a wonderful job of promoting the venue and sincerely believed in the venue as I am sure she does for every venue she plays at.

There is another reason to build that rapport, too many times I have seen managers change.  without that rapport, you could be losing a booking with the change of a manager.

5.  This is one I have preached about since I started in sl music.  Acoustic versus track.  I will never understand the disharmony there.....someone plays a guitar well that is their instrument....I have noticed that even best guitarists there are some that do not sing as well...Where as I seen track performers use their voice as their instrument.  For those who dispute that one is a performer and one is just karaoke....here is a rather large example.....when was the last time that you say Celion Dion holing a guitar so she could perform? 

Managers and hosts, rather than slamming a venue on Face book, appreciate the fact that someone took the time to hire you, and it is their venue and you should be agreeing with them, no matter how you used to run your own venues.  That was your old venue, this is theirs and they their sl, they should be allowed to run it anyway they please, especially since it is their money that is footing the bill for it.  If you disagree that strongly with then things, then find a venue you are happy at.

I will be honest here, seeing the bullying of venue owners and sometimes performers, well that gets old really fast,  everyone needs to get over themselves and remember that we are in this together.  All of us do this because we love music and there is a camaraderie there.  Yes things have changed, yes tips have dropped off.  Much of that we can look at within in our ranks and see that we have lost some really good people.  The other part is that of the economy as a whole, everyone is feeling it in some way  (an even larger reason to appreciate the venues that are still in operation and paying performers).  I have also noticed a much younger generation of sl'ers.  That in turn means maybe becoming more flexible with the music being performed. 

Please keep in mind that these are just my opinions and not the answer to everything.  But I really wish I would see less complaining, especially publicly since that can ruin things for the community as a whole in making everyone look bad.


Tuesday, April 8, 2014

WOW SECOND LIFE MUSIC HAS CHANGED

Most of you know that I have been building a line up.  I have tried to get out there and visit many of the newer performers.  I have always liked finding different people and missing them in with some of the awesome performers that Second life has.  Lately I have something seen that is very different in the Second Life Live Music c\Community  Now I know I have been out of the loop for a while but this is something I never expected find.  I have seen similar type topics in FaceBook as well.

I am finding newer performs have been much ruder.  I have thought often why that is.  My suggestion to newer performers is to realize that even though you may be an amazing performer, that you realize SL is full of amazing performers.  Take the time and get out there venue hop, get to know the community you belong to.  The competitiveness between performer and yes even venues hurts what has always been a wonderful community belong to.

This is a community that bands together in so many ways.  The most giving and compassionate community that I know of in SL.  The reason I reopened the venue is simply that I have missed this community.

Wow, I am seeing the same in venue owners and I have just do not understand it.  Yes times are hard and venues are a drain on all of our wallets, but no matter what each of us is in the same boat.  Yes the economy is hard and rl takes is taking its toll on each of us.  SL is our escape from that.  Lets get back to doing what we do best......getting along and working together to listen to the one thing that we all share...our love for music.  Performers take the time to visit those that have been around for a long time and those that are "seasoned" reach out to the newer performers.  Who knows, you may find someone that is awesome to dual with with.  At the very least you would make a new friend and help them to feel this awesome community that we all belong to. 

Lets get back to building it up and not tearing it down.

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

CAN YOU BELIEVE IT HAS BEEN ALMOST A MONTH LIVE MUSIC IN SECOND LIFE

It sure does not seem like it has been almost a month since my last blog.  To my own credit though, I have been busy.  Well busy and also waiting for winter to end.  I am starting to wonder if it ever will.

This has been a month of building for me.  The amusement park is open and has more roller coasters than any other park i have seen in Second Life.  Smiles, some very rare ones.  Max Kleene opened BS's "Bring a Friend & Stay Awhile" and we opened with a bank.

Today I am back to venue hopping.  I started The Celler listening to Scarlett Roux then onto a favorite Kickin to listen to someone I have not heard in a long time,  REALLYMAD Morpork.  He has a wonderful voice.  Now Many do not realize it but there is a difference between performing and entertaining.Some people get on the stage and perform and do so beautifully, where as others get on that stage and entertain.  There is a rapport with the audience, keeping the audience's attention and quite often brings a good chuckle interacting with them.  REALLYMAD Morpork while an awesome performer is also a great entertainer!!!!

Giggles. I do believe I hit the jackpot.  Ladies take note!!!!!  All of us get hit on all the time.  So when those random requests come to dance or goofy things just respond with no thank you I am also working on a blog.  You will receive an apology for bothering you.  IT WORKS!!!!!

After ReallyMad Morph, I hung around for a bit and listened to Bill473 but then I was off to do things in rl and also my downfall to check out 60 linden weekends.  The nice thing about that is they give the pictures of all of the items participating, so I only have to visit the stores I that I saw something that held my interest.  Though Saturday proved to provide some drama.  Last week after asking a manager for help of which they do not do.....go figure, she blocked me.  and her block message was not nice.  This amazed me as she represents the owner.  So I had promptly sent the owner a notecard.  Mind you this is an owner that I have been of her group for many years and I have spent quite a bit of money with her over those years.  She was back in the 60L sale so I went back there and this time the owner was online.  Laughs we go all the way back to when she was partnered and her partner was a dj, and I had helped promote him.  So I nicesly asked if she had received the notecard as I had not heard anything.  She pretty much read me the riot act and then promptly blocked me with a blocked message that was filled with cussing.  This has just amazed me as she owns a business, and the cornerstone of any business is good customer service.  At that point I promptly removed myself from her group and refuse to shop there anymore.  Though I have not stated her name or business in here, if anyone would care to know, just im me privately.  It is just me, but after many years in advertising/promotion/marketing I am strong believer in the make someone happy and 5 people hear of it.  Have an upset customer and 20 people hear of it theory.

Now on that note, I have to admit, there are soooo many other businesses out there that have amazed me with the good customer service they give.  My favorites are all in my groups. as well as so many others that groups just does not allow room for.  I always try to do something on the venue as well for the businesses that I truly believe in and the owners are amazing people. Many of whom have become the best of friends over the years.  So if you are ever needing something and looking, again just im me privately and I will give you my opinion of the best places to visit.

I also did something out of the unusual for me ....I joined the Flashdancers.  Now this is an amazing group of people, visiting all over the grid at live music events.  They are also the most welcoming group of people I have had the pleasure of joining.  i would recommend to anyone involved in the live music community of second life to clear out a group space and join this group.

Finished the day listening to the amazing Samm Qendra at the Music Machine.  

Now that the venue is open along with everything else, I can go back to venue hopping....Yahoo!!